I might be standing in line to pick up my Cinnabons at the mall, enjoying that lovely cinnamon smell.
I might be finishing up those last bits of shopping, with one last day of hustling around, splurging on things I shouldn't get for people I've already shopped for. My arms will be overflowing with packages, and I'll have a smile on my face.
Could be I'm snuggled up with a hot cup of cocoa next to the tree with Forest, looking at the pretty lights, and feeling perfectly at home. A few minutes later, The Muppets Christmas with John Denver will be playing, and we'll be goofing around, ninja-style. Could be he and I are cursing up a storm because a certain gift didn't arrive on time, gaily assembling Kirstin's dollhouse, or wrapping all her gifts.
I might be talking to Forest's sister, who will be joining us for Christmas morning, too. She can keep me company while Forest wraps my gift.
Or there's a chance I'm sitting with him in the church where I grew up, listening as my munchkin sings "Away in a Manger" with her choir. If it's late at night when you're watching, we're probably at the candlelight service, the one church service of the year I usually try to attend, because no one preaches, everyone sings Christmas Carols, and the sanctuary smells of pine branches.
I may be climbing the ladder to the top of the windowsill where our stockings are hung, and getting them down so we can stuff them; one for Kirstin, one for Forest, one for me, and a little one for Leeloo. Forest and I may be holed up in our bedroom, tossing together a stocking for his sister, since she will be spending Christmas Eve and morning with us, and we want to suprise her.
Maybe we'll just be piled on our couch, snuggling and dozing in and out, finally getting some time to relax.
At any point, though, I promise I'm happy, because it's Christmas-time, and I love it, and I'm spending it with a man and a daughter who love me very much. We're starting to feel like a family. Not in that "we are used to having-each-other-around" sort of way, but in a way that feels warm, homely, and comfortable, and involves living *together*, not just living *around* each other. I'm unspeakably grateful, and probably the happiest I've been in a decade.
Whatever I'm doing, I'm not sitting at my computer typing a journal entry, and I won't be on Christmas Day, either. I did, however, very much enjoy daydreaming about it well in advance.
