This is my favorite time of year.

I love it when it starts getting a little cold outside, the sky get’s a little grey, and I will admit it, I often look at the sky hoping for a little snow. (Though this never happens because I live in Texas)

The main reason that I love this time of year is that it is the holiday season, and my very favorite holiday is coming up.

What’s that?

What is my favorite holiday you ask?

Well, it was once a well known holiday that everyone in our country celebrated.

Let me give you some hints.

Turkey, Pilgrims, Indians, The Mayflower. Any idea?

I’ll just tell you: Thanksgiving.

Remember that holiday? We use to get together with our families, eat a big meal and go around the table telling everyone what we were most thanksful for this year.

Well we used to to that, before Halloween and Christmas got together one night and decided that there was not enough winter for all the holidays to share. So what did they do?

Halloween and Christmas got together with the local business owners and decided to squeeze out Thanksgiving.

“Yeah”, they told Thanksgiving, “We’ll still give you the day, but don’t expect anyone to know about it”.

And in a brilliant PR move Thanksgiving was regulated down from a first class national holiday to the one last thing getting between consumers and “Black Friday”.

I love Thanksgiving.

I love getting together with my family. I love waking up early Thursday morning and smelling the turkey cooking in my Mom’s oven, I love sitting in the living room all morning long eating cinamon rolls and watching the Macy’s Thankgiving Day Parade. I even like sitting, waiting to see Santa end the Parade.

The other day, Nov. 8th, I pulled up to a local Hobby store and not only could I see the sparkle of Christmas lights on the trees and the soft rolling fake snow on the ground of the stores window display, I could also here the sound of the bell. The bell of the Salvation Army worker standing out front, collecting donations, in her unmistakable red bucket.

As I stood in that parking lot, staring at the Christmas scene before me. Holding my latte from Starbucks, served to me in that festive red Christmas cup. Listening to the carols beaming through the parking lot speaking, playing songs like “Oh Holy Night” and “Jingle Bells” I have to admit something….

I have never wanted to kick over a Salvation Army bucket more in my life!

Thanksgiving, I will never forget you!