Don't forget the meaning of the Holidays... of Life.

As this holiday season is upon us, 

I realize, I would like to make this a different sort of Holiday season, a non-stressful one.

Amidst all of the hustle and bustle there is something more important.. the FUN!

It is easy to get caught up in the day to day grind.  Sometimes the holidays bring extra worries of finding the right present and putting out the decorations, sending out christmas cards.  

I say, forget these things if they are not fun!  Do something fun this holiday season!  

When I was a child I loved decorating for Christmas with all the various Christmassy nic-nacs.  I also enjoyed watching all of the popular Christmas shows.  It was, indeed a fun, time.  My favorite decoration were the thin metal angels that dangled around in a carousel above a set of candles, circling them when lit.  Mom would put old Christmas records on the "Hi-Fi"and we would put all the different decorations out on the end tables and various surrounding furniture and the fire mantel. 

I remember waking up Christmas morning,  the stockings were full and I could see toys sticking out the top, but I knew I wasn't supposed to touch anything until everyone was up and ready.  The wait before opening presents was excruciatingly long, particularly when we didn't go to midnight christmas church the night before, forcing us to wait until after morning church to open presents.  I could never fully understand why it was so important to ruin a fine Christmas morning with something like boring old church, anyway.

This Christmas I'm not going to worry about the perfect gifts, I am going to put out a few more decorations (inside, I don't like to spend a lot of time in the cold). I'm not going to let the shopping crowds stress me out, I will try to smile more often, I will take 11 straight days off work, I'll dance in footy pajamas and I promise I won't ever go to church.  I will make sure to enjoy spending time with my family, however, on these fine holidays that come around and remind us to "let your spirit be light".  

What's a Turkey's Favorite Holiday?

My son and I were sitting at the table drinking our Banana Chocolate Smoothies and sharing in conversation when he says, "What's a turkey's favorite Holiday?".
I looked at him, one eyebrow raised as if to say, "where did that come from?", and said jestingly, "well probably not Thanksgiving!"
We laughed, for a moment, until his look changed from amused to serious again.
"Do you think its Christmas?" I asked.
He remained silent, after all, Mom is the one that is supposed to have the answers to all of life's important questions.
"I think an awful lot of people still eat Turkey on Christmas" I said pensively.  "Hmmm".
I thought quickly of all of the Holidays a 5 year old would deem important.  Halloween?  Easter? Fourth of...
"I've got it!" I said.  "I think a Turkey's favorite Holiday is probably the Fourth of July."
He looked at me with uncertainty in his eyes.
"It's way too warm on the Fourth of July for people to roast turkeys in their ovens" I explained.  "Instead they are having picnics and eating macaroni salad and watermelon and stuff".
He looked at me, this time, eyes gleaming, as if I had just answered the question to the meaning of life.
Another one of life's great mysteries solved.