Bittersweet.....

Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays.  Now, as an adult anyway.  As a kid it's hard to understand all that the Christmas really stands for besides how many gifts under the tree with your name on them, Santa, milk, cookies and Rudolph.  I remember as a kid you ~could not~ wait to just rip into every single gift under the tree as quickly as possible!  I was very blessed to have gifts every hear to "rip" into!  But, truth be told, the holidays have always had a somewhat bittersweet feeling for me.  My parents were divorced when I was very young.  I was always on a "clock" during the holidays, when I had to go here or there.  That's mostly what I remember when it came to the holidays, where I "had" to go and when.  It was always I was being picked up by Dad at this time, or got to go back home to Mom's at this time.  Honestly, it was VERY hard to be away from my Mom on either Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Granted, I had a safe place to go with food, gifts and shelter, as many in the world did not.  But, looking back, I am able to appreciate family and the times we have together even more.  I know things could always be much worse.  I could be in the war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan, worlds away from my family on Christmas.....I could be in another part of the country and financially unable to visit my family at Christmas......there are many scenarios that people are dealing with this holiday season and are unable to be with their loved ones at Christmas.  Not to be Debbie Downer, I just wanted to share that I'm in a way "lucky" to have been on the "holiday schedule" as a youngster, it only helps me appreciate things even more now.  

Wishing everyone a VERY Merry Christmas!

XOXO

Until next time, peace out!

Angie