One month from today is Christmas.  The mad rush toward the holiday starts on Friday (at least here in the US it does) with Black Friday.  The media will stoke the frenzy with updates on how many shopping days there are left and people will start to get that crazed, dazed look in their eyes when you ask about their holiday plans.

So.  I want to take the next few days and savor the quiet and enjoy my family.  They're all coming for dinner.  Em and Jim and Jim's sister and Em's friend Laura.  Kate and El and Pk and I.  Seven people who all mean the world to me.  I want to enjoy their company and not let the impending hectic-ness that is the Christmas season dampen our day.

I spend time frequently counting my blessings and being thankful for what and who I have in my life.  It's not always kittens and rainbows but it's not all guns and garbage either.  There's plenty of goodness and happy to balance out the other. 

I'm inordinately proud of my girls and how lovely and talented and smart they all grew up to be.  I wonder at the beauties who were once tiny bundles that I cooed to in the wee hours.

I'm proud of and thankful for my husband who does his best each and every day to make sure I am taken care of and that I have what I need and most of what I want.  He is a constant source of joy in my life.

I'm thankful for finding knitting even if it was so late in my life.  Because of it, I found a community that I didn't know existed.  I'm thankful that I can share in the bits of other lives and share bits of mine in return.

       

And I almost forgot.  Pk and I were in the store yesterday looking for some replacement bulbs for some holiday lights and I found canned pumpkin.  I was a glutton and bought 4 cans.  I can use two this year and put two away for next year when this shortage spills over and it's hard to get.  So, I'm grateful for the goodness that is pumpkin pie.

I want to leave you with the quote that lives at the bottom of the blog.  It's one of my favorites.  It's on a piece of orange paper on the bulletin board that's in front of my desk.  I see it every day and it reminds me to share happiness and joy with others and not just the complaints.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle and the life of that candle will not be diminished.  Happiness never decreases by being shared.

-the Buddha

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow or not, I wish you a day filled with joy and peace and friends and family.