As we near the Birth of Christ, and that big ol shopping time ahead..WHAT'S YOUR thoughts of where your at now, or feelings of being along at CHRISTMAS?

Is it YOUR first one alone?

Will it be a good time or sad time for ya.

Are you READY for it yet?

Do YOU love this time of the year?

Or do you dislike this time of the year?



Personally,,,I have ALWAYS LOVED Christmas,,,,,,it was that special time of gifts and fun with my kids opening their gifts.
Many memories to look back on,,and many yet to enjoy...
I am sad in some ways as this time of year makes a PERSON FEEL more alone,,,but with me,,,I will still share and feel all my kids love to pull me through it,wink...

I will always feel saddened inside at this time of the year for all the people who just CAN'T do,,,or no-one to DO with them,or for-them...

I hope and PRAY that ALL-OF-YOU spend that day with GOD in your heart, and family to laugh with,,,,oh,,,and that all of ya get a big hug,,,,,from, someone who LOVES YOU!!!!!!

I always have loved Christmas. It's time to spend with family and friends. I've had my sad years but I've had many more happy years and I try to focus on that. Thanks for the well wishes. I hope you have a wonderful time preparing and celebrating this season.

I loved Christmas when my kids was younger to see the excitement on their faces was priceless.
This will be my first Holiday season without that someone special in my life and I am not looking forward to it at all.

My first Christmas alone I had some friends that came to my rescue. They came over and decorated my house like I always did. We had a huge party. Actually we had a few of them. My parents came to my house that year. First time ever. My daughter started a new tradition with me. Christmas Breakfast. My kids were grown by this time.

I get thru the holidays best I can.
Lots of friends, but they aren't the same as family.
A major factor of that exclusive club, caused by death.
Xmas music brings lots of good memories.

I do

but not till after Thanksgiving

one step at a time

I love Christmas!! Not the gift giving part but the feeling of love, sharing and joy that it seems to bring out in people. This will be my first holiday season without a partner but I won't be alone because I will be surrounded by the love of family and friends.
I may be naive but I believe we make a choice to either wallow in the sadness of a situation or rise above it and look ahead. So I have made the choice to do all the things I have done in previous years and enjoy every moment!!
Thanks for your good wishes and I wish the same for you!!

Christmas: It's a wonderful time of year. People seem to be more patient and forgiving in public places. Being that we are all so busy, it seems the perfect time to get with family and share food, drink and games, precious memories and hopefully create new ones.

A time for union of hearts, spirit and laughter, careess the sorrow and nuture the ones that have had a loss and feel alone, though they aren't really because they have you.

I don't buy gifts. I make them. I don't want other's to buy me a gifts either. Sharing their time and love are gifts enough for me and carry a much higher value.

I feel the meaning of most holidays' have gotten lost in the mists of commerical efforts.

I myself, try to make every day special in some small way for someone. It's the best I can do on a daily basis, not just Christmas or other holidays. Though I admit, I do extra giving for those special holidays as I can.

Hug a little longer, hold them close for a time, let them know you love them, with your actions in rythem and ryhme.

Love you guys....
Peace
Cat

Hey...you could come help us cook- we're expecting about 120 people.
Seriously tho...do call around and see if you could volenteer this year- helping others out who are less fortunate than you. That is the real meaning of Christmas.
Try senior housing, meal programs for the homeless/indigent, a local social services agency that could give you a much better list for your area. I promise...you won't be lonely and you'll feel better than you have in a long time.

I am not religious so the birth of Christ part is not for me but the winter solstice celebration that was there before Christianity took over the holiday means lots of celebrations and I love that.

I spend the holidays with family and friends so it is all good.

I liked it more when the kids were little though.

Well Don,,YOU got us man....
And the music is all over the air waves,,,every station,lol
So we ALL better like that stuff,lol I sing with it as I drive,wink,lol

Is that the mournful sound I hear on the wind??
I sing while driving also.
Get a run west & we can do a DUET.

I don't celebrate anything except life

Christmas was my Dads favorite time of the year. When he died, so did christmas for me. I don't celebrate anymore.

This will be a very rough Christmas for me, I am already crying at times but I got an AH HA moment the other day and things are getting better.

My husband passed 9 years ago and I had been getting through the Holidays OK because I still had 2 of my children at home. This year is my first year as an empty nest-er and it is so lonely. It is the first time in my whole entire life that I have been alone.

To add to my sadness, I have had '0" income since August because I am student teaching and you do not get paid during that time, nor do you receive unemployment. The little money that I had saved towards this time has since been long gone and other funds that I was counting on fell through. So here I sit, 3 months behind on my mortgage and Christmas fast approaching....

I have ALWAYS went all out for Christmas but this year I can't even afford to buy anyone even a small token....thus the tears!

My AH HA moment came one night as I was crying out to God feeling sorry for myself...He spoke to my heart and it has since lightened. I realized that I have been given one of the greatest gifts of all...Humility. I have always taught my children and grandchildren the real meaning of Christmas, but I was out there spending, spending, spending....I was in sense.... a hypocrite! This year, I am as poor as the Christ child was on that first Christmas and I am learning that in order to be blessed and happy at Christmas, it doesn't take lots of presents under the tree, but rather, the presence of your loved ones by the tree.

I have five wonderful children, their spouses, and ten awesome grand babies that live close to me and love me dearly. I have God's love and grace and He is the one who has held me together these past few years....I am loved and cared for. I have my loved ones within shouting distance. Because of this trial, I will be kinder and more giving when I can because I KNOW what it truely feels like to not "have".

Wow man,,no Christmas spirit for your kids or family?
I mean, besides GOD, there is just that one time of the year to, share,,,with some, who you like a bunch or love..
But IF you don't,,thats cool,,
I hope YOU have a great Christmas DAY, as just a GREAT DAY,then...

As this day is MY BEST of TIMES also, and as a dad,wink
I truly HOPE, that when I go,,,MY KIDS carry-on-the-great times OF CHRISTMAS, with their children,,,and in my mind and heart NOW,,,of THINKING ABOUT ME GONE.
I hope with each and every gift they watch get openned,
ONE of those gifts,,,,,
WILL ALLOw THEM TO REMEMBER, ME AND THEM,,,,when they were young.
So as to PASS-IT FORWARD,,,,for their kids to WANT-TO do that also..

Then,,,while viewing their xmas from above,,,,I CAN BE THERE, with them in spirit and tears,wink..
But WE ALL HANDLE things the BEST for us to move forward,wink,
AND I understand that completely....

My holiday have been spent with my boys...so I never feel alone. I don't celebrate Christmas however..I celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Your story here makes a tear form,,,as I wish I could help you out, growing up w/o was my chidhood,,,so not-having, was learned early.
And ALL THINGS that happen,,happen for a reason,,,so,maybe because of this now.
YOU and YOUR family, will learn more about the feelings of not having? I don't know the reasons? But GOD DOES,wink.

I have never went w/o as a man, but,,,,,one time.
Laid-off and trying not to lose our house, no moneies, no food, no gifts,,,,,,and not a Christian,,,,in heart,wink,
I had a friend tell a church and on xmas day, THEY brought us a gift
MANY GIFTS,wink,I want to shade tears now,,just remembering that Xmas.
But,,,the kids all got one gift each,wink,,,YEAH!!! And WE ALL HAD A BIG MEAL,,,from THEM..YEAH,,YEAH,,so it turned,,,,,into the XMAS we THOUGHT was NOT going to BE,,,,yet it DID....THANKS TO GOD..
But I didn't know that then,wink,,,or felt that way...just happy and thankful!!!!

So my dear Lady,,,,YOU also might have a friend do THIS,,,and turn a bad thought ,,into a happy time...

PLUS,,,just a thought here,wink,,,BUT,,,,,,MAYBE,,,there might be one of these sweet souls here,,,who do a lot of sewing,,,and THEY
MIGHT????? Make a stocking each for your grandbabies????
THEN,,,,the grandbabiesw would have a one-of-a-kind keep sake from Grandma,,,,and IF YOU SEW,,,maybe some might just have some extra material for ya,wink,,,
HEY,,,all I do IS THINK,,,,,,lol way to much sometimes,but time
is one thing I never have enough of,,yet AS MUCH THINKING TIME, as I would EVER want to use,,,,,,,lol
I sit for 12-15 hours a day,in ONE spot,,,,and DRIVE,,,and THINK,wink..
I hope this might help you,and if you need someone to vent some frustations to,,,hey,,i'm the dude....lol
Or,,if you just need a friendly ear to TRY and help,,email me...
I will PRAY for you to have life turn-around and be up-lifting and rewarding for you and your family,,,May GOD BLESS you all..
Merry Christmas,,,early,,in case I miss you here later,,,,

I felt that way, when I divorced the first time.
I had the children with me so THAT helped IT ALL OUT....

So,,maybe if YOU spent that day with YOUR KIDS,,,that will help you NOT miss her as bad,,,but you would have to apply your self to THAT working,wink,,
Trust me,,,you don't want to be at your kids, on a holiday,,,sad,
because,,,THEY CATCH THAT,,,,,,FAST,wink,,and it brings them down,,,
So,,,I wish you the best DAY and SEASON,,,you can MAKE IT BE,wink,
You will be in my PRAYERS....