it's the time of the year for traditions

...
What is one of your Christmas traditions?

We have a a few, but I'll just share one today. This is how we spend Christmas Eve...

We attend a Christmas Eve service and depending on the time of that service, we plan to eat dinner either before or after. We usually eat afterwards, but it's always dinner out at a nice restaurant. We then drive around (length of time varies) and look at Christmas lights and home displays. We try to find those houses that are literally dripping with lights and decorations. Some years we've done this in our pajamas with travel cups full of hot chocolate.

Once we get home, we each open one gift (our choice). By then, it's usually getting late and it's time to get to bed. We don't want to be up when Santa comes visiting.

Visit Kailani at An Island Life each week for Aloha Friday.

just to make you smile

i did it!

I made it! I posted everyday during the month of November as a NaBloPoMo participant. There were a few days I didn't feel like posting, but for the most part, I was able to find the time and content to post each and every day. And contrary to the graphic here, I have a great sense of accomplishment.

One of the things that helped was posting a blessing each day with the goal of having 30 different blessings at the end of the month.


Here's a recap of my 30 blessings:

1. my children
2. the opportunity to vote
3. unseasonably warm weather
4. the beautiful colors of the season
5. not having to work everyday/my days off
6. my home
7. two very good friends
8. to live in America
9. my husband
10. to have men and women fight for my freedom
11. my relationship with my daughter
12. gas prices continuing to fall
13. owning the cameras I do
14. when it snows and the beauty of it
15. the luxury of Saturdays
16. getting together with good friends
17. my prayer group
18. that Don's mishap in Canada wasn't worse than it was
19. Don's company and how much they helped him to get home
20. healthy teeth
21. good health/dental insurance
22. my current level of health
23. being a mother
24. being around kids (my job)
25. Don being able to provide for our family
26. feeling better after catching a bad cold
27. enjoying Thanksgiving with friends and family
28. being able to go to California for Christmas
29. blogging friends
30. my faith

Now I look forward to the Christmas and the season of advent. Christmas will be here before we know it. For me, it's important not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and to take time to reflect on the reason for the season.