Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Getting Ready for a New Year

Thank you dear readers for your Christmas wishes.  I hope that you had a blessed holiday season.  I always feel a bit melancholy after Christmas.  Do you ever feel that way?  I'm in the process of putting away the decorations and storing the wrapping and boxes for another year.  I always wonder to myself what will transpire in the coming year before I see these decorations again.


I have wonderful memories from childhood of Christmas.  My Mom and Dad both worked full time but my dear Mom always remembered us and my dear Dad always let me pick our Christmas tree.  Luckily, my children got to grow up with their grandparents at Christmas.  My parents have been gone for many years now and maybe that's why I feel I need to do an extra special job at Christmas time.

We are a small family and I try to be generous with gifts for everyone.  At the same time, they are many times practical gifts that they can use or need.  Maybe I've been reading too many blogs this season, but there are a few out there who really were in a bah hambug mood.  These people were very quick to point out the excesses in Christmas presents.  And excesses in celebrating the holiday.  I don't know why these people are so quick to judge. (they weren't talking about my blog) Those who wish to spend excessively on Christmas are using their own money.  And, that dear friend or relative who invited you as a guest on Christmas day has probably worked at least two days in order to prepare for the Christmas festivities.  Even though you may have not enjoyed it, people need to remember to be thankful.

Don't get me wrong; I grew up in a working class family and we felt we were so blessed as there was nothing we were short of.  But, we lived within our means and money doesn't mean happiness.  With today's world, much of this has changed.  I remember my Mom joining the Christmas Club in January at the bank where she put $10.00 a month into a special account so that when December rolled around she has a nice little nest egg.  

After read so many holiday blogs, I feel that it is wrong to judge someone as to how they wish to celebrate the holidays.  If they want to have the finest food for their Christmas dinner or the expensive gifts for their family, who am I to judge?  It's their money and they have a right to do as they wish.

For my family, I didn't go overboard.  I really enjoyed finding Christmas gifts that my family could use.  And, of course I added a few little extras for fun.  I'm all for being thrifty but not so frugal as to be a Scrooge.  And, I did spend two straight days in the kitchen preparing the holiday meals.  Instead of being ungrateful, I feel people should appreciate the hostess, thank her, even though it may not be your cup of tea.  At least you were invited in share in the festivities at this special time of year.

My Christmas will be boxed up tomorrow and now taken out for another year.  I hope that the year is good to us and to everyone.

I always like the start of something new and the New Year will soon be here.  I found the lovely flower bulbs above today at the grocery store at 75% off; that's my kind of bargain.  Beautiful flowers to bring in the New Year and all the blessings that are to come.

Happy New Year Dear Friends,


Pat

11 comments:

  1. Everyone should live their own life without judgement of others, what a wonderful world that would be. I try and live my life true to myself, it's the best I can be, and if others judge, so be it, we can't change people.
    I am with you on the planting of bulbs and watching new life grow.

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  2. Your bulbs will be a great start to the new year.

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  3. I noticed a lot of the bah humbug too. I'm sorry that some people don't enjoy Christmas and I'm sorry for those alone. But I love Christmas, I love the time with our small family, the sharing of gifts we spent a lot of time thinking about. I enjoy the cooking. If others don't that's there problem and as you said they should be thankful for those who included them in their celebration.

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  4. Oh my gosh, I couldn't agree more! So many people seemed to be angry at the whole idea of Christmas, it was bothering me so much. I too am from a small family who was working class, and Christmas was always a BIG deal in our house. So I do what I can to keep that. I love Christmas, and as far as I'm concerned, if you let it stress you out, it's no one's fault but your own.

    Anyway, I'm glad to find a kindred spirit. We don't pack things up until after January 6, so we're still enjoying our decorations.

    Have a wonderful New Year's weekend! (And kiss Lilly for me.)

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  5. I enjoy Christmas, but I do like getting the house back in order. Best wishes for a great 2017!

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  6. Well...I am almost ready to pack away our Christmas decorations, but I love drawing out our celebration over many days and within the means the Lord has allowed me. "How much is enough" is a challenging question I find myself pondering in many areas of life, and it seems I can always find others who allow more or less than I do :) I am so interested to see if my Amaryllis bulb blooms again for me this year. If it does it will be its third bloom. So far the leaves are about 18 inches long but I do not see a stem/bloom yet. I hope your bulb produces gorgeous blooms that you can show us, Pat. Happy New Year! xx

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  7. I agree! If you can afford it and want to do it that is up to you. It is sad when people feel they have to spend and cannot afford to do so, but if you can afford it and choose to that is your choice as well isn't it. We spend what we can afford and enjoy it a lot! Thank you for saying this, I have been left feeling rather humbug by some things I have read increasingly over the last few years and this has just cheered me up! Hope you had a great Christmas and enjoyed it a lot!

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  8. Glad you had a lovely family Christmas. We did too but I'm hanging onto my decorations until the end of the 12 days of Christmas. That's one of the family traditions we've always had. Hope you have a lovely new year. B x

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  9. I agree, people are far too quick to judge. No one understands anyone's true intentions.
    Enjoy growing those beautiful flowers and all the best to you in the new year!

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  10. Hi Pat, I remember the Christmas Club at the bank! I actually had one every year until the 80's when they did away with it and I was really disappointed! It was a great way to save for Christmas. I know what you mean about the 'bah humbugs'. I have to laugh, because my daughter is one of them. She is single and every year she dreads the holidays because she hasn't had that significant other to share it with, although this year she does have a nice man in her life, so she is in a better frame of mind. I do feel melancholy after Christmas....it always brings back dear memories of all those loved ones now gone, and it always seems to go by so fast after all the work and preparation. I do have a few special treats put aside in my freezer to nibble on, though :) I sure do love the shopping, too, and finding that 'perfect' gift is part of the fun. I guess maybe some people object to the commercialization of it all.....like those commercials on television of people getting the luxury cars for gifts! In my dreams! haha! I'm still driving my old 2005 Ford Ranger, but I love it. I guess it is just up to us to keep that happy spirit alive despite the crabby people trying to dampen our spirits :) So nice to grow some flowers to bring in the New Year. I had some paperwhites, but can never seem to get them to bloom for Christmas, although I did love them two weeks before. Sending you and your family wishes for many blessings in the coming year, dear friend. Hugs xo Karen

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  11. I couldn't agree more, Pat. I think that Christmas is a special time and we should all be able to do whatever it is that makes it special for us, for as long or short a time as we care to. I don't understand why some people are so critical of others and apparently so keen to pour scorn on their celebrations. Each to his own. My decorations usually stay up until twelfth night, and some till Candlemas, as is proper, but I defend your right to put yours away now! Happy Christmas, Pat. x

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