This time of year most of us are very blessed to spend a lot of time with our families.  Sometimes this is the only time of year we get to see some of them. It is always one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I love hanging out with my parents and siblings and in-laws.

One thing I have learned in my experience and conversations with others is no family is perfect. I would venture to guess that behind every Norman Rockwell painted smile there are a few snickers, giggles, questionable glares and possibly even tears. Likely on the bottom of the perfectly-browned, perfectly-seasoned, perfectly-shiny, perfectly-PAINTED turkey there is a real turkey that is a little too dry and maybe slightly burned, that came out of an oven that is perfectly covered in the caked on messy juices from a day of cooking. The oven you look at and think “I really need to clean that sometime.”

I think it is easy to look at other people’s life, or Christmas card photo, and think, “Wow, they have the perfect family. They have no idea what goes on in my house at Christmas. I’m so glad she won’t be looking in my oven.” Read the rest of this entry »