Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

      This time of year is magic.  I don't know if it's the crisp chill in the air, the decorations, the music or just a vibe in the air, but I really love it.  I think the part I love most about this time of the year is that people seem to actually care about one another.  The constant reminders to love thy neighbor, the bells ringing asking for us to give, I think that's what keeps people in the giving mood.  It's the time of year when you can see tangible efforts people put forth to make the world better.  I see the giving spirit all year because of the sorority I'm in, the service sorority...but most people don't see that all year.  So I think that buzz is what the world would be like all the time if people were less selfish.  I honestly believe there is good in everyone.  I search for it constantly.  Even when people are cruel, make poor decisions or are just flat out mean, I still look for the good.  Instead of looking with hate, look with good and think about the influences that caused the action.  Maybe that's the real definition of a person, not just a collection of not so great actions.

     That's what I think the core of this time of the year - the holidays - is all about.  You get around family, remember just how screwed up most of them are and love them all the same.  Once you get back to your real life, that sticks for a little while.  You start to look at the people around you and wonder if the same goes for them.  You think about them with their families.  Maybe someone really dark and ugly to you is warm and beautiful to their family.  It's a time for families.  I personally, have an incredible family.  Sure, all of us have our flaws, me just as much as any one else.  But we all work very well because of our differences.  My brother Alex is charismatic to the core.  He could charm anyone, anytime, anywhere and sometimes I think he does it just to test himself.  That works so well with our family because we are all extremely opinionated and sometimes - a lot of times - we need someone like Alex to come in, charm us all with humor and we're busting up laughing 10 seconds after we've been screaming at each other.  How do you not crack up when an 18 year old walks through the living room with no shirt, then strikes a Victoria's Secret pose and owns it?

      Then there's Garrison...he is an incredible example of what a human being should be.  Not only is he kind, loving and always there for anyone he's ever encountered, he's just honest.  He's the one we know will always handle things diplomatically and will make sure everyone is taken care of.  He keeps us stable.  Next is Olivia, my sister who has had many challenges in her life, but has never let them get her down.  She shows us all how to keep to our own and represent who we are no matter what.  She's also probably the most motivated in life.  She knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it.  Most people think they are this driven, but 99% of people are not.  She's one of the 1% who will fight, claw and pull herself to the top.  Finally, I'm the last kid here to be mentioned.  I'm the organizer and the observant one.  When we need to organize a gift for the parents...I'm the one working on it in September to make it perfect and get the other kids involved.  I'm the one who spots potential road hazards and vocalizes them at least 6 months before anyone else does.  I take care of things.  I make sure things are in order.  I make things happen.  My parents of course are important as well.  My stepdad is Mr. Tradition when it comes to the holidays and has made me love them so very much. He remembers what candies are "traditionally" in stockings each year, even if the rest of us have no clue what we got the year before.  He's also always there with the family movie and calling us all to make sure we are home to watch our holiday movie.  My mom is the creative one.  She makes the holidays hilarious with prank gifts, funny notes and gifts that are usually right on the dot for what we want.  It's impressive.  We can mention something in April and completely forget about it and somehow she remembers and it's under the tree.  She also works to make the holidays nice.  She gets us in nice attire, wraps presents well and makes my other sibs step up.

    The other members of my family that make this holiday special are my dad and my BFFs - whom I consider family.  My dad isn't a big holiday person, but he's someone who you get to see smile when I make him do things for the holidays he wouldn't have thought of.  For example, my grandmother, we found out, ate a thanksgiving meal alone at home - she had a turkey sandwich.  We all assumed she was with church friends, but once we found this out, I made my dad fly to Missouri every year to be with her.  Four years later when she got dementia and had to be moved to care centers...he thanked me for making him go and get that time with her and the rest of the family that would come up because he was in town too.  It's things like that that make me remember why the holidays are so important.  Finally, my BFFs, all of them, make me feel loved when they think of me with a card, a call or a small gift.  It's just a reminder that people love you beyond your blood family.

That's all I have for now on the magic of the holidays.  I hope anyone reading this takes the time to think about how your family impacts your life not just during these few months, but all year.

Live, Laugh and Above All....Love.