December 18, 2011

  • Scrooge

    Am I the only one struggling with feeling like a Scrooge this Christmas season? 

    Let me say, first -
     
    Yes, I am thrilled to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to worship Him and sing Christmas songs and give gifts and have my family all together.  I am soooo very thankful that God saved me and gave me the best family anyone could ever ask for!  I am thrilled that I can give gifts to everyone I love, that I can make things that will make people happy, and that I can cook and have family and friends over and that I have a glorious new kitchen to work in this year!  And having my grandchildren nearby and able to come over regularly is the JOY of my life!  I miss them terribly even when it is yesterday since I have seen them! 

    But, I am tired, and I am struggling with major knee pain, and I don't have enough hours in any given day to get everything done, and to add physical therapy, both at the PT clinic and at home, to my very long list of things to do.  And I miss my girls, and for the years since they have been "out of the nest", all the decorating has fallen on me.  Jim did, just a little while ago, teasingly tell me that he put up the tree and lights!  Ha ha - glad he was laughing and knew it was funny, because he did do that - he put the 4' pre-lit tree that I bought last year, up on the table in front of the window, and helped me make sure the lights worked.  I have cut back MAJORLY on any decorating because it is all mine to do and to take down and put away.  Hence, I am feeling like a Scrooge.

    I am THRILLED that Jim has a job, even if he works very long hours, and I am THRILLED that he loves to hunt, which gives us venison, for one thing, and makes him very happy!  And he is very supportive of my love of quilting and knitting and all, as well as my desire to go to quilt camp, visit the kids, etc.  I thank the Lord for such a wonderful husband.

    But I am a little overwhelmed with all the extras that the Christmas season brings.  So, I need to get off here and get those Christmas cards addressed. . . or should I be finishing the wrapping?  Or the last of the handwork I am needing to do before Wednesday?  Or plan my menus, because - praise the Lord - everyone will be home this week!!!!!

    Am I the only one who is feeling overwhelmed right about now? 

Comments (6)

  • Christmas always stresses me out ~ wish that wasn't the way it was, but it happens every time ~ sigh ~

  • I'm like you.  If my body would just keep up with my plans it would be a great help.  I get so tired I can't function.  I use to be so high energy that I think I'm harder on myself than I would be had I always had a lower energy level.  

    Are Betsy and hubby coming too?  

  • @TheSunnyC - Yep!  Bets and Andrew are coming too!!!  Pray, please for their safe trip; they are driving straight through, starting out Tuesday night.

  • We have all been well, and I'm doing okay physically, but the Christmas "spirit" has been slow in coming for this year, too.  I have the feeling that it is because it is our first year without our parents (Mama passed away before Christmas, but we were working so hard to help Daddy, we didn't have a chance to really feel the loss yet).  My Mama was the epitome of the spirit of Christmas - and I really miss her this year!

    I pray that you and I, and all of us that are entering this older/empty nest/doing it by ourselves again time of our lives will be able to relax and enjoy where God has us!  It's a hard thought, though...

  • *sigh*  Nope, you aren't the only one who struggles with this.  The thing is I truly do love the season.  Just like you I love the family time, the grandkids, the joy that is bouncing about.  BUT I don't enjoy the stresses.  The pressure you feel when you walk in a store, even if it's to just buy groceries!  The rush rush rush.  I find myself wanting to just find a nice cabin in the snowy woods and curl up with a book in front of the fireplace and call it good without all the trappings.

    I don't think my kids would let me do that though.  They love our family traditions.  Stress or no stress.  I think I'll start passing the traditions on to their families and take a break from them.  :)

  • ALL the decorating falls to me too... and as much as I love the looks of a house neat, sparkling and decorated for the holidays, I get too exhausted after attempting that and the housework (keeping up with laundry, dishes, etc.) trying to do the yardwork, and being the driver for my teens and husband (still haven't got another car yet)... just can't make it all come together like I want it too.  But I try to remember the reason behind the season, and realize all the decorating and stuff is just the trimming- not what it's all about.  

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