Christmas

as i sit here enjoying some silence after the morning chaos, i starting thinking of my family back home. this is the 2nd year in a row that ive been away from them for Christmas and yes, it sucks. it is my favorite time of the year. family, food, happiness, hunting. the rut is in full gear back home, the weather is cooling off, family is gathered together and talking about football, hunting, and babies. i come from a very big family and although half of em aint right, they aint all that wrong either. i miss my grandparents every single day, but the holidays are always tougher. i miss my aunts, uncles, cousins, brother, mom, dad, and friends that are family. i do not regret moving away cause if i wouldnt have, i never would have met jen and been a father to preston or easton. however, i got to say i sure wish i lived there now. i hate that preston doesnt have the opportunity i had with spending time with a big family. i hate that every weekend he isnt sitting in a deer stand with his grandpa or in a turkey blind with his mimi. maybe someday he will. i hope so at least. after thinking all of this, i began to feel a little selfish. there are families this morning sitting in a quite house and filled with sorrow because their kids were recently taken from them. there are soldiers fighting for the very freedom we enjoy that wont be with their families this morning because they are standing a post to ensure i can spend it with mine. so, even though i am missing my family somethin fierce this mornin, there are those that have it way worse than me. im sitting here watching my kid play with all of his toys that we were blessed enough to be able to afford him, i smell cobbler in the oven that my wife is baking, there is a foot of fresh snow to enjoy. all in all we have it pretty good. sometimes we get caught up in the gifts and the hustle and bustle of the holidays. i know i do. the real reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of our savior the Lord Jesus Christ. it is about family and being thankful for what you have and not envious of what you dont have. it is about creating memories. earlier i was complaining about having to assemble preston's toys and my mom said, "someday you'll wish you could be doing that". She is right. as she usually is. so, i will enjoy what we have and try to remember those that dont have it quite as good. yall have a merry CHRISTmas and a happy new year.