There are times I get to realized how blessed I am. I look around and am so happy for this core of six people that I get to be a part of.I wasn’t feeling quite so warm and fuzzy when the college group was being a little rowdy last night at 11pm while I was trying to go to sleep, but overall,I am in the middle of something great. As I look out to my rather large extended family, I feel the love. Here is a group that doesn’t expect anything other than me from me. How refreshing. Even though I miss my mom more during the holidays, I remember that she fought leukemia for twelve long years, and I get to hold those years in my heart, along with all the earlier years.

So, in the lead up to Christmas, I will do the things that bring me joy. I will visit with family and joke with my kids. I will laugh with Travis about having so many pets, all while using one dog or another as a heater. I will take my time decorating my house, and take my time getting the decorations down. These are things that make me me. And I’m maybe not so bad. I thought that skipping work this week would also bring me joy, but then I remembered that stealing happiness from others can’t be a part of things. Not that they would miss me personally. Just that they would then have to do my share of the workload.

Anyway, enjoy the season. Cry a little for those that can’t be with us. Hug those that are with us. Let’s wrap ourselves in a little joy this season. It’s good to do that so I can deal with the sink of dishes I find at 9:45 when I come home from coaching. It may (or may not) stop psycho Mom from yanking everyone from bed or their warm shower to clean it up. Okay, it didn’t stop psycho Mom, but maybe I toned it down. And the next night, the kitchen was clean, so I could enjoy that minute of the season better.

So, things aren’t perfect, but that’s all a part of it. And when all else fails, you can look over my way and realize that you’ve got your stuff together better than I do, so there’s that.

Merry Christmas!!