Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year's Eve

A New Year is about to begin.  I find the counting down very exciting.  Even though I never stay awake to midnight.  Since I don't, I am amazed at awakening in a whole new year.  2011.  We made it through the first decade of the new year. 

When I have patients who lived during the first couple of decades of the 1900's, I always look at them with amazement.  How does one capture the experience of living when work was hard and the rewards were simple?  What do they think of the past 80-90 years?  I love their stories.  While I wouldn't have liked using an outhouse, I would have liked being free of cell phones and computers. I imagine decisions were simpler with fewer options available.

Assuming I live till 80, what will I be doing on 12.31.2045?  What will have changed during those 35 years?  How will I compare that to my childhood in the 1960's?  Will things become simpler or more difficult?

Not to get maudlin, it's just that these concepts bring out the curiosity in me.  The possibilities still seem endless. 

Have you prepared your resolutions.  I used to make lots of resolutions.  I would work on them vigorously and tick them off my list.  More recently, I create just a few general ones.  Most of them come from my theme for the coming year.

2010's themes were "Fearlessness" and "Hope".   I felt really hopeless last January. I found hope in moving my office and home,, decorating, planning and experiencing the new.  My interests grew and I have something to look forward to, thanks be to God.  I am Fearless, because since becoming a widow, I feel intrepid.  I have a "don't mess with me attitude".  My themes worked will for me.  God guided me. 

Tomorrow, I will share my theme(S) and resolutions.  In the meantime, have a fantastic eve of the new year!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas is here

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!
Are you doing last minute shopping, wrapping, preparing?  Or are you preparing your heart to receive the infant Jesus?  I often get so preoccupied with the former I forget to do the latter.  I am happily off today, so I should have plenty of time to pray.  As it is, I slept in, am still in my pjs, have been leisurely browsing the web, and am aghast at the things that still need wrapping. 

I am starting with a sinus infection so I need to go to the pharmacy.  That will require getting dressed.  Such a decision.  I wish I was one of those people who could just pop out of bed and get dressed and ready for their day.  But I am sluggish and slow and seem to have to think about it for a long time. 

Tonight Chris, my parents and I will be going to Mass at 5pm and then out to dinner at North, an Italian restaurant.  I am really looking forward to that.  A pleasant leisurely time with family.  Andrew is still in Las Vegas with Sabrina and her family.  Hope he has a wonderful and special time.  My sons are such fine young men and their presence makes everything special.  We will be excited to have Andrew home on Sunday. 

Tomorrow will be quiet.  I hope to start a new book, so a little bit of paper craft, watch some Christmas movies, and just relax.  My ideal day. 

I bought a spiral sliced ham from Target.  It's supposed to be like Honey Baked Hams.  Who New you had to bake it yourself and add the glaze.  Oh well, for #13 what do you expect.  I will do that today.

Whatever your plans are for today and tomorrow, I pray they are special, filled with love and a sense of humor.  Delight in the baby Jesus and like his Mother Mary, "ponder all these things in your heart". 





Saturday, December 18, 2010

That Christmas Feeling

Well, only one week to go till Christmas.  This year I have a few extra shopping days because Andrew is spending Christmas with his gorgeous girlfriend Sabrina and her family.  Christmas Eve they will also be celebrating Sabrina's graduation from UNLV, which I was fortunate to attend last week.
Andrew will come home for a week on December 26 and we will celebrate on the 29th, since that is my day off.

I am truly excited about this for two reasons. The first is that, while I do love celebrating Christmas, and presents and the meals, I feel it detracts from the true meaning of this most holy day.  I would like to just celebrate Christmas as the day Jesus was born.  I like to reflect on what that means for myself and the world.  So this year I will have the chance to do that. 

On Christmas Eve my parents, Chris and I will go to Mass followed by supper at North, and Italian restaurant.  And the rest of the evening and following day will be fairly quiet.  For those who know me you understand how much I love quiet.  That will be a gift in it self.

Our exchange of presents will take place on the 29th, as I said.  Instead of preparing a grand feast, we plan to order in pizza from Aurelio's, the best pizza in Denver.  It will be a low key affair.  If I could gather the family and get them to agree, I would hold the gift exchange on the feast of the Epiphany, but that is probably a stretch. 

The second reason I am excited about our late Christmas celebration is that I can do my shopping after Christmas.  I anticipate getting some real deals.  I love saving money.  Don't get me wrong, I do have most of the important items purchased.  I mostly shop online.  I have to for the weird things the boys want, like Rugby and Powerlifting paraphernalia. 

Avoiding the Christas shopping rush will contribute to decreasing my stress during the holidays. I always find it so hectic to shop and wrap everything on time.  I have already finished my Christmas cards and sent the packages that go to out of town friends.  I plan on relaxing this week and having fun with Chris who just got home today.  Tonight we are going to watch Mixed Nuts with Steve Martin.  If you haven't seen it you must.  It's a kooky take on a group of misfits at Christmas.  Hilarious.  It's an annual must, just like Christmas Vacation. 



I hope your week before Christmas is calm and wonderful and the you allow yourself to focus on the true meaning of the holiday.