What Holiday Rush?

Almost immediately after Thanksgiving certain people will starting asking me if I am ready for Christmas yet. Wait a minute, I thought I had at least a month yet.

Part of the Joy of Christmas to me is in the preparation.  I love putting up my tree. Each one of the ornaments reveals a special memory. When we were first married, I envisioned, eventually, a tree filled with homemade ornaments. Each year I bought a kit and made half a dozen new ones to add to the collection. I still hang those even though I haven't added to that collection for many years now. A few were made for me during those early years by my mother and mother-in-law. Now that they are both gone, their spirit is with us in our tree. Now I collect ornaments on our trips and as I hang each one I can revisit those special destinations and the memories they hold for me. Many were simply gifts from people who have walked through our lives and left footprints on our hearts. Then, of course, there are the precious ones made by the little hands of both my children and grandchildren.



The basement parties were always the best

 Every year we host a party at our home for the Silver Spokes and Spokettes, our biker friends. This is generally in the first week of December so we get our Christmas decorations up and this is our initiation into the Holiday Season.

A few years ago, I found myself wondering about why I wasn't filled with the excitement of the season. Then about 2 weeks before the actual holiday the holiday spirit finally hit me. Wait a minute, I thought, that's when it should hit me.

Retail has put so much pressure on us to begin preparing even before Halloween.  This year the black Friday sales started a week before thanksgiving. I tried to buy a few early presents this year and got it all wrong and had to return them already.

Some people are afraid that if you don't shop early there will be nothing left. Well, guess what, there is always underwear left and it looks quite pretty tied up in nice paper and ribbons.

Christmas is still 9 days away so please don't ask me if I am ready for it. I have a few more presents left to buy and none of them are wrapped yet, cookies to bake, and a few more pre holiday events to attend. It will all get done before December 24 in plenty of time for the jolly old man to make his appearance.

In the meantime I intend to enjoy every minute of it. Oh, yes, there are still a few more Christmas movies to watch. I am a real sucker for those.

Let the Holidays Begin

I love Christmas. I love it as much as ever anyone did with all the decorations, presents, parties, and good will it evokes.

That said, I think I have learned to love Thanksgiving even more for its relative simplicity. With most of both our extended and immediate family living at least an overnight stay away, Thanksgiving is not just a day but a week-end. Thanksgiving is all about appreciating the abundance with which God has blessed us and the food. 

On Thursday we had our traditional turkey dinner with our faithful guests, my brother and two nieces, Jim, Lindsay and Beth. As has become my habit the past two years, my turkey was slightly overcooked while I participated in the Wii tournament in the basement. Thanksgiving dinner is all about the sides anyway, isn't it?

On Friday our Green Bay Chilsons hit Chicago in their usual  lively fashion. Of course, on the agend is pizza from Papa's and Chicago hot dogs and Italian Beef from Portillos. In addition, I cooked a large ham dinner as my gift to them.

Another niece and nephew, Jason and Johanna, along with their two charming girls added to the delightful mayhem both Friday and Saturday evenings.

The real joy of the week-end came in spite of the food, however in our total enjoyment of each other and watching the antics of the kids, both old and young.

I had the good fortune of needing an outfit for a New Year's wedding. I say good fortune, because having been the only female in the family until my boys took brides, I generally do all my shopping solo. This time I was priviliged to have the company and assistance of my daughter-in-law, Amy, niece, Lindsay and granddaughter Ella. They  put the fun in shopping especially Amy who loves to enable me to spend my money without guilt. They outfitted me for the wedding in the greatest style which is ANTHING BUT "dowdy old lady."

Meanwhile at home, Niece from Virginia was watching the UVA footbal game upstairs, while son from Wisconsin was watching their football game downstairs. Another right of Thanksgiving week-end. It doesn't get any better than this.