2012 DECEMBER BLOG

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                     Thanksgiving was wonderful. The weather was perfect, the leaves did their thing, our son and his family from Dallas were happy at a near-by resort hotel and the Thanksgiving buffet where we dine each year was especially good. I cooked the meals we all shared here at our home ahead of time and in concert with our daughter who lives in Austin.

Yes, Thanksgiving was terrific but Christmas is joy. The children are older (aren't we all)! Gift giving is still front and center but Santa has taken a back seat. And the birth of baby Jesus can be celebrated in recognition of what it's really all about.

May years ago, our son said, "What do you think of our coming to Austin for Thanksgiving every year and to Memphis for Christmas?" I confess I felt second place and not able to compete with all the Christmas excitement in Memphis. There were 11 little cousins all about the same age, not to mention lots of aunts and uncles, when they were gathered at the other grandparent's home. Here in Austin at that time, including our recently married daughter and son-in-law and his parents, we numbered only 6.

But now with our 2 Austin grandchildren and our 3 Dallas grand-teens plus the adults that accompany them, we make a robust Thanksgiving of 13. In December we travel to Dallas for early gift giving and family fun, then back home before the eve of Christmas. Free from the last minute stress and crush, we can look forward to a beautiful Christmas Eve mass at our Episcopal church, then a leisurely Christmas Day with more gift giving and dinner at our daughter and son-in-law's home. (Although they may not think it leisurely, I like the way it is orchestrated.)

I'd love to know how you celebrate the Christmas season or your holiday time. I wish joy and peace for you and yours and a very happy new year.

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