For many couples who have been together a long time, Christmas becomes less about surprises and more about comfort. Traditions repeat themselves, memories pile up gently, and life settles into something familiar and safe.
That was exactly how our life felt.
Until one Christmas gift reminded us that the past doesn’t always stay where we leave it.
A Life Built on Routine and Trust
Greg and I were never flashy people. We didn’t chase trends or dramatic gestures. Our happiness came from the small, steady things.
The grocery list taped to the refrigerator.
A half-finished jigsaw puzzle spread across the dining room table for weeks at a time.
Morning coffee balanced between our seats during school drop-offs.
We celebrated birthdays at the same Italian restaurant every year. The waitstaff knew our order before we sat down. When life felt overwhelming, we escaped for spontaneous dinners on quiet weeknights, just the two of us, grateful for the rare pause.
Even our disagreements were predictable. On Sundays, the biggest debate was whether pancakes or waffles would win.
It wasn’t glamorous. But it was solid.
And I believed, deeply, that solid mattered.
Our Daughter and the Magic of Christmas
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