If Only In My Dreams

December 10, 2023

Christmas in Piacenza is quite the scene: lights hanging across every street, a quaint Christmas market full of vendors selling sweet treats and mulled wine and cioccolata calda, a big tree lit up in the city center, and a small train that drives people around at night playing Christmas music. Tonight there was a choir singing carols and town was bustling. It’s pretty magical over here!

Last week, my friends and I all met up to hang out and draw names out of a hat for Secret Santa. As we sat and sipped our drinks, we talked about our favorite Christmas traditions. When it was my turn to talk, I didn’t know how to answer. How can I pick just one?!

There was always a baking day with all the cousins.

There was our caroling night: a soup potluck at my grandma’s house with all our family and friends. We’d eat soup, drink cider, and sit around the piano singing Christmas songs together. (So wholesome!)

There was the night where my family, cousins, aunts and uncles would head to the city and act like little kids for an evening. We’d go bowling, or to the arcade, and play ninja in the middle of the mall while waiting for our dinner reservation.

There's Christmas Eve Eve, or as my sister and I call it, Christmas Adam, because Adam came before Eve. Her and I would stay up all night watching old Claymation Christmas movies, emailing Santa, and eating Christmas cookies.

Then, of course, Christmas Eve itself! We’d go to church, eat a big family meal, then sit by the fire and open our first gift: pajamas. As kids we would put out milk and cookies, leave oats and carrots outside for the reindeer, and go to bed early(ish) so Santa wouldn’t skip our house.

Then Christmas morning, we’d wake up early and open our stockings – which always contained clementines (I can’t eat an orange without thinking of Christmas morning now) – then we would eat a family breakfast before unwrapping the rest of our gifts.

I enjoy every part of the season leading up to Christmas. I couldn't pick just one tradition to share with my friends. I lit up and talked about all of it.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. (James 1:17)

The people in my life, both here and back home, are gifts. These memories I have are gifts. God has blessed me with an incredible family. I have sweet memories with them. I am able to chase my dreams of studying and living abroad because of them.

After talking about traditions with my friends I felt homesick. I planned to spend Christmas with Pauline's family in Belgium, which would have been incredible, but I have nearly two months off of school and there's no place like home for the holidays.

The next day, my grandparents gave me the best gift I could ask for: a flight home for Christmas—a whole month of time with them. I can't even express my gratitude, or contain my excitement.

I have one more busy week of school, then I’ll be hopping on a flight back to the states! I’ll be home for Christmas.