Our house with a fresh blanket of snow during the Christmas Holiday season in Medina, NY. Western New York has some of the most beautiful winters.

Whether it’s December or July, my love of celebrating Christmas runs deep. Outdoor lights, trees, cookies, music, and don’t get me started on the movies; I love it all. In July I start to receive texts, direct messages, or notifications that I’ve been tagged in countdowns to Christmas. I can snap into the Christmas spirit in a heartbeat, and I don’t need much prompting. But as much as I love it, I’m hoping for much more out of summer before I jump in.

Christmas tree shopping is always one of our favorite activities. When we find the right holiday tree, we get excited.

This is definitely not me turning my back on my favorite holiday. Instead this has everything to do with enjoying what’s in front of me. All too often we rush to what comes next. During spring, we can’t wait for summer. When it’s warm enough to swim, Halloween decorations begin to arrive in stores. We’ve lost the excitement in enjoying the present, because we’re always thinking about what comes next. This year, I’m taking a step back.

I can quickly fall into the trap of rushing things. Ordinarily, Christmas in July excites me. I sneak in a movie from Hallmark and I even count down the days to when it might be socially acceptable to decorate the season. This year, I’m focusing on enjoying the now.

The summer heat is leading to more swim time and Roux is enjoying trips to the park. We still haven’t had a good bonfire for s’mores. While others might be eagerly awaiting the arrival of pumpkin spice lattes, I’m hoping for more days of summer. So for now, my Christmas t-shirts are staying packed away and I’ll be recording Hallmark movies for brisk nights this fall. Happy end of Christmas in July, friends. And welcome the heat of August in WNY!

-Scott