What's new

Spinning...

QuiltyMom said:
@jk703 - get your appetizers from Trader Joe's, or the like. That's what I'm going to do.

This Christmas is going to be a difficult one for us, for reasons that I can't mention. But I'm trying my best to throw back my shoulders and smile and remember the Reason for the Season. I'm trying my best not to let a bad situation ruin Christmas.

Therefore, I've also been watching TONS of Christmas movies. Tons. I even watched Love Actually, and other than the Colin Firth storyline, I don't particularly care for that movie! I'm currently watching The Holiday, then it'll be back to White Christmas, which I watch between movies. LOVE that movie!



Yes. Please. Except for New Years Eve. My friends throw a fun party and I want to go to it!
Click to expand...

I will see if I can stop by one... it's north about 1/2 hour. Maybe I'll look south, since we are heading south! More is always better, lol! Right now, I'm making prosciutto wrapped asparagus, stuffed mushrooms, jalapeno Popped Crisps, and Maple Sriracha Meatball Bites.

Hoping all goes well, and Christmas isn't ruined! Hugs!
 
I guess I've just chosen to get done what I can and be grateful for that. Two years ago on Christmas Day my Mother was killed in a car accident. Ever since then, all that matters is family and the love. All the trappings don't worry me.

Remind me of this on Christmas Eve as I prepare a meal for my IL's and figure out how to transport it all to their house so my MIL with Alzheimer's doesn't need to go out of the house. LOL
 
carrie1977 said:
As you can tell from my siggy, I'm still hanging out in October. :crazy3
Click to expand...
Um, me too if that's what counts!
I just really love my Halloween siggy.

QuiltyMom said:
I'm currently watching The Holiday, then it'll be back to White Christmas, which I watch between movies. LOVE that movie!
Click to expand...
Have you watched Meet Me in St. Louis? That one makes me happy at Christmas time.
 
Pachimac said:
Two years ago on Christmas Day my Mother was killed in a car accident. Ever since then, all that matters is family and the love.
Click to expand...
Lots of hugs and good thoughts to you at this time! Thanks for the reminder about what matters.
 
jk703 said:
I will see if I can stop by one... it's north about 1/2 hour. Maybe I'll look south, since we are heading south! More is always better, lol! Right now, I'm making prosciutto wrapped asparagus, stuffed mushrooms, jalapeno Popped Crisps, and Maple Sriracha Meatball Bites.

Hoping all goes well, and Christmas isn't ruined! Hugs!
Click to expand...
Oh, those sound yummy, especially the asparagus! We're going to my inlaws for christmas day, and since we're eating in their dining room I won't have to cook anything for that! Woohoo! And I shopped at ikea for Christmas eve foods - I just don't feel like cooking the normal Swedish things.

And thanks. This will be our new normal for the foreseeable future, so the first one is always the hardest...

Pachimac said:
I guess I've just chosen to get done what I can and be grateful for that. Two years ago on Christmas Day my Mother was killed in a car accident. Ever since then, all that matters is family and the love. All the trappings don't worry me.

Remind me of this on Christmas Eve as I prepare a meal for my IL's and figure out how to transport it all to their house so my MIL with Alzheimer's doesn't need to go out of the house. LOL
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry to hear that! I can't imagine how hard it would be for you.
I wish I had suggestions on how to successfully transfer food - I've never really been good at it!

bestcee said:
Have you watched Meet Me in St. Louis? That one makes me happy at Christmas time.
Click to expand...
No, I haven't! I'll check it out! Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Pachimac said:
I guess I've just chosen to get done what I can and be grateful for that. Two years ago on Christmas Day my Mother was killed in a car accident. Ever since then, all that matters is family and the love. All the trappings don't worry me.

Remind me of this on Christmas Eve as I prepare a meal for my IL's and figure out how to transport it all to their house so my MIL with Alzheimer's doesn't need to go out of the house. LOL
Click to expand...
so sorry to hear that! gentle hugs to you. and so very sweet of you to do that despite it being a very hard day for you.
 
Pachimac said:
I guess I've just chosen to get done what I can and be grateful for that. Two years ago on Christmas Day my Mother was killed in a car accident. Ever since then, all that matters is family and the love. All the trappings don't worry me.

Remind me of this on Christmas Eve as I prepare a meal for my IL's and figure out how to transport it all to their house so my MIL with Alzheimer's doesn't need to go out of the house. LOL
Click to expand...

I'm SO sorry. What a horrible thing to have happen on Christmas Day!! Christmas is not a happy occasion for SO many people. :( Sending lots of prayers and hugs and bless you for transporting a Christmas Eve meal to your IL's house. :beat:beat:beat:beat:tree
 
bestcee said:
Lots of hugs and good thoughts to you at this time! Thanks for the reminder about what matters.
Click to expand...

Thank you. It's not as hard, and harder than I thought all at the same time. It's my favorite time of year, so I just plow through best that I can!
 
QuiltyMom said:
I wish I had suggestions on how to successfully transfer food - I've never really been good at it!.
Click to expand...

My Mom used to have this heating pad kind of thing. I'm thinking of just dropping off the ham and pies the night before at their house and coming over early to heat up the ham and then I just have to worry about the potatoes.
 
Cherylndesigns said:
I'm SO sorry. What a horrible thing to have happen on Christmas Day!! Christmas is not a happy occasion for SO many people. :( Sending lots of prayers and hugs and bless you for transporting a Christmas Eve meal to your IL's house. :beat:beat:beat:beat:tree
Click to expand...

It was - but there was a silver lining. My Mom had asked God two things: to see her children grown and settled, and about 10 years ago she told a friend that she wanted to die on Christmas Day so she could be met by the baby Jesus. He gave her both of those gifts - so how can I be angry at that? It actually has helped with the healing!
 
Pachimac said:
It was - but there was a silver lining. My Mom had asked God two things: to see her children grown and settled, and about 10 years ago she told a friend that she wanted to die on Christmas Day so she could be met by the baby Jesus. He gave her both of those gifts - so how can I be angry at that? It actually has helped with the healing!
Click to expand...
Oh my! Tears. :beat Beautiful story. You have a beautiful heart.
 
Pachimac said:
It was - but there was a silver lining. My Mom had asked God two things: to see her children grown and settled, and about 10 years ago she told a friend that she wanted to die on Christmas Day so she could be met by the baby Jesus. He gave her both of those gifts - so how can I be angry at that? It actually has helped with the healing!
Click to expand...
Awwwwwww, this gives me chills. What a wonderful way to remember something that was so sad, but definitely had a silver lining. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} :beat:beat:beat
 
Cherylndesigns said:
Awwwwwww, this gives me chills. What a wonderful way to remember something that was so sad, but definitely had a silver lining. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} :beat:beat:beat
Click to expand...

I know! It was crazy. My Mom had just beaten Stage 4 Breast and Lung Cancer at 78 years old. Her hair was growing back, she was adjusting to being a widow, and was the happiest she'd ever been. She had just spent Christmas day with the family and her new Great Granddaughter. (I live in Vegas, so I wasn't there). They all piled in the cars and dr0ve from my nephew's house to my cousin's house for a puzzle and dessert. She just pulled out in front of someone. It was a nightmare that my brother, SIL, and nephews saw happen. :(

At the funeral, her friend came up to me and told me the story of sharing a room with her at a retreat and my mom had told her that she wanted to die on Christmas Day. I got the chills as well, but in that moment, I also got clarity in the mercy of God - and that He gave my Mom her wish. I picture her in Heaven holding Baby Jesus with a big smile on her face.
 
Oh gosh... hugs to everyone here!

I was spiraling until yesterday. My mom's kidneys declined and she had to start home dialysis this month. She was insistent that they were coming up here (a 9 hour drive for them) to have Christmas. I let her go with it because 1. she's stubborn and 2. she was starting early enough in the month that all kinks should be worked out by the time they were heading up. BUT... they had issue after issue with the dialysis and eventually found out that the port that had been implanted (attached? I don't know the right term) a year ago, had been done incorrectly and she had to have surgery on Friday to correct it. At that point, we assumed that they would not make the trip and began making other plans (including looking into flights to get down there the first week of January). She insisted again that they would make the trip, even though they had not gotten a full night's sleep in weeks (she's supposed to do dialysis overnight and they have alarms going off all night long due to various issues)... I was not happy, but she wasn't happy about delaying Christmas until after Christmas... sigh. So tensions were high for a few days. We finally got them to agree to not come all of the way into the city and we would meet them in one of the farther 'burbs for the day. That was yesterday and we had a great day together. We met them at their hotel for gifts and then we spent the rest of the time at Ikea... lol! It was nearly empty... so we all had lunch and then we went through the store opening cabinets, trying out chairs and laughing... a lot (photos are on my instagram)! My parents were both worn out early and wanted to go back to the hotel, so we were free to go back home without any guilt so Clara could make it in time to cheer at the basketball game. Now... fingers crossed that their drive home goes well today.

So my smile... realizing that the simplest thing like a trip to Ikea can make a great family memory!
 
It’s so true @tkradtke the simplest things definitely make the best memories. I’m so glad that after all that you guys were still able to find a middle ground and connect in a fun way now I need to check out your IG account :) hehe
 
Back
Top