Merry Christmas

Growing up Christmas was always something truly to look forward to in our house. My mom use to put together the best Christmas' ever! Whether it was a big to do or a low key event, my mom always made it special and each year was always unique in one way or another.

I was very fortunate growing up that our house was almost always full on Christmas day and there was a sea of presents under the tree. And every other year we would travel to Georgia to see family on Christmas day and my mom would load up all our presents and take them with us. Often, on the 12 hour trip to Georgia we BEGGED to open a present early. Usually by the time we had reached Alabama we had wore her down. :)

And the traditions we had yearly were something that we might not have always appreciated fully at the time, but certainly looking back on it, it's traditions I would love to pass on to my kids one day.
Our traditions were things like smores on Christmas eve. And we usually got to open one present on Christmas eve. As teens and adults we got to open most of our presents on Christmas eve, and got stockings and one big present on Christmas day.
And the Christmas trees......wow........my mom could pick out a tree and make it one of the most beautiful trees you had ever seen! We use to always get flocked trees each year and they were colored in one particular color, usually different each year. One year it might be a flock tree with all red ornaments and garland on it. The next year it might be flocked with all gold ornaments and garland. Like I said, it was always a beautiful tree!

So a lot of those traditions I've tried to carry on. I especially look forward to having children one day and sharing all the fun Christmas traditions that my mom always did for us to make it special. Jeff loves Christmas, it's his favorite time of year and though we try and make it special even now...........we are particularly looking forward to when we have a family of our own to do those special Christmas' for.

I hope each of you have had a wonderful holiday season so far and not only enjoy the time of year, the family and friends.........but remember the reason for the season! We are all blessed in one way or another and while it seems that Christmas is hectic and things are busy.........try and take a moment to reflect on your life and find those particular things to be thankful for and see the blessings in your life.

Merry Christmas!