tis the season...

to be thankful.

Yes, I know we turned the calendar to December

and it is Christmastime.

It is no secret that I struggle with all of the Christmas hoopla.

You know, 

  being the

gift-giving, memory-making, goody-baking, hall-decking, 

Mama 

(and grandmother).

We have double  workloads and are exhausted by it all.

All the while we are trying to see how all of the 

hoopla is connected to the Savior's birth.

  Sounds like a lot of self-imposed expectations, doesn't it?

Yep, it is.

I decided to begin this Christmas season  

just like I ended the last one.

Being thankful.

• thankful that there really is a reason for the season...

even if I do struggle to see the connect

• thankful for my grandmother and aunts 

that made Christmas special for me as a child

• thankful that I have such good memories 

of my children at Christmas time...
and hope they do, too
(even if I was a grumpy mother trying to do too much)

• thankful that  my children want to 

and 
are ALL coming home for Christmas.

• thankful for reads like this and this 

 that have given me focus this year.

• thankful for this simple gift...

I think it is my all-time favorite Christmas gift. ever.

christmas-time feels different this year....

and for that I am thankful, too.

I might  be back tomorrow with a bit of our celebrations

and 

I may 

or 

may  not 

get the rest of my christmas decorations finished.

I'll let you know.

BE THANKFUL~BE MERRY

(these are more of last years decorations)