holiday spirit

Today I browsed around the aisles of Christmas decor and stocking stuffers while picking up a few things at Meijer and it definitely got me in the holiday spirit. There were Christmas carols playing and all of the glitter, gold, reds & greens just made my heart smile...and really got me excited about going home to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my family.

I am so sentimental when it comes to holidays. It took me years to ever throw a Christmas card away (and then I realized what a pack-rat that made me and I finally parted with some of them and crafted with others). I make homemade ornaments every year. My mom has given me an ornament with  my name and the year on it ever since my first Christmas. I have a small tree that is adorned with all those precious ornaments from home and then a larger themed tree that goes up each year. And I am so looking forward to coming back home this weekend and carving out time to put the trees up! Right now my centerpiece is still scarecrows and pumpkins for Halloween/Thanksgiving; but come Sunday when I return from visiting with family it will be Christmas ornaments, snowflakes, and beads.

There is just something about the holidays that brings warmth into my life. I love to give and therefore buy gifts for everyone I can imagine and then some. I make sure to donate to local food banks so that those less fortunate than myself can enjoy the holidays as much as I do with my family. Right now my apartment complex is doing a Food Drive & a Coat Drive for the season--on Wednesday I plan to take a whole car load full of stuff over the office for donations. Like I said, it just warms my heart. :)

The rest of the week will be spent at home with family, and by home I mean where my parents live. There's just something about it, that no matter where I move or how far away I live, MC will be "home". I am looking forward the long weekend and the break from the hustle and bustle of work and the city life. It will be nice to slow down for a bit. Breathe some fresh air. See some old friends. Fellowship with family. Good times.

I hope that at some point over the next few days you take the time to reflect on what's important to you...who is important to you. And why. What do you value about those people and things in your life that brings them so near and dear to your heart? Take the time to tell those people how much you appreciate them and what you appreciate them for. You won't regret it. I hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving (sorry Canadian friends, you already had yours!) and that you embrace the holiday and the spirit of giving thanks for all the things (even the little things) in your life!