Merry Christmas

Yes, I said it.  Merry Christmas.  That is the holiday I will be spending with my family next week.  A most blessed holiday as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. 

I used to love the holidays.  I loved baking, decorating and all the fun.  As society has changed and so much is different, I no longer enjoy Christmas.  Every activity that my children go to requires a toy or clothing or food.   Everywhere I go, I'm asked to give more and more.  When we have the ability, my family does as much as they can.  Some years (this being one) we can't give and I get looks when I say I can't give to each and every charity.

I've worked myself into a hole this year.  I have less than a week before we travel to celebrate Christmas with my family.  I have one person bought for in my family.  We have just under two weeks before we travel to celebrate with my husband's family.  I'm done shopping for them.  This is a problem!  I'm also working extra hours this week, having had an extra day off last week to aid a coworker.  Thankfully, I have extra time Tuesday and Wednesday nights to get done the rest of what I have to get done.  It will be close and it will be crazy, but I'll get it done, I always do.   I'm not sure how or when (probably Thursday night very late) but it'll happen and I should not lose my mind. 

On a happier note, I loved the time I spent watching my daughter and her teammates at their gymnastics meet last night.  They have a "intersquad meet" every December where they dress up and go through their routines.  This year they had guest judges score them and give them hints about how they can improve.  Things went very well for my Dizzy.  Although she had a pair of falls on the beam, she pulled herself together afterwards and gave what was nearly personal bests on all of the rest of her events, including her first '9' on a floor routine.  Big doin's for a girl who could not do a back handspring this time last year.

Monday night is the little one's meet.  This worries me a bit more.  She (and many of her teammates) are struggling with remembering their routines.  I'm very glad their time will just be in front of each other and their coaches.  We'll keep our fingers crossed and celebrate each and every one of their positives.  Should be an interesting season!  They only compete once in January, twice in February and then the last time towards the end of March.  Simple, easy entry to the world of competitive gymnastics (for them.  I on the other hand am always a basketcase).

Here's to not losing my mind this week and enjoying the positive moments in life.  Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!