December 16

I was able to resume my decorating after a quick trip to the store and as I was torso-deep in the center of the tree, wrapping light strands around unwieldy branches, I noticed a tuft of Earl hair caught in the needles.

I'm grateful the tree stand is sturdy enough to handle a six foot tree and a 15-pound bad cat.

December 15

Work christmas parties have always included the tradition of white elephant gifting and ever since our kids have been old enough to understand the concept of presents, they've been ardent supporters of the game. This year the coveted giftie was a gigantic blue-wrapped wonder, similar in shape to a giant magnum of champagne. Well, the adults thought so, anyway.

Turns out the package contained 38,000 calories of day-glow orange cheezie puffs. I'm grateful it went home with somebody else's child.

December 14

I'm grateful for the smell of pine trees in my living room. And I think ours is particularly lovely this year, even if it was hit with a case of decoratus interruptus because of non-functioning light strands.

December 13

I'm grateful for evening drives spent just checking out the Christmas lights.

December 12

I walked into my office on a dreary Monday morning to find Christmas lights shining, red ornaments hung from my shelves and paper snowflakes gracing my windows. I can't even begin to relay how high my spirits lifted at that sight. I'm grateful to my coworkers in the lab for this extra special gift, and especially for the snowflake creating talents of 8-year old Emily. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

December 11

Eleven years ago, I was standing in a Christmas tree lot, mulling over the finer points of several different evergreens as I tried to decide which would grace our front room for the season. Then the first real labor pain hit me and the mulling was over. "I'll take that one!" I hollered, pointing wildly at the nearest green blur.

I'm grateful Luke arrived as an early Christmas present that year. You are so special to me, son, and I love you very much. Happy Birthday!

December 10

I'm grateful the Community Christmas Benefit Concert was successful in not only the performances (some incredibly talented individuals and ensembles from many different faiths filled the Logan Tabernacle with their sound) but also in the amount of food gathered for the Cache Food Pantry.