Holidays....caution looooong post ahead!

I love holidays!! Yes, one of the reasons I like them is that usually I don't have to work on holidays! One of the perks of being a teacher. I look forward to Valentine's Day (great chocolate!), Presidents' Day (great sales!), Easter (salvation!), Memorial Day (Indy 500 and family picnics), July 4th (fireworks!), Labor Day (parade/family picnic), Columbus Day (covered bridge festival), Veterans' Day (Pride in being a WWII vet's daughter...YES my dad had me late in life!~go dad!) and of course there are others that aren't celebrated as much..Flag Day, Arbor Day...and the reasons I listed are not the only reasons I enjoy the ones that I did list.

But there are two holidays that seem to be "the mother" of all holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas...and there is something about these two holidays that tend to stir a bit of emotion for me. I probably don't spend nearly the appropriate amount of time that one should reflecting. Personal reflection can be a great tool in learning and growing. However, I find myself soooooooo extremely busy and "stressed to the max" a little more often than I would like...which then leads to a flood of emotions when things slow down this time of year.

I am a self proclaimed "Daddy's Girl", but this time of year really makes me miss my mom! Three years ago, she passed away the Tuesday before Thanksgiving....I have always assumed God new what a terrific cook she was and new she would enjoy being healthy again for the celebration in heaven. The Lord, family, and cooking along with gardening were just some of her passions....so this time of year was one of the special seasons that she shined. As a matter of fact I think she would start baking shortly before Thanksgiving and not stop 'til Christmas. We had to make sure EVERYONE got their box of baklava for the holidays. :)

I learned what true selflessness was from my mom. She always put others first. She was the first to serve and the last one cleaning up... her mom died from cancer when she was 9 years old and she continued to take care of her dad and brothers, and the household jobs that needed taken care of, and continued taking care of others until she was too ill and needed others to take care of her. She was beautiful, and strong a true reflection of the God's goodness. Man, I fall so short compared to my mom....I can tend to be a little selfish. well...maybe more than a little.. sigh* So the rest of this post will be all about Mom....love you~

 My parents were married in Greece. I really think they both look pretty good! ...thanks for the good genes :)

 My dad was my mom's whole world...today's society would frown on that...but she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Just some of my Big Fat Greek family. This is my aunt's front porch...in the evening time the family would gather around under the grape vines and the stars and visit until the early hours...occasionally even til the roosters and donkeys started to stir in the morning. We Greeks now how to have a good time!

see! good times! I love, love, love this pic of my mom! She is with her brother and her best friends...

My mom also loved the beach...if we couldn't vacation in Greece we were heading to the beach...I definitely get this from her too!

 She loved to take pictures....even when nobody was looking...this was the year dad got her a new camera and I finally stopped paying attention to all the flashes...it was a strobe flash at that! ha! I was so irritated...had I only known then what I know now, I would have embraced it instead of thought I was beyond it. Dumb teenage years...

When mom wasn't able to prepare the lamb, pastichio, salad, turkey, etc. etc. etc family chipped in and made sure there was plenty for everyone! Oh yeah! We know how to eat too!!!

                                      Christmas 2005

This was my split of the cookies that we made. I went to my cousin's (previous pic with food) house and took my mom and Sydney and made all of the traditional cookies that we used to make together...and video taped of course....such a great time!

 Christmas 2007, Mom's last Christmas with us...at my house.  She was unusually clear this night, and talkative and giggly... (frontal lobe dementia sucks!) But I was so grateful for every minute!!!!

Some days I wish I could rewind...but really and truly when I think about it...through it all I am so thankful for every part of the last 30...ISH * years because good and bad...I would not be who I am today without those experiences.  And hopefully all of my experiences will make me a better person, wife, parent and friend enjoying every minute along the way.  ....or at least learn to appreciate them in retrospect.