Thursday, December 6, 2018

It's December


Hello my friends.  It's been a while since I've posted here.  I'm sure you are as busy as I am as December seemed to arrive when I least expected.  Not feeling too well has kept me unmotivated to get much done in this busy season.  We've celebrated our son's birthday and enjoyed Thanksgiving with family.  Warning: If you are looking for inspiration, you might as well move on to another blog.




There are still many gifts to buy and cards to write.  I'm trying to focus on the reason for the season and not my anxiety that is visiting my brain and heart daily. 



Feelings aside we have decorated the Christmas tree and boxes of decor have occupied the Florida room waiting for me to bring them out to see the light of day. 




We had new windows installed in our basement last week.  The task of putting the blinds back up has fallen to Grayden as new woodwork has been installed around the windows.  So I'm in charge of decorating, though not feeling up to par.  I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, so I must apologize.  I am so blessed with a wonderful family and a home and food to eat.





 Do you have expectations of what the Christmas season should be?  Are you feeling overwhelmed by it all?   I'm promising myself to do what I can and not add more pressure.  Blessings to you as we ponder this Holy season. 

"Christmas, my child, is love in action."
Dale Evans







   

  

32 comments:

  1. Hello. I've just popped by from Teresa Blog. I am feeling much like you. DH and I have had a nasty virus. I have no decorations out yet and just can't get going. After having new windows and complete bathroom refurbishment this year I think it has taken its toll. Lke you I am trying not to put myself under too much pressure. Hopefully we will both 'make it' to Christmas and enjoy our friends and family. Take care. Anne

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Anne. I'm sorry to hear you and your husband have been ill. Sounds like you have been quite busy with home improvement projects. I dearly love Christmas and really don't like the way I'm feeling this year. Yes, hopefully we both will be better soon and enjoy the holidays. ♥

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  2. I am sorry you are under the weather, and hope you feel better soonest. So much pressure on everyone this time of year, and for what end?
    My Christmas will not be very much this year, no pressure to do anything at all, as you know, and I do not look forward to it, but will get through it.

    ~~~Waving~~~from Across the Pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. Deb, thank you for your kind words. I am quite hard on myself with certain expectations that frankly will not happen. Christmas is much more than all the trappings that I get involved in. I'm thinking of you at this time of year, especially. Love to you, my friend. xoxo ♥

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  3. Aww! I'm so sorry to hear that you are not feeling good. I love your decorations. This year I'm selling handmade Christmas decoration. Please take look of my Amazon shop.

    https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=hnd_pdp_byline?_encoding=UTF8&node=11260432011&lo=image&me=ASN44I46GNOYL

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  4. The decorations you photographed are simple beautiful. I hope you find some peace in enjoying what you have done and not worry about what does NOT get done.

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  5. I'm sorry you are not feeling well! I hope it is not anything serious. I hope you keep your promise to yourself. :-) You may discover that you can let some things go that aren't as important as you thought they were in order to have a lovely Christmas. If something gets left out/undone, you may discover people will realize and appreciate you more for all you've done in years past. ❤️

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    1. Cathy, I am going to remind myself of my promise daily. It's a hard thing, but very necessary this year. I am my worst critic. Thank you for your kind words and inspiration tonight. ♥

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  6. I think what you'd done is lovely. I have to buy a new wreath for over our fireplace and clean up the mess from the decorating and then will be able to sit back and enjoy it. But now I'm stressing a bit about getting gifts for everyone so everyone gets theirs BEFORE Christmas! LOL! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. It's amazing how much can be accomplished when I can focus on decorating. Good for you to be so far along, Teresa. I understand about the stressing of gifts. I'm sure we will work it all out! ♥

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  7. Oh, Martha Ellen, how I wish I could visit with you and commiserate and sip tea and give you a big hug! Please do your best to let those expectations go (so hard to do, right?) and be gentle on yourself.

    Even though I can't visit, I can pray for you. And I will! 💓 Hope you're soon feeling as good as new!

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    1. Thank you so much for your prayers, dear Cheryl. Some days can be a little overwhelming. Don't like feeling this way, but am sure it will pass. I was unsure about this post, but surely I'm not alone. ♥

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  8. I am sorry to hear you are feeling under par and out of sorts. Keep the promise you have made to yourself and don't overdo things and stress. Enjoy the real reason for the season and don't get bogged down with all the trimmings. You will be in my prayers and hope your anxieties are light. Take care of yourself.

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  9. Martha Ellen, I'm sipping on my coffee this morning and visiting my favorite blogs. I'm looking at all your Christmas treasures and smiling. I'm so sorry you're not feeling well this season, but you still managed to decorate, and that is wonderful. Your Nativity scene is beautiful on your mantel. I love the figurine of Mary in blue, sweet baby Jesus, and Joseph. Your tea set is pretty, is that a keepsake? The sparkly red birdhouse is sweet. My friend gave me an ornament one year that looks like this. And your bird tree is darling with the dove at the top of the tree.

    I hope you feel better, Martha Ellen, and thank you for giving us a little peek of your Christmas lovelies, even though you don't feel well. Wishing you peace and joy at Christmas.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, you are so kind, my friend. We've put the nativity on our mantel for a few years now. Our set is probably at least 30 years old. The teapot was a gift from Grayden one year. We were in Colonial Williamsburg in Bruton Parish Church shop and I spied it, so he bought it for me. The little birdhouse was a gift from my grandson Alex. He knows I love birds as you can tell from our bird tree. Thank you for your kind wishes. Have a lovely weekend.♥

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  10. Hi Martha Ellen- so sorry you aren’t feeling so well. Putting up holiday decorations can be a lot of work but it looks like you’ve put enough out to make your home feel festive. Big hugs coming your way, Liz

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    1. Thanks, Liz. Christmas is a big entertaining month for us and I know you can identify with wanting it to nice for everyone. I'm trying very hard to relax and do what I can. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  11. I want you to feel better and soon. Sorry to hear that you are not.
    Your home looks like Christmas right away with that Beautiful Manger Scene on your mantle, such a nice one. Your wreath is very pretty with the white magnolia blooms. Vintage tea pot is a beauty with that lovely cup sitting alongside.
    I tried to start after Thanksgiving as so many others to get things decorated, but just didn't feel like it this year either. We have had chores going on around the home with painting and some around the front door sanding and painting. A mess at times.
    Take care and many well wishes I am sending your way,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy it sounds like you have a lot going on around your home. I've promised not to stress over decorating, though it's hard for me. We did go to Richmond today to make cookies with the grands. That was a fun thing to enjoy with them. Have a nice Sunday and don't work too hard! ♥

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  12. Everything looks delightful! Holidays can be so overwhelming too. I have been fighting bronchitis since September and the coughing is really getting to me, I just want it over! I'm so very tired so it makes it hard to get motivated to get things done... I can understand where you are coming from. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

    Blessings,
    Jill

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    1. Jill, do take care. That's a long time to have bronchitis! Enjoy your afternoon as well. ♥

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  13. So amazing! I decorated little but as I have herniated disk and can't do much at this time.

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    1. Thank you for visiting. We just do what we can. Take care. ♥

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  14. I hope you feel better! Beautiful Christmas decorations!

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  15. I hope you are feeling much better this week! You have such a beautiful home! We keep things simple at this time of year and that helps. Holiday hugs, Diane

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    1. Diane, I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by.♥

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  16. Sorry to read you've been feeling below par, hope you are feeling a lot better now.
    Lovely seeing your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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