My dad always said there is a thin line between Love/Hate...

I find much coincidence in my dad being the one who explained that old adage to me many years ago… Largely because he plays a role in why I now have a love/hate relationship with one very important thing: Christmas. I know... Gasp! Shame on me! How could I possibly have even a twinge of hate for the most beloved holiday in all the world!? Well, let me explain:

SURE, I have some great memories of Christmas. One of my favorites is how my brother, Davis, and I used to make pallets on the floor so we could sleep together Christmas Eve so whoever woke up first could wake the other before going down stairs to see what Santa had left us. (That was actually a memory that made me break down in tears when he got married... I knew we would never do this again, and as happy as I was for him to get married, it absolutely broke my heart.) Another memory that really sticks out is spending time with my extended family… I’m a sucker for family time! I can look back over the years and recall year to year the different feelings I had as I saw some of my cousins that, often times, I hadn’t seen since the Christmas before, and would think about how much we had all changed and would merely soak up the time I had with them. I’ve always cherished my family and the traditions we’ve had together. Not only do I have a thousand reminiscences that flood my memory which have helped form my deep love and affinity for Christmas time and why it has always been my favorite holiday. Besides that aspect, I get the biggest rush out of finding that perfect gift for someone (and not just for a specific holiday, event or reason!) and, of course, enjoy seeing all of the festive decorations and singing traditional Christmas carols. So, there is the "love" part.

But on the dark side of the moon... Christmas has always been the holiday that my entire family got together; however, that’s not so much an option anymore. I'm not about to go into a sob story about the events leading up to this, but I have not had a ‘family Christmas’ since 2005 and I can't help but have a slight sour taste in my mouth when I recall why!

This year seems particularly bleak because not only am I single, but this is the first time I’ve been home since my parents’ divorce was made “official” and my brother just got married November 22nd, so now he has his own family to ‘tend’ to so I’m pretty much the lone sibling now. My job also requires that I travel every other week so I haven’t been home much for the month of December and it doesn’t help that my mom has a heavy heart this year and isn’t much in the Christmas spirit.

And, of course, I know the “Reason for the Season” and now, more than ever, I’m trying my best to keep that as my focus because it’s so easy to let bitterness and sadness creep in when you feel so alone. I WANT to be festive. I WANT to have the Christmas spirit. I REALLY DO!!! So, please keep me and my family in your prayers during this time.

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” Luke 2:10-11

Hopefully, being back at home in Alabama next week with mom and my closest friends will help remove this dark cloud that seems to be following me these days! Although this season has proved to be ‘tough’ for me and my family, I have also learned a lot!! I have SO much to be thankful for and don’t want anyone to think that I am being ‘Debbie Downer’. So stay tuned for a ‘grateful’ post in the coming days… Until then, may the light of His birth fill our hearts with Joy this Christmas and always!!

All my love and MERRY CHRISTmas!!!!

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper if at all possible - I’ll put stuff in boxes to make it nice and square and I love adding big fluffy bows! Besides, aren’t wrapped packages just more fun to open!?

2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL tree in the main room with little artificial tabletop trees scattered around.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving. (duh!)

4. When do you take the tree down? The day or 2 after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? Can’t say that I really remember what it tastes like… only tried it once and it was 9 or 10 years ago.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Oh boy. That’s a tough one! Probably the year Davis and I got the go-cart from Santa. Some of my most favorite memories are from that Christmas morning!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Aunt Debbi, because she has EVERYTHING!!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Probably Perri, because I’m around her throughout the year to hear her “I’d like to have…”’s and my mom, since I can get her anything to do with the yard and she’ll be ecstatic!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not yet. Hopefully, one day I'll get my grandmothers! :)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Never emailed them before… I actually think that’s kinda tacky or maybe impersonal is a better word for it. We send ours via snail-mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? None really come to mind, though I do remember getting some “uh…WTF?’s” along the way.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? yeah, let's just say that's not a good subject at the moment! ...Usually around Thanksgiving so I’ve got it all just about taken care of by about now. This year Whitney hasn’t bought a single gift yet!! Hopefully that will change next week during the trip to DC!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Hmm…don’t think so. But I do give stuff away that’s not really to my tastes. And then only if I can tell the gift giver didn’t really put any thought or effort into the initial gift. Never if it’s anything that was lovingly picked out just for me.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I always liked my mom and dad’s breakfasts on Christmas morning. Usually homemade biscuits, eggs and grits or some other deliciousness. But both of my grandmothers cook AMAZING dressing!!!

16. Lights on the tree? Seriously!? Who doesn’t??

17. Favorite Christmas song? 'Where Are You Christmas' sung by Faith Hill on the How the Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack… of course I like all of the traditional carols too!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well up and until last year, I had always been at home for Christmas- which growing up consisted of us doing Christmas with Uncle Joe and Aunt Debbi late Christmas Eve afternoon, dinner with Nana & Papa on Christmas Eve night and then family breakfast at our house on Christmas morning before going to Mimi and Pop’s at lunch on Christmas Day. And ideally, once I find Mr. Right and we start a family of our own, I would like to stay at home and have family come to us, but for now- I guess I’m up for anything since the family traditions I’ve always known are no longer. To say this Christmas will be interesting would be an understatement!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes. (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (or some say Donder), Blitzen and Rudolph (the red nosed reindeer :))

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We’ve always done stockings on Christmas Eve and then woken up Christmas morning to Santa’s gift before opening all of our gifts under the tree as a family. I like it that way… It’s an appetizer for Christmas morning. :)

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Honestly, people who decorate their yard(s) using the red bows you can buy at Wal-mart, Dollar General or even at some convenience stores (you know the ones… that are just a simple tennis shoe knot/bow). They are BEYOND tacky!!!!

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Well, since you asked…. I like to decorate the main tree with all of the nice ornaments, highlighting with the typical reds, greens, golds and silvers. But I also like the idea of a “Manly” tree decorated with sports things and hunting stuff. Or even a “Whimsical” tree that has lime green, bright purple, hot pink, turquoise, sunshine yellow, Auburn orange, and other such fun colors (like the wreath I made for my mom’s back door this year!) Basically, I’d like for them all to have personal significance, though.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Let’s see, where should I start?? DISCLAIMER - I realize this is NOT a very realistic wish list, but it’s my wish list nonetheless! a LV wallet, a new LV key fob (mine is about to fall apart), a bigger zoom lens for my DSLR camera, a Burberry scarf, a pair of Ugg mocasins, a 2009 daily devotional journal, 4 pieces to complete my cinda b luggage collection, pandora slides, video touch i-pod, black velour Juicy Couture suit, a new blackberry pearl (mine is about to bite the dust), a piece of furniture with lots of storage and a large worktop to do my paintings and gift cards on, a Macbook Pro, trips to NYC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago, some photography lessons and I’m sure a few other insignificant things I can’t think of right now. (Told you it wasn’t realistic!) sersiously though, a LARGE quantity of Ben Franklins will do just fine!!! :)

24. Angel on the tree top or a star? A silver star right now, but I guess an angel would do (If someone really insisted).

25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Turkey and dressing, broccoli casserole, cranberry sauce, sometimes ham, congealed salad, fresh green beans, new potatoes, cheesy apples (for my beloved baby bro) and sister schubert rolls.... and one of Nana's homemade banana puddings would be money!!

ok, you asked for it and I've finally decided to take the plunge...

Well, after much persistence from some of my dear friends, I have finally joined the world of blogging. What will we talk about?? I'm not exactly sure, so you'll have stay tuned... the only thing I can promise, is I'll do my best to keep you entertained!! Hope you enjoy!