brittany nicole

I love this time of the year. Too bad, we’re in a pandemic and unable to celebrate like normal. One of the benefits for me working in higher education is that I get holiday breaks too. I’ve been getting this all the breaks since 2009 and I look forward to it every year.

So for Thanksgiving break, I went to Florence, Al but we did not have a traditional family gathering. My family has not had a gathering all 2020. My mom is an only child and my grandmother and some of her siblings have pre-existing health conditions. So we were tempted but decided against hosting a gathering of any kind.

Since I was home for the weekend after Thanksgiving Day, we did purchase a ticket to go check out the Rocket City Christmas Spectacular hosted at the Toyota Field. We purchased our tickets in advance but you can purchase tickets on the night of at the event gate. Tickets are $27 per car. Which I thought was fairly priced for the set-up. The drive-thru light show begins at 5pm each night and the line for entry will be long. I would actually encourage you to take the route opposite of Zierdt Rd to gain access.

The light show was spectacular indeed and the radio playlist allows you to experience a synchronization of music and the lights. It’s kind of cool and took us a little while to figure that part out. It actually really put you in the Christmas mood. My 2 year old niece really enjoyed herself. We allowed her to look out (slightly hang out, while I hold her legs like my life depended on it) the window and she was amazed by everything. My sister, my mom, and myself really were impressed as well. You go through the route at about 5-7 mphwhich gives you plenty of time to observe everything, even if you’re in the driver seat.

There’s an inside portion (winter wonderland) that is free to enter but unless you’re wanting to spend more money inside, you probably will not find it worth your time. Especially if your kids are of age to notice what’s being offered. Luckily, my niece didn’t know the difference. They offer quite a bit of opportunities for you to partake in though, here’s a list:

• hot chocolate stations
• cookie decorating
• s’mores making
• shopping

Now, pictures with the characters are free. Only Santa was present the night that we visited, but they do have more. Just depends on the night that you go.

We did love the photo inside the globe picture and luckily didn’t have to wait in a long line. I wish I had a discount code to share with you but I’d give it 5 stars and do believe that it’s worth the $27.

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Here’s a bonus if you’re looking for some inspiration:

While I was home for the holiday break, I lost my car key. On Monday, November 21 I had to take my grandmother to Huntsville to have a in & procedure. I honestly didn’t mind at all and knew I could get some work done while there. I drove to her place that morning because we were going to be taking her car. That was the last time that I saw my car key. Mind you, I keep my car key separate from house keys. I started doing this awhile back. Don’t ask me but just know that it works for me. lol

Well that night when we arrived back in Florence, I noticed that I was missing my car key (I had the house keys in my hand) but didn’t think too much of it. I was too tired to care and knew I wasn’t going anywhere that night. I stayed the night at granny’s and went looking for my keys the next day (Tuesday, November 22) in her car. No luck. & my car doors were locked.

Wednesday, November 23: I look again in both locations. No car key in sight.

Thursday, November 24: No car key still.

Friday, November 25: I lose a little hope, but still determined that they’ll show up eventually. (I kept telling my my mom & granny to just give me time to think but they were applying pressure for me to just call a locksmith)

My mom discovers that with the proper verification, Toyota will make you a that will unlock your doors only. Who knew that this was possible? Not I. That cost $20. Not bad.

But this only helped confirm what I already knew. The key was not in my car.

I set up an appointment for Saturday, November 26 (the same day that we’re planning to go see the light show) for a locksmith to make me a key and program it. This was going to be roughly $150. I was butt hurt and couldn’t believe it I was going to have do pay this amount of money for a key that I knew had to be hidden in my grandmother’s car or in Huntsville at one of the 3 locations I went to while I was there. But oh well. Just pay up, honey. It’s your fault, anyway.

So the man calls during the Iron Bowl game but whatever, I guess that’s not important right now. So I jump up and grab the keys and out the door I go. My mother drives like we’re on a racetrack to get me there in no time. The man is already out his car prepping his tools. Except I then realize, I don’t have the key. The one that I had made earlier to get in the car. Yea apparently I’ve lost it too. I told my mom on the drive over that I never do well when rushed.

He was as sweet as can be about it stated that he’ll just come back tomorrow. Cool, I appreciate you sir. Thank you for noticing that I’m on the struggle bus. My mom is hot at me. I honestly don’t care though because I tried to tell her nothing good comes out of people rushing me.

We drive back home. Found the key that would unlock the car door. And I thought in that moment, what if God canceled that appointment for me? Maybe the key fell out when I originally went to Huntsville and somebody turned it in. (I had been calling the establishments that I visited but no one had had a car key turned in)

We drive to the hospital after the light show. We drive to Steak-Out. We drive to Panera Bread. No car key had been turned in.

We then drive home.

At this point, I’m tired of getting my hopes up.

The man was scheduled to come Sunday, November 27 at 10am. I go over to my granny’s house at 9am to look in her car one more time. When I went in to ask for her car keys, she laughed and said, “AGAIN?”. In my mind though, it wasn’t going to cost me anything.

At about 9:30am, I found my car key in her car. It was stuck in the machinery underneath the driver seat.

I canceled that appointment and saved myself $150 that day.

So just maybe you need to go back and launch the idea again. Start the blog again. Be open to love again. Apologize again. Do it again. Over and over again, if need be.

And when people ask or wonder why you’re going back again to do something that’s already been done. Tell them, this time will be different. Just wait and see. Say “Watch God, not me.”

The next time around, you’ll have an ending worth sharing.

the key to making memories is to show up (even in the most chaotic situations) and be present with the ones you love.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

#BNspired2day