Searching For That Christmas Spirit????

Ya know... it's a funny kind of year, and not funny "ha-ha". The Economy, Our jobs, our finances... talk about the stress factor, and everyone I talk to seems to have no Christmas Spirit, my self included. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm looking to be bouncing off the walls Fa-la-la-la-ing, I just feel like something is missing, Could it be I have lost my Christmas Spirit?

I laid in bed this morning and started this mind exercise, if you will. I began to wonder if maybe we are searching too deep, looking so far beyond what has already been placed before us.

Perhaps I am missing the point; point being "BLESSINGS". They are simply everywhere!! I needed to take a moment,analyze & make a mental list, "What is it about Christmas I'm missing?"



* I have been to one Holiday party which was very festive and fun, I was surrounded by very close friends which made it all the better. The theme was Chocolate and Cheese... we sat by the warmth of a fireplace, we talked, we laughed, we yankee swapped, we sampled brie's and dips, cookies and cakes & chocolates galore ... we ate, we ate and we ate somemore. ( No Im' not pulling a Dr. Suess on you hahahaha ) But how blessed was I, were we? Not everybody is blessed with a warm fireplace , somewhere somebody is freezing. They certainly are not blessed with the indulging that went on that day, somewhere, somebody is starving.

* I have been able to enjoy my shopping for those I love. I feel I have picked up everything I wanted even a few little extras for the stuff-a-bus donations, yet I hear on the news that the letters to Santa this year are heart wrenching. "Dear Santa, Please help my Mom or my dad get a job or a car so they can get to work", or "please send me a winter coat and a pair of boots." "Dear Santa Please help my Parents buy our food this year." "Dear Santa can you please help my Mom pay the bills?" The list went on and I sat, appalled to hear that these simple requests were, what I consider to be, staples of any household... How lucky am I that my child has never had to write a letter like that to Santa?

* I am hosting my annual Christmas eve gathering... it's catered. Hot and cold app's... & Every year I say, "I'm not going to overdo it" I already have. I will have more food here than we'll know what to do with. Everybody will have a drink in hand, food a plenty, gifts will be exchanged & opened. The children's hearts will be racing with excitement... and meanwhile some poor Mom or Dad will be sitting somewhere crying into their empty hands, just trying to keep their house warm as their children sleep and dream that Santa will bring miracles that simply wont be coming!

* My tree is up and as tradition goes...decorated with love. It's beautiful and I love to just sit at night in the quiet ( in the warmth ) and just admire. Each of the soft little white lights acting as a spot light of sorts to an ornament of meaning, each one holding a memory for me to sit and revisit. I do... and I smile.
This is one of my favorite things to do at Christmastime. I have been blessed with a heart full of memories and the incredible gift of life so that I am able to make more!

It was just a quick little mind-game I played with myself. I won. I found the Christmas Spirit!!!

Try it, your sure to walk away a winner too!

Merry Christmas my friends and May God continue to bless you & yours!

Peace & Love