Thanks, Thoughts and Rambling....

This will be my last thankful post for November. I am so thankful that God has let me see once again that NOTHING is about me!!

I really surprised myself this year by having all my decorations up for Christmas. Tradionally I don't get around to it until the first or second weekend of December. But as I looked at my calendar for December I quickly realized that if I didn't get it done today it most likely wouldn't get done.

My husband and son were so excited it was already up and the place looked and sounded like Christmas...now to work on the smell of baking cookies! :-)

Over the last several years I have had a really hard time with Christmas. I've just not had any Christmas spirit and for the sake of the family went through the motions of it all. I think a lot of it has to do with changes. The children are grown, we have no family near and it just hasn't seemed festive.

To me, the holidays is always about lots of family and friends gathering together and sharing love, laughter and memories.

So what has changed? Me! I still don't have my family near, my kids continue to grow and make their own holiday traditons. Friends have moved away and we've lost touch. But I've learned that my husband and I must make our own traditons for the two of us. Not sure yet what we are going to do, but I'll think of something. I've also grown to love God in a deeper and greater way this year that has made me even more open to the heart of God and what it means to my Father.

As I put the ornaments on the tree there were so many memories of friends who made them and gave them. Children being proud of the ornament they made for the tree. There were memories of places visited, special memories of events through the years. Then there were tears of mourning the days that have gone by, tears of joy remembering precious friendships through the years.

As I look forward to this Christmas I plan to make even more memories. I have friends that are like family - well who are my family and I will remember to savor every moment with them. I will choose to see each visit, each smile, and hug as a gift. I will choose to see every special conversation as a gift to remember in the future.

I am going to make a choice this year to hug my sons more often, to love deeper, hug longer, and let my friends know they are gifts to me. I am going to choose to invest in the life of people this season, to see every conversation with someone as an opportunity for me to share God's love and compassion.

I want to bring love, a smile, grace, compassion and hope to those God brings across my path this Christmas season.

I am so thankful God has given me a different vision this holiday season. Instead of feeling sorry for myself and not wanting to celebrate I will pour the love of Jesus into others.