So This is Christmas...

This week is crunch time. I'll be cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, and questioning why I always wait until the last minute. I vowed that through it all I'm going to try my hardest to remember that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

My tree is decorated, but the rest of my home's interior is a little less than merry. I did make sure to put out my new nutcrackers.

Aren't they adorable?

I'm still not done baking, but by the time the week is over, we'll be hip-deep in cookies. I wouldn't want to deprive my technicians and my husband of their cookie intake. Unfortunately, I can't keep my grubby little fingers from dipping into the chocolatey, nutty, sugary, nuggets of sin, but that's a problem to deal with later on.

This year, I'm taking everything in stride. Whatever gets done, gets done, and whatever doesn't get done, doesn't need to get done. 

It's been 12 months  since Mom's health scares began. Last year at this time she was in an induced coma and when we weren't working or sleeping, we spent all our time at the hospital. I didn't do gifts or decorate--heck I didn't do Christmas. 

This isn't my favorite holiday. I'm more of a stuff-my-face-with-candy-and-cackle-like-the-witch-I-am kind of girl. I'm usually cranky and stressed out, but this year is different This year Mom is home and doing well, my oldest grandson still believes in the magic of Santa and my youngest grandson is old enough to appreciate the wonders of the season. Everyone is healthy and happy. What more could I ask for?

All is calm, all is bright, and even though we're having a freak warm spell in New Jersey, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thankfulness

So sorry to interrupt your broadcast of ridiculously early Christmas carols, (what's up with that anyway?) but this is in fact Thanksgiving week. What better time for a blog post on being thankful?

Sure, we should count our blessings every day, but Thanksgiving is a time when we are shaken from our hectic lives and reminded to slow down for a day (After cooking enough food for an arm, and before the stress of Christmas shopping for things we can't afford for people who don't need anything, of course.) and be mindful of the abundance in our lives.

So, I thought I would share with you all some of the things I am thankful for:

“When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching -- they are your family. ” 

― Jim Butcher

~Our family, of course. Most of them are bitchy, crazy, sarcastic, mixed-up, and quite dysfunctional, (except for the new babies, but it's inevitable...) but I love each and every person. Oh, and by the way, only I can say that about them. 

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”― Albert Einstein

~My creativity. Whether I'm writing, drawing, crafting, or whatever--it's all mine. I only wish I had more time to enjoy it and share it.

“Home is the nicest word there is.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder

~Our warm safe home. So many people have lost their homes in the recent hurricane and I thank God every day we are so fortunate.

“You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter.” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue

~My friends. Whether they are the online friends I've never met personally, or the ones I've shared laughter, tears, day trips to NYC, or margaritas (salted rim, please) with, they are all so supportive, inspiring, and comforting.

“There's no luck in business. There's only drive, determination, and more drive.” ― Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

~Our business. After 16 years of hard work, we still have a thriving business. Sure, we've had our ups and downs, and some days are harder than others when the cash doesn't flow as smoothly as I need, but we are grateful for our customers and the ability to survive and offer a service to our community. 

“Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte

~YOU! Yes, you keep me posting on this blog. Just knowing that someone has taken the time to read my thoughts is the ultimate compliment. Thank you!

I wish you the happiest Thanksgiving, and I hope you get a chance to surround yourself with the people you love. Don't eat too much. And remember, I'll be thinking of you. 

Before you go back to listening to that ridiculously early Christmas music, why not share something you are thankful for?

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