Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Busy Time

Yes, I'm going to sound somewhat like a billion others at this time of year when I say, "I'm not ready for Christmas."  Well, I truly am not.... mentally, spiritually, physically, and financially...I'm not ready for this holiday this year.

It's been a busy time. I've run behind in making my cards, so there won't be many sent. I may get a few sitting moments when I will send out some boxed ones, but I may not get that far. My decorating is simpler than most years...an evergreen garland over the archway to the dining room, a five foot tree in the living room, decorated with ornaments I've collected for 19 years for the grandkids. There's a 4 foot tree in the dining area, decorated with only ornaments from exchanges I've had with some gals in an online decorating site. The 7 foot tree is in the sunroom, this year bearing only angels, snow babies and snowflakes...in honor of the victims in Connecticut.

I was already running behind with shopping for gifts and for the gifts Mom would give, when she developed some health issues. Two visits to the ER in one week, amounting to a total of 17 hours within the walls of the hospital, no diagnosis yet, multiple tests run during the following 3 days, and two doctors visits, with another to come on Friday.  That may not seem like much in the way of time, but the two ER visits kept us 'til the wee hours of the morning, and after each one, the next days I was good for nothing, having so little sleep.

Cleaning remains....some wrapping...some baking...menu planning for the week of Christmas family guests. I have three days before they arrive...and I'm going to have much busy time 'til then.  Whether or not I'm ready....Christmas will come...and go. And this year, I will admit, I'll be ready to see it over and to go forward into the new year.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Where Does The Time Go?

Here it is...December 10 already!  It appears that I've not written an entry here since November 15. Where does the time go???

I look at the tiny Christmas tree in the kitchen. It's covered with little ornaments received in several ornament exchanges with an online group I've been apart of. We have 2 Christmas exchanges per year, one in July and one starting in November. We each make a handmade ornament, and duplicate it, sending it to a list of women who are doing the same for me. Each of us receives as many ornaments as those we've made.  It's great fun! No one knows who is making what until it arrives, and then we must keep silent, until everyone has received all their trinkets, at which time the organizer posts photos of everyone's treasures.  This year, most of the 8 ornaments which came were snowmen of some type!

December is always a busy time...we have five family members with birthdays this month. On top of all the Christmas business, we must shop and make time for those! This year, I've been aware that I'm busier than usual. Not only have I collected ideas from family members, I've had to pass them back and forth to others, in order that everyone knows what someone else is hoping for. I've done all of Mom's shopping this year, because it's difficult for her, ...and some for my brother too. Next year he'll have to dream up his own ideas and shop for them. I'm overwhelmed this year, and each year things get more difficult to spend time in the stores, even though I typically buy things throughout the year.
I'm feeling somewhat 'Grinchy' about it!  It's not Christmas, per se, but the extra activities I've taken on for those who can do it themselves, but don't want to. Well...I'll leave it at that.

We've had a few extra trips, out and about, because of dr visits and prescriptions. Sometimes there just seems to be too little time in a day  or in a month. I'm so far behind...and I'm not happy about that, but I know from the past that this is something I feel every year about now.  Important things always gets done, and what doesn't get done is not worth worrying about.

Christmas will soon be here and the family will gather here for our celebrations. It will all be over too soon, as most things do, because time just moves along whether we are ready or not.  I don't know where time goes, but it certainly does!