Tag Archives: Christmas

2024 Christmas Post

My Life, Thought, , , , , , , , ,

There was a time when we would send out a long long list of Christmas cards. Lucenda and I worked together each year to get them out. We gradually shortened the list over time. Then, we only gave out a few.
Since she passed, it has not been high priority for me to send out Christmas cards. And, now that Russ and I have “joined forces” .. and Brian is (um) an “adult” …. (cough) … I see things a bit differently.

This year, first time I remember in my life, I have a REAL Tree in the house. I am NOT having ANY allergic reactions to it!!! Many of my “I have to have them out” Christmas decorations are packed away somewhere as we are still trying to get things set up in our new house (over a year new).
I have lights and decorations in the front yard.

I have LOTS of lights and decorations in the living room.
We have been blessed in many ways.

It has been a slow process … a few moves have been involved … all that to say … I am not the same person I was 10 years ago … or even 5 years go … I am still me, but different … just like a tree growing in the backyard, it changes, it looks different each year … but, it is still the same tree … but yet … it is a different tree.

The ONE constant has been my Lord.

Along the way, there have been a few amazingly wonderful and faithful friends and others have come into my life as well.

My family has grown in many ways.

We celebrate the Birth of Jesus this time of year.
We should be living His example ALL year, every year.

For those who feel distant, GOD is always with you. HE will NEVER leave you nor forget you.

For each and every person on my list .. and beyond .. know that you are loved, you are valued, you are special, you are important.

Merry Christmas to you all.

A NEW Christmas

Charecteristics, My Life, Struggles, The Story, Thought, , , , , ,

For much of my life (decades), August through December had been a full, busy time for me.

From childhood into adulthood, I have been involved in some sort of “Christmas Event”. Be it, a Christmas play, a musical, or something of the sort, I was involved. I have been “main characters”. I have been “singing” (however, not much). Most of my teen and adult years, I have been part of the “technically” aspects of programs.

Having a child, added to the list. We when to Christmas events, parades, programs, etc .. geared toward children.

Then, there was the “FULL ON Busy Time”. August was getting ready for State Fair that was September. This went right into preparing for Christmas Cottage (craft selling event that took place just before Thanksgiving). There was still Church Christmas programs of some sort that added to the business. Decoration for Fall .. Halloween .. Thanksgiving … Christmas (this part was NO small thing for me).

October of 2014, in the middle of the “FULL ON Busy Time”, Lucenda passed away. I stumbled through the rest of the “Time” that year.

I tried to keep things “sort of” going the following year (2015). But, I realized that it was not going to continue. I had to let go of many of the “FULL ON Busy Time” things.

I moved 3 times in 5 years. Once, across country. MUCH has changed in the past 9 years.

This Christmas is … This Christmas is a New Christmas for me.

I taught the “Grief Process” to numerous “prospective resource parents” over the years. I “knew” the “logistics” of it. Now, I “know” much more about it. The “stages” are NOT clearly defined .. they are NOT clearly separated .. they are NOT done and gone once you go through them. Grief is ongoing. It is foolish to believe there is a “time limit”.

All this stated … All this laid out on the table …

Thanks to TRUE loving and caring people in my life, I have been able to move forward.

A New House to decorate very differently than I have for … decades. New environment. Different job situations for us all. My son is 20 (still mentally processing THAT!).

This year is A NEW Christmas.

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