I'm usually the rushed Christmas shopper, flying through the store a few days before Christmas trying to get the perfect gift that I should have gotten weeks ago, the one dropping off Christmas cards at the post office knowing full well with as late as I'm sending them, they'll get there a week AFTER Christmas.
Well.... not this year!! I've started early! We have our Christmas shopping done, and I just finished making Christmas cards. All I have left to do is develop our family Christmas picture and find envelopes to fit my homemade cards. A (very good :) friend of mine brought up a good point, getting the shopping and card sending done early lets you enjoy the Christmas season more. Instead of worrying over gifts, I can focus on baking! Truer words were never spoken. I know I shouldn't be skipping right over Thanksgiving, but I've caught the Christmas bug this year. I've been listening to Christmas music, hardly giving a thought to the-day-of-turkey-eating. But I have been thinking about why I'm thankful. It's hard not to this time of year. Christmas gives me a happy warm feeling. It truly feels like the earth is celebrating the birth of Jesus with us, it's always a beautiful day.
This year we lost someone very special to us. My sweet sister is missed so much, especially this time of year. She loved Christmas, and I know she will still be with us this year. So first and foremost, I'm thankful for the time I've spent with Tiffany and the memories I have of her.
I'm also thankful for this guy:
He loves me at my worst and adores me at my best. I couldn't ask for anything more. I love you honey! ♥ (you can all throw up now... haha!)
Observe the picture above. Tommy is coloring, and getting it all over the coffee table. And you know what? I don't care. I grew up in a house where we didn't use the dining room table because it was too nice. All it taught me was to actually use the stuff I buy. Life is too short, I'm not going to waste energy trying to make my furniture last a million years, I'm going to look at Tommy's scribble marks on my table and think of how much I love him.
Yeah, I guess I'm thankful for this other little guy. :) I'm so excited for his first Christmas!! Every year we each choose a new ornament from a nice Christmas store downtown, and this year there will be one more to choose. That makes me so, so happy.
I'm thankful for the time I have to cuddle with my boys on the couch when it's raining and cold outside.
Merry Christmas. Count your blessings.
