Regular readers of A July Dreamer know my sister-in-law Hannah and my sister Lucy are regular contributors. When this opportunity arose to share ONE holiday gem, I knew I would struggle to pick just one. As kids growing up in Zambia we didn’t go on many holidays and when we did we rarely took pictures. I don’t personally own any holiday pictures of myself or of my siblings. All the memories that we made with our extended families and friends are engraved into our minds only. Hence for this opportunity I chose to ask one person I know would have more than one holiday gem to share.

What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?

When someone asks you what your best holiday was what would you say? Have you been on just one major holiday or have you been on several and traveled the world? As a child I went on my fair share of family holidays making it difficult to choose just one. I must admit I was taken aback at first, I mean how can you pick just one? It is hard enough choosing which holiday was my favourite but to have to choose only one photo seemed mad. However after giving it some thought it seemed like this was the obvious choice and I will tell you why.

Now I have to apologize about the quality of this little Holiday Gem of mine. But as you can probably tell it is a golden oldie and you are lucky it is in colour!

Hannah’s Holiday Gem

So why this picture in particular? We all look a mess with hat hair, wearing matching all in one suits (MOTHER!). Though I am not even looking at the camera (I am the cutie on the right) this picture lights something up inside me. I feel like a little girl again all excited for Christmas and snow even if it is mid September and scorching hot outside.

This picture was taken in Lapland Finland, I went there with my parents and 2 sisters.  We stayed in a private log cabin with a sauna and bunker beds built within the walls with wooden ladders. We had so much fun playing in that log cabin every night but when daylight came the real adventures started.

A Family Trip to Lapland, Finland

We spent a whole week in Lapland and every day a coach would pick and take us on another amazing trip. We would meet Santa’s head elves who lead the way to finding Santa who we found on the last day of our holiday. Throughout the days of the search we did all kinds of fun things including cooking our food outdoors. Sitting on chairs made in the snow, drinking hot chocolate around a fire outside, learning to ski for the first time and so much more.

One the final day when we approached a little log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest with nothing else. There was a reindeer waiting outside (Prancer) and elves with yet more hot chocolate. We were told that THE REAL Father Christmas was inside; he had got our letters and was waiting to see us. This first picture was taken during our visit to Santa; he had the letters we’d written and a gift for each of us from our list.  Mine was glittery nail polish obviously!

Believe in the Christmas Spirit!

I love Christmas, I always have and now that I have a child of my own the magic is just as alive for me. I believe in Father Christmas, the magic of it is real and I can see it every time my sons face lights up. Because the reindeer nibbled the carrot we left out and when he opens his eyes just a tiny bit on Christmas morning.  To see if HE has been and filled up the stocking perched on the end of his bed.

I see it throughout the whole of December when everyone is just a little bit kinder to each other. Shopping centers feel warmer and more cosy, there is laughter everywhere and people singing carol songs on the streets. On Christmas morning if you go out you see families bringing in the “emergency chairs”, this only ever happens at Christmas. People just naturally come together at Christmas time and I only hope that the magic never fades.

It was a once in a lifetime trip which will hold a special place in my heart forever.  I hope to be able to take my son one day so that he can experience the magic. And hope he comes to realise the true meaning of Christmas.

*Collaborative