Soooooo....I wasn't so good at keeping this updated. But that's OK. I still did it and that's all that counts.
Day 17 -- Reconciliation. I didn't expect it to happen even though both parties were in the wrong. But out of the blue, he called. It shocked me, but I'm always thankful when a friendship can be restored.
Day 18 -- Being able to stock up for the holidays. The sales are already starting so that helps me get the massive amounts of food needed to make it through the holidays. It's nice to be able to stay home and just cook instead of rushing out at the last moment.
Day 19 -- Coworkers who like to cook. I've picked up a few recipes this year from my coworkers and they are great. I just got an amazing cranberry sauce recipe that is probably going to become a staple.
Day 20 -- Finally getting caught up at work! Sounds silly, but with the snowbirds back, getting caught up before the rush is really important. If you don't get caught up now, you won't be caught up until about March. If you're lucky.
Day 21 -- My son! It's his birthday and he is the best part of my life and I'm thankful for every day that I get to spend with him.
Day 22 -- Doctors. I spent a lot of time with doctors yesterday and am hurting today, but I'm really thankful for the doctors. Maybe I'll get better?
Day 23 -- Quiet days at home. I am so thankful when I have a day just to relax. I love the peace and just being at home.
Day 24 -- A short work week. I'm thankful for my job, but I sure do love a short work week. It means extra time with my loved ones!
Day 25 -- Extended family. I love keeping in touch with extended family. With Facebook, etc it's so much easier to keep up with parts of the family that you otherwise may not be able to.
Day 26 -- The stores that will NOT be open tomorrow. There are a lot of stores that are making the decision to open on Thanksgiving. This is NOT ok and I do not support it. Obviously for some stores (gas stations, pharmacies and the like) it's understandable that they are open and even necessary. But Macy's, Sports Authority, Best Buy, etc? Shame on them. They won't get my money tomorrow and they sure won't get my money throughout the rest of the year either.
Day 27 -- THANKSGIVING!!!!! This is just the best day of the year. I get to cook for the ones I love and spend the day with them. It's really great and it reminds me that when things look bad, at least I have my family.
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
30 Days of Thankfulness -- Day 14-16
It looks like I'm going to be doing these posts by multiple days instead of one a day. I suppose it's better than not doing it at all! I do think of what I'm thankful for every day, though.
Day 14 -- Salvation Army Bell Ringers. I heard my first bell ringer today. It really made me smile. That sound, like no other, really makes me feel like the holidays are here.
Day 15 -- Extra Coupons! Today I was in Bath and Body Works. I have tons of coupons for them and when I combine the coupons with their sales I can get six full size items for $22. That's less than the price of two regular price items! Yep, I'm going to take advantage of that! There was this older woman in there and she stopped me to ask me some questions. I don't know if she thought I worked there or if she thought I knew something because I had a ton of product in my hands. Regardless, we started talking. As we were talking, I found out she didn't have any coupons. Well, I had five. Was it really going to hurt me to share? No, not in the least. So I gave her one. It made me feel good.
Day 16 -- A conscience. Now pretty much everybody who has found out about this has said I'm crazy. But I don't think so. I think it was the right thing to do. When I was at Barnes & Noble yesterday, they have a special where you buy one item in the store and you can buy a Christmas themed bag for $9.95 instead of $19.95. I couldn't decide between the bags. A friend of mine was with me and he was buying a book, too. We each got a bag. Well when going through the line, on one of the orders, only the bag was rung up but not the book. I realized it when I was out in the parking lot. I went back inside, over his objections, and paid for the book. He says I was crazy and should have just taken the book. I don't agree. To take it, knowing you didn't pay for it, is stealing.
Day 14 -- Salvation Army Bell Ringers. I heard my first bell ringer today. It really made me smile. That sound, like no other, really makes me feel like the holidays are here.
Day 15 -- Extra Coupons! Today I was in Bath and Body Works. I have tons of coupons for them and when I combine the coupons with their sales I can get six full size items for $22. That's less than the price of two regular price items! Yep, I'm going to take advantage of that! There was this older woman in there and she stopped me to ask me some questions. I don't know if she thought I worked there or if she thought I knew something because I had a ton of product in my hands. Regardless, we started talking. As we were talking, I found out she didn't have any coupons. Well, I had five. Was it really going to hurt me to share? No, not in the least. So I gave her one. It made me feel good.
Day 16 -- A conscience. Now pretty much everybody who has found out about this has said I'm crazy. But I don't think so. I think it was the right thing to do. When I was at Barnes & Noble yesterday, they have a special where you buy one item in the store and you can buy a Christmas themed bag for $9.95 instead of $19.95. I couldn't decide between the bags. A friend of mine was with me and he was buying a book, too. We each got a bag. Well when going through the line, on one of the orders, only the bag was rung up but not the book. I realized it when I was out in the parking lot. I went back inside, over his objections, and paid for the book. He says I was crazy and should have just taken the book. I don't agree. To take it, knowing you didn't pay for it, is stealing.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Christmas Challenge 2012 -- Day 16
Day 16 -- When did you find out Santa wasn’t real?
We never did the whole Santa thing. Sure we had some Santa decorations, but it was always made clear where the presents really came from. And, yes, there were visits to Santa in the mall for the obligatory Santa Christmas picture, but it was clear this was just a silly little tradition. Santa was presented in the same way that a fairy tale was presented -- It was not true and was just for fun.
I've had some people say that I missed out on some huge childhood milestone by not having my family lie to me. Really? I think I'd have been more scarred if I'd found out later my family had been lying all those years. The most important thing we can give our children is honesty. If you can't be honest with your children, who on earth can you be honest with? Are you even honest with yourself?
Presenting Santa as true would be like presenting the story of Cinderella, Snow White or Beauty and the Beast as true. Surely no parent goes about presenting those as true. Why then would you present Santa as true? Is honesty not important to you? Do you not value your child's trust?
We never did the whole Santa thing. Sure we had some Santa decorations, but it was always made clear where the presents really came from. And, yes, there were visits to Santa in the mall for the obligatory Santa Christmas picture, but it was clear this was just a silly little tradition. Santa was presented in the same way that a fairy tale was presented -- It was not true and was just for fun.
I've had some people say that I missed out on some huge childhood milestone by not having my family lie to me. Really? I think I'd have been more scarred if I'd found out later my family had been lying all those years. The most important thing we can give our children is honesty. If you can't be honest with your children, who on earth can you be honest with? Are you even honest with yourself?
Presenting Santa as true would be like presenting the story of Cinderella, Snow White or Beauty and the Beast as true. Surely no parent goes about presenting those as true. Why then would you present Santa as true? Is honesty not important to you? Do you not value your child's trust?
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Christmas Challenge 2012 -- Day 4
And with this, I am all caught up! Now you'll be getting one of these a day.
Day 4 -- Does your family have any traditions?
We always shoot. Sure we do presents and Christmas dinner, but the whole day is pretty much spent out back shooting.
Day 4 -- Does your family have any traditions?
We always shoot. Sure we do presents and Christmas dinner, but the whole day is pretty much spent out back shooting.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
I'm Dreaming....
If you're in the same frame of mind as I am then you'll be able to finish my thought. But I'd be willing to bet a fair sum of money, the vast majority of you are not even close to thinking what I'm thinking. The worst part is that I've been thinking it since April!
Yes, it's true. I am dreaming of a white Christmas!! And I have been for awhile now. Christmas is my favorite holiday. The whole Christmas season is my favorite time of year. I'm always in a hurry for autumn to come because that means we're ever so close to Thanksgiving! And, in my house, Thanksgiving kicks everything off. Halloween, even though we don't participate in Halloween to any appreciable degree, starts the build up. Of course New Years closes the season out.
I remember my mom's mother loved Christmas too. She decorated and enjoyed the seasonal music and simply loved the Christmas specials on TV. She cooked a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. It was the same every year because it was my dad's favorite meal. We always, always, always had hog maw, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, deviled eggs and apple dumplings. All of it was made from scratch -- nothing store bought.
Of all my grandparents, my mom's mother was the one that really got into Christmas. My dad's father enjoyed decorating the outside and putting up a large manger scene he had painted inside. And, of course, my dad's mother made Christmas dinner. But the best part of Christmas with that part of the family was Christmas breakfast at their house. We always had a large breakfast to kick off Christmas day and we would open presents. That night we would go back and have Christmas dinner and then play The Game. It was a silly game, but it got quite spirited sometimes.
Today, I have my own traditions. Our family isn't "normal" and never has been. It's not uncommon for us to celebrate Christmas days, even weeks, late. All of my grandparents are dead. My mom and dad don't work traditional jobs so they are, of course, working Christmas day and pretty much all days in December and most of January. That means it's up to me to provide Christmas traditions for my son.
Because it's only us, we have some traditions that others might not find "normal". Thanksgiving is rarely spent with my parents. Usually they are working. On the years that we have Thanksgiving at home, I usually get up and watch the Macy's parade, cook a good breakfast and then spend the day cooking dinner. After we eat dinner we decorate the tree. While we decorate the tree I start playing Christmas music. It's the first time all year I've let myself play Christmas music! That is what I look forward to the most!
Christmas Eve, after my son goes to bed, I attach strings to his stocking presents and then hide them. On Christmas morning he has to follow the strings from his stocking to his presents. Believe it or not, this is his favorite tradition.
Sometimes I wish we could have a "normal" traditional Christmas. But what's left of my family doesn't really care about "normal" or "traditional". I just do what I can to make it what I feel is normal and traditional and hope my son will appreciate the simplicity of a nice family oriented holiday.
Yes, it's true. I am dreaming of a white Christmas!! And I have been for awhile now. Christmas is my favorite holiday. The whole Christmas season is my favorite time of year. I'm always in a hurry for autumn to come because that means we're ever so close to Thanksgiving! And, in my house, Thanksgiving kicks everything off. Halloween, even though we don't participate in Halloween to any appreciable degree, starts the build up. Of course New Years closes the season out.
I remember my mom's mother loved Christmas too. She decorated and enjoyed the seasonal music and simply loved the Christmas specials on TV. She cooked a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. It was the same every year because it was my dad's favorite meal. We always, always, always had hog maw, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, deviled eggs and apple dumplings. All of it was made from scratch -- nothing store bought.
Of all my grandparents, my mom's mother was the one that really got into Christmas. My dad's father enjoyed decorating the outside and putting up a large manger scene he had painted inside. And, of course, my dad's mother made Christmas dinner. But the best part of Christmas with that part of the family was Christmas breakfast at their house. We always had a large breakfast to kick off Christmas day and we would open presents. That night we would go back and have Christmas dinner and then play The Game. It was a silly game, but it got quite spirited sometimes.
Today, I have my own traditions. Our family isn't "normal" and never has been. It's not uncommon for us to celebrate Christmas days, even weeks, late. All of my grandparents are dead. My mom and dad don't work traditional jobs so they are, of course, working Christmas day and pretty much all days in December and most of January. That means it's up to me to provide Christmas traditions for my son.
Because it's only us, we have some traditions that others might not find "normal". Thanksgiving is rarely spent with my parents. Usually they are working. On the years that we have Thanksgiving at home, I usually get up and watch the Macy's parade, cook a good breakfast and then spend the day cooking dinner. After we eat dinner we decorate the tree. While we decorate the tree I start playing Christmas music. It's the first time all year I've let myself play Christmas music! That is what I look forward to the most!
Christmas Eve, after my son goes to bed, I attach strings to his stocking presents and then hide them. On Christmas morning he has to follow the strings from his stocking to his presents. Believe it or not, this is his favorite tradition.
Sometimes I wish we could have a "normal" traditional Christmas. But what's left of my family doesn't really care about "normal" or "traditional". I just do what I can to make it what I feel is normal and traditional and hope my son will appreciate the simplicity of a nice family oriented holiday.
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