Christmas-A Review

There is something about saying, "We always do this," which helps keep the years together. Time is such an elusive thing that if we keep on meaning to do something interesting, but never do it, year would follow year with no special thoughtfulness being expressed in making gifts, surprises, charming table settings, and familiar, favorite food. Tradition is a good gift intended to guard the best gifts. ~Edith Schaeffer

This year for our Christmas meal, Laurel and I decided that we were going to go non-traditional and make it easy on ourselves. Instead of the usual Christmas ham and all the fixings, we made two kinds of soups, three kinds of sandwiches, cranberry salad, foccacia bread, and cheesecake for dessert.

The reactions were hilarious. "What!?!" and "Soup?" were just a few. The family wasn't happy. It was a delicious meal though. I'm just not sure it was good for Christmas Day; especially after reading the above comment by Edith Schaeffer.

What led to this change was the combined attitudes of this mother (me) and her daughter (Laurel). We spent most of the holidays being angry at our menfolk. Comments like, "Why do we have to be the ones stuck in the kitchen while THEY get to go hunt or play?" Not our finest hour.

Not that we didn't have some legitimate gripes. I've never thought it was fair that the woman does ALL the holiday preparations while the man gets to sit and watch football all day. Uh oh, here I go again! And we have talked about it over the years all to no avail.

So, I decided long ago to just let it go. I know I can't change him by nagging only praying. I guess this year I forgot that part about praying.

So when during one phone conversation Laurel said something about how tired she was, it all came back..the unfairness and injustice of it all. I guess all the 'letting it go' wasn't really gone and had been suppressed for over thirty-four years. Yikes! It wasn't pretty. Thus our decision to make things simple so we wouldn't be so dadgum tired.

Well, it didn't work. All we were was still tired and ANGRY! I learned some things though.

1. I don't pray about these things enough.

2. Traditions are important to have.

3. Good planning and a cheerful attitude go a long way.

4. Working on my own attitude is more important than changing my husband's.

5. Soup and sandwiches just don't cut it for Christmas Day.

What do you think, Laurel? We KNOW what everyone else thinks!

Post-Christmas

I've finally recovered from Christmas. It took three days of resting and sleeping. I admit that I brought on most of it myself. I was SO laid back and relaxed before the holidays that I waited until the last minute to shop and cook. This shot the stress factor through the roof. Usually I'm through with my shopping in July or August. I like to pick up things throughout the year when I see then. THIS year I was shopping on Christmas Eve. The selection was good and the crowds weren't bad, but the fear of not finding what I wanted really brought on the stress. Stupid, I know.

So then I spend Christmas Eve and Day angry at my family (especially husband) because I have all this cooking to do and they're not helping as much as I think they should. I'll say it again as I've said it many times before, "I'm my own worst enemy." Sorry, my family, for being a grouch at such a special time.

Note to self: Go back to buying gifts all year and finish in the fall at the latest. Start cooking as early as possible and freeze what food I can for the holidays.

During the twelve days of Christmas, through January 5, I'm rereading last year's journals and going over my 2009 Goals. I didn't get as many of them accomplished as I would have liked so will focus my efforts there as well as making new Goals for 2010. Wow! Typing 2010 seems so futuristic. I'm not even sure how to say it. Is it two thousand ten or twenty ten? I guess either is correct. It just sounds so sci-fi.

A New Reading Challenge for 2010

CHALLENGE BUTTON

January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

Click on the button above to see a fun reading challenge for next year. It's from Letters From a Hill Farm blog. Some of the listed authors will be new to me. I've heard of them but haven't read any of their books.

One thing I love about my bookgroup is that I read books I wouldn't have tried on my own. This challenge will be good that way too. It'll make me get out of my reading comfort zone.

And who doesn't love the movie You've Got Mail? It's filled with books since both of the main characters are bookstore owners. The reading list comes from books mentioned in the movie.

So click the button and have fun!

Additions

Additions to last blog post: I'll tell you about Blog Award #1 when I do all I have to do in order to get it! Also, I'll highlight all the blog addresses when Laurel can teach me how. Yikes =-( ! Yeah, I'm pathetic.

One more thing; I didn't notice until the last post was put up that I was supposed to answer the questions with one word. Yeah, right!

Blog Award-Yeah!

My friend Katy @ http://kathrynestelle.blogspot.com/, awarded me with my second blog award! Thanks, Katy!

The way it works is that I answer the following questions in one word, and then pass the award on to five other bloggers.

Here are the questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? On my desk

2. Your hair? Dark brown with slivers of silver

3. Your mother? Amazing

4. Your father? Sweetest man in the whole world

5. Your favorite food? Southern

6. Your dream last night? Don't remember

7. Your favorite drink? Tea

8. Your dream/goal? Balance

9. What room are you in? Kitchen

10. Your hobby? Photography, etc.

11. Your fear? Loved ones dying

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Wiser

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren’t? Always content

15. Muffins? Like them if they're healthy

16. Wish list item? Digital SLR camera

17. Where did you grow up? Tennessee

18. Last thing you did? Ate cereal

19. What are you wearing? Cottage jeans, white tee, navy cardigan, houseshoes, scarf

20. Your TV? Off

21. Your Pets? One dog, three cats

22. Friends? Wouldn't want to live without 'em

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Quiet

25. Missing Someone? Garrett

26. Vehicle? Yukon

27. Something you're not wearing? A hat

28. Your favorite store? Any used book store

29. Your favorite colour? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today, a lot

31. Last time you cried? This week

32. Your best friend? Laurel

33. One place that I go to over and over? Laurel's house

34. Facebook? Yes

35. Favorite place to eat? Red Lobster (I know, I'm easy)

I'm passing this award on to:

Laurel @http://athomelaurel.blogspot.com/

Pom Pom @http://pompomsponderings.blogspot.com/

Frances @tp://lefthandedhousewife.blogspot.com/

Laura @http://morningsidefamily.blogspot.com/

Tonia @ http://www.studyinbrown.com/

If you don't already know (I didn't), copy and paste this post to your blog then erase my answers and put yours in. I really love all your blogs.

Two Sweet Things

Here are two of my favorite sweet things; my little cottage all decorated for Christmas, and my sweet daughter decorating the tree. Life is good.

This Could Happen To You

This is what happens when you spend a Friday night alone with an eleven-year-old girl with too much time on her hands. I have one hand painted with ladybugs and the other painted neon yellow with black tic-tac-toe designs. I think I'll shake things up a bit and go to church tomorrow morning like this.

Sorry for the blurry pics. It was hard to hold the camera with one hand and get close enough to see the details.