Life has changed a lot in the last 15 years since I started writing this post every Christmas Eve. I don’t really enjoy reading back through most of them (hence why you’ll only find posts since 2010 in the index), but it’s a small part of my holiday routine.

Tonight we gave Indy about half of the toys we had been holding on to for the last few weeks. He’s had a tough month or so with a sore paw. It’s a special kind of joy to watch him puzzle through what he wants to chew on next before deciding to nap next to all of them instead. He’s a constant source of amusement even at his most frustrating.

As I take stock of my blessings, I have to believe we did more than a few things right. We have our home, our dog and are both gainfully employed. The new year holds a lot of promise and excitement.

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!