Not letting the Thankfulness Fade

It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I am watching College Game Day with my boys. (My daughter flew the coop with her Grammie this morning.)  I am multi-tasking, watching Game Day, writing this post, working on a new writing project, checking Facebook, putting away the Thanksgiving decorations and bringing out the Christmas ones.  I love to decorate my house for the holidays- all of them! But as I shift gears from November to December, I don't want to let the thankfulness fade.  I hope that I have taught my children that the "attitude of gratitude" is more important than the "what did Santa bring me?" question.  I hope that I continue to remember that each day if full of gifts much more important than those wrapped and under the tree.  I think that is why I work so hard to continue certain traditions- traditions that have nothing to do with getting, but rather with the giving of ourselves to each other with our time.  Walking downtown to see the Christmas lights, Christmas Eve drives through our neighborhood to see the light displays the families have put up in their yards (this one is usually accompanied by cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows or cups of ice-cream, depending on the weather in the south and the mood of the family), attending candlelight services at church, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas together, reading our favorite Christmas books- even though my kiddos have outgrown them age-wise, they are just the right fit for their child-like spirits at Christmas, and of course the reindeer food, cookies for Santa and the hanging of stockings.  These are moments that cost nothing, but their dividends are priceless.  And when it is all said and done, I am most thankful for those moments than anything that Santa might leave for me.