If you walk into my Christmas house you’d notice one thing.
Well, actually, you might notice a lot of things. But after you looked at the blue and white rug and the pillows and the ornaments and the stockings and the greenery and Buddy snoring and my dolphin clapping? You’d notice the one thing that truly stands out.
There are TONS of twinkles.
It’s as if generations of Christmas twinkle lights got together and had a family reunion and showed up at our house with RVs and smores and camping equipment and decided to spend Christmas here. There are twinkles on the wreaths and twinkles on the trees and twinkles on the mantel and twinkles on the hutch and the bookcases and the front porch and the back porch and the staircase and the kitchen island.
Just between us?
It’s a lot.
I get it.
I understand.
But you see? I can’t help it. Christmas only comes once a year and I love a Christmas house that’s full of extra twinkles.
And just when I thought I couldn’t love those twinkles anymore?
This happened.
Here’s the thing about twinkles.
Someone has to turn them on.
I have some of the trees on timers and some of the lights on timers. But someone has to turn on the gingerbread houses and someone has to turn on the lights behind the houses and someone has to click the buttons on the staircase lights and someone has to make sure the timer on the faux candles is on.
Trust me.
Twinkle turner-on-er is a full-time job.
And for years that’s been my job.
And I love it.
Truly, I do. I go from room to room and talk to all the Christmas decorations and the reindeer and the pillows and the stockings and celebrate a new day with all of them.
Waking up the house is so much fun. But sometimes all that fun can be a little overwhelming—especially when I’m running late (which is 95% of the time) or I’m on a deadline.
Then? The fun loses a little of its luster.
So this year after I got everything decorated, I prepared myself for the first twinklefull morning.
I set an extra early alarm because I had a full day and I wanted to make sure everything was twinkle-ready before the day started.
The next morning I stumbled out of bed with bleary eyes and headed downstairs to wake up the house.
But when I rounded the corner?
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The house WAS LIT.
Every twinkle.
Every sparkle.
Every mantel.
Every hutch and bookcase and staircase and gingerbread house and tree and wreath and village was ready for the Christmas day ahead.
I couldn’t believe it.
What in the world?
And then?
At that moment my favorite elf in the entire world–-you know—the one with the twinkling brown eyes who stole my heart back when stirrup pants ruled the world—walked around the corner.
And grinned.
That grin said it all. He’d gotten up early to get the house ready. He’d known about the day and all the busy ahead of me and he didn’t want to add one more thing to my plate so he’d made sure all the Christmas was good to go.
My heart melted.
I looked around and sighed with joy.
And right there in the middle of my Christmas kitchen surrounded by a dazzling array of holiday lights, I think I fell a little bit more in love with him.
Blame it on the twinkles. 🙂
photo credit: Kenna Lynn Photography
I love Christmas lights! The more the merrier! Can you tell me where you found those assorted gold tree balls hanging on the tree? Happy Thanksgiving! P.S. Are your boys coming home for the holiday?
Lovely story, thanks for sharing.
We all need an elf with twinkling eyes!
That sweet husband of yours! 😍
He's a keeper!
How sweet! I love your stockings!! Where did you get them? Or did your talented sister make them? I'd love a set in red...
Ok, I admit it... I got a little teary eyed! This reminded me of my own hubby, getting up early to light up the house and have a wonderful breakfast ready for me! Life is truly a blessing 🙏 Big Hugs,
What a sweet story!!
Now that is Pure Love!!! How sweet of him to be Thinking of YOU!!
I hate to state the obvious, but….Mr Twinkle Eyes turns on twinkle lights? Obviously…perfection! Enjoy!! ;)
Ahhhh...those twinkle lights! What a special light turner-on-er! And you, you're Miss Twinkle Light herself! You don't need to be plugged in. You run on those bunny batteries! Always energized! LOL 😆❣️
Everything is absolutely beautiful!!! I know where you’re coming from about the “twinkles”!! Sometimes I get lazy and don’t turn them on, but you’ve inspired me to “ get’er “ done! Just what I needed, a little nudge!
Everything looks twinkling perfect but do spill, where did you get the reindeer?
Oh KariAnne, I was thinking after I read this that your husband had found a gizmo on Amazon that could be programmed to turn on all the twinkles with a push of a button!! Instead it turned out to be your sweet husband. He’s definitely a keeper! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Every time you mention twinkling eyes i think about my husband. When i see that sparkle it makes everything great! It’s the little things in life that make the days brighter and better. One smile, a wink, turning on all those twinkling lights! It’s so helpful and makes life a little easier just remembering those sweet moments. I love the twinkles too and i have them spread out as well! It does take a few minutes to get them all on but it is so worth it! Happy Day!
Sorry, I can't type an answer with all the dag gone tears in my eyes. But trust me, my answer was in awe..❤️
Your blogs are the coolest on the planet! Beautiful home, beautiful family including Buddy! Enjoy your twinkly lights and the upcoming holidays! Wishing your family the best from OKC!
❤️💖❤️💖❤️💖
I love your stories!!!!
Sweetest gesture ever. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
What a sweet story!! You’re a very gifted writer. Thanks for bringing a twinkle of light into my day.
You have a knack of bringing tears to my eyes, this is a beautiful little tale to tell and so romantic. I think they must have broken the mould when you married your wonderful, twinkling eyed husband....thanks for sharing. xx
Your joy and creativity are contagious. Thank you for inspiring me.
Hi, Best way to start your day; with the love of your life who starts the house twinkling with his eyes and the Christmas lights. Happy Thanksgiving.
Precious! Love this. We’ve been married 42 years and are so thankful because he just got extubated. Even in the ICU, we are thankful! Also, where is that blue geometric bowl from. Love it.
So glad you still fall for the brown eyes that twinkle!!! It's the little things that do so much!!!
The sweetest story and the prettiest room, in all it's twinkling glory! ❤️
Oh, my heart. ♥♥♥ You tell him every one of your readers fell a little bit more in love with him, too, dear friend. Happy beginning of The Most Wonderful Time of Year!!