Ways to find the Christmas mood.

Here we are. It's finally October, in other words only a few days until Christmas! Okay, more like a few weeks, but we're at that point where talking about Christmas doesn't get you those funny looks from your co-workers. (like when I started a Christmas Countdown at my work [Wal*mart] in August -- people were either delighted by my silver sharpie Christmas tree on the black cardboard I cut out or horrified) It's officially pre-season. It's pre-game time. It's time for a Pep Ralley for Christmas, my friends, and I am the pep-band, the cheerleaders, and the tail-gate party.

How are you going to get pumped about Christmas so early in this pre-season? Let's go over some basic steps.

First off, take a walk on a particularly crisp fall evening. Observe how the air makes you shiver and the lights coming out of the buildings or street lamps around you -- doesn't that light in the darkness look familiar? The soft glow .. does it give you a cheer?

Perhaps indeed these lights can be akin to a sight that your heart so longs to see...


Like our dear friend the Christmas tree (right). This particular specimen has been captured by a miracle. The brightness of the star upon the tree nearly destroyed my camera - that is is why the image is so very blurry. The true light and joy of this true was only able to comprehended in person. Even my memory does not do it justice. Shine on, star. I wonder how bright the star above Bethlehem was... I imagine somewhere a little above the brightness of this one, but not by much.. not by much...


Which brings me to an important step: Think about it! Let yourself daily find a Christmas moment - a great memory, a wish for this year, maybe even take a stroll through the growing section of Christmas stuff at Big lots or Walmart or the Dollar Store.

Another step: practice all of the things that Christmas brings out in people. Be kind, patience, generous! Think of others before yourself. Because hey, the Santa of our conscience is always watching. We can't hide from him - he knows when we're sleeping on our goodwill when we should be awake spreading it around.

Well, that's all of my Christmas pondering I shall spare for today!

84 days til Christmas!!!