I hate to admit it, but I was really dreading Christmas this year. Not the reason for Christmas and all that it means, but just the fact that I knew things would be different this year.
From Thanksgiving on, things just didn’t go as planned this year. Normally, our Christmas tree is up the day after Thanksgiving, but we were so exhausted from E.B.’s surgery and all the Thanksgiving festivities that two more weeks passed by before it was up. A minor glitch.
About a week ago we learned my mother will have to have a heart valve replacement and possible bypass done in January. This really blew the wind right out of my sails, not to mention the rest of our family.
Christmas cards? Oops. Everyone will now be getting Happy New Year cards. Baking? Very little this year. Shopping? last minute, as always. (Some things never change!) Even my parent’s big annual Christmas Eve breakfast for both sides of the family, something they’ve done for at least 30 years, was cancelled. Understandably, of course.
In the days leading up to Christmas, I could barely muster up any holiday spirit. Everything just seemed too different. Strange. My mind was preoccupied.
As it turns out, even though everything was different, the things and the people that truly mattered were still the same. We were all together. Seeing the excitement in my child’s eyes will never get old. Despite all of the changes, our Christmas still went off without a hitch and we enjoyed ourselves and all of our many blessings.
so now you know that christmas goes on whether you or ready or not …. and extra good that you were mindful of the reason for the seaon … and really that is all you need! hope your new year is lovely ….and particularly that you breeze through january happily celebrating your family's good health, post surgery …..
Goodness, what a lot to deal with at any time of the year. At Christmas, when we all want everthing to be merry and bright, I can't imagine.
I'll be thinking of you!
Wow that is a lot. I hope you have a much better New Years.
I am SOOOO with you on this!! I never got into the Christmas hype this year… but loved how you found the right message at the end!
Blessings-
Amanda
http://iammommy.typepad.com
I hope this upcoming new year is much better for you and your family.
I hear your, our Christmas wasn't as normal as last year, I send our holiday cards near Thanksgiving and well that didn't happen until about a week before Christmas. We did get our tree around normal time, but we didn't get the lights up oustide on the house and that upset my oldest, it's our favorite part of Christmas, all those lights!
Sending you some holiday cheer and happy that friends and family togetherness was the same 🙂
I hope everything goes well for your mom next month. I can completely understand how all the stress from everything can knock the spirit right out of you, but I'm glad to hear you had an enjoyable holiday! Seems that our kids excitement always makes things a little better.
Wow, talk about changes! It can be so stressful to deal with so many changes normally, but add the holidays to it and wow! talk about stress 🙁
I am glad you were able to handle it all and enjoy yourself. I hope 2010 is a wonderful year for you!
We had a very different Christmas this year too. We lost 2 members of the family this year. Talk about the wind out of your sales …. I barely got a tree up and cried the whole time.
Praying next year will be better. But for now I'm just glad it is over 🙂 http://www.icoulduseadeal.blogspot.com Jeanine
ps beautiful pic – did u take it?
So sorry that everything happened all at once. If you ever need to chat, you know where to find me. My mother was just told that she will also need valve replacement surgery within the next year. She had a virus attack her heart years ago and has never been the same since. Wishing all of you the best. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with your mother in January and beyond.
Oh my – what a shock for you all. So glad you were all able to celebrate, if just a bit differently, this year.