Another Thirteen

My dear friend Patty thought that I should look for 13 great things about the holidays. I figured I might as well quite feeling sorry for myself long enough to do it so here goes...

1. When the room is dark Christmas lights have such a calming effect so even if the tree isn't in the most "comfortable" spot, the lights will relax me. And me relaxed is a great thing!

2. Shopping for others always brings me great joy so the sooner I start shopping the better!

3. It's really great that when the holidays are over we are only about 4 months away from spring!

4. When the holidays are over I can start thinking about what I want to plant in the garden, and order the seeds.

5. During the holiday break I can start researching what kind of chickens I want and where to get them.

6. Christmas music is a great thing about the holidays. Christmas music makes you feel warm even when it is cold out. (and it's cold out!).

7. One of the great parts of the holidays is making my mother's Christmas candies. It reminds me of being a kid.

8. It will be great to unload all the school photos stacked by my desk. I have a guilt thing going on and it will be great to get rid of it.

9. It's great this holiday season that I have a swap buddy and I will get a new ornament for the tree.

10. Christmas will be great IF we keep everyone up late and IF everyone sleeps in. My kids should come back home at 2pm and we can start Christmas then.

11. I've decided to make Thanksgiving great even if it really isn't great. My boys are so upset about having to be away that I am going to do our special dinner on a different day so they don't have to miss it. It's not their fault they don't have a say in their lives at (nearly) 13 & 16. (Em is happy to go and I'm okay with that...remember...choices).

12. One of the great things about the holidays is taking the kids shopping for each other. Nothing can take that away.

13. Socks. Socks are great. And what is even greater? They are 50% off the day after Thanksgiving if you get up at 4:30am (which I will do). Ever had three teenage boys running around the house....socks do not last long.

So there you are....13 great things about the holidays. You know what, I could tell you another 13 things (but I won't). No matter what "has to happen" or how upset we get, no one can take the joy of Christmas away from our home unless we let them. I'm not going to let it happen!