Things that have made you Glow with "Christmas spirit" despite everything

[KeyboardWorriers]

Like many, I woke up today a bit down in the dumps, knowing I couldn't see family but also that so many people I loved would be spending Christmas alone. It's been a tough and brutal year and it would have been hard to find Christmas cheer at the best of times.

But then so many lovely things have happened today that gave me such a warm christmassy glow and I thought I would share and see if others had similar things for a more cheery thread?

• the children received their letter from father Christmas and the little ones were shaking with excitement
• we bumped into neighbors when out for a walk and had a lovely (distanced ) chat and all our little ones were so excited about Christmas still
• I was able to help a stranger in a simple way and they were so delighted
• a junior in my team asked for leave at short notice (for a good reason) and I decided to grant it and cover their leave and they sent the most lovely message

• we invited someone to spend Christmas day with us knowing they would now otherwise be alone and I wondered how the children would take the news but they were all so delighted and disappeared off to make little home made gifts for our unexpected Christmas guest
• my daughter was frightened of a dog and the owner took the time to gently reassure my daughter that she had been frightened of dogs at the same age whereas so many people act a bit offended when this happens

Sorry if this is to corny and cheesy but I was feeling so bleak worrying about so many people and these moments today made me feel a little better

Aww, thank you for sharing-your post made smile. It sounds like you and yours had a wonderful day. Bless you for the people you helped, and your kids sound wonderful too! Merry Christmas!

This is lovely! 🥰 I love that they were so excited at the letters from Santa 😍😃 good job finding the positives ❤️

What a sweet post, OP.

That’s lovely! I’m going to lower the tone a bit now, but I’m on attempt 3 of potty training and my son did a poo on the toilet! Up to now he has screamed our house down at the sight of a potty or toilet and only managed to do anything while being held over it. But he did it, on his own and without a fight and it feels like major progress!

I am glad not to have company on xmas day. I want to binge watch Bridgerton on Netflix all day long.

My youngest has been baking on their own not they are a bit older, they made mince pies and made us have a really festive time, it was lovely.

The smallest of traditions feel very important this year.

Thanks for the thread op, anything cheery is welcome at the moment!

Not = now

I volunteered to walk the streets in our village accompanying Santa on his sleigh.

All socially distanced, approved by local council and police, no cash donations etc.

I had THE best time! It’s being done over 3 evenings, last night, tonight and Tuesday (each route around 7 miles!). Someone dropped out yesterday so myself and hubby filled in and I’m so glad we did, it was magical to see the kids reactions!

We are also doing Tuesday night... can’t wait!

Merry Christmas OP!

Merry Christmas all

I love these stories! @Poppins17 how wonderful to be part of that! It was always hugely exciting when Santa came round the village when we were little. And ours love it now! Even the teenager dropped her "too cool" mask and came running out and took pictures of the smaller ones this year.

I watched the livestream of sunset at Stonehenge for Winter Solstice yesterday afternoon (livestream of sunrise coming up soon) and it was so very peaceful and reassuring.
At one point they zoomed in on 2 birds just sitting on top of the stones. Perfect.

@MoChridhe I am keen to watch that too. I have some child free days after Christmas and I am really looking forward to some binge watching

@inquietant that sounds wonderful we used to do lots of baking and gingerbread house decorating etc as we got older and I have such happy memories. I never thought how lovely it must have been for my parents too.

@Wobbitcatcher that is big progress! The feeling of relief that the emptying potty stage might come to an end one day is pretty magical

Nothing major here but my teen dcs did a gingerbread house over the weekend and it held together perfectly and once decorated it looked just like the one on the box!
Also watched Disney Family Singalong which was cheesy but very festive.

I had to take teen DD somewhere in the car yesterday afternoon. We stuck on a Christmas playlist and had a good singalong as we drove home.

DS (almost7). He is on the autistic spectrum and never really 'got' Christmas in years past. This year he's really excited. We've watched Polar Express and The Snowman, he's singing Xmas songs and he's asked to leave Santa a mince pie onXmas Eve. It's bloody wonderful. No effing virus is knocking my buzz this year

@BatleyTownswomensGuild that's lovely! DD4 (also with ASD) and DD2 danced around the living room today to Feliz Navidad and DD4 asked to hold her little sister's hand as they danced, a first!

As soon as it was announced that we couldn't travel for Christmas (in tier 4) my lovely next door neighbours messaged to say they would bring us over Christmas dinner. We are having some building work and currently without a kitchen.

I found out I'm having a baby girl last week, I already have a 19 month old ds so it just feels so perfect. We do have to go up to a london hospital as they found extra fluid on her heart, I'm hoping everything will be okay, but even if not, it feels special feeling my little girl kicking away inside.

My neighbour, who I don't know very well, brought us home made mince pies yesterday. It was such a lovely surprise!

@MisiSam congratulations! Hope all goes well with the extra scan.

I have two DC 3 and 6 who have got really into card writing this year. We wrote cards to our neighbours yesterday and some received 5 cards (one for the family, and one for each of their children from each of my children). DS6 has made homemade cards with elaborate festive scenes in felt ripped and DS3 has tried really hard to write the hmnames of all his friends. We went out at dusk with a huge stack of cards and admired all the Christmas lights.

DS3’s chocolate advent calendar has gone missing so DS6 has chosen to let him have his own advent calendar so he isn’t sad.

That's so lovely! I'll have no company for these holidays either, so I'll be re-watching The Witcher plus the bunch of some old shows on Netflix, and also I've got work to do (some Photoworks edits need to be finished before the clients show up at my front door asking for their photos), so no time to be bored.

And also I have the nicest Christmas lights and a lava lamp, so that totally makes me glow with Christmas spirit.

I put some carols on and made pomanders with the DCs, such a simple activity but really relaxing. The house smells really Christmassy now.

School sent a video of the kids singing (at a distance etc etc) to the old people’s home.
They were so full of enthusiasm it made me sob.

So many fabulous Christmassy moments

We lost our DS2 last month at 21+4 and we told DS1 that he lives in heaven with the angels and stars.

We went for a walk to spot Christmas lights last night to expend some energy, it was a really clear night and DS1 (just turned 4) without any prompt, looked up at the sky and went "Merry Christmas Our baby name! Love you lots!' and blew a kiss up to the stars.

He is so excited for Santa, we had our usual Christmas outing cancelled because of differing tiers and we luckily managed to get a spot elsewhere. His face when we were going into Santa's grotto was just pure joy and excitement.