The 12th Day of Chrismas...

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ...

Yes, today is the 12th and last day of Christmas. So what did my true love give to me? .. Extra sleep, and I am thankful for that. I did not have to wake up early to send my children to school coz hubby did it on the way to work. It these little "gifts" that I am so thankful for.

Our family had not really put up a Christmas Tree for 4 years (The small table top trees, and trees which were delivered to us all dressed up do not count). But this year, not only did we get ourself a real christmas tree (a US noble fir tree), the children also got to help decorate the tree.

Hubby has always loved real fir trees, as when we were previously living in NY, we had the pleasure of enjoying real christmas trees. And the smell of the tree whenever we came home was the loveliest scent that greeted us. However, we noticed that the fir trees here do not give out that same scent. It must be the weather. I digress.

Usually when the 12th day of Christmas comes along, I am the only one taking down the tree, and its deco. Putting up the tree is loads of fun, but somehow, taking it down is not the same. Hence for the past few years we have been having small trees so that it would not be such a chore for me to take it down all by my lonesome self.

With an early Chinese New Year approaching, hubby suggested that we take the tree down a little earlier this year, as there was more to taking down the tree this year. With all the shedded pines dotting parts of our living room, and a tree to dispose off (as opposed to packing into boxes), we took down our tree yesterday. To my surprise, my children actually stopped playing their game and helped me undress the tree.Without me even requesting for any help. It was a really pleasant surprise. Guess that is another gift which my "true loves" gave to me this Christmas.

With a bleak economy facing us this year, and a long road full of stress ahead of me, I am learning to count my little blessings along the way. We may not realise it, and tend to complain about little things (eg I complained about bland food forgetting that others are struggling to even put food on the table), without realising that our problems are really inconsequential. Now its the time to be grateful for our many little blessings.

So what did your true love give to you today?

;)