Christmas in a Christmas town!

It's here! It's here! The Christmas spirit has finally arrived in my heart. This year I wasn't supposed to be here for Christmas and knowing that made me reluctant to drag out the boxes and decorate for a day I wouldn't be home to enjoy.
We were supposed to go on a long planned and anticipated vacation to the Grand Canyon with friends, the only family we knew crazy enough to actually go with us... but life changed that plan.
The thought of being away from my town and extended family at Christmastime was only tolerable to me as long as my husband and kids would be there too but it was impossible to get us all together so we gave up. We let go. Let go of the dream, let go of the pre-paid deposits (that part was painful), got refunds for what we could, and scratched the vacation.
The truth is, though I want to go to the Grand Canyon, I'm not entirely sad the plan was cancelled. You see, my aunt has cancer and my brother just recovered from two major brain surgeries to get rid of a cyst and tumor in his brain and my Gramma, my dear sweet, batty old gramma is 83 and I know Christmas Eve with her won't last much longer.
I'll get to the Grand Canyon... someday, but for now I'm more than OK with staying home and spending Christmas in Leavenworth, spreading cheer at the Christmas Lighting and spending time with my whole family. I mean who couldn't love being here for Christmas, it's where the masses flock!
So Merry Christmas to you, and bring on the decorations!