Happy Holidays!

While this can be a hard time of year for a lot of people, I just happen to love the holiday season.  I celebrate Chanukah and there is something about lighting the menorah that brings hope and love to mind.  A friend of mine created a beautiful placemat to go under the menorah (www.MenorahMate.com) and the blessings are on the mat, so our little family gathered round and read all the blessings together.  We had to huddle so we could all read together, whereas we usually say the prayers from around the table.  Intentional or not, the family hug just felt really good.

Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas, I like the good spirit that surfaces in so many people (it probably helps that  I don’t have to deal with the crowds in the shops)  and I just love the parties, joining other families for Christmas dinners (and I’ve gone to midnight mass a few times over the years), and oh…the food and the cookies and the reasons to stop and spend time with family and friends. 

And while I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Eve, because of the pressure of having a boyfriend, or husband or partner (…and I always seem to be in a dating wormhole around the holidays)…  since I’ve had my daughter, there is nothing I like more than watching the ball drop in NY and then cuddling up with my getting-bigger-all-the-time-little-girl. 

So before we all tear off into the frenzy of the holidays, I’d like to wish you, my friends, and family, and all the readers who have become my online “family” a very happy holiday season.  You are all in my heart.  Thanks for your interest and support all year long.