Holidays coming - Page 4

gmkb · ‎07-29-2012

I had an aunt that lived to be 100 and she was childlike in her joy of Christmas for as long as she lived. It was a beautiful experience to be around her at that time. She glowed with the joy of Christmas.

I have never been a Christmas enthusiast, other than to appreciate its reason for existence. As far as all the gift buying, decorating, cooking - a lot of work with little pleasure.

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@jlkz wrote:
Once certain beloved family members passed on, I really could do without the holidays. Once DH retires in the near future, may be will go to FL earlier !

The holidays of the past are over and I haven't come up with anything new that I would want to do: limited energy and heel Spurs.

@jlkz, I feel the same way. I really could do without all the hoopla. I don't have to cook, my daughter does that now and that's enough for me.

*Call Tyrone*

AKgirl2 · ‎05-24-2016

@Katcat1 wrote:
I still enjoy Christmas and decorating my apt. for it. I no longer have a real tree but my artifical tabletop one with lights in just fine. I put deocorations out and enjoy the atmosphere by myself. Now all we need is snow Christmas Eve night into Christmas morning and it will be perfect.

I used to live in a mountain resort town in Utah, so we had many

Thanksgivings and Christmases with snow. It's such a happy and wonderful feeling to see it snowing on Christmas Eve or waking up to it on Christmas morning...I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. Maybe so in Alaska😉

meallen616 · ‎01-10-2013

I look forward to and enjoy the holdays,

kelsey17 · ‎04-10-2012

I do enjoy the holidays.....my mom always had Thanksgiving but passed away a few years back so then i took over with Thanksgiving ......my grown children and their family and sister and her family get together at my home but we miss our mom.....but we concentrate on eachother and are thankful for getting together.....everyone

brings a food dish so it does help workwise in the kitchen...but ALOT of work prepping, cooking, etc. My home is in the "middle" of my sisters family and my childrens homes......it would be a VERY long drive if we tried to celebrate at one of their homes and it would prob be the end of us all seeing eachother on the holiday....so i have kept hosting...but i am getting up there in years and it is starting to get more stressful as my physical health goes down............so not sure how much longer we will have these get togethers.....i do it year by year....

and am thankful if i get through it.......but do enjoy seeing the family all together.....................

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

The key for me is to keep it stress free. I wish the gift giving for adults would be limited to one small gift, because we all buy what we need during the year. I have a friend who has been trying to get her husband's family to stop the gift exchange and they all got upset with her so she said whoever draws her name can give money to charity.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

I like Thanksgiving but I hate Christmas. If we could go from Black Friday to New Year's Day, I'd be very happy.

This year is the worst! Mom is receiving Hospice care. It's our last Thanksgiving with her. We don't know if she'll make it to Christmas.

Greeneyedlady21 · ‎01-06-2015

I've always had conflicted feelings about the holidays, my family being what it is. Last year was a brutal year for me, didn't even want to put up a tree but there I was doing it. For my Mom. She had been very ill and I was just grateful to still have her. I was doing everything for her and was worn out but I did get that tree up. It was a very stressful and lonely time for me, but I tried to focus on the little things that could bring me some joy. Most days it was just looking at that tree.

I will try my best to do the same this year. I have simplified decorating, I had to face last year that I couldn't do it all with no help. Simplifying is necessary for self preservation. At least for me. And it helps me focus better on what really matters.

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Greeneyedlady21 · ‎01-06-2015

@CalminHeart wrote:
I like Thanksgiving but I hate Christmas. If we could go from Black Friday to New Year's Day, I'd be very happy.

This year is the worst! Mom is receiving Hospice care. It's our last Thanksgiving with her. We don't know if she'll make it to Christmas.

Sorry for your pain, all my best to you

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@Snowpuppy wrote:
I spent many years as a single parent and many holidays were lean. The first Thanksgiving after I left the ex, we had PB & J for dinner.

Life is much, much better and we can travel, stay home and celebrate as we please.

But I celebrate gratitude every year.

I think this is the key to holidays for everyone.

We should be remembering what we do have as far as family/friends still with us, our health (even when it isn't perfect, we are still here), a place to live and food to eat. It was maybe better before, but there are still many reasons for most of us to be grateful, whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas or some random Tuesday in June.

Everyone should decorate/cook/entertain/gift/celebrate in whatever manner they wish/can afford/have the energy and or desire to, so there is no right answer there. We have lost so many in our family, and I understand the lack of desire to continue to do some things, and the sadness that sets in. It helps to make new traditions and do things differently.

I can always see someone who is worse of than I am, and that keeps things in perspective for me.