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Merry Christmas!
Have you ever had to move during the Christmas season? I have a friend who is packing up now to relocate for her job.... right after Christmas....
I've done this.....3 times..... I think....(I've lost count....which is probably good!)
The first time I did it, my kids were young....I have to admit as a mom, I felt guilty about letting them unwrap gifts one day and the next day putting them in a moving box.....
If you think YOUR holidays are stressful......you shoulda been there for that one!!!!
Up to that point, I had always lived in the same city as my parents (whom I love) and most of my siblings. We always had Christmas dinner together, we often had Karaoke parties....everyone sang and made fools of themselves.....isn't that what family is for?
I had close friends in the city from which I was moving...... who went Christmas Caroling with us at Nursing Homes, we exchanged gifts, we shared cookies.....and party food....like those little weenies in BBQ sauce.....
Suddenly, I was removed from all of the holiday traditions that I was so familiar with. Even if I could have afforded to buy enough plane tickets to get back to the extended family, the job wouldn't allow time off at Christmas!
SO.....the next Christmas, in the new city, I had to make a decision. Was I going to bemoan the fact that "We were all alone" for Christmas or was I going to find a way to celebrate.....ANYWAY?
I decided I needed to make MY OWN TRADITIONS. One of them was to get my kids an ornament every year with their name on it....and when they moved out on their own, they would get those ornaments to decorate their own tree.....or houseplant....or cactus......
I still tried to Christmas Carol with a group of people in whatever city I found myself.... some years it worked, some years it didn't..... You've got to have a GROUP to Christmas Carol.....as loudly as I can sing....it just doesn't work alone!
The huge dinners with extended family were pretty much a "thing of the past." I changed my focus and made Christmas dinner a big deal for my kids, and I looked for another lonesome person or family that we could include in our festivities. I reached out......
What goes around....comes around.... and there were a few years that my daughter and/or I were the "lonesome" persons that families in Texas welcomed as part of their own.....you know who you are....we love you forever!!!
Once again, this year, my husband and I are establishing fresh traditions in our NEW city....Lafayette, LA! Caroling anyone? Still looking for a good gumbo recipe......
Which brings me to the topic of food....what's a holiday without food? You may be eating tube steaks this Christmas instead of T-bone steaks, but you can make anything a party! Put those hot dogs on your best plates, light some candles, and put on some Christmas music!
Life is TOO SHORT to bemoan what you DON'T HAVE or CAN'T DO!!!!!
If you will be away from your home town this Christmas, or if your budget is tighter than last year's..... find a way to celebrate....ANYWAY!!!! Make your own traditions....and open yourself up to share with new friends......
One of my husband's favorite sayings he learned in the Marine Corps is,"Every day's a holiday and every meal's a feast."
Regardless of where you are this Christmas, how much or how little you have......
Decide to have a merry heart, and you will have a merry Christmas!
He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast...... Proverbs 15:15
Merry Christmas! I'll blog ya next week. Until then, do something today to fulfill your purpose!
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