Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many... Charles DickensI am going to tell you a little secret. I wasn't into Christmas this year. I have always been the big Christmas cheerleader around here. I decorate, I bake, I light the candles and the tree and relax reflecting on how great life is. But recently I have had some things happen that didn't feel all that great. It happens to everyone, I have been blessed that those things have rarely happened to me. Until now. Just to reassure everyone, Earl and I are fine, the kids are fine, it's just...stuff. This year I couldn't wait for the season to be over. There, I said it. But with Victoria coming home this weekend I decided to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. Just get those boxes of decorations out of the attic. Maybe I wouldn't put as many up as I usually do, but I would, by golly, decorate if it killed me. So Earl got the boxes down and I started digging, and funny thing, I started feeling a little tickle in my heart. I added some Christmas music. I lit all the candles in the house. The tickle grew. I am quite certain I am growing a little Christmas spirit here girls. Yes, I am feeling a little better about things. The house is taking on that Christmas glow and as I sit with my coffee in my candle lit living room tonight (we are getting the tree this weekend), I plan to reflect on my present blessings. Of which I have many.
Oh Kathy sweet chickadee, I've tried counting them but there are so many I can't list them all!! Painting the house pink is coming along nicely though, sweetepa. Squeeeeal....I'm showing it soon. I can't tell you how much better it looks! PINK!!!!!
ReplyDelete:-)<--------Me with a huge smile on my face......
Smooches,
Connie
Sometimes I just MAKE myself do things I don't want to do and I feel better about it somehow. Your aprons are the cutest. Love the Christmas fabric. Mimi
ReplyDeleteKathy, I hope when you count your blessings you remember to include yourself. You are such a sweet lady and beautiful person. Hugs and smiles, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
ReplyDeletePatricia :o)
Oh I'm hearing ya on this one sister! This year has been HORRIBLE. So many things have happened that have turned my life upside down and none of them have been caused by me. I just can't wait for a new year.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way as you about decorating but little by little I started putting things out. I spent all day today cleaning and decorating and as you say, you start to feel a little tickle in your heart. Sometimes we just have to force ourselves to do things and then the feelings follow.
I hear you... it happens. When it's happened to me. I just try to put my thoughts on the real 'reason for the season' and that gets me through. Sounds like you are well on your way. Hugs, LindaSonia
ReplyDeleteDear Kathy -
ReplyDeleteThe old hymn says 'Count your blessings - name them one by one' but I like what a dear little old lady said. She couldn't count her blessings 'one by one' - had to count them 'ton by ton'! When you start counting bet you'll find tons of blessings keep coming to mind.
I have had a bit of trouble getting into the spirit of things and decorating. I'm doing it and it's become fun. I'll keep it simple but I'm also thinking of the joy of the faces of our dear grandchildren when they arrive to see our tree. That takes the focus of of me and puts it onto others. Isn't that the reason we celebrate? The Gift that first Christmas was given for others.
Now let's get those decorations up and maybe we'll share them here sometime soon, OK? A challenge to me to get finished.
~Adrienne~
That's exactly how I was last Christmas! Even now when I look back on my blog posts, I sense that feeling of just wanting it to be over. I don't even know WHY it hit. I think I just enjoyed that Summer so much that I didn't want to see it go. I don't know. But I'm glad that you're feeling that tickle in your heart. You are so inspiring! I love your aprons from the last post. I'm going over to your etsy to window shop =) Blessings indeed... POlly (p.s. I just thought of something... Maybe your belated holiday cheer was because I made you do Christmas stuff in the middle of the Summer - lol!)
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've got your Christmas spirit going again.
Penny and I talked about you the other day and wished you could have been with us on our visit.
Your aprons are just adorable and I hope you sell them all.
Hugs,
Gretchen
Hi Kathy, I know how you feel. Life has been a bit like that for me lately, in more ways than I would like.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't put up any christmas decorations yet. Maybe this weekend if I have the time or inclination.
Hope I get that christmas feeling soon.
Alison
I hear you loud and clear. I work full time and sometimes it feels like I'm lucky to keep the house clean and clutter free.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to cut down on my decorating by just putting little touches of things here and there. For me, it isn't so much that I lack the spirit, it's the taking it all down and putting it away that weighs on me.
I do know that there have been times when I've had to force myself to do things and then I've been glad that I did.
~elaine~
Beautiful! Sending you and yours Season's Greetings!
ReplyDeleteSandra Evertson
Your honesty is awesome! I love the season but I am always relieved when it is over for some reason.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
LeAnn:)
Very sweet post! The lights look dreamy! I count my blogging friends as some of my many blessings and so that includes you, my friend! I answered your question to why hedgies are the lacemaker's mascot in the comments section of that blog post you commented on! Thanks for stopping by! :)
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteI have been trying so hard to make it nice for the girls, but my energy for Christmas hasn't been like it was in other years. Money is so tight, little health issues have cropped up and I have just started to decorate. Ashley put up the Christmas lights outside and picked out the best Christmas tree. This year I see her excitement, perhaps it is because our children are used to hearing about all the adversity going on in the world, so they are bullet proof. I dream of giving my girls the kinds of Christmas' that have passed. We are blessed to have young spirits to help us be in that wonderful Christmas mood.
Blessings, Karen
Sweetie, I didn't feel like it this year either! But the more I did the more into it. My husband and daughter really enjoy seeing all the Christmas touches. So that makes it worthwhile! That doesn't mean I won't be glad that it's all over though!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're starting to get a bit of the Christmas spirit back.
Manuela
Beautiful post. I'm so glad that you found Christmas again. Or maybe it found you?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I am so glad that your Christmas Spirit is alive and well! Counting our blessings always makes us grateful to God for all he gives us, doesn't it?
ReplyDeletexo Lidy
Great post. I am so glad that your Christmas Spirit is alive and well! Counting our blessings always makes us grateful to God for all he gives us, doesn't it?
ReplyDeletexo Lidy
Dear Kathy, you are not alone!
ReplyDeleteI am feeling over-whelmed and so much pressure!
I have to remind myself what we are celebrating here!
Jesus..... NOT US.
Sending many hugz,
Dolly
It never has to be a lot, or big or loud or splashy...sometimes it's just a small thing that puts that sunshine back in our heart. Wishing you and your family all the many blessings of this season!
ReplyDeleteOh Kathy ~ my year has been the same way. I didn't want to decorate or put the tree up either. I'm still deciding on that one! I, too, have so many things to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteHugz,
michele
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI know it is hard some years to get into the spirit...especially this year. I feel it too. An acquaintance of ours lost his daughter in a car accident last Thursday. She was 20. I just keep thinking of that family and what they must be going through. It has taken the joy out of the season for me quite a bit I must say. But I am glad that you are alright and that your spirits are lifting.
Annie
Hi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI think what the others have said, sometimes you just have to put one foot in front of the other. I've had a rough couple of months too, nothing that I want to blog about either......but once I started putting the decorations up my whole attitude changed. As I sit here with still tons of things to do....and maybe I won't get to them all....I'm just enjoying the moments for now...and counting my blessings.
I'm so glad the Christmas Spirit has crept in! Tom and I will be alone for Christmas...we have no kids that will even be stopping in with grand-children. We checked at church to see if anyone was spending the day alone...and nothing. So...I'm not planning a big baking crusade, as I usually do. No big Christmas dinner. No huge decorating scheme awaits. But, we do have something pretty "special" planned within the next couple of weeks...and I'll post about it afterwards!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're entered in the give-away!!
The snow????? Here's the LINK.
http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2008/12/simple-snow-effect-widget-for-blogger.html
It's through BLOGGER...and you just click twice (in different places) and voila, it's there!!! I like your background!!!
~Blessings,
Jan
After surviving (I think) the worst year of my 50+ years, I can identify with lack of enthusiasm for Christmas. But I'm gettin' there. Nothing like Christmas to pull one back out of a slump!
ReplyDeleteDear Kathy, I kind of felt the same way this year. Although we didn't put up a tree I did manage to put other things out and it lifted my spirits making me realize like you I'm blessed.
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteI decorated with your lovely ice skate with my white Christmas ornaments on my baker's rack. It looks lovely, I showed it on my post today. But Miss Angel is tucked safely away out of view. Thank you again. Karen
Hello, toot sweet. I was like that last Christmas. Did not even want to put up my tree. Drove home alone and called no friends, just surrounded myself with my mom, dad, and kids. But, this year is so totally different. Life is funny, funny, funny with its unexpected twists and turns. Who would have known last year how great things would be this year. Blows me away. I love the "big girl panties" comment. Too cute!!!
ReplyDeleteBig hug ~
Alexandra
I think that so many times in our lives we push ourselves to do things and that is the reason that we survive. I have an expression, "Fake it until you make it." Sometimes we push ourselves so hard to get where we want to be that we actually do "make it."
ReplyDeleteSweetie
Yes you do!
ReplyDeleteNow don't let that bad Satan steal your joy. Give him a kick in the pants and enjoy yourself no matter what! He knows he isn't welcome here.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart on this matter. You have such a sweet influence.
ReplyDeleteSincerely ~ Tricia Anne
maybe thats all you needed,i can see by the comments you're getting.you ARE loved...ann
ReplyDeleteAs you can see in my most recent post I am right there with you.
ReplyDeleteI think we all know how you feel and SO understand. I could not get myself motivated this year but I did for the family and now I am glad. That *stuff* is around us for sure...I am so glad you did not let that *stuff* win.
ReplyDeleteI send hugs and love your way...
Sue
Kathy, I could have written this myself this year~so weary after the last month of caring for the inlaws. I'm getting there in baby steps. I like the week three advent message--lighting the candle inside first. What IS happening is my rethinking the whole celebration of Christmas, and my family is planning to do some things differently this year. We are really paring down gifts and counting on making memories together.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Lallee