It is said that the holidays are a time of the year when a spike occurs in the number of people who experience depression. Recent studies however, if news agencies are to be trusted, indicate that in reality there is no spike at all in cases of depression. Either way it is still tragic that anyone goes through problem times that create feelings of loneliness and isolation. My prayer for those individuals is that they would somehow be aware of God's love for them during this time of year and always.

Now it's time to get to the point of this post. The Christmas season is one of special times and memories filled with warm fuzzies for millions of people the world over. This writer certainly has plenty of warm fuzzy memories of Christmases long ago and not so long ago. Some of those will be shared in this post and readers of this post are encouraged to share some of theirs too. Share them however you like, this writers warm fuzzies will be in a list form in order to inspire even the most busy reader to simply type-in and submit some of theirs. Thanks for sharing and have a Merry Christmas!

Holiday warm fuzzies: *Christmas Eve every year at my paternal grandparents house. We always arrived just AFTER Santa had been there. *Though I didn't appreciate it so much at the time (compared to getting a toy), my maternal grandmother knitted (or crocheted… I don't know the difference) a red winter scarf for me. It is now a cherished heirloom to-be. *Going to my Dad's Masonic Lodge Christmas Party for Kids. The best of them was when Harlow Hickenlooper was the entertainment in the big auditorium at Freemason's Hall at North and Illinois streets.
*Going to Sahara Grottoes Christmas Party for Kids. We always got a big stocking filled with candy. *Awakening on Christmas morning to find Santa had assembled a figure-8, miniature, electric race track in our dining room. Keeping the cars on the track with its constant curves was hard… but tons of fun. *The big Christmas breakfast my wife prepares on Christmas morning.

• The limo my wife surprised us with one year to ride as we looked at Christmas lights. *Exchanging gifts with my wife on Christmas Eve while sipping champagne. *Watching my children opening their gifts. *Constant Christmas music of all kinds. *Christmas specials on TV (mostly the old ones)

I have a BUNCH more… what about yours?