Dodging the Holiday Fog

by Kyra Jacobs

But last week I was on my way to work and drove into a fog so thick I feared for a few miles that I would miss my exit ramp to get off the highway.  Of course, it didn’t help that Indiana does this ridiculous daylight savings time stuff now (yes, I know, I need to get over it already) so it was both foggy AND relatively dark. Thankfully, I spied the exit sign soon enough, and eventually made my way out of the fog.

Admittedly, that’s how I felt coming into December this year—like I was wading out of a fog. I’m sure it didn’t help that I had a book due to my editor the week of Thanksgiving and said book had been giving me fits for months. Yes, months. This wasn’t writer’s block. Oh, no. This was me, mentally, not being able to get out of my own way. I’ve never struggled with a book so much before, or had to park myself in front of my laptop and crank out so many words those final few weeks in a deadline-induced frenzy. So, when the book was finally done—can I get a hallelujah?!—I found myself slowly re-acclimating to the real world again.

Whoa, it’s Thanksgiving in, like, two days? When did that happen?

Wait, Christmas is only a month away?! I need to get moving on, well, EVERYTHING!

And did I mention my youngest son’s birthday falls halfway between those two holidays!?

All kidding (and panicking) aside, this isn’t the first time I’ve struggled with pre-holiday fog. When my kids were younger, the weeks leading up to Christmas were often filled with school parties and programs, baking and band concerts. Many a season, it felt like all we were doing was wading through a fog of activities with some little voice in the back of my head chanting, “GO GO GO!!!!!” Then school would let out, Christmas would be upon us, and blink—it was over.

I’ve tried to do better the past few years, though. Tried to be more intentional about being present in the season, not just focused on shopping for presents. And thankfully, it’s not too late to make the most of this year, either. Now that my November fog is over, I’ve been trying to snap out of it and get on the ball. There’s Christmas music cranked in the car on my way to/from work. I’m trying to spend more time with family and friends. Hey, I even hung lights outside for the first time in years.

Though, yes, I waited for a fifty-degree day in December to do it. LOL.

This weekend, my oldest will be home from college, which means the family movie marathons will soon commence. Oh, yes—Polar Express is definitely in our future. Hopefully, so will be The Grinch, Charlie Brown, A Christmas Story, and Christmas Vacation. Probably going to need to make some Puppy Chow (the Chex cereal variety) and Chocolate Crinkle cookies, too. We’re a movies and snacks kind of bunch.

And when the kids are off doing their own things, I’ll get the wrapping paper out and have my beloved Christmas gift wrapping extravaganza with Mannheim Steamroller playing in the background.

What do you do to avoid falling into the holiday fog? Curious minds want to know…

No matter how the next few weeks play out, my goal is to skirt the fog of busyness, and be present with my family in the most wonderful season of the year.

Wishing you and yours much love, joy, and peace this Christmas.

XO, Kyra

Kyra Jacobs is an extroverted introvert who’s always called Indiana home. Growing up in the Midwest means she’s well-versed in fickle weather, pork tenderloins that don’t fit on a bun, and sarcasm. Putting her Indiana University degrees in Public Management to good use by day means Kyra does the bulk of her writing late into the night. Fueled by caffeine and funny memes, she weaves humor and chaos into her stories, which range from sweet romance to mysteries and even paranormal/fantasy.

When this Hoosier native isn’t at a keyboard, daydreaming through her fingertips, she's likely outside, elbow-deep in snapdragons or spending quality time with her sports-loving family. Kyra also loves to bowl, tries to golf, and is an avid college football fan.

Be sure to stop by kyrajacobsbooks.com to see her complete book list, which does not yet list the book that gave her such fits in November. However, if you’d looking for a sweet, holiday romance set right here in Indiana, check out her Bourbon Falls series and ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS BEAUTY.

This Christmas will be one for the books if they can open their eyes to the possibilities…

Mia Brooks-French threw everything she had into her marriage…until she walked in on her husband and his assistant. Now she’s shifted her focus to being the best mom possible to her sixteen-year-old daughter, her classroom of third graders, and her family’s struggling bookstore. Even Christmas is shaping up to be a challenge this year.

Unfortunately, businessman and bestselling author Alex Wellingham didn’t get the memo.

This Christmas, he’s decided it’s finally time to go after the girl he’d firmly locked away in his memories. But Mia isn’t ready to let college bygones be bygones or risk her heart a second time.

His surprise trip to Brooks Books in flames, Alex accepts help from Mia’s sister, Delaney. The duo concocts a tale guaranteed to buy Alex time with Mia and the bookstore a featured guest for an upcoming charity event. But when snowflakes begin to fly and the fibs snowball, can Alex and Mia wake up and decide if this second-chance romance is the real gift of the season?