The Spirit of Christmas has struck. The tree is up and decorated, many of my gifts purchased and almost wrapped. The list is shorter and actually do-able!!  I even thought about mailing cards. The kids are always the motivator for me to get Seasonal, and usually I fake it, and barely make it! This year as been a little different..... I am retrospective, introspective, alternating between tears of joy and tears of sorrow as memories play in HD .  I have gone through some old photos, trying to organize them, and have felt such awe and gratitude for the life I have been given..... the good and bad, happy and sad.....