Yep, that's right...I still have my Christmas tree up.  I realize that I'm totally breaking the rules by leaving my tree up this far into January, but for me, Christmas is more than just December 25.  I didn't spend Christmas Day with family, opening presents and eating a big homemade dinner.  I partied Christmas Eve and watched movies and ate Chinese food on Christmas Day.  Sure, I did some typical things: I sent Christmas cards, went to church, hosted an awesome party, attended a few awesome parties, watched Elf, did Secret Santa at work, went ice skating, and put up Christmas decorations.  But this holiday season is different on many levels.


You see, 2 years ago, right before Christmas, my world as I knew it was shattered. I had to learn how to live life on my own, and because my family is long distance, I had some great friends to help me through it.  They took me in as though I was their own family.  So this is the first year that I have really taken the holiday back and made it my own.  For the first time, I have a place to call my own.  I picked out my tree and all its decorations, and it screams Katrina.  I sent out Christmas cards that announced to the world that it's just Isabelle and me.  The holiday season started Thanksgiving when I finally went home to face my family and hometown as a single woman, and it continues until my Mom visits.  And I just might leave it up past that.  Because I can. And because its blue LED glow represents that I am stronger and braver than I ever thought I could be.