Primed for the Holidays

I believe that the holiday season actually begins on Halloween. We are seasoned with an abundance of sugar priming us for the Thanksgiving to New Years Eve stretch. The children are overly excited and impatient allowing us to have opposition in all things to be strengthened. It really is just a growing opportunity. This year was a perfect primer at my house with school the following morning. We all grew that morning.

I personally spent my Halloween night with my back out at home with my 18 month old. We are blessed in my neighborhood with clones of my family providing a continuous knock or ding of the door for 2 hours. Each time I hobbled to the door my 18 month old would make a run for it.

The highlight of the evening was when a bird flew in my home. My ceiling is 20 feet high. It would fly from wreath to swag to ficus tree. Probably the scariest moment on Halloween for my little 3 year old neighbor Emily was when she looked up in awe to see the frantically fluttering bird I pointed out to her mother. I proceeded to explain that if that bird drops any tricks I'm gonna give it a treat to remember. Little Emily looked at me horrified. Perhaps she's never seen this side of her Primary Chorister.

Halloween really can be a ugly and scary at times. Especially after I have done costumes and makeup for the 4th time in a week because it would be "fun" to have the kids come in costumes to their lessons. I really don't find it a sweet dream come true to hear my 10 year old son asking for the prefect hatchet for his costume.

The nature of the non-Christian Halloween allows us to be ourselves without the cloak of the "holiday spirit". Although I wore my smile and did the parties, for the first time ever I wasn't "feeling it" this Halloween. I even dressed up as a Christmas present with bells on for the 1st grade party. The holiday thrill never jingled its way in.

Because we are blessed with so many food allergies in my home we are on a constant alert status from October 31st to January1st. But I find it no accident that right in the middle of these holidays is a big fat turkey day to be grateful. In fact, last week my number 1 hit song has been Count Your Blessings. It has been my replacement thought and stress easer as my To Do list has been multiplying like rabbits in spring as the big day approaches. I've been feeling a little tempest tossed.

However, as I sat at the Thanksgiving Day table and all eyes fell upon me to state what I was grateful for, I did feel something. And then an overwhelming something. I felt grateful for what I wake to each day. Life itself and my family. All of the comforts and opportunities we enjoy. It's a good life. Bring it on!