Once upon a Christmas....

   I always get a little excited around this time of year, the cold weather, pretty lights, and comfy clothes, what's not to love about winter? In reflecting back on previous years, I stumbled across memories of my childhood Christmases. I vividly remember my excitement  when decorating the Christmas tree, insisting I put the angel on the top every year. The days seemed to go by so slowly, when my morning routine consisted of moving the Santa doll down a pocket each day in December, counting down the days until Santa came. I recall my sisters all squished into one bed on Christmas Eve, laughing the night away, while getting scolded by our parents because of the noise, and failed attempts to catch Santa in action. Oh the days!

In getting older, the childhood excitement slowly escapes us, unless we do out best to keep it alive. The way I look at it, there is still so much love, so I make new memories, and hold the old ones close to my heart.

My most memorable presents from Santa

Barbie dream house!

I think I screamed when I opened it, it had an elevator, balcony, and bath tub, my barbies were too cool.

 Tamagotchi!

I got a cute little cat, it died all the time, but I remember spending hours at a time trying to keep it alive.

Cabbage patch kid!

The coolest part about this doll was that it had a birth certificate, which made me feel like I extra owned it. It was my first child, yet now they all kind of creep me out.

Easy bake oven!

My favorite, and most played with, present of all time. I seriously loved that thing, and once I ran out of powder packets and recipes, I used random things from my kitchen. I was devastated when my light bulb went out, and when it was really dirty inside, my mom made me throw it away. Sad day!

Lite-Brite!

Flat out fun! It was such an accomplishment when I completed a full stencil, although I mostly free styled, randomly sticking them anywhere I wanted. My parents didn't like it very much, nor did I, when stepping on a piece sitting upright on the carpet.

Don't stop believing!

Thankful, I am.

Thanksgiving is just days away, and most of us are either day dreaming about eating, or preparing, the delicious feast that comes along with the holiday. With our thoughts absorbed in turkey and green bean casserole, it's easy to forget the true meaning behind the occasion. (cornucopias)
My realization this year came in the form of a fast ball, thrown a week before Thanksgiving. My family is deciding to go separate ways this year, a foreign idea to me. Naturally, I was devastated, 22 years of tradition for me, shattered by one Thanksgiving apart, until I took a look at the big picture. My parents, who are the hardest working souls I've ever met, are taking a relaxing, well deserved, trip to the beach and my sisters are finally getting to spend the holiday with their husbands families, which is rare, because we are typically a pretty inseparable gang on holidays. In thought of this, I decided to feel a little less like Jenny McCarthy's "Singled out" and little more tuned in. In scrambling to decide what I was going to do, whether it be eating a Jim's Thanksgiving, or frozen dinner, I decided to A. be thankful that the reason my family couldn't be together this year was because we chose not to, not because we weren't able to and B. that I could try something different this year. I was thankful for how many friends and distant family members were so eager to have me over, I can't pin point a more eye opening moment where I've felt more loved, and blessed. In conclusion, my turkey day plans will consist of me volunteering at the homeless shelter, for those who need me, and feasting with my second family, and high school best friends. Helping hands, and helping hearts. It's important to be thankful for what you have, especially on a day that is trying to remind you of it.

I'm thankful for:

1. My family: I couldn't put a crazier group of people together if I tried, but I couldn't picture a world where they weren't around. Whether walking this earth, or watching above, my family is most beautiful,giving,loving, group of people I've been so lucky to grow up with, and learn from.

2. My friends: My second family, and ultimate life fighting support system. Good friends are hard to come by, and I've got one hell of a great gang of girls and guys.

3. My education: I've never known exactly what I've wanted, but my drive to stick to eduction, stuck right back. I received my Associates this year, and even though it's only a milestone, it's an exciting one, and I can't wait to further my education, learning and growing to my greatest potential.

4. My job: Not the highest, most challenging, of jobs, but a job to be proud of none the less. My Barista status has introduced me to some of the coolest people, experiences, and opportunities to help others, and grow within myself. I love me some coffee, I love me some customer relationships.

5. My sass: This includes my living arrangement, means of transportation, and fun life accessories. Material objects are not everything, hardly anything, but I'm thankful for the fun things I get to treat myself to here and there.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving of family, food, fun, and friends.