Ho Ho Ho - Happy Holidays!

This morning I attended my daughters elementary school Christmas brunch and sing-a-long.  She is such a tender soul, and observing her in her own little world facinates and delights me.  As much a tom-boy as she is a diva, rather than the typical playground clothes that support her girls-chase-boys activities, this morning was all crisp white tights, black patent leather shoes and her red Christmas dress, complete with jacket.  She looked amazing.  (And what mother wouldn't think so?)

I love the seasons for all sorts of reasons.  Christmas has been a bit tougher this year - and I needed to find a reason to believe again.  I can tell you that it isn't in the Meijer parking lot, nor the school parking lot at 3:31 on Friday!  I found it today in simple, obvious places.

• It was in the smile from the "special" girl in our daughter's class as I helped her to clean green frosting off of pretty much everywhere after her craft project exploded.  Her smile warmed my heart as I warmed her cold hands in mine.
• It was in the antlers and rush of our 5-year old friend Tristan as he ran to open the "heaviest door in the world" for us this morning.
• It was in the group hug that I received from Katrina and BFF Samantha at drop off.
• It filled the auditorium when all of the students came together and stumbled through songs and hand gestures they kind of knew, but not with so many people watching.
• It roared through the building when Santa Clause made his entrance - a very large 6 foot plus Santa that had just scared me as we collided coming out of the restrooms.  How can he be so many places at once?
• I even heard it in the laughter of our mailman who has gotten stuck on the ice in front of our row of houses EVERY SINGLE DAY and still finds humor!

To quote an old friend, that many of us know:  "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags! Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without any presents at all! He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it came! Somehow or other, it came just the same."

For my friends and followers, I hope that the spirit of the holidays finds you in some small, personal way this season.  Just take a minute to stop and look around you - you'll see it, and I'll bet you smile just a bit, and that your heart grows three sizes. Happy Holidays!