Monday, November 14, 2011

As a Bee

So it's Monday. My to do list this week is long. Actually my to do list between now and Christmas is long and ever growing and I have to work hard not to let it overwhelm me. I mean that in both the literal and the figurative sense. I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night and think about my list.

anticipation-the act of looking forward; especially: pleasurable expectation

Hubs had a meeting in Phoenix most of last week. He got home late Saturday afternoon and left this morning for China. I wonder if he was awake during the night pondering his to do list? We had a one day weekend which essentially was spent on the sofa alternately napping and watching football. If we are going to carry on at this pace we need regular naps on the couch. I did laundry and sat with all of my recipes and cookbooks and planned Thanksgiving menus and shopping lists. I cooked a new and delicious recipe in my crock pot which is definitely a keeper (maple braised pork chops). Is it sad that the highlight of my weekend was a meal? Okay, maybe not the highlight but definitely a highlight.

joy-the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

While hubs was in Phoenix I spent a few days at my moms. I had a birthday dinner with my brother and sister in law, a birthday breakfast with my sister and nephew and did some Christmas shopping with my mom. Her to do list more than mine but I did manage to pick up one or two stocking stuffers. Hubs and I both have big families so there is lots of shopping and wrapping and shipping to be done plus I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 5 or 7 and I'm hosting my entire family, all 13 of us, for Christmas this year, and did I mention I have two little trips between now and Christmas so I really need to bring my A game when it comes to planning and organizing. Those thoughts belong in a run on sentence don't you think?

peace-inner contentment; serenity

When did this season of the year become so busy? My mother decorated and cooked and shopped and maybe she'd say it was all a little crazy but somehow I think we've managed to amp the whole thing up a few hundred watts. These days we need more than one beautifully decorated tree, side dishes that dazzle to accompany our meals, guest rooms with pillows perfectly plumped, coordinated gift wrap and clever packaging, and on and on it goes. Our expectations are so high and right along with those expectations come timetables and expenses and stress that somehow contradict the wondrous simplicity of a baby born in a manger.

love-a profoundly tender affection for another person

To be honest I don't know anyone who would say they aren't busy this time of year. We're all busy and somewhere along the road from there to here we've allowed the secular to overtake the real.

This year I want the real. I want to feel the anticipation. I don't want anything as trivial as a to-do list to steal my joy. And I definitely don't want to be the short-tempered, impatient, tired, wife/mother/sister/daughter/friend who was too 'busy' to love the people around me.

Most of all, I want to wallow in the peace ushered into this world by a baby in a manger on a long ago silent night.

this post is linked with the One Word Blog Carnival hosted by Peter Pollack

20 comments:

  1. Quite true. Once I post this, I need to get my work jeans on and start the process of cleaning! Not my favorite task, but one I need to do. Especially our bath around the outside of the walk in shower. It's a big job!
    Will be getting the Christmas cards out to begin the long task of writing them.

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  2. I appreciate your comment that you don't want all the work before the holidays to steal you joy. So often I feel overwhelmed by all the "to-dos" that I find I am relieved when it's over. And looking back, I realize that my "Martha" got in the way of "Mary".

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  3. I feel for you Joyce. I've had to lower my standards to preserve my sanity. Once I made peace with that, things went a lot better but still - planning is KEY!

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  4. It is indeed a very busy time of year. I'm trying not to let my list overwhelm me, either. Every time I look at it, my heart starts beating crazily! Who needs caffeine when you have a to-do list?

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  5. Amen to that. On the top of my list is to start making my list. Ugh.
    I am also hosting Christmas dinner for my family. I often have 'family day dinner' here but have yet to have it on Christmas day. Somehow 30 people on Christmas seems like it demands more list making.
    Love ArtyMarti's Martha and Mary's comment. :)

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  6. I guess I should start thinking about Thanksgiving since I am hosting. Been busy with Dad and Christmas? haven't even thought about it. Let's get together in the New Year - hopefully with Darlene too.

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  7. I hope you find what you desire this year in terms of the real. I have yet to, but one thing that has helped is to keep the baking and decorating simple. I don't pull out all the boxes and I will only bake if the spirit moves. If I start feeling stressed, I look for bibilical justifcation for "doing" whatever it is on m to-do list that seems so imperative, and usually realize it's often the Enemy convincing me that "because you've always done that aned it's tradition, you should do it." God usually whisp ers, "What does this have to do with Me?" I have found more peace through just saying "no" to some things and we don't miss the stress of it! Ain't Momma happy, ain't nobody happy!

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  8. I am hosting Thanksgiving. Our typical family adds up to about 20 for the holidays. I have been procrastinating and just ordered the turkey today. I'm glad I read your post. I am going to enjoy my family instead of being the stressed out, everything has to be perfect, hostess.

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  9. Funny how the men never seem to have to make a list and worry about it. I saw that recipe on Pinterest, glad you liked it. I will have to try it for sure. I just made a post it note for my post tomorrow that mentions that I refuse to stress this year! I am working on my list of goodies for shopping tomorrow after bowling.

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  10. Love the post today :) Thank you for stopping by :)
    blessings
    Rainbow

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  11. I threaten every year not to do everything I usually do, but I end up doing it anyway. It wouldn't be the holidays without it!

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  12. So true. We have allowed the spirit of Christmas to become so over whelming with everything being so perfect. We forget the 'true'meaning-was it perfect being born in a stable in a manager? I want this year to be less stressful and really remember the meaning of Christmas.

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  13. It's so hard to remain peaceful and enjoy the season sometimes. I hope you are able to find some peace and joy, even with all you have going on!

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  14. Ah! For the very first time I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner somewhere other than my own home. We'll be in AZ visiting my mother and I'll be cooking there. I'm super excited!
    You are so right about remembering the season, Joyce. As I've gotten older I've become more in tune to the season and not the hype. So much more peaceful!
    Let's get together. Kim's right! It's been too long!! Jersey women rock!

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  15. A soothing lovely peaceful post! Restful not to worry kind of post.

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  16. I too want the "real" this Christmas season ... not the perfect, not the Hallmark commercials, just the real ... with the focus on the perfect Gift, the "reason for the season".

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  17. I like your contrast between secular and real. I want real too. Thanks.

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  18. I think we'd all be happier if we dialed the holidays back a few notches...I'm already stressed just thinking about the preparation :)

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  19. We get so caught by everyday things that sometimes we leave behind the things that really matter. Perfect moment to remind us, thanks!

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  20. I dunno here. Last time I looked he just got back from India, now in Phoenix en route to China.

    On the one hand travel is nice but I couldn't leave my spouse for more than 3 hours.

    But hey: a great meal can be THE highlight, right? cm

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