Re: it's over

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/29/2003 10:32:49 AM Eastern Standard Time,

sjgrace@... writes:

I love Christmas but it is always a relief when the " family, food, spending

money and going to family or church EATING events " side of it has ended.

This

year was the busiest one I think I've ever had and I gained a little weight

since Thanksgivingbut have already lost half of it in a couple of days of

eating

right again... so I am not worried. However, I have made some decisions

about next year.

Hi Shirley,

This year, probably the first time in a while, was not hectic for me. I

started shopping for gifts last Jan when I would find them on sale and

throughout

the year, I bought things that could be given as gifts, so had very little

shopping to do in December. I made my cookie dough early in the season and

froze

it. I then took a couple of days and baked. I love giving cookies, candy

and bread, but only to those people that I know appreciate it. We only go to

two parties, other than family get togethers. Both of the parties we go to are

very enjoyable.

I don't just celebrate Christmas in December. I'll be meeting friends on two

different occasions in Jan to celebrate our Christmas. We participate in

Secret Pals in our Sunday School Class. I am in charge of it. Instead of

having

a party and gift exchange in December, we do it in August. This year, I'm

planning a Christmas Tea party. We'll have some Christmas decorations on the

tables and we'll sing Christmas carols. We've been doing this several years and

everyone enjoys it.

And I've already started my Christmas shopping for next year. I do plan to

make some of my gifts for next year, so I'll start on them this month.

I'm worse than a kid when it comes to Christmas. I do leave out some of my

Christmas decorations all year. I remember 8 years ago, I had just finished

chemo and had started radiation. A friend told me to " forget about Christmas

and to take it easy " . That really hurt me, yet I also understood what she was

saying. My reply was, " I enjoy Christmas and I'm not letting chemo/radiation

stop me from doing all the things I usually do and it didn't.

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

I agree with you totally. I can't think of one place we went to this holiday

season that we weren't surrounded by food. Really tests the will power and

since mine wasn't as great as it should have been am off to the pool to burn

some of those extra calories off. Will probably sink to the bottom!

chant

Outgoing Mail Certified Virus Free NAV 2002

I love Christmas but it is always a relief when the " family, food, spending

money and going to family or church EATING events " side of it has ended.

Shirley from TN

[Guest guest]

I can't believe you said that! LOL I have a 75 gallon aquarium in my family

room which hasn't seen a fish in at least 10 years. After the car wreck, (which

collapsed both of my lungs and caused the first 4 of 6 cardiac arrests), I put

cotton and some of my little Christmas houses and tiny trees and even some tiny,

little lamp posts with batteries in it. I even put a Christmas tree that was

made out of coat-hangers and greenery with lights into the aquarium. It's a

beautiful scene whether it's Chrismas or not. The way I looked at it is that I

enjoy looking at my lovely display so very much....why should I just have it up

at Christmas? So.....I leave it up all year and turn all of the little lights

on whenever I feel like I need it. I'm a very sentimental person. I start

making Christmas presents as soon as Christmas is over. I try to give something

that I make to everyone in my family and to some of my very close friends. This

year I crocheted 8 tobogans and 6 girls hats, fancy little girl socks with

crochet and jewels, 6 sweatshirt jackets that had bookoodles of crochet,

embroidery, and pearls and beads, 2 ladies T-shirts that I designed with

crochet/embroidery/beading, I have no idea how many fish " sun-catchers " I made

using 2 CD's and foam rubber (along with a poem that I wrote), PLUS I lost count

of the pillow cases that I crocheted edgings on for gifts. Oh yes, and I made 6

lemon pies and can't even eat them. *sigh*. The boys each just grabbed them

and ran. These things are all made with so much love and hopefully the

recipients will appreciate them as much as I enjoyed giving them. I'm almost 70

years old and I have earned every right to spend the rest of my life being as

eccentric as I want to be.

Happy Holidays to all!

Tootie

P.S. Oh yes, I made a double batch of cookie dough (which makes about 24 dozen

cookies) and froze it not long after Christmas last year. All I had to do was

thaw it out and roll it into little balls and cook them. Eveyone just simply

loves them.

Hi Shirley,

This year, probably the first time in a while, was not hectic for me. I

started shopping for gifts last Jan when I would find them on sale and

throughout

the year, I bought things that could be given as gifts, so had very little

shopping to do in December. I made my cookie dough early in the season and

froze

it. I then took a couple of days and baked. I love giving cookies, candy

and bread, but only to those people that I know appreciate it. We only go to

two parties, other than family get togethers. Both of the parties we go to

are

very enjoyable.

I don't just celebrate Christmas in December. I'll be meeting friends on two

different occasions in Jan to celebrate our Christmas. We participate in

Secret Pals in our Sunday School Class. I am in charge of it. Instead of

having

a party and gift exchange in December, we do it in August. This year, I'm

planning a Christmas Tea party. We'll have some Christmas decorations on the

tables and we'll sing Christmas carols. We've been doing this several years

and

everyone enjoys it.

And I've already started my Christmas shopping for next year. I do plan to

make some of my gifts for next year, so I'll start on them this month.

I'm worse than a kid when it comes to Christmas. I do leave out some of my

Christmas decorations all year. I remember 8 years ago, I had just finished

chemo and had started radiation. A friend told me to " forget about Christmas

and to take it easy " . That really hurt me, yet I also understood what she was

saying. My reply was, " I enjoy Christmas and I'm not letting chemo/radiation

stop me from doing all the things I usually do and it didn't.

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/29/2003 11:10:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, nws@...

writes:

These things are all made with so much love and hopefully the recipients will

appreciate them as much as I enjoyed giving them. I'm almost 70 years old

and I have earned every right to spend the rest of my life being as eccentric as

I want to be.

Hi Tootie,

Your gifts sound wonderful. Would you consider adopting me as your long lost

sister? LOL

I have part of a set of dishes that my grandmother (I still miss her so much)

gave me. It was not an expensive set, but they are special. My brother

found the same pattern, probably at a yardsale or flea market, and gave them to

me

for Christmas. Now, I have a complete set of my grandmothers dishes and I

also have enough to share with one of my cousins who is trying to get a set. To

me, this is what Christmas is all about.

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

> I start making Christmas presents as soon as Christmas is over. I

try to give something that I make to everyone in my family and to

some of my very close friends.

These things are all made with so much love and hopefully the

recipients will appreciate them as much as I enjoyed giving them.

I'm almost 70 years old and I have earned every right to spend the

rest of my life being as eccentric as I want to be.

>

> Happy Holidays to all!

>

> Tootie

>