Holidays (Part 2) (or holi-daze)

I do feel like I have been in a daze. It has been insane and crazy here. The kids have been out of school for a week already and they are driving me and each other insane. To much time in close quarters I guess. But no matter how crazy and chaotic, I am trying to enjoy the moments, make memories with them and cherish every moment. Although it can be easy to lose sight of these things in the chaos.

With my oldest son just 9 short days from 14 years old, I look at things a little differently then I did in years past. It makes me realize that time goes by so fast, that the time I have left is fleeting. When I think about it (like really think) I have 4 Christmases left until one turns 18, then who knows what after that. It makes me sad, yet happy. I am happy for what the future holds, but it is always hard for me to accept change. This is something I have been trying to work on this year, and obviously need more work.

As this year is rapidly coming to an end, it brings a lot of feelings and emotions to the front. This year has held so many things in it for me. It has held uncertainty, life changing decisions, chaos, struggles, tears and joys. All in all an amazing year. among all of the craziness of this year, I would not trade it for anything in the world. I have grown so much, with the help of my closest friends and family. I have learned to face fears and grow from it.

As we get older our Christmas lists change. We realize that it's not all about the gifts anymore. That life is more about moments we share than the things we get. Things fade and don't last, but memories and those special moments last forever. For me as a parent, it's not what's for me under the tree, but watching the joy on my kids faces as they open the long awaited Christmas morning. I have so many blessings and so much to be thankful for. I thank God for another year and all of the great blessings in my life.