So this is....Sunday

[blessedw2]

I have the song "So this is Christmas" in my head... So this is Hanukkah (starting the 16th) and Christmas Eve (24) and Christmas (25)

I am trying to see what will make this time special for myself and my family and I am also throwing out what isn't possible this year.
(it's not a failure not being able to do it all - it's actually quit smart to know how your time fits into the reality of your plans).

What do you want to accomplish and what can you let go.

My head is a jumble of things that should be done... so I am pulling out my daily list and going with that first.

[blessedw2]

today we are getting the trees.

[Ramblinrose]

Blessed...
I'm with you, knowing what is possible and what to let go. I never bought in to "doing Christmas" big for one simple reason... This task always seems to fall on the women in any relationship and being somewhat of a rebel resented that. So my Xmas have always been low key...

When my son was young Santa bought three presents and he got one from me and on from his dad. We limited grandparent presents to two. My son is an only child. My reason was I didn't want the meaning of Xmas... Family time, love, sharing and helping others... get lost with all the hype.

My son and I started doing the Angel Tree at a very early age. As some point he asked me why there was an Angel tree saying he thought Santa came to all good boys and girls...he still believed in Santa himself.... And why we needed to help. Thinking fast I told him that parents sent Santa money to buy supplies to make toys and some parents had none even though the Angel children were indeed good.

Long after my son learned the truth we continued our Xmas tradition of the Angle Tree and even now at the age of 33 he still gives during this time of the year. To me this is the celebration of Xmas.

Tomorrow I am subbing for my friend. Her school is 45 min from my home. I am doing this favor for her in the name of Xmas and my present to her. I told her to look for some money which I will quietly slip in her desk at the end of the day. Told her to use it either to help needed kids in her school... When I was working I did this ... Or to donate it to her church which will feed many on Xmas day.

It is cool here today. I made chili yesterday so dinner is done. Need to gather stuff together for tomorrow. I am working three days this week so need to make sure I am ready for that. Hope y'all have time to breath and enjoy the day... Cy'all later

[Twins' Mom]

Good morning, I can't wait for Monday when I have NOTHING scheduled. Yesterday dd went to ATL to pick up ds and get him home. They didn't get back here until perhaps 4:30 p.m. We had a bit of excitement when ds didn't answer his phone, and we kept calling and calling. Finally had to call through the university and ask an RA to go his apartment and wake him but I had visions of something badly wrong with him. DD was counting on getting in touch with him by phone to get directions to the building, so she was "fit to be tied." But they eventually got home safely. We all made a point of avoiding "real life" questions which kept everyone happy in good conversation.

At 6:30 dh and I went next door to neighbors party. We were the oldest people there but had a wonderful time - perhaps slightly overindulged but it was a fun evening. We came home around midnight - for us very, very late. They had appetizers and a wonderful casual dinner, eventually started a poker game at DR table with a good bottle of brandy for the prize. DH played poker, then was out. Four of us women had ended up at the dartboard in the garage...when poker game ended everyone was in garage throwing darts. Another (male) dneighbor showed up after an earlier party dressed as an elf...cowboy boots, red tights, elf shorts with bells, an ugly Christmas sleeveless sweater and santa hat. Can't wait to see those photos!

Today we have two events at temple - the first is a meeting, with a book signing/speaker following. Would rather skip the book signing part but probably will have to stay. We have plans afterward to perhaps have an early supper with friends who will be there.

Thank goodness for a quiet Monday. I am socialized out.

For those who like a good story, I've been reading this blog: http://roots4u.blogspot.com/2014/02/beginnings.html I started reading several weeks back, and he's (perhaps) close to the end of his genealogy search still unfolding. I started reading the back story (at this link) the other day and it's a great, well written, genealogy mystery.

[blessedw2]

hi rose - very nice!
hi twins.. thanks for the link

[Harriet]

Dee, how are you feeling today?

FFriend, have you heard more from your mother today?

Harmony's post was funny last evening.

I slept 10 hours last night possibly because of the great relief of knowing, as I said to a friend at church today, that no more mistakes could happen. lol. (Had intended to get a photo of all the gifts under tree before dispersing, but forgot.) I made up a second banner for the hall tree, to go over my first that said "Angel Tree" and this one says "thank you" and dd took a photo for me. Toying with the idea of making this into postcards to our 33 (wow) volunteers .

Lots of talk about making me the permanent coordinator. I told several folks that maybe next year someone else could have their turn.

Cold, cold cold. I find myself, as I believe I mentioned during cold weather last year, hugging myself and backing firmly into the arm of a couch! Sweaters and coffee may keep me going.

I need to finish decor, for sure. So very many presents to wrap, but I would really rather hold off on that until all decor is finished and everything put away.

Didn't get a wrapped cardboard box taken for food drive after all.
I think I am recently assuming I can do a lot more than I really can. "To-Dos" get pushed back each day.

[Nancy]

Reality check: It is soup week here. W-mart was so slammed last night I just got the minimum groc. At a diff. Food only store.

With the missed work bc of holidays and needing a new truck battery, phone line repair service call expected so holiday budget is pfft sound of air deflating from a balloon. I am bummed thought we had a holiday acct. Set up for extra food items gifts etc to use the months with 5 weeks, we discussed this more than once this summer and fall.

Ack ~ I am not mad but disappointed. Sigh. Glad I have the turkey. Glad for the baby sitting $ it will help for $ gifts for gkids h wanted to increase the amount for the gkids only and not do the parents this yr. Dang I think my plan was better.

I know I am not alone and most other families are going through the same thing this time of year.

Trying not to be stressed out about this. Sniff sniff.
I have precooked some ingredients to save time in the kitchen.

[Ramblinrose]

Hugs to y'all, especially Nancy.

During my first "single" Christmas I was in the same situation. Fortunately I had been stashing some monthly monies and had enough to buy my son a bike. He was seven at the time and for some reason didn't want an Xmas tree that year...it was his first without his dad and I together.

I didn't want to push the subject, but felt my son would regret his decision come Xmas day. Several days before Xmas he decided he wanted to decorate a silly artificial tree that I had. So that's what we did. Up went the lights, ornaments and bows. It was a funny looking tree, but he loved it.

Knowing from past experiences I would never be able to afford the kinds of gifts I knew his father give I decided to make " holiday memories" instead. My friend's cat had just had kittens so "Maggie" the cat became a gift.

We had plenty of laughs Xmas day as Maggie delighted us with trying to climb our tree, batting off the Xmas balls and scampering up and down my son's bike wheels. Had many good belly laughs. Recently... knowing that money was tight for me during that time... my son asked me how I was able to buy him his beloved bike. I told him about my Xmas envelope where I would stash a bit of money whenever I could. He shared with me that that Xmas, along with his bike and crazy cat was one of the best he ever had....convincing me that sometime memories are better than money.

Wanted to mail my df xmas present only to discover the post office mailing box was too small. Drats...thought about it a while and came up with my own box. Took two lids from a banker's box, cut one down to the correct size and fitted it with the other top. Took a while but it worked out just great. So now I'm off to the post office. Ours has a self service window...and if I can get the dang mailing machine to work correctly will have that errand crossed off my list. Keep your fingers crossed cause I really hate that machine ..there's NO ho, ho, ho about it.

[Harmony]

Lots of us have or have had difficult Christmases. Seems there is always a shortage of something, $ or energy & health, fellowship, etc.

I will have to go back and see why Harriet thought my post last night was funny. Maybe (probably) I was in a mood....

I had acid reflux pretty bad in the night. Usually it will go away if I have a few sips of water, perhaps a tums, sit up for a bit. Last night it lasted all night. I had to sit up all night so didn't really sleep well. So, I didn't make it to church.

But I got caught up with some stuff around here later. I got my desk cleared, quite a pile to dig through and much decisions to make as I don't like business checks carrying over from one year to the next, so things have to get done sooner. I wrote our paychecks for the month early, among other things.

Keeping a running tally of what I'm spending for Christmas. Not that I could change it a lot... I try to keep it under $500, and we tend to wait for necessities and buy for each other and call them presents... yesterday I replaced all DH's TShirts & underwear and sox in his drawers as they are all pretty worn out. My kids refuse to buy that stuff as it isn't "fun" but that kind of stuff is what we need and want and it helps us and is appreciated...but they want us to have fun stuff. One year I asked for underwear and sox and you should have heard them. Oh, well, Christmas is what it is for us. I called the file box for DH a present and he got new camera batteries and called that a present also. Are we weird?

DH is putting a fire in the fireplace. I will sit and write Christmas cards.

[Lady Maverick]

Are we weird?

Not at all! Sounds perfectly normal for us.


Church was good this morning. I sat down at the PC to order 500 CD's for the church and also uploading video from this morning to church FB group.

I am determined to not work until 5pm today. I want to give myself a break from being constantly on the move and in high thought gear. All I'm asking myself to do is spend a few hours sitting or laying around. I wish I was sleepy so I could take a nap and the forced break would pass quickly. I really don't want to take a break. I keep thinking of things that need to be done and want to jump up and do them. I may have to physically tie myself to the chair to make me sit here. LOL

I just remember the book I bought this week. I've been reading it a page or two at a time, but now seems to be a good time to really get into it.

*POOF*