One Step at a Time - December 2012

[allswell]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Oh Juja,

God, the holidays are a hassle aren't they? The MIL thing really hit home. Not an issue anymore but in years past I somehow found a way to be present and absent at the same time, only way I could get through it. Enjoy some alone time and hopefully there will be a few pockets of joy or something close to it. Yes, running away for next Christmas is an absolute must!

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

morning...I escape with laptop and headphones......just zone the rest of the world out
I thought I would throw this out there......just helps me to keep things in perspective...ya'll can fuss at me later...
On Friday, I organized some police in our zone to donate a $200 Wal Mart gift card to a needy family at my property. When 8 cops knokced on her door, she almost fainted. When she realized that I had organized it for her and her three kids, she cried and cried.
Hubs even commented that some of us have it so much worse than we do....
Hope everyone has a happy sunday
Juja..I am going to the 4:00 service with my son tomorrow....A Christmas Service will be nice right now
Nora...is your head shrunk??

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Nurdl, I would LOVE to hear you play
My college roomie was a music major and I would study under the piano while she practiced....pure bliss

[NoraC]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Hey all - yep, my head is shrunk. :H

Juja - I really am sorry for all you are having to go thru. That is one of the things that I have discussed with my therapist. She always tells me that I need to take care of myself. That it's ok to say no. I have gotten better at that in the past year. But, it's not easy. :l

Mama - that was so sweet of you to do that. That is so wonderful. I was talking to my therapist about that just yesterday. That at least I have a roof over our heads, we have food, I have a job. There are so many people that don't have that. Thank you for sharing that story with us, Mama.

Nurdl - nice that you had some family time last night. How's the cold coming along? :H I'm still coughing & fighting mine off.

Allswell - how you doing? Still dreaming of the Carribean?

Ally - did you get the spiritual literature? I think that sounds like a good idea. I know that is missing in my life too.

Sun - what are your plans? Are you staying home for Christmas?

Paula - how are you doing? I'm sure it will be fun to have your grandchildren around. I love having little ones around at Christmas time.

I'm going to finish the wrapping today. Just a few things. I have to go buy a gift card for the 11 year old boy next door. I don't know what else to get him so I'm sure he'll be happy with that. Then, I think we'll watch a Christmas movie.

Love you all.........

[nurdl]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Unfortunately, my cold cocktail of vitamin C, echinacea, zicam and lots o' water seems to be working. Oh, and my neighbor just dropped off a bottle of homemade Puerto Rican Eggnog with rum, coconut etc. lol! Merry Christmas! It will be a perfect hostess gift for my sil on Boxing Day.

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

everyone has to stay well!!!!!! (except Nurdl):H

[Dottie Belle]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Well I crashed and burned this weekend...this thing with my dad is just overwhelming. I MUST get back up and start over....Day 1
Dottie

[Alcoholic]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Sorry, Dottie.... Must be super hard during the holidays w your dad at the Alzheimer's facility.... Hugs....

Nora: The spiritual literature will take weeks.... I also go to church "sometimes" and today I'm going to watch the sermon on line... Glad your head is smaller now. Lol!

Thanks, mama: for the nice perspective on life. I have to try to remember that more often.

[Sunbeam]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Hi friends,
Ally, I posted a daily prayer under What We Believe for each of my thirty days when I started posting on this thread. He gave me strength, but never solved my problems. I needed to do that myself.

We leave tomorrow morning to spend Christmas with hub's family, then entertain a couple of my siblings at our home when we return. The exact schedule will be worked around the weather. I'm done baking and packing, but would like to get more cleaning done this evening. I will take my trusty Kindle, and probably stay in touch with those who get a chance to post here. There is usually a lot of time sitting around. It will be sad, we lost an uncle this year who always spent holidays with us, and my MIL is very frail, probably her last Christmas with us. But we will celebrate, I will enjoy being AF instead being the one most eager to drain the wine bottle. Merry Christmas to all!

[Juja]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Hippyman>So nice to have a new member in our thread. It's a lovely, kind, supportive group here, and that's putting it mildly.

Everyone>Ran through the gauntlet today again--Costco, Lowe's, another grocery store, but it wasn't bad. I rather enjoyed it. Now that Christmas is upon me, I'm feeling better.

I'm still considering Christmas eve service, but don't want to break down--childhood memories of my life there, my pretty mother in her prime, good friends and mentors, and hymns that will make we weep. When I was really young--late 1950's, early 60's all the children got a bag of candy with an orange. I loved it, even though I knew Christmas would be bigger. My mother would go all out for Christmas, considering the times, and little discretionary income available, and my father would harrumph and worry. How things have changed.

We're all feeling the loss of someone, aren't we? I guess that comes with age, but it doesn't make it any easier. I know in my gut this will be my mother's last Christmas, and the memories are coming in waves. That woman fought so hard to give us what our father thought was frivolous, and all my siblings deeply appreciate her efforts.

May whatever, whomever, bless those who loved us dearly, and gave us joy.

[nurdl]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Hello everyone! Hippyman you are a terrific addition to this site. It's nice to see new avatars, lol. Sunbeam, I'll be checking in. We worked it out that we are not going to Philly on Christmas day.
:woot:
We will stay home and have a lovely quiet time and then drive down for dinner on Boxing Day.
Juja - you go girl! :yougo::yougo::yougo: I absolutely will NOT go near any stores except the grocery store from this point on.
Back to wrapping!

[Alcoholic]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Sunbeam: thank you! I just checked out your thread. I forgot that MWO had that section so thank you for reminding me. I love your thread!

Welcome, hippy man! Glad to see you here!

Juja: you sound better! I'm still in bed and already you've gone out shopping already! Good for you! I did do something though... I sent my husband out to shop... . He's the one cooking tomorrow too because I'll be working! . I think I work extra hours to avoid doing housework!

[Juja]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

I'm decorating, I'm decorating!!! The tree is up, lighted and covered with beautiful birds. The mantle has greenery with warm, globe lights, and tasteful, gold reindeer.

Amazing what a little light will do.

I want to put hub's little pressies out, but we weren't supposed to get one another anything. I'll wait til tomorrow night when Santa brings them.

We might get snow tomorrow, too!

My goodness, what's happened to me?:H Love and light, I suppose.:h

[nurdl]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

Thanks Mama for the sweet thought about playing the piano. Too bad we can't get together for a holiday sing along.

[Juja]

One Step at a Time - December 2012

I'd love to hear you play, too nurdl. Better yet, I'd sit in a comfy chair and read while you practiced. Cozy.