Finding that Holiday Spirit

Well? Are you ready for the holidays? Cards all done? Decorations up, gifts bought and wrapped and...no! Don't hit me. I'm sorry...I know. It's not funny, is it? I was looking at Lori's blog post from a few days ago with her beautiful tree and the wrapped gifts all around, and then at Susan's with a perfect tree and the ornaments in place and my first thought was huh? It's DECEMBER?

I am SO not ready, even though I do love this time of year. My husband actually has the lights up on our blue spruce out in the front yard and I've got twinkly lights in houseplants all around the house, but I haven't bought a single gift and the only cards I've sent are the ones to a few of my fellow authors and business associates. I've got address labels printed for the family and friends cards, but haven't got the cards yet. I decided not to enclose a picture this year, which will make it easier. I figure we look the same--just a year older. I need to start thinking about the menu for the big dinner I'll be cooking, but that's still a couple weeks away, and I'm the queen of procrastination.

I think that once our son and his family arrive here next week from their home in Hawaii, it'll start feeling more like Christmas.

There's something about getting the family together that makes the holidays come to life. I remember the year our daughter was nineteen and had just gotten out of Air Force boot camp. Sarah got shipped off to Germany four days before Christmas. That was the hardest Christmas ever--the very first one when one of our children wasn't home, and it makes my heart go out to all of the people across the country who have loved ones serving overseas right now, because I know the holidays just aren't the same for you. It's like a big hole in your world when one is missing. I can't imagine ever getting used to it.
One thing today definitely nudged me closer to the season--my author copies of Wolf Tales 9 showed up on the doorstep! I didn't expect them for a couple of weeks, so the FedEx delivery was a wonderful surprise. I love the cover of this book--it's got a satiny finish that makes it feel alive, and since there's an almost naked guy on the cover, I keep catching myself stroking that gloriously sleek back of his. Luckily my husband is very understanding, though he does keep looking at me as if I've lost a marble or two.

What is it that makes you finally accept the fact that the holidays are coming and it's time to get into the spirit? The change in the weather? Lights going up on the neighbor's house, or is it all the decorations suddenly popping up in stores? (They were up before Halloween around here...just a bit too early for my taste!) I made fudge this week and suddenly realized I was humming Jingle Bells...it had to have been a subliminal reaction to all that chocolate!

And, by the way, this is the world's easiest recipe--melt a package of chocolate chips in the microwave, mix in a tub of that pre-made chocolate frosting, add a cup of chopped nuts and press it into a square baking pan lined with foil or plastic wrap. Chill it, cut it, and you can't tell the difference from the real thing! Try it--if nothing else has you finding your Christmas spirit, this is bound to do the trick!