I had about 12 kids and their parents over my house for a cookie decorating party last night. It was amazing chaos.
One of my best friends came over with her family to join the fun. I just have to point out that she and I are total opposites — she is super organized and proactive, I keep a lose schedule and react to most everything in my life. Yet, we get along so well. She is the Laurel to my Hardy, and she has been invaluable during this particularly trying time in my life.
When she walked in the house tonight, she took one look at the mess of holiday everything that had taken over my kitchen and she froze (she is a total neat freak, btw). With eyes wide, she said “OMG. You are so brave.I don’t know how you do this.” And we shared a long laugh at my expense.
Sometime amid the chaos of serving pizza, frosting cookies, watching christmas movies and pouring hot chocolate, she handed me a Christmas gift. We were both was so busy in the kitchen that I quickly I hugged her, said thank you and put it aside.
All night, the kitchen was a mess of sprinkles and colored frosting but the kids were having the best time ever. By the time the crowd rolled out and I put the kids to bed and restored my kitchen to respectable status, I was overwhelmed with exhaustion.
But I was also utterly satisfied. It was the brightest holiday moment I had had yet. My home was full of laughing children and my friends, drinking wine and sharing stories.
At one point, I looked around at the crowd and smiled to myself. It felt warm. It felt right.
Just as I was about to shut the kitchen lights and go to bed, out of the corner of my eye I saw the gift from my friend. In this quiet moment, I decided to sit down and open it.
I slowly unwrapped the paper, lifted the lid, and saw it there…
The word she always uses to describe me…
The word I have have such a hard time believing about myself: FEARLESS
Maybe it was because I was feeling especially sentimental at that moment, but for the first time in a long time, I saw the word presented to me from my dear friend, and I truly believed it.
And so, I am putting this on and taking it with with me into 2017.
Thank you, babe! I’m ready to own it.