ramblings about the holidays

I'm getting ready for the holidays. The cold air this weekend is really making me ready. Living in Alabama its not always cold for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I can remember actually wearing shorts on Christmas day. But it just doesn't feel like Christmas unless its cold. I love this time of year. I have so many good memories of the holidays. One of my favorite memories is of Thanksgiving day, the drive to Cullman, and how beautiful the interstate was with the fall colors. I still think about that drive every year when I see the first fall colors. I rode with my Grandaddy sometimes(we went to Cullman for Thanksgiving every year). I miss him. He would really be looking forward to the holidays. But he would especially be loving this Alabama football season. I want our kids to have good memories of family time. One tradition we started several years ago was putting our Christmas tree up the week before Thanksgiving. We mark that day on the calendar and nothing else can be scheduled for that day. We put all of our decorations up, inside and out, listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies, and drink hot chocolate. Anything to get in the Christmas spirit. Getting this done the week before Thanksgiving frees us to shop shop shop the day after Thanksgiving! We are having dinner with our home group tonight so I better go bake.....more on my love of the season later!