Happy Holidays

As the holidays are steadily approaching, I have become overcome with Christmas spirit. Now when I say this, you have to understand that normally I HATE the holiday seasons. I dislike Christmas music because every artist has to release a "new version" of the same holiday classic, and the artists put out new Christmas albums periodically with a "new Christmas classic". I dislike shopping during the holidays because of the commercialism and the rude people around me. I dislike decorating Christmas trees because it takes so long, and my hands always come away with more scratches then the whole year proceeding the decorating.

However, for some reason this holiday has been different. My attitude has some what changed this year. I still hate the commercialism that our culture has chosen to sponsor. When it comes down to it, I have done more things "Christmasy" this year than in previous years. I have secretly been listening to Christmas music in the car to and from work --not everyday but at least twice a week. I watched "White Christmas" last night by myself while Trine was at girls night. And I secretly have been counting down the number of days until I can put up the tree--secretly hoping that I won't get cut up this year.

So, today I was thinking of past Christmases that have been memorable, Christmases where Trine & I did something good. These examples have kind of helped change my attitude about Christmas.

1. Trine & I spent Christmas eve working at the "Family Support & Treatment Center" two years ago. During that holiday season, we housed two difficult children who where driving their parents crazy. Trine & I had them help us on the Gingerbread House that we were completing for a contest with my family. My family decided to do "cereal houses" because you could mold it better than Graham crackers. We did not win that year because the only other entry was my nieces & nephew's. Trine & I made "The Black Pearl" from Pirates of The Caribbean. Yes, everything was edible; seaweed for sails, coco krispies for the boat, slim Jim's for poles, blue jello for water, and fruit roll-ups for cabin windows.
2. Last year Trine & I decided instead of spending money on ourselves we were going to provide Christmas for Trine's fourteen and sixteen year old brothers. Sure he wanted a new video game system, all the Star Wars memorabilia he could get, a new IPod, and the complete series of "The Series of Unfortunate Events." But if we were providing we were going to do something that would strengthen his mind. We decided to buy him the complete book series in hardback. However, to make it special I made him a wood shelving case for his books. It was nice, but come Christmas morning he still complained that he didn't get a new Xbox 360. Oh well, we tried.