I went back and forth with this blog post.  I could have showed you my pictures and wrote a little post on how wonderful everything is and how it appeared, however, that would be lying.  I almost didn’t post the pictures at all…I just couldn’t find the words to accompany the pictures that portrayed a joyous holiday.   I’ve contemplated how to approach this for several days.  I don’t want to burden anyone with my problems…I want my blog to be happy and uplifting!  Then after some thought, I thought it was best to just tell you the truth.

*Warning*  I’ve heard that some people do not like bloggers to post anything about their personal lives (this can be a pet peeve for some people).  If this is the case, feel free to skip and scroll down to the pictures.

I’ve had one heck of a November and December, to put it mildly.

I posted on Facebook in early November that I was having our staff Christmas party at my house.  Well, that never happened.  Unfortunately, I have had some medical issues for the past couple years and I’ve been putting off surgery for quite some time.  Deciding that I suffered enough, I made the decision to have surgery right before Thanksgiving.

I was determined to make sure that the surgery would NOT keep me from having my Christmas party!  I started decorating in early November with the plan that I would be finished before I went to the hospital.

AFTER SURGERY…

As you can probably guess, I couldn’t host a Christmas party.   I ended up having some complications that I never anticipated and recovery wasn’t as easy as I thought.  In addition, I ended up with another medical condition that I’m currently dealing with.  Needless to say, I’ve been back and forth to doctor’s appointments and also have had a home nurse make regular visits to my house.  Ugh.  Not fun.  (In case you are wondering, I will be totally fine to head back to school on January 4th and looking forward to it!)

FAST FORWARD TO A WEEK LATER…

I decided that I should take advantage of my six weeks off and visit my grandmother as much as I could.  My grandma was moved to a nursing home the day of my surgery.  My family couldn’t be with me while I was in the hospital because everyone had to help her move (talk about bad timing), however,  I was fine with that.  I knew that my grandma needed them more than I did.  I was anxious to get out of the hospital and see my grandma’s new home.  I couldn’t drive for a couple weeks, but when I started to feel better, my plan was to spend my days off with her, keeping her company.  With working so much, I often felt guilty that I didn’t see her enough.  I was excited to have this time off to be able to spend it with her.

To make a long story short, I was finally able to see my grandmother last Sunday.  I spent a couple hours with her, told her I loved her before I left, and said that I would be back the next day to see her.

She ended up dying that night.

My heart is broken.  I actually feel my heart hurting.

My grandmother was a huge part of my life and was like a second mom to me.  The pain almost seems unbearable right now and getting through Christmas feels like a struggle.  We’ve spent the last week planning a funeral and saying goodbye to a woman that I loved more than anything.

CHRISTMAS PHOTO SHOOT…

As you can imagine, it is very difficult for me to write a blog post.  My inspiration for the room and the decor seems so insignificant right now.  I can’t even begin to find the words.  Every time I try to write something, I start to cry. Christmas was my grandmother’s favorite holiday and everything reminds me of her.

I know that some of you have been waiting for this post, so I don’t want to disappoint anyone and I know that “the show must go on.”  I made the decision to go ahead and post them.  I hope my pictures can bring joy and inspiration to all of you this season.  Please remember to hold your family close this Christmas! xoxo

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes
for a Happy New Year!

Melanie

Curtains:  Wayfair, Rug:  Zulily, Candleabra:  Dot and Bo, Black Sign:  House of Belonging, Coffee table:  Ballard Designs, Black cabinet:  garage sale  Birch candles on table:  Save-on-Crafts, White furniture:  Pottery Barn, Lamps:  Pottery Barn, Black and White picture above fireplace:  Pottery Barn, Pillows/throws:  Pottery Barn, Curtain Rods:  Meijer, Merry Christmas banner:  Carriage House Designs, Howell, Michigan

Mirror:  Pottery Barn, Lamps:  Pottery Barn, 3-tiered metal stand:  Joss and Main, Bows:  Target

Black tables:  The Iron Grate, Fenton, Michigan,  Vase:  The Weed Lady, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Flower arrangements created from fresh greenery from The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan) and Save-on-crafts, Books:  flea market

Candles:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Star:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan), tree slices:  Michaels, glass jars and candlestick:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Black cabinet:  garage sale, Crystal:  flea markets

Bench:  Joss and Main, Baskets:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Rug:  Ballard Designs, Fern pictures:  collected over years, Pillows:  Pottery Barn

Clarisa chandelier from Pottery Barn

Glitter initials on tree:  Walmart

Plates:  Pottery Barn, wicker charger:  Target, Center stone urn:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan)

Bark vases:  Joann Fabrics, tree slices:  Michaels,  Shutters:  Ebay, White shelf:  Pottery Barn Outlet

Old Barnwood shelves:  Ebay, Metal brackets:  Hobby Lobby, McCoy Vases:  Etsy, Books:  flea markets

Curtains:  Pottery Barn (discontinued), Merry Christmas Banner:  Pottery Barn Kids, Chandelier:  Pottery Barn

Chalkboard:  Etsy, Initials:  Hobby Lobby, Skis:  someone’s garbage, jars on coffee table:  Maria Manore’s wedding (Kinder-craze blog)

Chairs:  Pottery Barn (discontinued), Table:  Ballard Designs

Lamp:  Magnolia Market, black table:  from my son’s nursery almost 19 years ago (painted and changed knobs)

Black buffet:  Pottery Barn, Pinecones:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan)

Bells:  Target, Plates:  Pottery Barn, Pillows:  Pottery Barn, Coffee Table:  Ballard Designs

Table – Two Birds (no longer in business), Black sign:  House of Belonging

Christmas 1972

(Melanie’s first Christmas with her grandma and grandpa)

Merry Christmas in Heaven, Grandma.  I love you.

Photos by E’lisa Campbell from E.C. Campbell Photography in Clarkston, Michigan