The holidays are such a wonderful time of year, but they can be stressful, too. It is so much fun to go to the parties, galas, concerts, pageants, and events, but sometimes the events double timed me. I’ve had to forgo a few things just because I can’t be in two places at once. And my list of things that have to be done for the holidays got way shorter this year. Like I didn’t bake cookies this year. We don’t eat them anyway, so what’s the point. And I didn’t put up all of my decorations. . . I just did the ones I could in the time I had. It is still all good.
It isn’t about decorations or cookies or events anyway. To me the holidays are about the people in my life – none of which missed the cookies or decorations. I’ve even used paper plates for some of the meals so I’m not stuck working in the kitchen when I can be playing with my family. It is the people who matter. . . not the food, decorations, gifts. . . just the people.
Some of my favorite memories from this holiday season are watching my gentle father tend to his little dog, Mini; meeting Daniel and Katelyn at the airport; shopping in Corvallis with mom, Jessica and Katelyn, dancing with Jessica in the hall at OMSI, dancing with Daniel at the Calapooia, watching my mom and dad put in earplugs at my church (LOL – yeah, it is a little loud), seeing my mom laugh at my dog Jack, movie time with family, the laughter and conversations at the dinner table. . .truly these are the blessings of the holidays. And they all have to do with the people in my life, not what we were doing or eating, just them.So as 2010 ends and 2011 begins I’m taking these wonderful memories with me, deleting some things off of my obligatory “to do” list, and watching for times I can invest more in the people in my life. Truly, the gifts in my life are my family and friends.
