And now it starts......

...The Christmas Rush, that is.

But what if you didn't rush?

What if you took your time?

What if you walked through the season and didn't run...

Would Christmas not come?

Would Santa look at your chimney and say"...hmm she didn't rush enough.... on Dasher, we can't stop here..."

I don't think so.

Even if every cookie didn't get baked, even if every dust bunny didn't get swept up and yes,

even if every gift didn't get wrapped, Christmas would still come.

This year, why not realize that from the start and enjoy the ride a little more.

I know, I know, I am a fine one to talk.  Me, who spent part of Christmas Eve last

year in Wal-Mart with 30,000 of my nearest and dearest instead of

sipping cider by the wood stove.  Me, who found gift cards for my children after

Valentines Day...Me, who collapsed in the chair Christmas morning and almost missed Christmas lunch.

But.....

this year could be different.

This year, could be the year where good enough is good enough.

This could be the year where small handmade treats beat large crowds and

big spending...

This could be the year where sipping cider trumps a seven course meal and unwrapped stocking stuffers are okay.   This could be the year where

paper plates work just fine and one kind of Christmas cookie works just as well and ten.  Where visiting AFTER Christmas day is more

enjoyable than rushing to 6 different relative's homes in 6 hours.

This could be the year....

You try Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve this year and see if

you can't think of a few ways to simplify the holidays.