Holiday Happiness

I think the holidays always bring such a feeling of happiness w/them! This is my favorite time of year...It seems to begin w/Fall & it marches on through Winter to usher in the enjoyment, togetherness, and wonder of each celebration. During the holidays there's a warm and cozy feeling surrounding us and I wish I could bottle it up to keep all year long!

I love Fall in all its colorful glory. The world around us changes almost completely right before our eyes! Then, of course, Halloween follows suit right after the beginning of Autumn...And, I do have to say that Halloween is not a big favorite of mine. Although I do like the fun part of Halloween for the little children. Seeing little kids dress up and enjoy themselves--that's what makes it fun & full of excitement.

Next November arrives, the weather gets colder, and Thanksgiving approaches. I love the Thanksgiving holiday, too. This is a time of year we get to eat & eat & eat--even though we know we shouldn't!) I love this holiday because it's a time spent with family and that's where it's at in this life. Which reminds me that Thanksgiving '08 was the last time we all saw my cousin, Gary. He left this earth a week and a day later...and we will forever miss him and the great person he was. I know my life was definitely impacted by Gary in so many ways. Gary was a wonderful cousin, brother, son, & father. I love you Gary! And, I am very thankful we were able to see him before he passed on. He spent that Thanksgiving with all of us. I remember him holding Shane and how he said he loved holding him and loved how he smelled. Gary just looked so happy holding my baby boy. Thanksgiving's a time to be thankful, but I think being thankful is what we need do all year long.

Now, it's December 1st...And, Christmas is getting closer & closer. Our house has been decorated for Christmas since about a week & a half before Thanksgiving. I'm glad I decorated so early which really isn't early to me(because I've decorated earlier before!) The main reason I wanted & needed to decorate was to get myself out of feeling down & isolated. And, you know what?! Just by me decorating our tree and getting the house all festive elevated my mood and made me feel better--I couldn't help but smile! Adding in some Christmas music helped, too! Our home is full of holiday happiness and it's so cozy-warm that it makes me HAPPY!!!

I think I'll close for now...I need to do better w/this blog thing & be more consistent...but then I've been so busy w/so many things it's hard to keep up w/everything...if only that were possible, right? Well, take care for now! Love you lots!