Sunday, December 28, 2008

I love Christmas


I love that Christmas is not merely a day, it is an entire season wrapped in the sights of glowing bulbs atop sloping rooftops and boughs of evergreen laden with baubles and bells, berries and bows, the sounds of hurried shoppers grasping for lists in deep pockets of down filled coats and familiar carols with words that remind all of Christmases past and all its glorious magic and wonder, the smells of sugar cookies cooling on frosted platters accented by bite-sized morsels of nut-filled fudge, and hot cocoa steaming in Santa mugs topped with whipped cream and marshmallows just waiting for chilly little ones to burst through the door with red cheeks, tingling ears, hands and toes.



I love the focus on giving. Good people bestowing goodness on those less fortunate...and the many subtle reminders of the Savior in poignant nativity scenes and touching stories illustrating His supreme love and sacrifice.





I love the excitement and anticipation of the season, squeals of delight as long wished for trinkets are discovered beneath brightly colored paper and silvery bows.



I love time spent with family and friends, long evenings and late nights, no schedule to keep, just fun to be had.

I love pictures with Santa, getting gussied for holiday parties, shopping for hard-to-find gifts, and watching Rudolph on TV. I love my kindness tree (filled with hearts a full week before Christmas this year), four advent calendars that mark each day of December with a treat or a puffy little velcro backed toy, and my new pre-lit (costco) garland that dangles from my banister in all its red and gold glory adding the the perfect festive touch to my holiday haven.

Most of all...I love that I get to do it all again...next year

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Tis the season


Picture perfect holiday bliss.

Basking in the tranquil scents and sounds of Christmastime (together as a family).

Savoring festive offerings of the season.

Elated anticipation and thoughtful reflection welcome the most magical day of the year.



(ha ha ha---oops! I mean ho ho ho!)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Cindy has added you as a friend on Facebook.

Don't be surprised if this little ditty shows up in your inbox sometime in the near future. It seems that everyone I know and have ever known is getting a little facebook love from yours truly.

My obsessive nature has grabbed hold of this pop culture internet phenomenon and turned it into my own personal quest to contact as many people as I possibly can during waking hours (which seem to be stretching well into the a.m. these days!).

I am absolutely, overwhelmingly, exhaustively, frustratingly busy right now...

I am leaving town this weekend and have cleaning, packing, rearranging and scheduling to do.

I am hosting the biggest party of my entire life in just over a week and I have decorating, shopping, phone calling and some serious organizing to do.

Christmas is a mere fifteen days away and I have yet to wrap up my wrapping (or shopping for that matter).

Luke just changed his ENTIRE Christmas list which means that I now have loads of exchanging, brainstorming and reevaluating to do.

But...I found Kim! My best friend from eighth/ninth grade through this miraculous networking site--that I resisted for so long--but have now embraced--and she left the sweetest note...on my WALL...it's been over twenty years since we have talked...

And then there's Jeff...one of my closest friends from elementary/middle school. We have not seen one another or spoken since half way through high school and are now communicating via facebook messaging! He has two daughters and lives in Sandy! It's incredible!

I haven't had time to work out the particulars of the system, or to know how in the world to respond to "Jo Blow has sent you a snowball..." For now I am steadfast and focused on scouring and scrutinizing endless lists of friends, hoping to spot a familiar face or a name from the past.

Christmas, Shristmas...I'll get to it...eventually. Right after I confirm the request I just received to be someone's friend!

Shopping for Legos and dusting the family room never brings this kind of self satisfaction!