The Magic Makers
This year, Christmas felt different. Slower. Quieter. More reflective.
For someone who loves the hustle and bustle of the holidays—a house full of people, craft projects in full swing, kids running wild, and a kitchen overflowing with food and dishes—this quieter pace was bittersweet. There was time to simply be.
In that stillness, I found gratitude.
Part of what made this Christmas feel different was that my kids, now almost 8 and 10, are in that in-between stage. One is still a curious but joyful believer, while the other now enjoys being part of the magic, with a wink and a knowing smile. It’s sad to think this chapter is coming to an end, though I’m hopeful they always believe in magic, and that one day they too will be magic makers.
Their Santa gifts this year weren’t flashy or overwhelming, but ones that sparked creativity and focus.
I paused, in awe of the quiet, watching my son assemble a massive Lego set while my daughter immersed herself in her LOL fashion runway. For hours they sat side by side (a Christmas miracle, in itself), each in their own world. No screens. No distractions. Just joy.
With family, it was equally serene. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and my mom who were all there with us that morning, joined in conversation as we cleaned up from brunch, prepped for our holiday dinner, and FaceTimed more family. There was a slowness and ease to it all.
Honoring Papa’s Legacy
But the season was also marked by an absence. This was our first Christmas without my father-in-law, Papa, who passed away unexpectedly in March.
Every Christmas until now, he was a joyful and loving presence in all of our holiday and family celebrations.
And his gifts at Christmas weren’t just thoughtful—they were legendary. He poured love and craftsmanship into every piece: wooden train cars, construction vehicles, a doll cradle, and a knot board for my son last year. Gifts that weren’t just toys, but treasures imbued with his spirit.
It wasn’t just Papa who poured himself into homemade gifts. My mother-in-law, DeeDee, also created baby blankets, loveys, quilts, dolls, and doll clothes over the years. My kids are the luckiest.
This year, my mother-in-law continued the tradition of homemade gifts, this time honoring Papa in her own beautiful way. She gave each of my kids a bear made from Papa’s ties. The ears were made from the tie he wore to our wedding, a detail so poignant it brought us all to tears—especially my son, whose open heart and depth of feeling teach me so much.
The bears weren’t just gifts. They were pieces of Papa’s legacy, sewn with love, serving as a bridge between his past presence and our future memories.
Gratitude for the Magic Makers
As I reflect on this Christmas, I’ve come to see the season not just through the lens of gifts, but through the lens of magic makers.
As a mom, I’ve always seen myself as a magic maker—the one orchestrating traditions, surprises, and the little moments that make Christmas extraordinary. But this year reminded me that magic isn’t mine alone to create. It’s shared. It’s collective.
My in-laws have been magic makers for my family for years, bringing their unique talents and love to every holiday. This year, even in the quiet, their magic was present—in the bears, in the thoughtful conversation, in the memories we shared about Papa.
The Spirit Lives On
I’ve experienced loss before—my own dad passed away 13 years ago. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the magic of the people we love doesn’t disappear. It changes. It evolves.
This Christmas, we stepped into a new kind of magic. One that holds space for loss, but also for gratitude and hope. It’s bittersweet, yes, but it’s also deeply meaningful.
As we close out this year, I’m filled with appreciation for the magic makers in my life—the ones who have taught me how to create, share, and carry forward the love that makes the holidays so special.
Here’s to new beginnings, to the ones we’ve loved and lost, and to the magic that keeps us connected.
#AGlittering #Storytelling #MagicMakers #JoyofConnection #Gratitude