And so it starts.....

I've probably used that saying before, I know a son has it as a blog title, but I like it.  And it actually seems to fit right now.  And so it starts.  What starts?

All the busyness of the holidays.  Actually it probably started just before Thanksgiving - but it is starting to get in full swing now.  I'm already tired!  One would think a year off doing just about 'nothing' and only working three weeks I will have a lot more energy than I do. Well, I don't.  It is stressful learning new things. It's not that it is so hard, it is just a lot of things to learn.  But as for my job, I am enjoying it and am learning quickly.  I'm glad I'm there.

Last Saturday was December lst and I started the Christmas season off attending the church's Christmas Tea with my daughter, granddaughter, an adopted granddaughter, and my best friend, as well as several other women.  I decorated my table and I think it looked pretty good; even if I do say so myself.  It was semi-hectic but I did enjoy the tea with them.

Tonight was the Christmas dinner for the ministerial assembly of our state church organization.  The food was outstanding - and I can't believe I ate the whole thing!  Oh my.  It was so good!!  Tender slices of pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes with a light gravy, green beans, rolls.  A delicious spinach salad.  And of course dessert consisted of several choices of cheesecake and pies.  I chose my favorite - coconut cream pie - and it was sooooooo good!!  I am so stuffed I can hardly walk!

Wednesday night this week one granddaughter has a choir concert, Thursday evening is a grandson's band concert, next Monday night is another concert for a grandson, and there is yet another one on Thursday that week, I think.  I can't remember what they all are, but the dates are on the calendar for us to go to.  Then there is a Christmas play in two weeks where two grandsons are in it.  Oh, and I'm having a Christmas Tea here in my home on the 15th.  And I still don't have my tree up.

I wonder if I can get hubby to get my Christmas things down without too much complaining.... I asked the other day but he pretended he didn't know what I wanted him to get out.  Sigh.  I'll just tell him to bring it all in.  What I didn't want to keep last year I gave away.  Got rid of a lot of Christmas things.  Need to get my things out so that I can start decorating and not have it all to do at once.

And so it starts.  Yep - my Christmas season is off to a full swing - and that doesn't include shopping.  My daughter-in-law has a birthday on Saturday - I've already got her gift so I'm all set for that.  Also have two of the grandchildren taken care of.  Now to finish them all up...... first year I've ever been this far behind.

And to top it all off, been fighting some of the holiday blues...  how I wish the season could be full of joy and laughter and not so much heartache.  But as my mama always told me.... "well, this too shall pass."  And it shall.

Hope you are able to keep the Christmas holiday in perspective and look forward to the gift giving with joy and not despair.  I enjoy choosing the special things for each one.  It may not be much, but each thing I buy I try to put thought into it.   I regret now not working on things while I wasn't working - but oh well.  No use crying over spilt milk!

Try to enjoy the season and not spoil it for others - they may be needing encouragement and hope for joy too.  Try spreading joy this year and not so much grumbling.  We get that all year round.  I'm going to try and do that too.   Spread joy that is!

Blessings!