Gobble Gobble

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. From the way things are looking around here though, it feels like tomorrow is Christmas! Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Christmas music and decorations, and of course I love getting seriously good deals at my favorite stores, but I love Thanksgiving too! We can’t just skip over it!

Pretty sure I wrote a blog last Thanksgiving about how much I love watching the parade, eating yummy food, and spending time with my family. This year, I am breaking tradition. Yup, I am not going to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…well, most of it. This year I am going to participate in the Gobble Jog 10K bright and early in the am. I am looking forward to it! I am making a serious point to enjoy this race and not be so hard on myself about my performance. This will be my 2nd official 10K race, and it just happens to be a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race, which I am so hoping to do next year. However, this will be my first race in cooler temperatures, I haven’t done as much hardcore training since the half marathon, and it’s a holiday. So, and I am going to have fun and enjoy the fact that I can eat more turkey and my mom’s amazing sweet potato soufflé since I’ll be starting off my day burning lots of calories! Who knows, maybe I’ll have a new Thanksgiving morning tradition from now on!

Christmas Makes Me Cry

I just realized how many of my blogs are inspired while I am sitting in traffic listening the radio. I guess that makes sense considering how long I do sit in traffic every week. It does give me time to think and contemplate life, and for that, I am thankful.

At Christmas, they are always stories on the radio about soldiers that are away from their families, people stricken with illnesses, and people who have suffered such tragedies in their lives. They get me every time. I used to pride myself on not being on of those girls that cries at the drop of a hat. Well, I guess those days are gone because I find myself sitting in my car crying my eyes out for someone I hurt for, even though I don't know them. Then I cry harder when someone, out of the spirit of the season, makes a wish come true for one of those families. I even make myself cry sometimes when I hear a song that reminds me of my family that will be celebrating Christmas in Heaven instead of here with me. (This year will be my first Christmas without my sweet Olivia.) Conveniently, there is a song that portrays my exact feelings. I guess I'm not the only one who gets overwhelmed by emotions at Christmas.

Christmas Makes Me Cry

Mandisa and Matthew West

I think of loved ones who've passed away
And I pray they're resting in a better place
I think of memories of years gone by
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry


I think of soldiers across the sea
Sometimes I wonder why it's them instead of me
But for my freedom they give their lives
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry


Tears of faithfulness, tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry


I think of family, I think of home
And say a prayer for those who spend this time alone
'Cause love can reach out into a silent night
And that's why Christmas makes me cry


Tears of faithfulness, tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry


I think of Mary and the virgin birth
And I'm amazed by how much God thinks we are worth
That He would send His only Son to die
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry


Tears of faithfulness and tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me
Oh, sometimes Christmas makes me

Christmas makes me cry

Olivia Christmas Eve 2009

All I Really Want

It's December. I can't believe it! I seems like it was just Christmas, and here it is sneaking up on me again. It's the time of year when we are supposed to consider how blessed we are while celebrating the birth of baby Jesus. It's really easy to get wrapped up in everything going on...buying presents, parties, decorating, and all that, and forget about the simple everyday blessings we take for granted.

I had a moment on the way home from work the other day. I was sitting in traffic. It had been a long day, and I was really tired. I was getting impatient and just wanted to get home. Listening to my favorite radio station, 104.7, I heard a Christmas song that made me really sad.

All I Really Want

Steven Curtis Chapman

Well I don’t know if you remember me or not
I’m one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me – I was standing off alone
I didn’t come and talk to you, ‘cause that’s never worked before
And you’ll prob’ly never see this letter anyway
But just in case there’s something you can do to help me out
I’ll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for
But there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it’s really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I’m really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Well, maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I’ve heard
Sounds like the greatest gift on earth would be a mom

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for
But there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas

Is someone who’ll be there
To sing me “Happy Birthday”
For the next 100 years
And it’s OK if they’re not perfect
Well, even if they’re a little broken, that’s alright
‘Cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go
It’s almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you
I’ll be at home

‘Cause all I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I’ll never be alone
Someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for
Well, there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Just a family

That’s all I really need

I can sympathize with the little boy in this song. All I really need for Christmas is to be with my family. We're not perfect. We're a little broken, and that's alright. Sure there are material things I would love to see under the tree, but what I treasure most this time of year is the special time spent with the ones I love. I am so blessed to have a family that loves me. All the children, without families to tuck them in on Christmas, are in my prayers.

Thankful

Sitting here watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in my pajamas, as I have every year since I was little. The house smells like turkey and fresh baked bread. The sun is shining, and all the damp leaves are twinkling on the ground. I am inspired and thinking about how thankful I am for so many things. I thought I should share the things that come to mind first.

• I am thankful for my parents and the home they allow me to share with them. (I'm pretty thankful that Mom is cooking right now too 'cause I'm getting hungry!)
• I am thankful for my jobs, as busy as they keep me. I would also like to note that I am VERY thankful that neither of these jobs are in retail, as i see the commercial advertising the crazy hours that stores are opening today and tomorrow. 
• I am thankful for my new puppy, Stitch, even though she is barking through the entire parade. I miss Olivia everyday, but I am thankful to have adopted a baby girl that needs a family to love her. 
• I am thankful for my friends and all the experiences that I have been blessed to share with them.

One of my favorite floats in the parade

I love Thanksgiving! I know Thanksgiving in our culture marks the beginning of Christmas. I like to stop and actually enjoy Thanksgiving for what it is before moving on to the next holiday. Thanksgiving, to me, is a day to stay home with my family, watch the parade, eat too much delicious food, play games, watch movies, lay in the floor and look at all the Black Friday sale papers, play with the puppy, and take a nap in there somewhere. Also, today is a day to be thankful for my freedom and the blessings that God has given me. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are. Just want you to know that I am thankful to you...for reading my blog. Happy Turkey Day!

I Heart Mom

Happy Mother's Day to my momma and best friend! I don't know what I would do without you. I love you!