As we do every time we come through town, I had the Girl take a picture of the Dallas skyline as we passed it.

“Hi Dallas” was posted to my FB wall. It’s a way to let the folks living in the city know that I am in town. Also a way to let the folks back home know that I have arrived (more or less safely).

*waves at both Dallas and Back Home peeps*

And now? Now we settle in for holiday/family fun. Which, in my family, means food, games, food, movies, coffee, food, prezzies, cocoa, cards, food, and all the (mostly) gentle snark we can dish. Additionally, there is my Mom’s disco shower. I freaking love that thing.

Did I mention food? I hope so, because I am dying to tell you guys the menu that my Mom shared with me over my sister’s and my birthday dinner last night.

Tonight we are having turkey tetrazzini, probably with a salad and crusty bread on the side.
Tomorrow is tamales, queso, chili, chips, dips, and crudités.
Christmas Day is a pork loin, roasted asparagus, corn bread dressing, and scalloped rosemary potatoes.

All of this is not including the breakfast (think Southern Living meets East Texas with a double side of corn bread and gravy) and lunch (almost certainly leftovers and/or sandwiches made of leftovers).
I am so very blessed to have such amazing food in my life.

There was a time in the Way Ago that I did not. Through a series of rash and (in perfect hindsight) really stupid actions on my part, I wound up living in the streets for a time. We usually had food, albeit not the greatest and certainly not the healthiest. But we knew people who did not. People who struggled on the daily to get a meal for their kids, for themselves, for their parents. You don’t want to know what watching someone rationing out a single dollar hamburger amongst three people does to your heart.

Hunger is a world wide problem, y’all. And with our population expanding ever upward, it is going to continue to be one. So, I am asking you this: do you have a little extra?
A little extra food?
A little extra cash?
A little extra time?

Because if you do, and you’re willing, you can help make a difference. You can take food to a local food bank. You can send a check to an organization that feeds the hungry. You can drive a van full of meals to shut-ins. You can help. You can.

May your entire holiday -however and with whomever you celebrate it – be full of all the things, people, and critters you love.

Peace.