A friend of mine posted this wonderful blog entry, written by his wife. It hits on a lot of themes that cause pain for people during this "most wonderful time of the year."

All too often, our expectations for Christmas are set by a dangerous nostalgia that's formed by hazy memories of childhood, Victorian carols and prints, and the Christmas film/lifestyle industries. Everything is perfect weather, perfect families, perfect decor, perfect gifts, perfect food.

But no one of those "perfect" expressions is the real work of one person or family. And let's face it, I doubt that any of us has staff to pull off the celebrations created by a team of stylists and airbrushers.

It's up to each of us to decide what about the holiday season really matters to us, what memories we want to create, the values we wish to put forward. So, as you celebrate over the next few weeks, think about what you really Christmas to be. (We'll come back to the question in the new year, so you may want to make notes for yourself!) You can get ideas from movies and magazines, but listen to your heart!