Season of Giving

After two days of sitting around doing much of nothing but watching holiday movies, it makes the old gears in the head start turning.

The countdown to the big day is on. Hannah daily gives me the day's left tally. (Sometimes more than 5 times) While she looks at the gifts under the tree with gleam in her eyes, it makes me wish I could really make her understand what it's all really about.

I wish the girls could appreciate the important things in life. This year I am becoming increasingly away of all we take for granted. With all the daily reminders of the failing economy, it makes me more aware of how lucky all in this house are. Even the small things seem so big.

I feel so blessed that we have Job Security. Even though Mark and I are not doing our dream jobs, we both are in places where we don't have to worry about being unemployed. My heart breaks for those family's that have lost jobs or feel the stress of wondering daily if and when they are next. I can't imagine what that would feel like.

Because of that, I am thankful that we have no fear of losing our home. While so many people have been dreaming of bigger and better, while we have dreamed it too, we never made the jump. Financially, it never happened. While for awhile it made me so sad to see everyone we knew move toward their dream homes while we stayed in our small cozy abode, now I am glad. We don't have to worry about how we are going to make our payments. My heart breaks to see those dreams crumble. I am so sorry for those who are having to sell their homes because they can't afford them. What makes it even worse is the need to sell and not being able to sell because no one can afford that beautiful big home.

Our health, it was a bumpy road this year health wise but I am thankful that they were small bumps. Mark has an upcoming surgery that's a bit on the scary side but again its just something so small in the grand scheme of things. We are so blessed to be healthy. No one has had any major illnesses this year. We haven't lost anyone. My thoughts frequently go to those with loved ones in the hospital during the holidays. How hard that must be. If only we all could wish really hard at the same time and everyone would be healed. What a miracle that would be. And this is the season of Miracles right. If only. I am so truly sorry for those of you who have lost loved ones this year.

As I sit here sipping coffee, in my jammies thinking how lucky and blessed this year has been for my family, I just want to say to those who haven't had it so good, just know that it's you that I am thinking and worrying about.