gearing up for the holidays...

Pablo is gearing up, too.

I've probably stated it before...Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. I love the season, I love the food, I love the sentiment...enjoy family, be grateful, spend time...it's all good. I love it, love it, love it. I look forward to it every year and love every minute of it while it's here.

I've probably also stated it before...Christmas is not my favorite holiday. Don't get me wrong, I love what it truly is about, the birth of Jesus. But I don't love what its become...commercialized and materialistic and in your face.

In the past, the thought of Christmas has only be a source of stress for me...spending extra money that we don't have...worrying about what to get for who? And worrying if it's enough? Worry, worry, worry. Bottom line? I can be a bit of a Grinch. Or if I'm honest, maybe a lot of a Grinch.

But this year I've decided to change my attitude. I've decided to get into the Christmas spirit...whether I feel like it, or not. I am going to decorate sooner than a week before Christmas. I am going to listen to Christmas music. I am going to talk positively about Christmas and everything that it entails...and do my best to look past the commercialism, rather than letting it disgust me. It is what it is...it's not going to go away any time soon. So I may as well give myself a break and do what works for me. Because let me tell ya, stressing about it every year? Yeah, that doesn't work for me.

I'm noticing that as I change my thoughts and attitude toward Christmas I find myself actually looking forward to Christmas. I am looking forward to hanging the wreath and and setting up the nativity and putting the lights on the tree. Because really, I do love when the only light in the room is the lights on the Christmas tree.