Hey it's Friday and I'm here! Time to look back and reflect on the good things from the past week.
This meme is hosted by Susanne over at "Living to Tell the Story". Pop over there to see who else is taking part.
Here are mine:
1. Time with Nathan and his Mummies on Sunday. We spent some time planning for Christmas. We will be spending Christmas with them (from Christmas Eve to Friday) but some of Vicky's family will be joining us for Christmas dinner - we will be 12 plus Nathan. (And a dog!) What a difference a year makes though:
2019 He definitely looked happier to be there!
2. Being relaxed about Christmas. I still have a few things to get out and buy tomorrow and a few jobs to do but I'm not stressing about it. It also may shock a few of you but I haven't (yet) put any decorations up. I will do some of that tomorrow but I won't be putting up a tree. Partly because we will not be here but after we get back Noah and his parents will be coming here. They will be here for a week. Putting up my tree would mean rearranging the furniture in the living room and thus less space for Noah to move around. Their dogs will also be here and they need space too. So this year the tree will stay in the loft. Hubby is very happy about that lol.
3. A hubby who is on my wavelength. Following on from the decision not to put up a tree we have also decided not to buy each other presents. Christmas can be so commercialised and I like to try and remember why we are celebrating. Plus deciding what to give each other ends up being stressful and difficult. We are fortunate to not want for many things and it feels like we are just buying each other something for the sake of it. Therefore we are not buying each other anything and hubby is certainly relieved by this decision.
4. Safe flight for Rory and his parents. They flew to Boston this morning and have arrived safely. They now have a 3 hour coach ride then an hour's drive to Barre in Vermont to celebrate Christmas with his American family. I miss him already but I'm grateful that they decided to start their married life here in the UK. Hopefully he might spend some of the journey like this:
5. Organisational skills. Vicky is quite stressed about the prospect of 12 for Christmas dinner but for me it's just a roast dinner scaled up for a bigger number. Having married into a large family, cooking for large numbers is no longer intimidating for me - provided I have planned ahead. I'm good at thinking through the logistics such as how we will all sit, how much crockery, pans, cutlery food quantities etc we need and planning a time frame. I also take the attitude that, if things don't go to plan or aren't quite right, this is a family event and people should be supportive and not critical.
So it's almost time to start the festivities. I hope that all of you have a lovely time, however you are spending or celebrating Christmas.
Oh how fun for your grandson to spend Xmas in Vermont, which is gorgeous this time of year!
ReplyDeleteThat no gifts thing would NOT work in our home!! Three of us have gifts as either our primary love language or secondary love language!! Plus we love the symbolism of giving a gift like God gave us His Greatest Gift,
If you're unfamiliar with love languages i highly recommend the book The Five Love Langauges by Gary Chapman,
Good luck with that big group of people. Sounds like all will be great!!
Merry Christmas!!,
Thanks Faith. I don't think either of us have gifts as our love language. Acts of service sounds more likely from the little I've gleaned about them.
DeleteOh how fun, all those Christmas plans. smiles. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. smiles
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda
DeleteI love to decorate for Christmas, but that sounds wise not to do so this year. We do Christmas idea lists for each other, and I know what you mean--there really wasn't much I needed. I hope everyone's travels continue to go well. I can get stressed over big meals, too--planning ahead does help.
ReplyDeleteI've decorated today - no tree but lights, candles etc.
ReplyDeleteJoe and I don't buy each other anything big for Christmas anymore. We do stockings, just for fun. I would much rather go out after Christmas and take advantage of the holiday sales! Sounds like you will have a lovely Christmas day! I love having lots of folks around the table on the holidays! Do take some pictures for us!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri. I'll try and remember the photos.
DeleteI tend to overplan the dinners, but I'm learning to scale it back. Everyone is fine with less.
ReplyDeleteRe: presents. For several years now, we have done present exchanges. The Professor sets up the exchange and we only buy ONE present for one person. It relieve a lot of stress. And we really don't need more stuff.
Merry Christmas!
Yes the kids have opted for a "Secret Santa" plan the last couple of years but we opted out as I still like to get something for each of them and of course now the Grandchildren. But for each other we just decided we were buying for buying's sake and we didn't need to do that.
DeleteMerry Christmas ~ Enjoy your family my friend. Looking forward to photos.
ReplyDeleteLove, Carla
I had to put up a tree and decorate the whole living with father Christmases and angels etc because of Toby ! A 9 year old wouldn't understand that there is no Christmas tree in grandma's house ! Otherwise it was cool, as I didn't have to do anything. Toby becomes a boy now and his French is excellent. We now can have real conversations ! He always laughs when I try some Dutch, because I speak with a German accent !
ReplyDelete