The Happiest of Holidays!

As another holiday season rolls around I find myself feeling a bit nostalgic and alot emotional. I have everything I could possibly want at this point in my life (my health could be better, but then again it could always be worse so I'll be thankful with what I have).  I find myself thinking back to this time last year, when my Christmas tree didn't look so pretty and my spirits weren't so high.  Of course my tree looked the same as it does this year but my husband being gone on deployment made everything seem dull and a bit sad. I went shopping on Black Friday this year and almost cried at the fact that I could buy him real presents, not tiny things I had to make fit into a box and ship overseas.  Though he tells me that my gifts last year meant everything to him and for that I am grateful.  I look around as I drive by the post office and see all of the military wives hauling those same boxes out of their cars, many of them with tiny children in tow and realize that their husbands are gone this year and it makes me want to cry, even when I know that these are strong women...it's still hard to be without the one you love.  I get a little sad when I think of calling my parents on Christmas day because I miss them too, but then I realize many out there don't have parents anymore and I say a prayer for them. 
Yes, the tree is beautiful, the gifts will be many this year and our meal that we lovingly cook together will be wonderful as it always is and all of these things are great, but this year the gift I'm most thankful for is my husband.  I'm thankful for the love we share, even though we are both far aways from our own families, we make our own traditions and we're happy :)  And this year, because we are both so grateful for what we have, we've decided to split the cost of the things it will take to make a meal for someone less fortunate and dontate those items to the food bank.  Hopefully I have some coats and warm clothing to donate as well, just like I did last year.  Because even though there are days when my stress is thru the roof and I feel alone and I cry nonstop, I know that I am not really alone and that I am blessed.
Happy Holidays :)