I’ve been back in Maryland for a little over a week and it is starting to look a lot like Christmas!
Trees are decorated as are homes inside and out and it’s wonderful!  Cookies are filling the air with sweet aromas!

This past Friday our family experienced another indicator that Christmas is just around the corner…my youngest daughter’s birthday…number 26!!!  I stayed at her house the night before so I could make her a birthday breakfast before she headed off to work!  Omelet muffins laced with ham!  Yummy!  Later her dad took her out to dinner and after THAT, a group of us went to Loonie’s Pub and Sports Bar to continue the celebration!

Megan, Rachel, Matthew, Adam, Jesse Me and my birthday girl front and center!

Rachel, Matthew and Nicole

Since all three of my offspring AND their significant others were in attendance, I seized the moment and was able to get someone to snap all of us!   Rare opportunities such as this are precious and few and far between!  We have a lot of fun when we are together being silly!  I am looking forward to our holiday dinner Saturday when my sister and Amy as well as the ‘boys’ will be around so I can get a complete family picture!!!
     Since the holiday season is about family, I am happy to be home this year actually on Christmas day for the first time in 5 years!  My life has taken me to places other than here and even though we have all stayed in close touch and visited throughout the year each year…being home is very special to me this time of year.  I saw a wonderful quote earlier today that I’d like to share.  It touched my heart expressing a simple yet profound truth…I believe that many of us feel the same way.
                                “Family isn’t always blood.  It’s the people in your life
                                 who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for 
                                 who you are.  The ones who would do anything to 
                                 see you smile and who love you no matter what.”
     Happy holidays to everyone from all traditions.  May peace and love fill you this season and every day throughout the coming new year!