And a very Merry Ho-Ho-Ho!

I hope this post finds you all well!

It is Christmas afternoon here in Vancouver and I am getting ready to head out to my brother’s for his first hosting of the family Christmas dinner.  This could be good, this could be bad – but at least we’ll all be together to praise him or bug him (f-o-r-e-v-e-r, if the turkey is dry!).  I mean, this is the meaning of Christmas in my family, now that Santa has come and gone (you can only behave so long!).

We have a first Christmas to celebrate for a new addition in our family, little Avery isn’t even quite a month old.  So despite a potentially dry turkey (actually, I’m sure it will be superb) there will be a dozen or more of us cooing over spit up, her lack of hair, her tiny little feet and hands and so forth.  Then there is the first-born Kennadie, who will be spoiled rotten because she’s at the supreme age where absolutely every present is AMAZING, especially the box the expensive gift came in.  There is nothing more fun at Christmas than to watch kids open presents.  At least for me.

With a world that seemed to be rocked with tragedy in the weeks leading up to today, there isn’t a whole lot that can be said to make sense of any of it.  All we can truly take away from the anguish and let’s face it, cowardice, is that there is a lot more good in the world than evil.  Unfortunately, it’s the awfulness that writes the headlines and catches global attention more often than it should.  This doesn’t mean that good isn’t winning, so take that to heart.  God is out there.  Goodness is out there.  Love and peace and family/friends are all around.  Wrap yourself in the warmth of these things as we push on together to make our Communities better.

Getting back to the joy that is today, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I remind you to be responsible – don’t drink and drive (I will kick your butt)!  Turn off the computer, put down the iPhone/Android, catch up on the emails later, tell work to stuff it and spend these moments with family and friends.   Cherish every moment going forward.

And of course remember, always take time to be kind.

Cheers!

Denise