Thursday 13

Note: I had gotten this entire post written before I remembered it isn't Thursday. So I just went with it.

13 Bright Sides of Life
(da dum, da dum-da da-da dum)

I've been feeling rather Scrooge-like for too long. And now, Christmas is upon us. My kids deserve a mom who is All There for the holiday. So, let's get on it...

1. If it weren't for the snow, I wouldn't have discovered that working at home works now. My kids are older; they can be with me without distracting me, and I can be with them without feeling driven to tend to every little thing.

2. If it weren't for the snow, I'd have spent in traffic the time I instead used to hang with my family, start tweeting, update my blog, and add the nifty blog list that is letting me enjoy my friends' blogs again instead of having yet another thing on my to-do list.

3. Speaking of tweeting, I love birds, and if it weren't for the snow, I wouldn't have had several days next to the window next to the food we put out for the little guys. They swoop in for food, often landing right next to me before they notice me through the glass. Up close and personal birdwatching.

4. If it weren't for the snow, I wouldn't have gotten to watch this movie.

5. If it weren't for the snow, I wouldn't have discovered what a suprisingly decent snow shovel a dustpan makes.

6. If it weren't for Christmas, I wouldn't have had that lovely shopping day with MJ.

7. If it weren't for Christmas, I wouldn't get the fun of giving Chloe and MJ their Days of Christmas presents. That little tradition adds so much to the season.

8. If it weren't for Christmas, I wouldn't be anticipating the pleasure eight girls can take in our Christmas Eve traditions, each other, their families, the snow, their gifts, the fudge Grandma makes, and so on.

9. If it weren't for the snow, we wouldn't have a fun little Christmas caravan planned, because everybody would be willing to drive their own cars.

10. If it weren't for my job, Christmas would be even more stressful, and talking about the economy would be more than an intellectual exercise.

11. If it weren't for the frown lines above my nose, I would be stumbling into middle and old age without paying attention.

12. If it weren't for the snow, my commute yesterday would not have been so incredibly, stunningly scenic. The more rural stretches looked like postcard or calendar images.

13. And if it weren't for this blog, I might be stewing in the negatives instead of heading off to dive into the joy.