The holidays remind me of those I care about. I look forward to spending time over the next month with friends and family. I look forward to visiting those who live far away through holiday cards and messages we send as we have virtual coffee together. It's that time of year when, despite the rush to shop and decorate and cook, I want to slow down and savor.
I visit with dear friends who live inside the pages of books too. It wouldn't be December without my visit to the magical world that exists inside my favorite Tasha Tudor books. I have two favorite books because it is always easier to have more than one favorite. In my house, it's officially the holiday season when we read Tasha Tudor's A Doll's Christmas. This is the beautiful story of beloved dolls and the children who adore them. The story is simple and sweet and perfect. I've loved this book for as long as I can remember, and I've read it more times than I could ever possibly count, and yet, each time I visit those pages, it feels just as magical as it did on my first trip into that book.
I also have to revisit Tasha Tudors A Time to Keep. This book makes me excited for the new year as Tudor takes us through a calendar year and the things that make each month special. As I turn the pages, I feel this desire to continue the traditions we have in my family and to add new ones. I am reminded that the most wonderful times aren't so much about what we are doing but rather that we are surrounded by those we love so much and the desire to make those moments special.
If I could climb inside those two books, make myself at home and live there for a while, I would. Since I haven't discovered how how to physically travel from this human world into my magical book world, I will do the next best thing….bring my favorite parts of those books to life right here. I will draw our newest holiday tradition from the pages of those books and feel like just maybe Tasha Tudor is here with us for the holidays this year. When my girls saw the dolls' Christmas tree in A Doll's Christmas, I know they wanted one for their dolls. I think this year that might just happen.
What books do you revisit this time of year to get in the holiday spirit?
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