More sap than the Christmas tree...

We all get a little sentimental around Christmas. Maybe it's the cheesy Christmas specials. Maybe it's the extra sappy stories on the Today show. Or maybe, just maybe, it's God's way of forcing us to look around at our lives and be thankful for what we have. Now, we all know, that I am certainly not one to keep my mouth shut. And sometimes that gets me in trouble. But sometimes, I hope it makes people feel good. I tell my kids and my husband I love them at least 100 times a day. I try to thank my parents at the very least every time they walk out the door. And once in a while, for extra measure, I write them a card and thank them for just being them. I buy "Just How I feel" cards for Joe. I say I love you before I hang up the phone. Suzie recently went through her attic and found a lifetime's worth of letters from me (real doozies I'm sure!) Maybe in some ways I am just a big sap, but I just don't want people walking around not knowing how grateful I am for them and how much they are loved. People are all we have. True friends are few, and I do have some and am thankful for them, but love and human connections are what matters most.

It seems everyone is talking about scaling back Christmas this year. In our house, we've been trying to trying to keep Christmas lean for years. We've been trying to teach the kids that it's not all about the presents. We don't want them being obsessed with all the "stuff!" We just don't want them taking things for granted. In doing that, I realized it's them I shouldn't be taking for granted...

I was looking for quotes online, and I found a few I wanted to pass on.

"Your children need your presence more than your presents." ~Jesse Jackson

"You will always be your child's favorite toy." ~Vicki Lansky

"In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time." ~Unknown

"The greatest things in life aren't things"

And last, a little poem I found:

To My Grown-Up Son
by Alice E. Chase
My hands were busy through the day
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to.
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook,
But when you’d bring your picture book
And ask me please to share your fun,
I’d say: “A little later son.”
I’d tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door…
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play,
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear…
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.

Are you bawling? Because I was the first 3 times I read it! And then I look at Charlie who lately has been performing "marriage" ceremonies for me and him. And I think "he's not always going to want to marry me!"

We all need to take a little time and take a snapshot of our lives and realize how blessed we are. The things we think matter probably don't. But if we've made a difference in the eyes of our kids and our family, that makes all the difference.

I stay home with my boys, and it is the hardest (and best) job I have ever had. I love them more than words can say, and they truly are my greatest achievement, but some days I really think I am going to lose my mind! I think it's good to take a step back and realize that they are only this age once and they won't still be having temper tantrums in high school, so I need to just let them be!!

I feel like I've babbled and with my new "co-author" the pressure is on to be eloquent, but what I'm trying to say is be thankful for your life because you only live it once, and I am truly happy that you are in mine!!