Holidays and all the trimmings

The holidays always have so many faucets to them that is hard to appreciate each of them. And they can mask the true meaning of Christmas and what we are really supposed to be remembering. Christ's birth and what that has given us.

A. decorating, the house on the inside, outside and the yard (for those of you who are that ambitious)

B. thinking up what gift we think each person would like

C. gift buying

D. buying all the wrapping supplies

E. wrapping them all

F. hosting parties and all of the preparation for that

G. attending parties and figuring out what to bring and what to wear

H. cleaning for the different festivities

I. writing, making, addressing, labeling, mailing cards (which mine are still in this process)

J. menu planning

K. shopping for all the supplies and ingredients

L. baking all of the yummy treats that I love to give to people

M. getting all the treats set up in the tins or gift boxes and labeling

N. giving the treats to everyone, hoping to give them a feeling of how important they are to me

O. taking time to get the tree with the family and create that special memory for that year of what we did and how we did it

P. having guest stay over and trying to make them feel comfortable, welcomed and enjoying their time...i.e. clean sheets, towels, meals, privacy, activities to do together

Q. putting together the tunes for the parties and creating the playlists

R. having kids with the flu and sinus infections - trying to comfort them and get them well

S. going in for surgery and having to get things set up for after, who is going to do what while I'm laid up for 1-2 weeks

T. squeezing in time for working to pay for all of this, just kinda important

U. scheduling places for the kids to go while on break during the day so that we can work

V. all of the running around that accomplishes that

W. trying to take care of yourself

X. doing activities as a family to make memories and time to cherish each other

Y. taking down of the decorations, lights both interior and exterior

Z. cleaing up after the whole mess is done and everything is put away. Starting with a clean slate for the New Year.

That is just a few of the things that we do over the holidays that can cloud the true meaning.