Need help getting back my Christmas Spirit

What a good thing a night's sleep does. I thought I was deeply depressed. Nope. Deeply frustrated. Somehow that's better than depressed.

John did clarify something though. He told me what he wanted for Christmas the second he could talk again last winter. He wanted to be home with me. He got that. It's still his Christmas present. (Really sold that when he teared up from the simple joy of being home. He's not the tearing up kind of guy.) He doesn't care about the rest.

(My frustration. I do. lol)

Get one of these small trees and you can even groom the little fella for years...

So glad you are feeling better. Ive had those type of Christmas's too with loved ones that have been sick,sometimes it the hospital and it makes it more stressful at this time of year.I have a magazine that has home decor that is really affordable and they have a half tree that goes on the wall.I thought that would be such a great idea for someone who is sick or older. Either way I hope you enjoy the season now.

A little story of my own is that my hubby works late hours this time of year as he delivers as a courier. He loves Christmas but pulls so many hours that he really doesn't get the time to enjoy the season.So this year I put Christmas up the first week of Nov. inside and out.When he came home I had the outdoors lit up and the trees done inside with the whole house done. I had the fireplace on and candles lit. So I understand wanting to do something special for your spouse to make their season bright and frustrating yourself in the process. I bought a fake tree this year because I have a Shepard pup that I figured would knock it down (so far so good) It didn't look big in the store but when I got that sucker home it was 7ft tall!!! I got one with no lights so it was cheaper and then put the lights on myself.The durn thing is so big I had to weave lights all though it and I have neck issues. I was almost in tears trying to fix the stupid tree. But when he came home that first night and the tree was lit up in the corner it seemed with a the bother and aching muscles. I wish I lived closer to you,Id set up your tree for you and we'd find a way to anchor it. I do two trees here then do my mothers over at her house. Im like an elf.lol

Tree? Puppy? Why do people worry puppies will knock down the tree? I'd be worried the puppy will do to the fake tree what dogs do to real trees... and I wouldn't notice because it dries up before I put it away. lol

Hahah! I have a dozen things Im trying to break her of but thats not one of them. Shes been potty trained for quite some time. Shes about six months now and she was trained within maybe three months. Now if I can just break her of jumping on the counter. grrrr.

Last Christmas my husband made a hanging Christmas tree from twigs due to having a cat who just wants to climb and chew everything.

I have attached a webpage

15 Gorgeous DIY Christmas Trees - Crafty Cleverness

It is similiar to the twig one on their. Clearly doesn't take up much room!!!

Having sorted out some bits for Christmas has made me feel Christmassy. I am on placement till the 23rd December and as I have not had a break since beginning of September not much time to get Christmassy. I will be cooking Christmas lunch at my parents in laws which we are all looking forward to.

Try and be kind to yourself Lynn we can't always do the things we want to and it is natural to be fustrated.

kaylagrl,

your husband is a very blessed man, with a wife with a very blessed heart...

KAYLAGRL,

hubby and I don't do most modern 'holidays and haven't since soon after our conversion, but of course
we love and serve and obey our Holy Master, Jesus Christ, He's been number (1) in our lives ever since...

but we do so appreciate and yes, even tear-up when we hear certain stories of un-selfishness and
precious acts of love, one for another...

Before John came into my life, a cat named Bo (Mr. Bo Jangles) ran my life. I was living by myself, and really didn't care if he jumped on the counters or ate dinner on the table with me.

And then John came along. Up until that time, Bo ate dry cat food, but John brought over something to cook for one of our dates, (having already learned my cooking consists of "meat cooks at 350 degrees for one hour.) He brought over shrimp.

Cats like shrimp even if they've never smelled or tasted it before.

So, Bo jumped on the counter to "help" him, and John slapped him into the dining room. (Instinct. He felt bad after realizing it wasn't his cat yet. lol) And, of course, Bo acted like he meant that to happen.

Bo lived with us for 12 years after that. NEVER climbed on the counter again.

Want John to teach your dog to avoid counters? lol

You know my parents raised us differently when it came to Christmas. It wasn't about getting but giving. I recall the first time I babysat all summer and made enough money to buy presents for my family.I was sooo excited. I got the Sears catalog and got someone for everyone. I got my mom a big glass serving dish with a Christmas scene on it and she still has it today.That was over 25yrs ago. Another year our church went caroling,only a handful of people showed up but my sister and I went and I remember going to a couple nursing homes and homes of elderly parishioners and how happy they were to hear Christmas carols sung,even if it was just a few unprofessional crooners.lol I'll never forget that.

My parents always had people for Christmas dinner that were alone or had little themselves. One year they had a lady over that her husband had left her and the children. There were four children and my parents,who didn't have much themselves,went out and bought presents for all of them in place of their father. Those kids are grown today and are friends on FB. We all live miles apart but they never forgot what my parents did and adore them. So Christmas means bringing joy to others,thats how I was raised. All though the year and particularly at Christmas,it can really minister to a person and Im glad my parents lived that before my sister and I. We try to do the same.

You know my parents raised us differently when it came to Christmas. It wasn't about getting but giving. I recall the first time I babysat all summer and made enough money to buy presents for my family.I was sooo excited. I got the Sears catalog and got someone for everyone. I got my mom a big glass serving dish with a Christmas scene on it and she still has it today.That was over 25yrs ago. Another year our church went caroling,only a handful of people showed up but my sister and I went and I remember going to a couple nursing homes and homes of elderly parishioners and how happy they were to hear Christmas carols sung,even if it was just a few unprofessional crooners.lol I'll never forget that.

My parents always had people for Christmas dinner that were alone or had little themselves. One year they had a lady over that her husband had left her and the children. There were four children and my parents,who didn't have much themselves,went out and bought presents for all of them in place of their father. Those kids are grown today and are friends on FB. We all live miles apart but they never forgot what my parents did and adore them. So Christmas means bringing joy to others,thats how I was raised. All though the year and particularly at Christmas,it can really minister to a person and Im glad my parents lived that before my sister and I. We try to do the same.

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this is a beautiful story Kay, but we have a feeling that your parents would have
stood ground at any time this story took place..

they were special people, God's people...

You reminded me of something I had long forgotten, when I was a teen I use to
play the flute and piano accordion. Each year a group of people from my church
went to a local smallish hospital to sing carols around the wards.

As I was the only (mobile) musician (i.e. no one played the guitar and you can't drag a
piano with you) I got the job of providing the music.

A junior doctor usually took us around (this is long before doctors got too busy for
such frivolities). Then after we would go into the staff room to have a cuppa tea and
mince pies which the staff provided.

One year i think I was 17-18, this young Asian doctor showed us around. Only later
in the staff room he kept hitting on me! At one point he kept trying to get me to eat
a mince pie but I really don't like them. So then he came back with this massive
piece of sponge cake! It was so embarrassing I kept going ducking behind the pastor!

Oh to be young again, that just feels like a million years ago.

It would be to die for now if a nice young doctor tried to chat me up and offered me a
big slice of sponge cake! Well any nice man, I think I'm invisible now.

You reminded me of something I had long forgotten, when I was a teen I use to
play the flute and piano accordion. Each year a group of people from my church
went to a local smallish hospital to sing carols around the wards.

As I was the only (mobile) musician (i.e. no one played the guitar and you can't drag a
piano with you) I got the job of providing the music.

A junior doctor usually took us around (this is long before doctors got too busy for
such frivolities). Then after we would go into the staff room to have a cuppa tea and
mince pies which the staff provided.

One year i think I was 17-18, this young Asian doctor showed us around. Only later
in the staff room he kept hitting on me! At one point he kept trying to get me to eat
a mince pie but I really don't like them. So then he came back with this massive
piece of sponge cake! It was so embarrassing I kept going ducking behind the pastor!

Oh to be young again, that just feels like a million years ago.

It would be to die for now if a nice young doctor tried to chat me up and offered me a
big slice of sponge cake! Well any nice man, I think I'm invisible now.

=====================================================

Miri,
you are definitely one of the most pleasant 'visible' people on this site...

letting go of our own wants and desires to a point where we allow, pray for Jesus to give us
His special comfort and assurance is a JOB sometimes, according to how our lives are going...
it's a 'testing' in order for us to see ourselves and just where we are at that moment in time,
and how or what we need to go on forward and GROW, it's a wonder really, when we Love Him...

P.s.
I have a friend/neighbor who lost her husband of many years, they married as teens, very young
and had several children - wonderful people whom hub and I love very much...any way, her husband
died quite suddenly in the hospital as she was standing right beside him, very moving to say the least -

she was a widow for about 7yrs. and went on an arranged date by two old HS friends and the date also
had known them as teens and had of course gone on and married and moved away...his wife became ill,
she passed, (so here we have two very lonely people) the date was arranged....
best part, they are now married and are like a couple of teens...they are both in their mid 70's
and have been married for about 2yrs. now...

PS. 16:8-9&11.
I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.