Did you know that 1/3 of all engagements that occur during a 12-months span happen between the December holidays and Valentine’s Day? That’s a ton of wedding rings and big, big smiles (and no wonder Kay’s, Zale’s and Shane Company all blast TV and radio ads constantly from early November through February and then drop off the face of the earth … they’re just makin’ hay while the sun shines).

As the holiday season nears, even if engagement isn’t quite on the horizon or if you are already married, it’s a moment to reflect on our good fortunes and, if you have hit on hard times recently, on the positives in life. A few years back just before the holidays, my dad was stricken with viral encephalitis (basically a brain virus) that almost killed him and left him brain damaged. Although it was a very tough time and he has recovered to the point where he can lead a somewhat normal life, I am so thankful he is still with us, not in pain and seems to be enjoying his life. I guess what I’m saying here is that, whatever your situation, there’s always something that could be better, but for the most part there’s lots to be thankful for and so much to embrace in life.

When we started out our little adventure online with My Wedding Workbook (now Planning Pod), we simply wanted to create an online event software tool that all couples would find useful, and we wanted to give the basic planning tools away as a small way to give back. Since then, almost 12,000 of you have signed up and are regularly using our event software, and we are thankful for your support and enthusiasm for our site.

As we move forward and add new features (stay tuned for a whole new set of features after the holidays), we continue to be thankful for everything we have been given and look forward to serving even more engaged couples with event software and more in the coming months. Oh, and if you want to give something back yourself, here’s an article from the Wall Street Journal on sites where you can make microloans to businesses around the world for small entrepreneurs (many of whom live in third world countries) who are trying to make their dreams come true … a great way to help someone who is working hard to help themselves and those around them.