An OCD New Year's Eve!

I've started this post three times now.
I guess if I'd blog more often, I wouldn't have to try to decide what to say everytime I log in, huh?

To satisfy my OCD (obviously can't decide) and cover everything quickly, I'll do topical summaries...

1. Christmas vacation - I finally did it! I finally took two weeks off at Christmas and haven't worked a SINGLE BIT since December 17th! My kids are proud of me. I'm proud of me. And I'm scared of what things are going to be like on January 4th. If you think about it, remember me? Meltdown is forecast for sure!

2. Christmas Eve - we went ice skating! Outside! It was storybook-like, magical and memory making. It was also cold, painful and hilarious. We went for coffee afterward. It was awesome!

3. Scooter - right before Christmas, Caton and I found a puppy bouncing around outside Family Dollar. He was too cute to leave to be run over so we brought him home to make flyers to put up and make sure he was safe until his real owners claimed him. A few days later, he officially became ours. The lady who'd been keeping him (because he just waltzed into her house a few weeks earlier) told her kids his owners came for him. I couldn't bear the thought of making her out to be a liar and disappointing my kids! Obviously it was a win-win.

4. White Christmas - it snowed! Like a lot! And it snowed on Christmas! The last time it snowed in this area on Christmas was the late 1960's. Seriously. It was magical.

5. Year in Review: this year was...Wow. We almost lost our family, which brought us closer. Courtney almost lost her faith, which made her stronger. Todd graduated with a 4.0 high honors in massage therapy, which helped him find himself. Caton...at 8, what can I say? She's still Caton! And I realized I am where God wants me to be which helped me forgive and move on. We've eliminated unnecessary drama (because some drama is SO necessary when you have a teenager) and made new friends.

All in all, life is good and we are blessed beyond measure. My heart is full this New Year's Eve and I am praising God for all He has done and is doing in our lives.

Bring on 2011!

Making it My Own

I can't stand the holidays.

Seriously!

Well, that WAS my attitude - before my wonderful husband got ahold of me.

I mean, really. Holidays have always been tough. A constant reminder that I "don't have family" (which is really a myth), the financial worries, stress of "year end" at work, finding "that perfect gift," making sure I have gifts for everyone who's expecting one (read: who I know is getting me or those I'm responsible for one) and participating in the "normal traditions" of the holidays - no wonder I'm nuts!

Yes, I know. We are supposed to concentrate on the real reason for the season. Jesus' birthday. Never mind that it isn't really His birthday but just the time of year we celebrate it. And yes, I know, we're celebrating His birth - not His birthday - which is agreeably important. But what happened to singing a song, blowing out candles and eating cake?! And can I just say that if you say "season" in the reminder of our focus, it only brings attention back to the things you're trying NOT to focus on.

This year, as I started my "I am soooo dreading this..." and the "is it next year yet" comments, my beloved husband graciously pointed out the obvious...

"You are ruining the holidays for yourself and everyone else, you know."

After the shock of his loving point passed, I tuned back in to what he was saying...

"So there are parts of the holidays that you can't stand. Everyone feels that way. Just ignore the parts you hate - eliminate them from your tradition - and make it your own."

Wow.

So! In an effort to enjoy the holidays - and allow others to enjoy it too - I'm making it my own.

Sending Christmas cards? Check (except for a few I still need addresses for)
The snowman tree I've been wanting to do for years? Check!
Taking the last two weeks of the year off? Check!
Taking a fresh look at Christmas music? Check!
Focusing on the family I do have instead of those I'm better off without? Check!
Realizing that the simple gifts are the best? Check!

I'm not promising...but I might even bake some!

And yes, in case you're wondering, I AM enjoying this year's holiday season more than ever before.