Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, whichever you prefer.

I have to admit I'm stumped.  I want to write a heartfelt, heartwarming, heart full Christmas message to you, one that's not corny and cliched. 

And I'm not sure I can.

Because Christmas is all about corny (like the wonderfully tacky Night Before Christmas clock that chimes carols on the hour I just bought) and cliched (all the phrases and songs we hear over and over again).  And maybe corny and cliche is why we like Christmas so much.

At least I do.  I love Christmas.  I love Christmas because:

• Every year, we go to the tree farm and cut down a tree.
• The tree makes the house smell wonderful.
• I cover every surface of my house with Christmas decorations, so that it looks like a rabid elf just visited.
• Christmas lights illuminate the darkest time of the year.
• I get to spend lots of time with my family, including my new grandson, Henry.
• We do fun Christmas things like walk through Peacock Lane and visit the Grotto. Everybody complains that its cold and stupid and corny and crowded but we all love both places.
• Every year I drive my husband crazy by obsessing whether I was totally and completely fair in buying Christmas gifts for people.
• Every year my husband hits the wine when I start wrapping presents, including wrapping every single stocking present.  And I love buying stocking presents.
• We watch the same Christmas movies every year while wrapping said presents. (Or at least I wrap, he drinks.  Kidding, honey.)
• I get to see my entire extended family in a big Christmas Eve party.
• I get to spend Christmas day with my kids and my sister's family.
• I get to remember how lucky I am to be part of this crazy, big family.
• Hmmm, did I mention how much I love my family?
• I also get to see friends.  I love my friends, too. And I'm celebrating having lots of new friends this year.
• I indulge my sugar addiction.  Okay, maybe that part's not so good.  But I still enjoy it.
• I can chat with the cute bell-ringer at Fred Meyer. (I'm dying to ask him his story.  Is he retired?  He looks too young.  If not, how does he have enough time off to volunteer day in, day out during the holiday season?)
• I refuse to send Christmas cards, and tell people that I'm being environmental, but really I'm just lazy.
• I appreciate the spiritual dimension of Christmas, and this year I'm celebrating being part of an incredible church community.  It means the world to me.
• We eat the most delicious ham ever at Christmas dinner.
• The week after Christmas is relaxing.  Still have work to do, but there's time for movies and hanging out. (I'm dying to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  How about you?)
• In the aftermath of Christmas, suddenly everything seems clear and clean (all those surfaces clear of decorations at last).  And we've got a bright, shiny new year to look forward to.

And for all this, I count myself incredibly lucky and blessed.  I hope that you find some similar things to be grateful for this Christmas season.  I'm blessed beyond measure to have you all as my wonderful readers.  So go, relax, and enjoy this holiday and we'll be back at it on Monday with my final December giveaway!  (I also have a couple blog posts about writing in mind.  I've held off posting them, figuring nobody would really be paying attention in the crazed, mad runup to Christmas.)

What do you love about Christmas? Oh who am I kidding, its Christmas Eve, you probably don't have time to write a comment.  But if you do, I'd love to hear about your traditions.  Merry Christmas, everyone, I truly love you all.

Photo credits:

Snowman by joetyson.

Cookies by Patrick Q.

Heart by aschaeffer.

All of the above I found on Everystockphoto.com.

The two images of houses on Peacock Lane I took from their website.