That Christmas Feeling

I love Christmastime, I really do. I love shopping, decorating my home, and seeing all the decorations others have on display. I love the lights and the smell of Christmas, and it seems like if I am down about anything, my spirits are lifited just because it's that time of year. I love giving. I am truly one of those people who loves to give more than she likes to receive. I love picking out special gifts for the special people in my life, especially my daughter. Having a child has made all of the holidays better, especially Christmas. Making her happy makes me happy, not just at Christmas, but always.

This Christmas was a little different. I have been wearing a cast on my right leg since September due to a diabetic wound and it was taken off just a few days before Christmas. Lindsay and I missed a couple parties, and basically just getting out and seeing all the action. I managed to get some online shopping done, but several items were late arriving, and I had to ask my mom to pick up the other things I needed. I did as much decorating as I could, considering I couldn't do much walking on the cast, and was instructed not to walk much when it was removed, either. In addition to all this, Lindsay got the flu. My poor baby was miserable the entire week before Christmas, and still isn't 100% herself. We both just kind of laid around saying, "it doesn't seem like Christmas."  A couple days before Christmas day, my friend Kathy took us out shopping at Target and that was our only outing the entire season, thus far. And the week before Christmas we had to cancel a trip to Raleigh to see my friend Traci because Lindsay was sick and I wasn't getting around so well on my crutches.

My primary concern the whole time was Lindsay. It was my job to make Christmas a wonderful time for her and I felt like I was failing. I did manage to decorate the tree, hang up the Christmas cards, and do a little more decorating. One big thing I like to do is send out a ton of Christmas cards. This year, I had them made all out, but they were never mailed! I asked several different people on several occasions to get me some stamps, but they either forgot, or they were sold out (around here, we run down to the Food Lion for stamps rather than fight the Post Office crowd).

Christmas morning turned out OK. Lindsay, myself, and my mom were all together and we all had thoughtful gifts for each other. Lindsay and I gave my Mom a purse and a wallet. Lindsay gave me an Edward doll, a Hello Kitty Doll and Hello Kitty calendar, and mom is getting me a TV. Lindsay got almost everything she asked for, including a Wii.  My brother and his family came over later and we had a nice visit. So, even though every inch of the house wasn't decorated as I would have liked, and definitely not as spotless as I would have liked, I enjoyed seeing my baby enjoy opening her presents.

I think I will start preparing for Christmas around Halloween next year. After all, it's the build - up to Christmas we all love, isn't it? It's all over so fast!

I scold myself when I think that this was a less than perfect Christmas. We all have a roof over our heads and food to eat, and resources to buy gifts. We aren't rolling in it, but I know we are more blessed than a lot of people. So many children out there didn't get any gifts at all and went to bed hungry on Christmas. Hopefully, I will be well enough soon to do some volunteer work, especially around this time of year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!