It’s a week before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, well that’s not really true
The exterminator’s coming tomorrow at dawn
To check out the noise we heard near the flue
The gifts have been wrapped
And the stockings are hung
Just waiting for the daughter and grand-cat to come
While our son and his girlfriend head out to her parents
To visit and play and drink buttered rum
Before Christmas ends I need to review
All the things we have done and all we’ve been through
Graduations, and weddings and trips all this year
Plus I started this blog with quite a few cheers
As we wait for Sir Claus and his crazy reindeer
We reflect the true meaning and I’m very sincere
The birth of the Son, the One of a kind
The One who emanates such peace of mind
So to you and your family
So far from my sight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Grateful for you,
Sheree
Special Note: My sister-in-law, Joy Cannis, just published a beautiful story – When This Isn’t “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – on her blog about people who can’t see the wonder in this season and why. It’s a beautiful reminder to check in on those who have had a loss this year.
As I headed home from a trip a few weeks ago, I was once again given a reminder about gratitude. I noticed a bit of a cold coming on, when WHAM, I needed to buy stock in the tissue industry! No it wasn’t the flu, or viral meningitis and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Ebola since I’m still here to write this. I just ran myself down and my body was reminding me who I hadn’t been taking care of – me. As I snuggled on the sofa with tissues in hand and watched reruns upon reruns of, Castle and Bones, I remembered what I used to tell my children. When difficult things happen we should appreciate them, yes appreciate the difficulty — because those difficult times remind us how great we feel when they ARE NOT happening to us! What timing since we are heading into a big ‘ole holiday of thankfulness!!!
So I’m grateful I’ve stopped sneezing and when I’m stopped on the freeway for an extra 45 minutes due to an accident, I’m appreciative that it wasn’t me IN the accident.
I’m thankful I have food in my cabinets and how lucky I am to be able to give an extra dollar or two to the individual standing at the entrance of a fast food chain.
The simple act of taking a warm shower in my home instead of washing up in the sink at a Circle K, is a blessing that I need to be grateful for daily.
I am blessed to have a pillow, blanket and bed compared to the autos, underpasses and river beds where many families sleep.
Thankful for these two…
With that said I just had a brilliant idea — why not blend Thanksgiving and Christmas into one ginormous holiday of thanks and love and giving and glitter? Like Thanksmas or Christgiving? It may catch on and turn into a full year of thanks and love and giving and glitter. It could happen….
Grateful for you, my family and a holiday to remind us to be Thankful,
Today I sit here attempting to decipher and fill out my mail-in ballot, which I will be walking into my voting poll tomorrow – I’ve been busy, really… Besides, voting and all that goes with it is A LOT of work.
It’s a lot of work…
I’m exhausted from being barraged by TV commercials, flyers in the mail, talk shows and Facebook opinions from friends at both ends of the spectrum. I’ve struggled through the documentation on the people and propositions and found, once again, that what is said in ads and on TV is not necessarily the truth.
I don’t want Oprah or any other person who has a ‘following’ to tell me who “they” are voting for. I pray that their followers will actually think for themselves and not become lemmings. I hope people will actually read and research who and what proposition will create a safe and free nation, who and what proposition will support teaching our children skills and knowledge instead of teaching our children how to take tests, and who and what proposition will create jobs instead of unemployment checks.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Chinese proverb (always loved that saying).
Demand the truth, don’t believe everything posted on social media, take personal responsibility and read up, research and ask questions from different sources. Democrats rant on Republicans and Republicans rant on Democrats, nothing is new here, but the ability to research a multitude of sources at our fingertips which is right in front of us. With a few clicks I can find out if promises were kept, if schools should receive funding, and where the heck all those tax dollars are going. These are research skills we teach our children, why aren’t we using them?
I vote not by party, or race, or religion, or because someone else likes them, rather for the individuals who I think will keep our borders safe, help our inner cities to become glowing again, and strengthen our towns to nurture agriculture and family values. People who will work to create jobs for the young and old so they can find joy in the sense of accomplishing something – either building the skyscrapers or working in them.
Bottom line – I vote for the person or proposition that will instill “pride” in what we do, who we are and how we do it.
So tomorrow, be an individual. Think with your heart, vote on what you believe in and be proud that you have the ability to do so. Be the change, not the gossip. Do it by voting, loaded with the knowledge of the people and the issues.
Now that my children are adults, I’ve realized that I’m a better texting mom, than an ‘in person’ one…
I’m a Better Texting Mom
While texting I can delay my answers, think more in depth on the question, and step away more easily. I’m sort of a peer, sort of…
When texting my ‘adults’ (code for my children) they don’t see my eyes, which means that over-bearing mom thing, can’t be seen.
I know they like when I visit, but they also see things in my eyes, things I can’t hide. The “I can help you hang those clothes up.” look, the “Do you need help with grocery shopping?” glance and the “Shouldn’t those bills be filed?” blink. I know, I know, I’m becoming my Mother….
But is becoming her so bad? She had four daughters, how did she do it, as well as my dad who kept us all hopping. Perhaps all she had time for were the glances; the ones I’m giving now. Glances that came from tired but caring eyes, which I’m sure, were met with the same sighs I now receive.
I’m still learning how NOT to be the “fixer” mom and become the observer. I am working on how to down shift from the “help you with everything” mother, to the “I know you’ll figure it out” mom. And though I know we gave our children all the building blocks to become successful, caring humans, the watching and not helping is so very painful.
I have managed to step back from my son, but if he called or needed something I’d be right there, after a 5 hour drive, of course. He’s making a life and a home with his lovely girlfriend, who didn’t get to experience my eyes wandering over his countertops and bedroom floor a few years ago – lucky girl.
But it’s the daughter who is just starting off on her own. Wings spread, with no fear and the attitude “you only live once.” She’s killing me… My overwhelming desire to help, clean, arrange, and organize is not necessarily “her” ideas and she has been on the receiving end of that mom eye-thing a lot lately (sorry honey). She is just on the verge, as my son was 4 years ago, of starting her own journey and that is why texting will be my saving grace. I will be there at the touch of a button, while keeping those mom eyes at bay.
I hope to graduate from a good texting mom to a better talking mom, like my Mom eventually did with me in my early 30’s. She visited me, without Dad, we ate donuts, drank margaritas and held hands at the zoo. That’s the mom I’m striving for, the “I can’t wait to talk to you again” mom.
This is for you Mom, gone 22 years yet it seems like yesterday. Can’t wait to talk to you again…
