I See The Light and What I Know For Sure (this week)

I live in a great Christmas town.  It's hard to not like the holidays here in Whoville Rochester, Michigan.  And that's good.  No, really, it's good.

Because there are melancholy, damaged souls like myself that struggle with the holidays.  I struggle with all the happiness, all the expectations, all the bad memories.  

Aside from dealing with all the ghosts of holidays gone by, Christmas with kids is really intended for people that have good plan ahead calendar skills.  Not people with a, well, um, more scattered, fly by the seat of your pants approach to life.  I'm not really much of a shopper, planner, organizer kind of mom/person.

Inspired by my town and my children's enthusiasm and sweet little innocence, I'm going to become a planner. What? No, sorry that probably will never happen.  But I will do my best to let go of the holiday darkness and see the lightness.  

The family and me right after the town was lit this past Monday.  It's a magical moment when thousands of people chant "light our town" and the mayor flips the switch (with Santa's help of course).  I mean what the hell?  Can you get more Lifetime movie-Hallmark-esque?  It's good, it's really good.

If I feel that overwhelmed, I'm not a good enough mom/person, holidays are for crying and remembering every bad holiday ever feeling creeping up on me I will drive through or walk through my town.  My town, full of bright lights and Christmas cheer.  I will focus on the lightness and the goodness.  I will remember all the good parts of the story:

• the lights, duh
• watching the specials on TV snuggled with the kiddos under blankets
• reading Christmas stories
• telling Christmas stories 
• singing the songs
• volunteering to help someone in need
• using the fancy Christmas plates at Sunday dinners
• sharing ideas about faith
• thinking more about my own faith
• making the cookies
• eating the cookies
• decorating the house
• decorating the tree
• celebrating in our own way
• counting down
• watching my children make so many happy memories

There really is so much lightness and goodness around me and I will push past the darkness to see it, this I know for sure.

Here's what else I know for sure (this week):

• Chris Mann has the perfect voice for Christmas.  He's the new Bing. Seriously check him out.

His new CD is pretty amazing and feels a little like Christmas year round, click here to read a review of the CD Roads.

• Hallmark has finally made it into the 21st century.  I LOVE this new commercial.  It's just all kinds of MMM-hmmm, especially for a words of affirmation junkie like myself.  Well done Hallmark.

• I'm don't feel truly myself without being totally fake (my hair, people, I'm talking about my hair).

I look like getting my highlights is such serious business, it's so not.  Love my hairdresser/friend Gloria and hanging for a couple hours away from the kiddos--so fun.

• Going to L.A., going to the Grammy Awards and winning a new car sounds amazing.  Right?  Um, you have a chance dude.   This contest is so easy, it takes five minutes and could change your life, or at least your year.  Click here to read more about entering this amazing contest.

• My daughter Lucy's ability to get lost in a book ANYWHERE is just one of the 5 million things I love about her.

Right in the middle of the uber crowded store, people shopped around her, stepped over her and she kept right on reading.

• Karmin + Christmas song= pure fun.  It looks a little bit like a Target ad, but I like Target ads.

• Advent calendars aren't just for your kids.  For the past couple of years, I've been heading over to thebustedhalo.com's fun and poignant online calendar.  Each day reveals a short quote and mini challenge described as "an easily doable but meaningful task to help you make the most of the Advent season." Click here to check it out.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know.  What are your favorite parts of the holiday season? Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

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All the pictures in this post were taken on Instagram.  Come play with me @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

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I'm linking up today with my friend Greta from  Gfunkified.com and her pal Mamamash.com for the #iPPP link up.