~* Thursday Thirteen - Reasons I Love the Holidays *~

Even amidst a major move and crazy things going on in our world, still, I'm excited about the holidays in whatever form they will take this year...because I just love this time of year.  Here's why:

Thirteen Reasons I Love the Holidays

1. The scents - fresh pine; cinnamon; vanilla; roasted turkey and prime rib; pumpkin, pecan, apple, and rhubarb pies; freshly baked cookies;
the way the air smells when it's foggy; scented candles; hot chocolate and teas.

2.  The sights - bright lights of every color and many shapes; shiny foils and metallics; fires in the fire-place; happy faces; garland everywhere; tiny villages; snowmen; Christmas ornaments; wrapped packages; platters of food and treats; overcast days; beloved friends sharing in the holiday joy.

3. The sounds - Christmas music everywhere; children giggling and laughing and chattering; lovers murmurs; animated family conversations;  fires crackling; pots bubbling.

4. The textures and feel - fake snow; angels hair; velvet stockings; prickly pine needles; soothing hot drinks;
delicate ornaments with their cool surfaces; cool, often damp weather; the palpable excitement.

5. The tastes - smooth hot chocolate; quality chocolate candy; turkey and prime rib with all the fixings; warm cinnamon rolls; peppermint; eggnog;
ribbon candy; those freshly baked/made home-made candies and cookies and other baked yums.

6. Decorating and dressing up our home in it's Christmas finery.

      

7.  Shopping -   I don't enjoy the parking, the long lines, the grumpy people...but I do love finding just the right gift for loved ones.

8.  Making gifts -  I don't know how much I'll get to do of that with being in the middle of a move, but I enjoy making gifts.

9. Watching A Christmas Carol in as many versions as I can...it's a tradition around here and I love it!

10. Enjoying our nativity and snowmen collections.

11. Baking/making family favorites.

12.  Spending time with my favorite people on earth - my family.

13.  Celebrating God's love and generousity, remembering that first, small gift of Love, that was ultimately the greatest gift of all - Immanuel - God with us.

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