the holidays are always a whirlwind, and somehow it happens every year that this seems to sneak up on me. i love the initial burst of festivities, putting on my favorite holiday music , starting to plan and make gifts, decorating the house and making christmas plans. i always feel so excited and prepared... in the beginning at least. then as time winds on, it seems to start to unravel. somewhere along the way, holiday cheer seems to turn into holiday stress. how does that happen? while i love most everything about this time of year, it is so easy to lose perspective on what is truly important and real. as a mom, trying to balance the notion of togetherness and family and giving with the craziness of wanting and getting and having is not always an easy task. still, i often feel myself that i have not given enough... things, time, thought, and this is where i think the stress comes from, simply trying to do and be too much. even though my holiday cards never made it out, i never finis