Every year...and I mean EVERY YEAR...I say that I am going to make the most of the "Holiday Season" this year. I am going to decorate the tree like the ones I see in magazines and on the home decorating shows. The lights will be up on the house and the yard beautifully decorated. The Christmas cards will be in the mail by December 1st. All year I have collected scraps of paper with homemade gift ideas that I am going to make for all my friends and family. I say that I am going to get all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. I am going to bake Christmas cookies for all my friends and neighbors and work associates. All this so that the week of Christmas I can sit back, relax in front of the "natural" gas fireplace, listening to Christmas carols and sipping egg nog with Lee. And then......I wake up from my dream and say holy cow it is three day before Thanksgiving already?? I hope that the grocery store still has turkeys and will it thaw out in time? Where did the summer go? Did we even have Halloween? Christmas is how many days away? And the panic, stress, and craziness set in. I tell myself that "Its ok. Calm down. We still have time. We just now have to cram all there is to do into the next month." I think to myself "If I do one thing a day I could have it all done by Christmas. Oh wait. I have a job. OK that leaves three weekends. Six days. One day for decorating the house and tree. I could do the Christmas cards on my lunch hour. Two days to make the homemade gifts (I can crochet in between the glue drying right?) If I make my list (and check it twice...ha ha) then I can get all the shopping done in one day (because I cannot possible make every gift a homemade gift!) and all the wrapping done the next. One day to do all the baking and to deliver all the goodies. That is six day right? No problem...I got this under control!!
Let me tell you what I
did get done this week. (Yes I said this week.) The tree is up, (We did get that done the first week of December, however, the outdoor lights are still on the coffee table.) I got the cards done and in the mail. Sorry they maybe a little late? The homemade gifts? Well I have some of the craft supplies? I get credit for that right? Shopping? I still have four days. I got a list and the stores keep saying they all have the all have the "perfect" gifts. I should be good. I did attempt to bake the cookies. Lets just say that nothing goes as planned. I got the biscotti done and the no bake cookies and lee's favorite candies made. The biscotti was a little burned, the candy did not turn out so hot this year, but it is still edible, just not ok to give as a gift. (Carmel was ROCK HARD!) the no bake cookies? Well, how can you mess that up!! It was about the only thing that turned out ok! So I picked out the best of the Biscotti, put it into a gift box and added the no bake cookies. "A" gift box....and the lucky winner this year? The Goodyear Gang at Lee's work!! Hope you enjoy it boys (and Melissa!)
I have made a vow to myself that next year I am not going to torcher myself like I have every year before. I am leaving the tree up all year, and just changing the decorations on it and the rest of the house to match the other yearly holidays. (I will have to find a Mrs. Claus to go with Santa on valentines day..) Once a month I will lock myself in the spare room on a Saturday and complete at least ONE craft project for someone. I will vow to pickup one gift a week for all those I have to buy for. (I will have to remember where I put them...) I can fill out the Christmas cards while I am relaxing on the beach during our summer vacation. I will pick one person each month to receive my "Homemade" Christmas cookies. Come on! Haven't you ever heard of Christmas in July?? Then maybe
just maybe I will be able to sit by the fire and enjoy the egg nog...with lots and lots of rum!
But seriously, I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and that they remember what this season is really about and that is the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless you all...
