This holiday season I’m finding myself in the curious state of contentment/homesickness. I have so much to be thankful for this year, we’ve been truly blessed in our family and lives. This year has held no shortage of changes however, including a move away from our dear families, new schools, new starts. I find it tough right now to be away from them, it’s a struggle and so I try to keep myself ultra busy.

But as the holiday set in, rich with color and memories I feel flooded this year with a whole host of feelings I don’t know where to put, or what to do with. I have sweet thoughts of my Grandma before she passed away, our last few moments with her spent singing Christmas carols to her in her hospital bed. I also think of friends I’ve shared the holidays with, dear friends who have been such a blessing to my life and many whom i miss terribly. And of course all the family memories and traditions I grew up with as a child. I still cling for dear life to those traditions, hoping to eek out another year of that magic that my parents so expertly created for us. There were PROS at Christmas and that’s a fact.

With pressure mounting from all sides on me this week. I needed to step away from the hustle and bustle to just take a deep breath and say thank you. Thank you to each person who has touched my life, for each family member who loves unconditionally, for God and his rich blessings, and for those I work with and have the pleasure of knowing. I know this is going to be an emotion filled Christmas for me, I can feel the tears swelling already in their delicate balance of happiness & overwhelm (and the kids aren’t even out of school yet!!).

That’s one of the things I love best about the holidays. I always feel a renewed love for those around me. I want to huddle you each close to my heart and just say - I cherish you. I know it’s mushy as can be, but there it is. I’m throwing it out there.