Chirstmas Comes but Once a Year!

I'm nothing if not traditional...

To mix it up I'm stealing a Christmas game from The Bloggess. It's called 'Favourite Gift/Worst Gift'. I want to preface this by saying that yes, I know, any gift is a blessing. And no, I'm not being petty. We've all had memorable gifts given to us, be it the gift itself or the experience of receiving it. The reverse is also true. So don't get all uppity and have a full humpty dumpty. If you don't want to play, don't play.

Favourite Gift: this is tough, because I have had many memorable gifts that I love. Like, lots and lots of love. But I think I'm going to have to go with Heart to Heart Bear, who for years kept me safe at night, and played the role of many when no one else would, including 'baby', 'store shopper', 'library customer', etc. I still have Heart to Heart--he's safe in Mum's basement sharing a basket with Georgia Carmen (my Cabbage Patch Kid.) I should fish them both out and bring them home for safe keeping...

Worst Gift: a female manager from many, many moons ago once gave me a pair of fairly provocative pyjamas for Christmas. It was exceptionally awkward. Needless to say I never wore them.

Your turn! And merry Christmas, all. Blessings to you and yours in the 2014 and onward.

This time of year can bring out a lot of emotions.

The hustle and bustle of readying for the holidays--baking, shopping, stuffing, packing, poofing, fluffing, etc.--can be overwhelming; yet another thing to do on top of a growing list of commitments.

While ordinarily I would say that adding to my plate is not something I actively seek (my cup often 'runneth over', as they say...) I find this Christmas hustle both calming and stress relieving. No, I don't have kids, which I know optically means my evening hours appear substantially calmer. But in reality so much of what I do on a daily basis is (often begrudgingly) focused on others it can become consuming--I am not the type of person who can let this thought and worry go when I leave; I routinely stuff my Yaris with suitcases full of baggage at the end of the day.

But at Christmas I find the extra thought--the lists of things to buy, do, give, and make--become a pleasure. They focus me; remind me of how lucky I am and how grateful I should be for the many (many) blessings in my life, however heavy the packaging that comes with. I look for ways to give more of myself. And this reminder to slow down and count these treasures in my life couldn't come at a better time. A fresh start and a new year is just around the corner. With that comes the opportunity to let it go; to give away those suitcases and remind myself of why I try as hard as I do.

Dear, 'weeble wobble' Father Jim reminded me on Monday night of the Serenity Prayer which I have promised to say to myself in the morning. This is my one and only New Year's resolution, and I share it with you.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr