49 weeks: I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes...

It's the holidays. For most, it's the "season to be jolly", a time to spend with loved ones, a time of giving and warmth and all that good stuff. Where I am, it's a time all of us wish would hurry up and pass already, like all other days, so that we may be one day closer to going home.

I've been doing a fairly decent job at making the best of it though, if I may say so for myself. The few friends I have in here area ll getting handmade Christmas presents along with a few other things from commissary, all wrapped up in some newspaper and a creatively handmade magazine paper bow that surprisingly enough, looks pretty and even passable as an actual present. I can't even remember the last time I've spent hours making handmade gifts and wrapping them. I can't remember ever sending all my friends and family holiday greeting cards either. That is one thing I'm grateful for the time to do and I think that when I get out, I will make time to do things like that from now on. The holidays are about spreading love, right? So forget about the impersonal mass holiday text greetings. I have more love than that to spend.

They canceled visits here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but it's okay. I know this is just something I have to get through and especially receiving cards from loved ones and what not definitely is helping me concentrate on simply remembering and being grateful to know that there are people out there still thinking of me during the holiday season. And I am truly grateful for that.

2010 has been a long year, but at the same time, it has also bee a year that I've truly discovered appreciation for all the little yet most important things in life. And in the future, even if I may not have everything I want, I'll always be happy and grateful for things like love, freedom, and life. One year down, 2 more to go. My new year's resolution this year is simply to continue appreciating, continue remaining positive and continue moving forward.

Happy holidays to everyone. I miss and love you all. I thank you for bringing some happiness into my life even through the hardest of times. I may have no Christmas tree or stockings, no family and friends to spend time with or ring in the new year with, but I'm holding onto my own reason for celebrating and corny as it may be, love is around me.