Optimism at it's finest.

I always preach optimism, but even I struggle with it sometimes.

I found out today that my sister and her family will no longer be coming to the Midwest for Christmas.

ouch. that hurts.

We have all been looking forward to this for so long, and I have had images of my nephew and I frolicking in the snow for months.

Her husband, one of the hardest workers you'll ever meet, works in construction and has been asked to move onto another site which will offer him the opportunities for a promotion; a real compliment in the world of construction. This means that he has to be back the Monday after Christmas, leaving no time for the little family to scoot back to Florida.

But, every cloud has a silver lining my friends.

While holding back tears, I have come up with the following list of things to be positive about:

1. My sister, her husband and their little nuggets will all be together for Christmas.
2. They will save money. Finances are tight with a young couple with kids, this way they will have a little flexibility in the months to come.
3. Jeff, my sister's husband, has been waiting on a promotion for some time, and this may finally be the key that helps him receive his raise.
4. Sister and family can spend Christmas with my Dad! How great!
5. There will Christmas next year, and snow next year. So it really isn't all that bad.
6. We are all happy and healthy, and that is what really matters.