Hello, friends!  Happy Fall!  This blog entry has been written little pieces at a time because I have not allowed myself time to write lately.  I’ve been listening to the lie that I can’t make time for it because I have too many other things to do.  But, I’m making time for it because it is something that feeds my soul.  We are all artists of some kind and artists need to create in order to feel alive.  And, at church we talked about rest today.  God wants us to do life giving things that fill our soul.  Writing does this for me.  So, here is a new entry for you.  Thank you for taking the time to read it and comment as well.

The calendar is marking fall although the weather did not get the memo about this.  Pumpkin everything is everywhere.  I love this season; and I also love that it is reminding me how wonderfully soon the Christmas season will be here.  I love all things Christmas.  Which brings me to the subject of Hallmark Christmas movies—-perfect, whimsical, happily ever after, something that warms the soul, and just put me in a happy place.

Why can I watch them forever and over and over?  (Yes, I unashamedly admit that I was one of the super sappy souls that embraced the Hallmark channel’s “Christmas in July”.)

I’m Dreaming of a Hallmark Christmas

(sung to the tune of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”)

The snow is falling; the mountains are white

The twinkling Christmas lights sway,

There’s never been such a day

As the Hallmark Christmas-land way…

Oh,  I’m dreaming of a Hallmark Christmas

Just like the ones I see on TV

Where the tree tops glisten and children listen

to every sweet word their parents say,

Oh, I’m dreaming of a Hallmark Christmas with every perfect movie ending  I see

May your days be filled with cookies, snowmen, & a beautifully decorated  tree

and may all your Christmas dreams come true  so you live endlessly happy.

So, this is my ode to Hallmark Christmas movies.  I hope you catch the sarcasm at the end.  I love these movies. I have probably watched most of them.  Perhaps some of them two or three times.  Again, I am not ashamed to admit this.  I can tell you the plot within 5 minutes of  watching a new movie.  I love that they are brimming with Christmas spirit, gorgeous homes, gorgeous people, and happily ever-afters.  This is so not reality, but it feels oh so lovely to escape into their perfectly orchestrated Christmas days.  I am totally whisked away with them as they travel to quaint, picturesque little towns and discover a new love, a new passion, or a new joy for living.  I’m addicted and I can’t stop watching this channel every evening during the Christmas season.  (And I’ve also discovered that they have winterfest, summer, and fall movies too….Ahhh.!!! Yes, my fellow Hallmark channel addicts, the magic continues ALL YEAR LONG.)

Yes, I would love parts of my life to look like a Hallmark movie.  But,  it is FAR from it.  My life more often resembles a hot mess mama who forgot to pack her daughters’ lunches and sign those important permission slip forms ; and simultaneously needs to shower & get dressed for work ALL in a blink of an eye.  Where is Barbara Eden from I Dream of Genie when you need her?  Seriously, can you come live with us Barbara?

Anyway, the grass is always greener on the other side, my friends.  And, it seems like in the Hallmark movies the grass is the greenest ever in existence (or the snow is the fluffiest, whitest ever….whatever…you get my point, I hope.)  We all want to feel good and have a little Hallmark magic in our lives.  The danger is that we compare rather than just enjoy watching the sugary-sweet stories.

Our stories are each unique and we need to embrace the stories God is writing for us rather than perpetually escaping into someone else’s story.  Don’t get me wrong imagination, reading, and movies are all grand and some of my favorite things, but don’t let them hinder you from living out your dreams and passions.  Let them inspire you instead.

So, this Christmas season when I get lost in a Hallmark movie, I will try to remember the following things:

*To go to bed at a decent hour because I am a grown up, for goodness sakes, with two little girls and a full time job  ****Disclaimer:  Allow myself  to stay up ultra late once or twice, especially if I’m doing something productive like wrapping Christmas gifts or drinking eggnog to my  heart’s content.

*To notice one fun tradition or Christmas-y thing the characters did in the movie that I could do with my family or friends this Christmas season.

*To NOT compare but rather ENJOY

*To NOT bring a box of Christmas cookies or treats with me to the couch or bed because the treats will NOT survive the first half of the movie .  Adios, Trader Joe’s Gingerbread men or Peppermint JoJo’s…it’s been nice knowing you….welcome to my belly!

*To let the Hallmark magic inspire me to write my own unique (far less perfect but rather REAL) story.

So, let’s go write some wonderful new chapters to our stories, my friends.  Stories just as worthy, beautiful, and magical as the Hallmark movies some of us may adore.

Be Brave on the Narrows, my friends.