I routinely do massage for some other health issues and have now been told that my massage therapist of 7 years is no longer able to do it so now I have another person to establish a rapport and understanding with, I hope.
I was out Sunday doing a presentation to a church group through the Ribbons of Faith and had wonderful interaction and an interesting afternoon. I came home and since Ron was watching football, I curled up with a book and read the book that is actually to be discussed at book club tonight. I did finish it but had my mind wandering at times and lost some data along the way and hoped I could pick it up in the next chapter.
I have one out of five coming home for Christmas so although I am elated, I will surely be missing the rest. In fact our Christmas eve could be quite interesting as I work that day and yet we are to be at Ron's Dad by two to eat and my daughter and I are making the desserts and I figure we might make it there in time for dessert. In order to see another of my brood we may drive to their place from Dad's or back home and restart on Christmas day depending on weather since it is a little bit of a jaunt and of course we need to take the two dogs rather than leave them home for an undetermined length of time. So here we start with two dogs, the two desserts for 25 and overnight cases just in case and Christmas packages, etc. You get the drift. What with Ron's beard and an overstuffed car, we might be mistaken for Mr. and Mrs. Claus and my redheaded daughter may be the elf as well.
I find it hard to have the Christmas spirit with what is in the news and where our world is but I also know there is good out there and so I look for the good in each moment and each day. The stress thing is there and although I try to give it up to God, I don't always feel the shift from my shoulders to his. This year there are less presents under the tree and less running around trying to find something for everyone. My husband and I have both determined that we have everything we need and actually are looking for less and what we want we go out and buy it. As far as other family member, they are in the same position as us and their children I rarely see and I have no clue what they have or don't have so money fits. We also make several large donations to charities and have that in honor of our families where the money can be used to help others and isn't that what really need and want, to help those in need.
I have ordered some cookies and bought supplies so my daughter can mess up the kitchen and do her baking and I did actually bake a few myself. I even sent a few cards out which I haven't done for years. I started a Christmas letter and stopped as there just has been too much in the past year and things that are still waiting for answers. It was more of an, "I love you and am thinking of you" kind of deal this year or at least that is what I hope they got from receiving a card from me and not thinking that I was nearing the end and just wanted to touch base, haha.
Life goes so awfully fast and I have turned past the point where I have lived as much as I hope to live in the future. I am on the other side and I know how I want to spend the rest of those years, I just hope I can afford to do it and my health will allow me to do it and I hope and pray it is with my special man by my side. As we are now empty nesters and we have but one living parent left between us, we have two dogs that dominate our life and we both laugh and think why did we do this as we could be free wheeling right now but I see Ron often call them out the door and to the car to run an errand. Pepper, the Golden Doodle is often on his lap while he attempts to read the paper and in this weather we have been having recently you will see us traveling with the dog out the sun roof and Ron with a stocking cap on and me with a blanket and the heat fully raring so the pup can enjoy the ride.
We all have stress, we all deal with it differently but remember to laugh along the way, especially if we pass you with a big dog hanging out the sun roof and two older adults in the front seat bundled up and shivering so he can do that. Merry Christmas to all and making it a great day! S