JYC Day 12 - This the season to be jolly

Ah, the happy smiley faces, everyone together and everyone getting along perfectly.  No stress, no squabbles, peace and goodwill to all.  Only it's not always like that is it?  There are times when we all feel a little bit 'Christmased out'.  Christmas is not always the happiest time of the year for everyone, believe me I know that for a fact. 

I lost my mum to cancer just 7 days before Christmas one year and it took every last bit of energy to put my happy smiley face on for that Christmas Day. 

But I did it and you know what helped me through?  The fact that my mum loved Christmas.  She cooked and planned and shopped weeks in advance to make sure that everything was just right and nothing made her happier than having her family all around her.  She definitely gained more pleasure from giving someone a gift that she had put so much thought into rather than receiving something herself.   I knew that she would not have wanted her passing to result in a horrible time for us all.  So whenever I feel that feeling of stress creeping up on me, I think of her and know that she would be rallying me round to think of what I had done and not concentrate on what was still left to do!  Shimelle asked us to think of a role model for Christmas today and my mum fits that description perfectly.  We still carry on her family traditions and that helps to make us feel like she is still sharing the day with us.  

On another note, it's 12.12.12 today!  Not only that but it is my husband's birthday.  Plus my son had the results of his Masters degree and he has passed with a high 2:1.  He worked so hard for it, he deserves to have done well.  

Today we woke to what I believe they call a hoar frost.  The countryside looks absolutely beautiful.  We've just taken Coco out for a lunchtime walk in the fields around us and I shall share some pictures to help anyone out there who needs to be put in a Christmas frame of mind ...