Merry Christmas!

If this Christmas looked and felt different from Christmases past, we are right there with you. Earlier this year, we learned that my sister would be staying in San Fran with her boyfriend, a perfectly understandable decision that I took with zero grace lol because it was the first time in nine years Era would not be joining us for the holidays. Thankfully, she is planning on coming in February to celebrate my daughter and remember our mom, so we are very much looking forward to that. But it took us a while to get to this point of acceptance. Being together for the holidays is super important to me, and I feel like always has been. I do have to say — although we grieved the change, God showed out despite everything not being like we had envisioned.

First, we planned a super quiet Christmas just with my aunt Olya. A simple meal and time to celebrate together. After doing our usual gift opening with the kids around 10, I called my dad to wish him happy holidays, and that’s when he said, “See you at 1:30!” Excellent! Hahaha!! We were not expecting that, but it was also exciting.

The weather was absolutely amazing so Sasha and I took a walk to Starbucks really fast. Then, I proceeded to clean the kitchen and the living room. My aunt arrived with some delicious premade vegetable and fruit dishes, and then we made the rest of lunch. My dad arrived at 2, we had a wonderful meal, the kids opened Christmas cards, and then my dad called my cousin, who had not been feeling well, to invite him over. So now our party grew with the arrival of my other aunt, my cousin, and our sweet niece! Suddenly, my youngest was playing the flute and my niece was leading everyone in Christmas carols! And then Era called and was literally greeted by a singing family. It was such a beautiful moment despite the fact that only one of us can sing. It didn’t matter. We were full of joy and Christmas cheer that I know Era and her boyfriend immediately felt in San Francisco! Beautifully orchestrated day by God, because we certainly had a completely different plan in mind. Only God could make a day so perfect in His good timing!

Hope you had many beautiful moments like that today, by God’s sweet grace!!

Elena