FUN!

OK, am I the only one who finds AFTER Christmas almost more fun than before? I'm loving watching the kids enjoy their gifts. I'm loving finding accessories to go with what they got (I "pad" the Xmas budget to allow for this). I'm relaxed. I don't care about the house being a little (OK, so it's more like a lot) messy throughout the day. Monday, we'll find permanent homes for the new stuff, until then, it gets organized and moved out of the way each late afternoon.

We're all having fun watching each other have fun and I love it. Some of the kids are still working their way through the new stuff. It's an extended Christmas and...to top it off...MY Christmas comes in January. Chris and I usually wait til January to exchange for budgetary reasons. This year, he got his gift early cause it was an Ebay only item and it became available just before the holiday. But...I am still waiting. So, I have that anticipation going on and I'll admit it...I'm a big kid!

So, the 12 Days of Christmas are in full operation 'round here! I'm loving it. Every minute of it.

I love December!

I adore Christmas. I love both the religious and spiritual meaning of the day and I even love a lot of the commercialism that comes tied to it, too. But, I think that I love the whole month of December (though I would love it more without the freezing temps and the snow).

I love having my little boy's birthday this month. I love picking out gifts for kids whose parents' can't afford to get them their hearts' desire. I love scrimping to send money to my beloved priest in India who cares for a leper colony and a huge orphanage full of beautiful children. I love finding gifts for my babies that will make them squeal on Christmas morning.

But, I think more than all of these things, I love that almost everyone is happy and smiling and more relaxed this month. Sure, we're all freaked out about money and family and finding that perfect gift, but we're all in it together. There's something so bonding about the fact that the stranger next to you in line at Kohls is in pretty much the same place that you are. We can all smile at each other and wink even in the longest of lines cause we're all doing the same thing. Finding something to make someone we love happy on Christmas morning.

This all came to my mind on this St Nicholas Day evening. I am a firm believer in Santa. He's a real person and I think that, from Heaven, he inspires these feelings of good cheer and charity. Today is his day and I want to thank him for all of his prayers. Without them, I really have my doubts as to what Christmas would be in our world today.

So, Happy Feast Day, St. Nicholas! Thank you for everything!!!