Gratitude

With the holidays in full swing, it's easy to forget what it's all about. Crafting your Thanksgiving menu, compiling your Christmas list, trips to the crowded mall, baking cookies for your kid's class...things are bound to get lost in the shuffle. The first that seems to go? A true appreciation for what makes this time of year so amazing. We have a few Beebe family traditions we look forward to all year long: visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop, strolling Downtown Disney for their warm beignets and Christmas decor and watching the Newport Beach Boat Parade. We try and savor the moments and enjoy the time with our families, teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas and reach out to those in need.

There is so much to be grateful for and I've found that small things: the sympathetic shopper who lets you go ahead of them in line when your kids are out of control at the grocery store, the friend who understands when you have to flake..again, and the grandparents who lend a helping hand when you just need a break (shout out to my ma and pa!), are just as important as the more significant: a family member who bails you out when you need help financially, someone who brings you meals and support when you've just had a baby and friends who never fail when the chips are down.
Let's all take a little time this year to put on the brakes, make more time for family and friends, for cranking up the music and dancing with your kids, for Christmas movie marathons, for watching the rain fall and for having an attitude of appreciation and giving. Yes, it will take more time if you let the kids stir the batter, if you let the frazzled mom cut in line and if you stop to take that phone call or visit from the friend in need but maybe you'll find that the more you give, the more you'll receive.