"CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS"

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I have always loved Christmas!!!
When I was little (and not so little) I would wake up in the wee, wee, small hours of the night on Christmas morning and then proceed to wake ALL of my brothers and sisters, too! 
After all, Christmas is no fun on your own! 
We would tiptoe down to the lounge room where we had all carefully placed our own chair with our own pillow slip in anticipation of a sack full of presents! (We must have been too poor to own Santa sacks!)
However, we were never too poor to be delighted with lots of toys and clothes and to share these joys with each other. I know that it was always me who woke the 'littlies' long after I stopped believing in Santa! It was, therefore, probably me who made Mum and Dad realise that putting our presents on the end of our bed was a far better option, as at least we would then only wake the siblings who shared a room with us. I'm not sure if that worked but it was a good plan!
Then, when my own children were little I would still be the first one awake, wondering when they were ever going to wake up to open their presents! I loved seeing the joy and delight on their little faces as they unwrapped their surprises!

I still love Christmas!
I love the overwhelming sense of family that comes with being together and giving. I love sharing the preparations and laughter that come with celebrating a delicious meal together. I love pulling Christmas crackers with others around the table and groaning over the silliness of the jokes contained within. 
I love the thought that goes into the gift giving, made even more special this year because SO many members of our family from all over the country have decided to join in.
I know that Christmas is precious! It's precious because it brings families together. It's precious because this togetherness is vulnerable. We don't ever know how long we are here on this earth so each Christmas could be our last or it could be the last with one or more of our loved ones. It's not a time to be thinking morbid thoughts! But it should be a time to celebrate ALL of our lives together just in case!!
To those who are no longer here to share this family time...I miss you!!! ...terribly! 
To those who are celebrating elsewhere, have a lovely day with each other. Make sure there is lots of love and laughter!
To those who are sharing my Christmas Day...thank you! I love you all SO much and I am looking forward to a great day! xxx