Christmas can't be very far away

Every year I swear that I am going to be more organized and ahead of the game and yet, here I am, behind with the planning and cooking and cleaning and shopping.

Monte and I decided to power shop this weekend and we took off Sunday morning with a list in hand and high hopes. We had fun. A lot of fun. I love being with my husband and spending the entire day with him (even if we were last minute Christmas shopping in the FREEZING cold and blowing snow and all the other last minute shopper) was a blast. We ended up getting some fabulous deals and I think the kids will be very happy.

As we were breaking for lunch, I started to think about how it really is up to me to create these holidays for our family. Monte is a HUGE help but it has always been something I love about being a mom, creating holidays and traditions and memories. And my kids count on me to do those things for them. It has always made me feel proud of my role as mom and also, really sad for the kids and families who don't have someone who is able to create holidays for them. Either because they are not well or financially able or have other insurmountable obstacles. I hurt for those families who can't make ends meet, who can't find love and peace and joy, who can't have traditions and memories.

I spent some years as a single mom with very little. Those were hard years. Knowing that my kids were depending on me to meet their needs and having very little resources to do so was a constant heartbreak. I will never ever forget the things I learned and experienced during those years. I will never forget all of those who stood by me and helped keep us going and I will never forget that not one of us are above needing help. I pray that I am able to teach these lessons to the kids. That even as they have presents under the tree and monkey bread for breakfast and new pj's on Christmas Ever and a house full of family, that there are others in this world that don't and it's our responsibility to reach out to those of us who are hurting, broken or struggling.

I know I will forever be thankful every single day for all that we have and I will never ever forget the years that we had not much more than our love and our family. And even that was more than many have.

I don't know where all of that came from but I guess I say all that to say that I feel very blessed and my heart is full. I have an amazing husband who has loved me unconditionally. His love and commitment to me and our family is unwavering and constant and it is a constant blessing to my life. I am excited about another Christmas season together. I can see that our blended family contiues to grow closer and that we are making our own traditions that everyone is excited about.

Life is beautiful. It really is.