A Holiday Season Like No Other…Yet

by Kyra Jacobs

‘Tis the season for festive posts at Liz’s beloved Window Over the Sink! I’m so happy to be back, because to write a post worthy of the window means I’ll need to slow down. Consider. Reminisce. Dream.

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, something I used to find such joy in. Self-expression at its finest, tucked safely behind a keyboard and computer screen, sharing my experiences and the emotions that came with them. Some of you continue to be AMAZING, dedicated bloggers, and I admire your work so very much. Me, I chose to set my blog aside a number of years back to strike a healthier balance between momming, the day job, and writing.

This year has been an absolute roller coast, and would have been excellent fodder for my blog—our household was full of graduations! My oldest received his bachelor's degree from Purdue University, which meant I spent a good amount of time on the phone, encouraging him to dig in and keep working hard despite the inevitable feelings of senioritis burnout. My youngest graduated high school a few weeks later, but his senior year activities leading up to it kept me hopping all school year long: jazz band. Volleyball. Prom. College selection trips.

Oh, yes, and did I mention that brilliant me decided to voluntarily submit a book deadline schedule for my latest contract that placed two books smack dab in the middle of it all?! What WAS I thinking?

Pretty sure I wasn’t.

In fact, looking back, I’m fairly sure I was in a bit of pre-chaos shellshock. My youngest kiddo. Finishing high school…

Of course it was emotional, watching my first son finish out his high school days. Waving goodbye to our travel soccer road trips and guaranteed windshield time together. Packing his things and taking him down to West Lafayette and trying like mad to hold it all together so I could leave him with encouragement, hugs, and smiles.

So, I knew that it would be tough when my youngest got to that point in time too. But, oh, silly me. Tough didn’t do it justice. I hadn’t taken into account that his senior year was the beginning of the last of the last for our family.

The last, last first day of high school.

The last, last first of this event/activity/holiday/month/season—you name it, my brain cataloged them all.

Then came the harder things. The last, last concert. Last volleyball game. Last day of school. Last high school graduation.

Mama may have seemed semi-cool, calm, and collected on the outside. But inside? Alarm bells everywhere!!!!

Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking. “Kyra—we know, being a mom is hard. But what does this have to do with CHRISTMAS?!”

The answer is simple: this year, it means everything.

We survived the last lasts, and even the first firsts (oldest moving back home, youngest heading off to Ball State University). And though I didn’t start the fall with a fully empty nest, enough had changed (What’s that? I don’t have to “mom” anymore on a daily basis?!) that I still struggled with the transition. Like Kristina mentioned in her blog post a few days ago, after I turned my last book in, my writing creativity abruptly shriveled up. A million stories trapped in my head, dozens of lovely characters just waiting to greet the page, but when I’d sit down to write: nada. It was incredibly frustrating to find myself with all this extra time on my hands and not be able to access my go-to creative outlet.

I got mad. I got irritable. Yes, I got a little blue.

But then…Christmas appeared on the horizon. At Thanksgiving, my boys started talking about when we should put up the tree. About who was going to have the most opportunities to move the advent calendar marker. About the movies we would soon watch together, and the cookies and desserts we could soon bake and consume. About shopping (and of course, wrapping!!! MY favorite part!!) and gift lists and us all being home again. Together.

Yes, I know Christmas is about far more than all of that. But BECAUSE of Christmas, because of the precious gift that arrived in a manger all those years ago, we gather, we remember, and we rejoice. And the traditions we’ve made because of this time of celebration, all around the world, are ones that can still fill us with wonder and joy today, if only we allow them to.

This December, I’m not focused on grasping at the last of the lasts or the first of the firsts. Rather, I’m looking forward to just being present and soaking it all in. If I’m lucky, at least some of the time ahead will be spent on the couch, wedged between my two overgrown kiddos, eating holiday snacks and watching our favorite holiday movies. Together.

And guess what? My writing muse—she’s starting to wake up. She knows the boys will soon all be home, too. Maybe a few chocolate crinkles and spritz cookies will help sweeten the deal and she’ll grace me with more than a concept in the coming weeks. But if not, no worries. I’ll be busy anyway, enjoying time with my family.

Oh, how glorious it will be.

I have two holiday books available now, one set in fictional Bourbon Falls, Indiana and one set in Montana (yes, THIS was the one written during the aforementioned senior year emotional marathon). If you’re looking for stories full of family, fun, and happily-ever-after, feel free to check them out on my website.

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Kyra Jacobs is an extroverted introvert who’s always called Indiana home. Growing up in the Midwest means she’s well-versed in fickle weather, pork tenderloins that don’t fit on a bun, and sarcasm. Fueled by caffeine and funny memes, she weaves humor and chaos into her stories, which range from sweet romance to mysteries and even fantasy.

When this Hoosier native isn’t at a keyboard, daydreaming through her fingertips, she's likely outside, elbow-deep in snapdragons or spending quality time with her sports-loving family. Kyra also loves live music, scouting for the perfect seashell, and is an avid college football fan. Be sure to stop by kyrajacobsbooks.com to learn more about her novels and ways to connect with Kyra on social media.