So, I've been in Holiday Hiding. Now that the holidays are over, and we find ourselves safely trucking along into 2008, I finally feel a sense of normalcy slowly returning. I also finally feel the liberty to show my mad blog face again. And I'm just gonna state for the record, one more time, that I am really happy that the holidays are over. I know, I know. How can a Christian dare utter such a thing??? In my defense, I haven't always been this much of a humbug. Up until last year, I eagerly anticipated the holidays as much as any child. I love decorating. I love presents. I love Christmas food and festivities. Yet, the past two Christmases have just been incredibly stressful for us. Money's always tight. There's always some major, expensive malfunction needing attention, be it vehicular or of the household variety (Last year it was the septic tank--"It's the crap, crappiest season of all!"). There are always no less than 100 engagements in which to attend, and only two of which are actually fun. Oh, and I did I mention the fact that we're in the peak of flu season??? Yeah. That's a barrel of fun with 3 kids, ages 4 and under. And this year, once again, I find myself with child. So all of this, and I can't even enjoy a stinking glass of Christmas cheer. Aptly named due to its capacity to make you forget momentarily all about your Christmas woes.
Not that there haven't been moments of fun, excitement, and joy. This year we had an beautiful just-before-Christmas-service at our church. And last year, we welcomed the birth of our son, Oliver, 5 days before Christmas, in a whirlwind birth story that would make anyone's head spin. It seems, however, that I find myself enjoying Christmas in snapshots, but not overall as a whole. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. Maybe my heart just needs to grow three more sizes. I'm up for it. Whatever the case may be, I think one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2008 is that I am GOING to try to enjoy Christmas a little more this year. Maybe that would mean not celebrating it at all...
Bah. Humbug.
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10 comments:
Hee, hee, hee! This is funny stuff, Ange:) Made me laugh. I totally enjoyed Christmas - my tree was up before Thanksgiving Day and it still is up. I took a ridiculous amount of pictures. But I understand. You needed more quiet momenst sipping a peppermint mocha latte from Starbucks, staring at your Christmas tree. maybe next year?
im a bah-humbugger myself.
just start thinking about tiny tim and his little crutch. works for me everytime.
Actually, Holly, every time I watched A Christmas Carol this past season, I found myself ardently agreeing with several things that Ebenezer Scrooge said. That was quite a disturbing discovery!
This was the first Christmas I didn't think my marriage was going to end. I attribute this to two main things: I started an exercise routine (walk in the woods) Dec. 1 instead of January 1 and I meditated on Advent with the whole family, instead of Christmas. We lit candles on a wreath every Sunday leading up to the 25th and read out of a booklet my friend put together.
Here are some other things I have learned work well for coping: Say no to most parties (I even sent R to one on his own), have one glass of wine even though you're pregnant, let Isabele be head-decorator, buy the best gifts you can for all the people you love and worry about the money later. Set aside a whole day for one sugar cookie recipe to do with the kids and let them cut them out and decorate.
God bless us, every one!
Shannon, you're so cute. Your first sentence cracked me up. I needed that!!!
yes, well, scrooge has been thru a lot and so have you this season...but things ended happily on christmas day for him. we hope on...
shannon, if only ang and i could join you in the woods. i am really good at finding "chestnuts".
I'm going to say that you haven't discovered the joy of Santa's White Chirstmas (a Publix Premium ice cream). It really lifts the spirits. I'll throw in a few extra Mocha-Nut balls for you next year to help take the edge off of the holidays;) I still love you even if you are a bit "grinchy."
Holly, I believe you mean "rock-nuts." Remember the "chestnut" that shot across the room and broke Elaine's nutcracker as a result???
Angie, I haven't tried that kind of ice cream yet. I will have to look out for it next Christmas. And I'm gonna need something a lot stronger than the Mocha Nut Balls...
Ange, I was just thinking about the nutcrackers b/c I have a whole bag of pecans to shell. At least I know these will crack ;)
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