I just can't seem to get "into" Christmas this year

[hsmomforlife]

I forgot to ask - it’s not a real tree is it? That is really pretty. Your kids must love it!

It’s not a real tree. It’s an artificial one…from 1966…and yes, the kids love the lights…and it really is like one of those ‘priceless’ photos from the commercials when they are all hanging out under the tree reading.

I miss the sheer number of lights that I used to string, but not the work involved. If I had to put the lights AND the ornaments on…well, it just wouldn’t happen.

DH and DS1 do the lights…I do the ornaments with the other two kids…share the work!

This little gadget saved my sanity more than once, when I couldn’t get one of the sections or strings to light. And impressed the other people decorating the church, when I was able to zap a non-working garland back to life with a few clicks of my “gun.”

Lightkeeper Pro

Oh yeah, those things are great! My son talked me into it last year and it’s like we live in the wild west and he’s holstering his ‘piece’…he whips that lightgun out faster than lightning!LOL!!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

It’s not a real tree. It’s an artificial one…from 1966…and yes, the kids love the lights…and it really is like one of those ‘priceless’ photos from the commercials when they are all hanging out under the tree reading.

DH and DS1 do the lights…I do the ornaments with the other two kids…share the work!

Oh yeah, those things are great! My son talked me into it last year and it’s like we live in the wild west and he’s holstering his ‘piece’…he whips that lightgun out faster than lightning!LOL!!

No sharing the work in this house - Hubby has no fondness for Christmas and simply refuses to participate. If it is to be, it is up to me. Been this way as long as I have known him. What a fun time we have, NOT!

The boys do put their own ornaments on, after the basic ones have been put on. They each have a collection of Hallmark ornaments, Baby’s first 5 and then a yearly one, so when they finally get married, they will have something to hang on their own tree and to carry on with their kids. I’m still waiting for our older son to get home from college to hang his.

 

[Jeanne_S]

No sharing the work in this house - Hubby has no fondness for Christmas and simply refuses to participate. If it is to be, it is up to me. Been this way as long as I have known him. What a fun time we have, NOT!

The boys do put their own ornaments on, after the basic ones have been put on. They each have a collection of Hallmark ornaments, Baby’s first 5 and then a yearly one, so when they finally get married, they will have something to hang on their own tree and to carry on with their kids. I’m still waiting for our older son to get home from college to hang his.

My husband isn’t really into Christmas decorating either. Soooo,that’s why I decided to not put up a tree this year.I am a perfectionist,so it really becomes an ordeal for me.I did put up some decorations inside and out so it still looks festive!

 

[hsmomforlife]

No sharing the work in this house - Hubby has no fondness for Christmas and simply refuses to participate. If it is to be, it is up to me. Been this way as long as I have known him. What a fun time we have, NOT!

I didn’t mean to make our sharing sound so rosy! I get the tree out and set it up and then get the *&^% out of there…because when you put that many lights on a small tree in a small space…there’s bound to be some baaad words! It used to suck the life out of the entire season for me…now I just make sure that the two younger ones and I are busy elsewhere while the lights go on the tree…the oldest decides for himself if he wants to participate in either activity…usually he gets his gun out and gets as many light strands working ahead of time.
I come back a day or so later and do the ornaments with the kids…it is what it is!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My husband isn’t really into Christmas decorating either. Soooo,that’s why I decided to not put up a tree this year.I am a perfectionist,so it really becomes an ordeal for me.I did put up some decorations inside and out so it still looks festive!

I thought about not doing it, frankly. But since those days are coming in the not-too-distant future, when our boys are both fully out of the house and we’re truly alone, I decided I’d better put up a tree while I still can, so it’s not just sad when they’re not here any more.

And I really love the trees, both of them. So it’s my gift to myself, even thought it’s work. I can put on Christmas music and do it when no one else is home (except the dog, and she really doesn’t get the Christmas tree thing!).

 

[cheezey]

Didn’t this forum start because some of us are having great difficulty at this precious time? I am glad some of you are happy, believe me, but what we wouldn’t give to join your festivities, in heart and practice…

And what does the following mean? It’s used too many times to be understood. Or am I just too new to this to understand?
“Originally Posted by Arizona Mike
TheRealJuliane is correct.”

 

[hsmomforlife]

Didn’t this forum start because some of us are having great difficulty at this precious time? I am glad some of you are happy, believe me, but what we wouldn’t give to join your festivities, in heart and practice…

And what does the following mean? It’s used too many times to be understood. Or am I just too new to this to understand?
“Originally Posted by Arizona Mike
TheRealJuliane is correct.”

Cheezey…I think you misread the last few posts…and if you are speaking to my posts, you most certainly misread. My first post to this thread said that I too am having difficulty this year…the picture I posted with the tree all aglow with my kids is from 12/5/2008.

Here’s my tree this year without one single light: (Notice the huge gaps in the tree and the Nativity on the table isn’t even out of it’s box…it’s been there for over a week.That little bit of blue peeking out through the bottom of the tree is not a gift…it’s a hidden tote that holds the figurines for the Nativity!)
View attachment 15666

Although I am having a hard time this year, I am also trying to do what I can to dig myself out of the funk that I am in and hoped that by sharing that I am trying to use the Church as a role model and not feel like I have to be decorated to the nth degree by the day after Thanksgiving, that maybe it would give some hope to someone else. This year, I am ***trying ***to use Advent as a time of preparation…not as a time where I have to be all ready for Christmas before Advent begins so that I can enjoy preparing for Christmas…that is a GOAL, it doesn’t mean I’ve achieved it…KWIM?

There are many things that don’t require money this time of year…many local churches have free concerts and other performances during this time of year. Our town had an ice sculpting competition, free carriage rides down our main street area and a bunch of other stuff when they did our town tree lighting. The local library probably has some Christmas movies that can be borrowed. Volunteer at a local food pantry/soup kitchen/homeless shelter/urgent need program. Increased time in a local perpetual adoration chapel is also another free idea

With all that said…I too am struggling to get my heart and practice in the right direction…so for what it’s worth :hug1:

I will let TheRealJuliane explain her signature line…

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Didn’t this forum start because some of us are having great difficulty at this precious time? I am glad some of you are happy, believe me, but what we wouldn’t give to join your festivities, in heart and practice…

And what does the following mean? It’s used too many times to be understood. Or am I just too new to this to understand?
“Originally Posted by Arizona Mike
TheRealJuliane is correct.”

My signature line was pulled from another thread - I thought it was funny so I asked Arizona Mike if I could use it for a while. It’s just his opinion on THAT thread, nothing important. I certainly don’t believe MYSELF to be correct, although I am quite vocal on this board. You see it every time I respond, so it’s all over the forum. The cool thing is that once I change my signature, it’s changed in the archive too, so you won’t have to see it any more.

 

[newf]

My signature line was pulled from another thread - I thought it was funny so I asked Arizona Mike if I could use it for a while. It’s just his opinion on THAT thread, nothing important. I certainly don’t believe MYSELF to be correct, although I am quite vocal on this board. You see it every time I respond, so it’s all over the forum. The cool thing is that once I change my signature, it’s changed in the archive too, so you won’t have to see it any more.

I hope you don’t change it. I like it!! It gives me a little smile each time I read your posts.

 

[cheezey]

Cheezey…I think you misread the last few posts…and if you are speaking to my posts, you most certainly misread. My first post to this thread said that I too am having difficulty this year…the picture I posted with the tree all aglow with my kids is from 12/5/2008.

With all that said…I too am struggling to get my heart and practice in the right direction…so for what it’s worth :hug1:

I was referring to a few posts in general and am sorry to have implied anything negative. I was attempting to seek solace at this site after learning that I will be homeless in just a few weeks - probably by my birthday - and by the woman that was my very best friend. I was, and am feeling very alone, stunned, and admittedly, woe-is-me because I can’t take my life any more, no matter how I pray and try; in that order… I just cannot handle it. I am also sorry if my question about Juliane implied anything negative. I too thought it to be funny; especially since my name is similar and I sometimes joke that I am always right.
Again, I am sorry. Shall we pray for each other?!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I hope you don’t change it. I like it!! It gives me a little smile each time I read your posts.

I did because of the terrible school shooting today in CT.

:bighanky:

 

[cheezey]

I did because of the terrible school shooting today in CT.

:bighanky:

It does put things into perspective, doesn’t it?

And hopefully you read my apology to h(name removed by moderator)forlife. I didn’t mean to imply anything negative about your signature. It was cute; also appropriate to change it for now…

Again, I am sorry.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

I know it’s relatively early yet, although a lot of people have had their houses decorated since Thanksgiving Day, but I just can’t bring myself to do any decorating or to write cards. I don’t even feel like putting up the Christmas tree. Does anyone else feel like this?

I’ve had some pretty down Christmases before, but this one is particularly bad. One of my students was murdered in September, a precious young man with a 3.8 GPA and a football scholarship waiting for him. I helped him cope with the murder of his equally precious brother, who was my student four years ago, back in June.

This Christmas their mother dominates my thoughts and prayers. She’s a recovering addict, and her children were reunited with her just a couple of years ago after a long stint in foster care. Both boys were really, really happy to be back with their mom. There are younger siblings at home, and I worry that she’ll start using again because she can’t cope with the murders.

I absolutely cannot imagine what it must be like for her, her first Christmas without both of her sons. I’ve sent her a card through the school and have had Masses said for both young men, and I pray for them, but it’s just so awful. It’s made it really hard to get into the spirit Christmas this year.

 

[hsmomforlife]

I was referring to a few posts in general and am sorry to have implied anything negative. I was attempting to seek solace at this site after learning that I will be homeless in just a few weeks - probably by my birthday - and by the woman that was my very best friend. I was, and am feeling very alone, stunned, and admittedly, woe-is-me because I can’t take my life any more, no matter how I pray and try; in that order… I just cannot handle it. I am also sorry if my question about Juliane implied anything negative. I too thought it to be funny; especially since my name is similar and I sometimes joke that I am always right.
Again, I am sorry. Shall we pray for each other?!

No need for an apology…even a ‘cheezey’ one
I need all the prayers I can get, so I say Yes! We should pray for each other!

I pray that you will find a way to resolve your living situation ‘dilemma’…