I'll Take My Christmas....

I wouldn't trade anyone.

People make me think.

I've heard many "I wish...." statements lately, and to those I think "I'll take my Christmas".

I've heard:
I wish I didn't gain so much weight every Christmas. This one is simple. I'll take too much food over none at all. I'll take my pounds over shivering & hungry.
I wish I had more money. I'll keep my somewhat small but thoughtful gifts. I'll stick to my little family who still doesn't know they don't have a Wii, or the coolest babies, or the newest styles. The one/s who get excited about new socks, fancy underwear, and the cheap, but mega-exciting gift Derrick's about to get. (although, really, who doesn't want more money...)
I wish the bar was open on Christmas. Though I enjoy a brew or two I feel somewhat 'old' in saying I don't have fun like I may have before. I enjoy the taste. I enjoy the company. And then I actually enjoying being the one to tuck my girls in and crawling into my bed. Call me old. Call me boring. Call me happy.
I wish I had a bigger house for these parties. I like mine. It's perfect for our family. Were it bigger we couldn't hear the men yell at the tv and the kids jumping on the beds at the same time. We couldn't pull a tiny folding table and chairs out for the kids to sit at in the middle of the kitchen. We couldn't all sit in the corner and crawl over each other to play tea party. It's not too small, it's perfect.
I wish we had a healthy Christmas. I'll take my sore throat, my sniffley nose, even a barf or two over a hospital bed, a passing loved one, a funeral over the holidays. I'll even take my 'wish my dad was here' over remembering the painful day on the holidays on top of missing him. A flu sounds appealing to the truly sick.
I wish my kids appreciated all the gifts we got them. I'll take my ornery lil stinkers who rip through the paper, throwing out the boxes that look like clothes, and tearing into the next toy shaped box. I'll take them over a quiet morning. I'll take them over a visit to Akron Children's to deliver gifts.
I'm not rich. I'm not poor. My life doesn't always fit just right....but this Christmas, I'll take my Christmas.

To anyone with family in the hospital, not enough food, no gifts for your children...this is in no disrespect to you and your families, but to remind those who aren't to be thankful, very thankful.