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It's Saturday afternoon. My husband Joe is sacked out on couch, napping. And me, I'm in my Jammie's (it's 3:29pm granted) staring at roaring fire, sipping Keurig chai latte (addiction. It's like candy tea) and lamenting a sudden warm burst that has melted all our snow. Winter just isn't winter when the grass is showing. 

As I look back on this year, it's been a crazy and blessed one. Busy. Jam packed with life, love, work, travel, friend stuff, family stuff. It feels like i lived several lifetimes in this one year. I got married this year.

Never thought at 40 I'd find my soul mate. Feel so glad and grateful that before life and the years got away from my parents and me, that I could have my Dad walk me down the aisle. I'll never forget his father of the bride speech. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. And our dance together...he squeezed me so tight, like he thought he really was losing his little girl. (Never in a million years. My dad is the first man i fell in love with. Mine is my hero)

This year I ate chowder in Maine

pesto in Portofino, bread! cheese! wine! in Paris...and fish & chips in London

I love to travel more than anything in the world (should have worked for airlines. Would love working in airport and smelling jet fuel.) This year I not only became a stepmom (2 teenage boys) but began dreaming of having my own. (Keep you posted I have been extraordinarily blessed this year. Thank you God. Thank you. I know not everyone has been so lucky. 

As I look at my childhood stocking hanging over said fireplace,

I'm reminded of all those younger years, waking up to ribbon candy on my night side table (a sign Santa had been there) and my brother and I forced to wait at the top of the stairs while dad checked to make sure coast was clear for us to rip into room where all the loot was.

I remember getting a goldfish one year. And a Brazilian Barbie that had hair that grew when you turned a key in her back. A cabbage patch doll, the game Operation, and a bugs bunny alarm clock.

And as we got older, dad would hide rolled up twenty dollar bills around house and my brother and I nearly killed each other trying to be first to find them. Our blind, antisocial wire terrier Jiggs would eat the candy canes off the bottom row of the tree (wait, maybe that was me) and Mom would put SaraLee frozen coffee cake in the oven, we'd all fight over the last gooey piece, snow drifts outside were the size of skyscrapers...and life was good. 

This year, I'm headed to Nashville for a few days. That's where we spend Christmases mostly now. Mom and dad have gotten older. Now it's my brother who holds us all back while he checks to see if the coast is clear for his kiddos. Bugs bunny alarm clocks aren't nearly the crowd pleaser now. It's iPads and iPhones. And yet looking around that room, all of us in Jammie's, no makeup, bed head, looking rough, morning breath...it's the most beautiful sight in the world to me. Because even for every family's warts and dysfunction, there's nothing like a clan to call your own. Family. 

As for gifts, since I'm afraid my fam' may read this before I see them, let's just say some qvc things I'm gifting to certain unnamed individuals include, Apple TV, halo, Vera Bradley, Lori Grenier snuggle pads, Berkshire fluffie throws, and a hello kitty boom-box. I've already said too much. Brothers bday is New Year's Eve too..that one always stumps me. 

As we get ready to end out 2013 and begin 2014, I hope you are closing out this year with some precious memories and heartfelt gratitudes. I hope you are full of hope and abounding courage, if this year is one you'd rather forget. And I hope you are expectant and excited for the breakthroughs and victories that await you next year. I hope you dream big. I hope you rest easy. And I hope you know how I cherish your love, support, and friendship this past year. I really do. Thank you friends. 

Until 2014.... 

S