Yes Jen your writing is a gift from the heart as always. Best of holidays to all of you and so glad you can all be together - the miracle of family and loved ones!
Your writing is a gift Jen. This one brought me back to St. Matt's days as well with fond memories and humor. Yes, I was one of those side aisles photographers that wasn't going to follow the rules! Love looking at these miracles through your eyes and through your soul. xoxo!
Awww. This just hit so beautifully Jen. I read it slowly to savor it! Made me smile so many times and actually laugh out loud at the part about snow knowing when you have changed your flight 😂 Wishing you and your family the merriest of holidays together♥️
Well we were usually right beside each other in Chapel. And you were def one of the ones who whisked me out of there that day ❤️ Thank you for reading, writing and for helping to keep me upright for all those years.
Thank you for the immediate return feeling of merry through your perfect description of the St Matts Christmas chapel, including the absolute bedlam and the playdate roulette, both of which were imprinted as clearly in my memory as the carols themselves. Wishing you and your family many miracles in 2025.
Thank you as always Jen for your heartfelt and beautiful words which have left me with warm fuzzies all year. After spending 90 minutes in the tunnel at LAX last night, just me and my two pups waiting to be reunited with our boyfriend, I had the same observation of taillights as proxy for Christmas lights. After some east coast-style honking at a car whose driver spaced out and didn’t keep up with the inching, the entire tunnel broke out in what can only be described as a joyous honk fest, windows open and plenty of smiles and thumbs up. Joy in the unexpected places. Merry Christmas and Happy Everything!
I'm going to say more later because we're consumed with pre-holiday mayhem & foolishness but for now I just want to say that this undid me, in the best possible way. And like so many others have already said, your writing is a gift. And a miracle. ❤️
Love the "Love, Actually" insight your daughter shared... and you brought back fond memories of our annual nativities in London. If you've never seen any of the "Nativity" movies (there are 3!), they are REAL... actually, that's back to "Love, Actually" and the lobster visiting the manger.
Our most memorable one had our son steering the alien ship visitation (supplementing the wise men) that just didn't get covered in the bible. Ah, those were the days... Happy Christmas!
Oh my goodness: was she quoting the movie?? Here's the beautiful thing about me at this point: I've forgotten everything I've ever watched or read so I give original content credit quite readily. Oh well -- still a lovely thought and one worth repeating.
And I think I need a pic of that alien ship visitation ;)
No, no no... she wasn’t quoting. I’m talking thematically... "Love Actually" starts and ends at Heathrow and the full quote by Hugh Grant is "Love actually is all around." She gets full credit for a similar lovely thought!
The 👽 nativity was back in 2009... I'll find a photo!
Yes Jen your writing is a gift from the heart as always. Best of holidays to all of you and so glad you can all be together - the miracle of family and loved ones!
Thank you, Karen❤️Happy holidays to the ever-expanding Enich family :)
What a great post ! I love the part about airplanes being like sleighs that fly -- I so agree . Thanks for this holiday spirit .
Thank you so much, Jill ❤️ Happy holidays!
Your writing is a gift Jen. This one brought me back to St. Matt's days as well with fond memories and humor. Yes, I was one of those side aisles photographers that wasn't going to follow the rules! Love looking at these miracles through your eyes and through your soul. xoxo!
You were the class historian: you HAD to be in the side aisles ;) Thank you for reading, Jan and happy holidays to the Kellys❤️
Jen, a beautiful ode to the holidays. Your writing never ceases to amaze me. Thank you for sharing this gift. Happy Holidays to you all.
Thank you, Todd ❤️ Happy holidays!
Thank you for sharing another beautiful insightful and touching story. Happy holidays to you and your family, Jen!
Thank you, Marci❤️happy holidays to you too!
Awww. This just hit so beautifully Jen. I read it slowly to savor it! Made me smile so many times and actually laugh out loud at the part about snow knowing when you have changed your flight 😂 Wishing you and your family the merriest of holidays together♥️
Thank you, Lauren❤️who knows how snow is so all-knowing?? Hope you guys are having great holidays and travels (your family’s favorite combo ;)
I felt like I was back in Chapel with you 💕. How do you possibly remember all of those tiny and beautiful details?
You ended 2024 with one of your best. If only we all had Lew’s perspective! Thank you for reminding us of what’s right in front of us.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Well we were usually right beside each other in Chapel. And you were def one of the ones who whisked me out of there that day ❤️ Thank you for reading, writing and for helping to keep me upright for all those years.
Thank you for the immediate return feeling of merry through your perfect description of the St Matts Christmas chapel, including the absolute bedlam and the playdate roulette, both of which were imprinted as clearly in my memory as the carols themselves. Wishing you and your family many miracles in 2025.
Those chapels were MADNESS but rank high in the Parker kid memory banks. Glad we had and have each other in bedlam❤️
So fun to be whisked back to Christmas Chapel! 🥰❤️👏
Again, the perfect gift for the season. Thank you for your always remarkable insight.
Thank you so much, Paula❤️
Thank you as always Jen for your heartfelt and beautiful words which have left me with warm fuzzies all year. After spending 90 minutes in the tunnel at LAX last night, just me and my two pups waiting to be reunited with our boyfriend, I had the same observation of taillights as proxy for Christmas lights. After some east coast-style honking at a car whose driver spaced out and didn’t keep up with the inching, the entire tunnel broke out in what can only be described as a joyous honk fest, windows open and plenty of smiles and thumbs up. Joy in the unexpected places. Merry Christmas and Happy Everything!
OH HOW I LOVE THIS, ANASTASIA ❤️ Thank you for sharing!
I'm going to say more later because we're consumed with pre-holiday mayhem & foolishness but for now I just want to say that this undid me, in the best possible way. And like so many others have already said, your writing is a gift. And a miracle. ❤️
You’ve said everything I could want to hear. Thank you, my friend❤️
You’re a great mom Jen Parker. Wishing you holidays filled with love and miracles.
Right back at you, Alice ❤️ And wishing you the same.
Love the "Love, Actually" insight your daughter shared... and you brought back fond memories of our annual nativities in London. If you've never seen any of the "Nativity" movies (there are 3!), they are REAL... actually, that's back to "Love, Actually" and the lobster visiting the manger.
Our most memorable one had our son steering the alien ship visitation (supplementing the wise men) that just didn't get covered in the bible. Ah, those were the days... Happy Christmas!
Oh my goodness: was she quoting the movie?? Here's the beautiful thing about me at this point: I've forgotten everything I've ever watched or read so I give original content credit quite readily. Oh well -- still a lovely thought and one worth repeating.
And I think I need a pic of that alien ship visitation ;)
No, no no... she wasn’t quoting. I’m talking thematically... "Love Actually" starts and ends at Heathrow and the full quote by Hugh Grant is "Love actually is all around." She gets full credit for a similar lovely thought!
The 👽 nativity was back in 2009... I'll find a photo!
Ye Good Ole Days of Wee St. Matt's. It was special ❤️