Tis the Season

What a joyous time of year!  I love get over-the-top, downright giddy for the holidays!  My favorite months of the year by far are November through January.  The months where we get to snuggle up with a warm blanket, our lovin mate, and a fireplace. The time when we can eat a lil more than usual...yesssss!  The time of family, togetherness, giving, laughter and love. 
I love November for the temperature change...that briskness in the air.  Obviously, I love Thanksgiving.  Seeing family and gathering together to give thanks and share a lovely meal.  Fall leaves and the farmer's market are two other jewels I love during November!  And oh the glorious Thanksgiving specials on The Food Network I just simply adore {insert: outburst in song}!

I love December for TONS of reasons!  First and foremost, for our dear Savior's birth!!!  I love the smell of the Christmas tree and putting up decorations all over the house.  December is my sweet mama's birthday month!  I love that everybody you pass on the street, share an elevator with, even the grouchiest grinch of a person you know, all seem to exude merriment and joy during the Christmas season.  I love gift giving, Christmas parties, cozy sweaters {in fact, this is my favorite time for fashion in general...the fall/winter clothes and boots. Yes please!}, hot chocolate by the fireplace with the stockings dangeling from the mantle, Christmas tree lights around the city, eggnog, mistletoe.  I even love those tacky little silver strands of tensil that go on the tree {yes, we have them on ours and love em!}.  I love candy canes, Santa Clause, nutrackers, wow I could go on forever....

Finally, I love New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! Ahhh New Year's Eve...the party, celebrating with your friends, the countdown, the ball drop, the champagne, the fact that it is socially acceptable, if not preferred, to wear sequins and glitter, the KISS at midnight {get puckered up hubby!}. And New Year's Day...gimme that food!  Not much of a football watcher but it is quite lovely to have the noise in the background.  Me with a House Beautiful magazine and hot chocolate and husband more than likely yelling at the TV {depending on who's winning if the yell be a good or bad one} lol.

I've noted that during these few holiday months, people tend to look back over the year and reflect.  I, for one, love this because its therapeutic to me.  In retrospect, I find comfort.  Not comfort of looking back and wanting to be "back there"...but comfort in what you've learned since.  Knowing that you've made accomplishments and have another year of wisdom under your belt.  Recalling your transgressions and mistakes made over the year and how you handled and navigated through them.  The revelation that you are, in fact, stronger than you thought.  Celebrating the milestones and blessings of the past year.  Mine is my beautiful wedding and marrying my fantastic {beyond belief}, loving husband!    


As I reflect on this entire year and imagine what 2012 will bring my way, I decided to do a little exercise.  To make a list of what I'm thankful for and for what I strive for in the next year {the next five years even}.  Excuse my candor, but like I said, its therapeutic.  Go ahead, give it a go yourself! Don't worry about a particular order, just get it down on paper!


I'm thankful for:  My Savior, Jesus Christ, my sweet husband, our family, our friends, our two babies Abbey and Sushi, our church, my health and all my loved ones' health, my job and Dylan's job, our wonderful home, love and laughter, long talks with friends, our country and our freedom, being able to acknowledge my mistakes and forgive myself for them{why is this so hard for women?!? we're tough on ourselves ladies...sheeesh}, good food, good music, photographs and memories, sunshine, chocolate chip cookies, my shoes, bubble baths, date nights with my husband, my personality and character {and I thank my parents for that!}, and well...LIFE!


I strive:  To be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, aunt, woman.  To learn more about the Bible.  To let go of fear of failure and follow my true dreams {most of you know what those are}, to travel and see more parts of the world, to learn a new language, to be more present {to stop thinking about the next five minutes, the next week, all my to do's, what's next so often that I don't celebrate the moment I'm actually in}, for children {one day a bit down the road}, to be more independent {getting pretty good at that but there's always room for improvement!}, to be able to relax more {I'm so ADD-esque}, to be a tad bit more organized but not the the point of freakish.  Many other things, I suppose, but we'll leave it at that.

Hopefully, you'll get something out of the exercise like I did.  Tis the season! Cherish it, be grateful for it, savor it, celebrate it, believe in it.  Happy holidays!!!

Last Christmas when Dylan proposed!!!