May your days be Merry & Bright.....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...oh wait, actually it's not really "looking" like Christmas yet, that is unless you walk into our house! :) Though the trees outside are looking more bare and less colorful, they most definitely are not holding any "white stuff" on their branches yet. Inside The Oliver household however, there is a tree housing twinkling lights, random ornaments of vibrant hues and silly shapes, cinnamon candles, my favorite nativity and snowman decor galore! We decided to embrace the holiday spirit early this year and make our home a Christmas Oasis Mid-November.
I've been asked- "why are you skipping Thanksgiving?" To which I reply- "I am most certainly not skipping Thanksgiving, I'm simply categorizing it as part of the Christmas season!" The way I see it, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to reflect on all the "gifts" in our lives, the God given moments we have collected for the last 11 months and truly, truly give gratitude and praise to our Savior for the rich blessings He continues to pour out on us. To savor and cultivate new and old relationships with loved ones and friends, to take quiet moments and be still if only to find yourself in a moment of stillness and peace. Why not start this season now-- who cares if the turkey has not yet been carved? I'm excited this year to bring on this season sooner, not as to bring the day of gift opening quicker (as if we ever could), but to have extra days to just focus on being THANKFUL and acknowledging the may blessings I pass over everyday without second thoughts. To point my daughter to Jesus and the amazing GIFT of His birth and create moments that will be treasured on into the future. I'm okay with starting these things now.

For those of you not quite ready to hang the mistletoe- I understand :) but implore you to join in the spirit of the season today! To reflect, give thanks and pull your loved ones close and be reminded of the "reason for the season." We should be so inclined to do this everyday, but we're good at forgetting....or let me rephrase that, "I'M" good at forgetting. So if you don't mind I'd like to wish you a "Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season" this November 15th

May Jesus be the Center of your Celebrating!

Kristine