Missing Home

I think this is to be expected around the holidays.  I think I knew it would come.  I have been doing my best not to let anything bother me and so far I have been golden.  I am an 'enjoy life where you are at' kinda gal.  But Thanksgiving is coming up, then Christmas just around the corner from that.  And this is the first year of my life that I won't be spending it with my family. 

Brother and Husband Christmas Morning

Don't get my wrong, I love it here.  I love our lifestyle and I love living in different country, learning a new language, and trying to understand a new culture.  I like trying to integrate myself here and make new friends.  But it is hard because when I look on facebook, and I see all the friendships back home that are so effortless. {I don't have to translate everything in my head before I talk!}  Friendships I have had forever.  I miss my parents.  They are just awesome people to be around.  I miss my home church, although I am thankful to have found one here.  I miss all the other moms I know in the area and the support they offer.  I miss my cousins and their kids (Tae's friends).

Other brother and his wife Christmas Morning

But this is my life.  Some people never even get to see Europe, let alone live there.  (Granted, people probably don't care to live here, either).  I am learning another language, which is a huge, huge feet.  I have so much respect for people who know multiple languages.  I am giving my kids a broader view of the world, and allowing them to understand what other cultures are like.  I am getting a broader view of the world.  It is easy to be a closed minded American because America is so huge and does so many things well.  But other cultures and ways of life have things to offer too. 

Great pic, I know!

Over all, I wouldn't change anything about my life.  I love the experience that this is offering me right now.  I don't ever want to miss home so much I am not enjoying what is infront of me.  So I am embracing the new things of this year.  Being with my family, my boys, and my husband.  Creating new traditions for the Simmons family.  It is all very exciting and I am looking forward to it.  I just have to train myself to live in the now, enjoying what the Lord has given me for now.  And I do.  Thank you, Lord!

Tae and Daddy Christmas Morning

With my brother at Christmas Dinner

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!

Okay, so I missed day 1 of the blogger challege over at Aly's blog, but I thought I would join anyway, because I LOVE CHRISTMAS!  I think I am ambracing Christmas more this year because we are away from all my family and friends back home and in the Bahamas, and it is the first time we are having Christmas as a family, just us 4.  I am doing my best to make traditions and make sure it is super enjoyable for Tae, I know he misses family too.  So the topic I chose to write about is Holiday Traditions!!

I chose this because as my family has many of our own, my family being my parents and brothers, our family, Lavar, me, Tae, and Eli have to start some new ones.  I going to post some of my ideas and we will see how much of them I actually do this season.  I have a tendency not to follow through...




1.)  December 1st is decoration day!  I am getting everything ready this week and next Wednesday we are going to wake up late, have a ymmy breakfast, listen to Christmas music, drink hot coco, and decorate the house!  It won't take much time, but I want to do it as a family and have fun doing it!  {We chose Dec. 1st because Lavar doesn't have practice til late and Tae doesn't have school.  It just happened to be the first day of December!}

2.) Christmas Movie.  Lavar doesn't really like my family's Christmas movie {A Christmas Story} Boo!  So we have to find a new one.  Lavar suggested Chronciles on Narnia I was thinking the Grinch.  We haven't decided the movie, but we are going to put it on the lap top and cuddle in mommy and daddy's bed with lots of pillows and watch our Christmas movie!  Can't wait!!

3.) Christmas Lights.  This year it happens to be in Lyon where they have this huge lights display.  But I figure that is something you can do every year, no matter what country you are in!

4.) Gift on Christmas Eve.  Perhaps pajamas?  Maybe a cool pair of Spiderman Socks (just saw some today) Something to get us in the Christmas spirit!

5.) Christmas dinner with friends.

6.)  Christmas Breakfast.  Probably one of my favorite traditions.  After we open up all our presents, my parents went in the kitchen and made everyone breakfast.  Yummy eggs over easy with toast and bacon.  I want to continue that tradition and I am pretty sure I won't get an argument from Lavar!  We will just have to change up the breakfast a little bit.

That's it!!  I hope I get to them all.  I love Christmas, but my biggest wish this year is for my son to have a wonderful time full of memories that will last him a lifetime.  I want him to feel loved through the times we spend together more than the gifts.  {Quite frankly, there won't be that many!}

I look forward to reading everyone else's traditions!!  Maybe I will steel a few!