Christmas is a time to slow down, enjoy and appreciate.
Merry Christmas with so much appreciation for all of you!
As most of you read this, it is 6 days before Christmas.
First, even if you are Jewish or another religion and don’t celebrate Christmas the way the Christian faith does, you can still have a Merry Christmas.
During this season, many are with family and enjoying the wonderful times together.
What if you’re someone who doesn’t have family that you can spend time with? Or you know someone who may be alone? Invite them to join you during the holidays.
If you’re someone who has tension with family and have chosen not to be around yours?
Therefore, I say, find your “surrogate family” and enjoy their company. If that’s not possible, spend time doing something you really enjoy, nurturing yourself. Or perhaps be of service in some way. Giving is always a way to feel appreciation.
As you know, this is our first Christmas without Mom’s physical presence. Of course she lives on in each of us.
However, we will have the newest member of my very large family with us at my parents home.
Their 30th great grandchild, my beautiful, not quite 3 month old granddaughter, Elianah.
The excitement and joy of being with her, my daughter, Abby and her husband, James, will add a new dimension to our Christmas.
As baby Jesus did so long ago, he gave us hope. We must not forget to celebrate His birth during this busy time.
Because my parents belong to a church with a group of loving people, lead by Pastor Ruby, Abby and James chose to have Elianah dedicated on the Sunday after Christmas.
She will be wearing the white dress we 4 sisters wore. This means so much to Dad and it would to Mom as well.
She will be present I’m sure. I feel her presence so often.
Our times this Christmas, will be mixed with many traditions.
Above all, I will spend time with many of the people I love and appreciate.
Mom always said “we are a blessed family.” Yes we are!
For the two weekends before Christmas, Hale and I hosted two different festive, fun dinners with family here.
I appreciate each and every one of you. I appreciate when I see the people who open my blogs each week and read them.
This is a piece of my giving back. Sharing with you from my heart, things that come to me that may inspire you. My articles may help you in some small or large way and I enjoy hearing from you weekly.
January 1, 2022, marks the beginning of my 10th year I have been writing my weekly blogs! Amazing!
If you are going to be alone for Christmas and you don’t want to be, reach out to friends and let them know how you’re feeling. If it doesn’t work out to join them and their loved ones, check into volunteering at a soup kitchen. I know when you give back, it fills your heart in a deep way.
There’s always time to stop and appreciate what we have and the people in our lives, don’t you agree?
I wish for each of you a very Merry Christmas filled with love and appreciation!
Blessings,
Connie
PS. The photo above, 2019, was our last Christmas together, before Covid and now Mom’s passing.
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