Friday, December 07, 2012

Friday's Fave Five #220


A sign that I am much, much too busy is the fact that I totally am confused as to what day it is.  Hence, thinking today was Thursday, I didn't put up the FFF post.  Then as I'm lazily sitting here trying to wake up, sipping my coffee, it hit me like a brick.  Today is FRIDAY!  Sheesh.  Here's Mr. Linky.  I'll be back with my list as soon as I can get dressed and open my doors to the kidlets.  Something tells me it would be frowned upon if I opened the door in my pj's with my hair askew.  Don't want to scare the kids.  Or the parents.

updated:

Whew:  interesting morning!  LOL.  Now onto thankfulness and finding the blessings in the midst of a crazy week.

1.  Christmas Party ~ our church holds one every year.  And they just get better.  It was so much fun this year.  It is also our fundraiser night for missions in the Philippine's which feeds about 500 kids every Saturday and monthly support for about 4 families living in African refuge camps.  The church members and local businesses were so generous this year giving to our silent auction and door prizes.  So thankful for generous people.

2.  Prizes ~ I won a door prize at the Christmas party.  Yes, I will admit it, I do love to win prizes.  I won a pair of tickets to a live performance of "A Christmas Carol".  In a moment of brilliance, I decided this would be perfect to take my friend to for her birthday, which was last month.  Yes, I'm very behind.  When I asked her, she was thrilled and we decided to go for supper before, her gift to me for my birthday, which is coming up.  It's going to be a fun night!

3.  No broken ankles ~  after missing the bottom two steps on my way downstairs carrying a huge box of Christmas stuff.  My brain said I was at the bottom but my feet and gravity said otherwise.  Gravity won and I came down on my rolled ankle.  While bruised, swollen and tender it is not broken!  I hobbled around a couple of days and as long as I'm careful to keep my foot straight it's not too bad today.  I'm very thankful I didn't break the thing!

4.  Good decisions ~  I came to the realization this year, that I have just got too much Christmas stuff.  But I love most of it.  Putting it out this year, though, I was faced with the truth that it just looks too cluttered.  And then I had a light bulb turn on above my head as dawned on me:  I don't have to put out every single item.  I can just choose which ones I'm drawn to for this year.  Who knew I was so smart!

5.  Letting myself off the hook ~ I broke down and bought these awesome frozen cheesecake bites and tiny creme puffs at Costco because it dawned on me I might be a little less stressed if I don't put the pressure on myself of baking 50 million things in the next couple of weeks in the midst of kitchen floor being laid and everything else Christmas.  So I will probably just my spiced nuts, shortbread for my hubby (and because it's easy peasy) and our favorite lemon poppyseed cookies and call Christmas baking done!  I even bought frozen mini quiches for company that pops by.  I feel like a thousand pounds have been lifted.  I hope my brilliance carries on into the new year!

I know it's busy, busy, busy but I hope you take the time to take a breath and look over your week and find some blessings in the midst of the chaos that is our modern Christmas season.  It's a hard season for many and I hope in your week you find moments of joy and peace!





9 comments:

Barbara H. said...

LOL! I've had days like that. Will be back to check out your faves later on.

Kathie said...

Been there! :)

Barbara H. said...

The Christmas party sounds like a great idea.

Congratulations on winning tickets! Sounds like it will be a fun outing.

I don't put out all our Christmas stuff, either. We have a little less room for them in this house, but I don't want to get rid of any yet.

Glad your ankle is ok!

It's so nice to be able to but some ready-made or easy to make stuff to supplement the holidays.

Ann said...

I've got to decide what to do about Christmas baking. I love to do the basics - snowballs, fudge, spritz cookies, dipped pretzels. But my son is trying hard to lose weight, and my husband and I could stand to lose some weight. So. . .maybe we'll have to cut back this year also.

Susan said...

I love your idea of giving yourself a break. I have decided to do that too this year in three ways. Just like you I am cutting way down on baking, will get some quality frozen dinners (like quiche), and no decorating. My apt is so small that it doesn't take much for it to look like a tornado hit.

I've had days where I was totally off too. So glad you knew it was a work day!

Have fun with your friend at "A Christmas Carol." I read the book most years but haven't ever seen a live performance.

Faith said...

being there, doing that! LOL


I decided that even though the week was HORRIBLE because of the tragedy, my own thoughts from some past issues, and NO VOICE (am fine otherwise), I can STILL find five blessings so my post will be up sometime after dinner tonite :) by the way....I experienced the same thing about the xmas decor this year. way too much stuff. Kept some stuff down in the basement bin :)

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I have moved this year...twice! So, all the Christmas things I thought I loved have been downsized big time. I am very glad that you didn't break your ankle.

nikkipolani said...

I was out of town and had asked roomie to link up for me -- wouldn't you know, it's the one time you weren't johnny-on-the-spot. But I'm so glad to hear you haven't broken any bones. Funny that your decision not to decorate with your full arsenal was just what we decided, too ;-) Great minds...

Mom24 said...

Good for you! I think it's so smart to cut back where you can and minimize stress. I'm trying to find that balance myself.

So glad your ankle's not broken, I know that would have been awful for you!

You'll have to share pictures of the floor when it's done. How exciting!

Enjoy your night out, that sounds wonderful.