Holiday Time

So, somehow it’s already time for Thanksgiving. Every year it seems like it comes faster and I just can’t believe it’s time to get together for Thanksgiving. Before we know it, it will be Christmas and we’ll be looking at 2011. Remember when the year 2000 seemed so far away? Crazy!

Anyway, it’s always fun to get ready for the holidays. Now that I’m a “grown up” it’s fun to get to pack my bags and go stay at my mom’s house for a few days. The house is full of people, all of our dogs get to run around and play together and it’s just a perfect setting. My family has always been large and get-togethers are loud, hectic and some of my favorite memories. We have to set up tables and chairs in the garage to fit everyone around a table and there’s always friends or coworkers that are invited to come along with one of us so that no one spends the holiday alone. There’s never pressure to stay for the right amount of time and everyone understands that we all have many places to be. It’s just a time to be together with no agenda. Of course, we take pictures, there’s more food than we can eat and we’ll open gifts (at Christmas), but it’s not scheduled or pressured. That may be why I like it so much. The purpose of getting together is just that: to be together. How often is the entire family in the same house?

I look forward to traditions like watching Christmas Vacation with my family and sipping hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps the night before Thanksgiving. Staying up all night and shopping with the crazy people on Black Friday. Finding the pickle in the Christmas Tree with my cousins. Raising my candle at midnight when we sing Silent Night at church on Christmas Eve.

There’s no work to worry about. No schedules or emails, just family and friends enjoying time together. And that, my friends is why it’s the best time of year.