A Mix and Merry Kind of Hodgepodge
Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce.
Joyce asks the questions
We answer the questions.
1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep focus?
Yes, I do sometimes feel the pull of commercialism. The ads, the urgency and even the pressure to buy instead of simply be. We live in a hurry up world don't we? I mean, Valentines items are already on the shelves. 😕
When this happens, I try to slow myself down and refocus on the heart of Christmas.
2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends?
I want to savor the still moments...Like for example last evening. It was Sam, Trista and myself riding in our car. Trista made the comment.... "Look at the sky" (we were headed toward the East) .... There, in front of us was a beautiful sky, filled with purple and pink hues. Trista made the comment that it looked like a "MOON RISE". I've not ever heard of a MOON RISE....but this is exactly what it looked like.
I want to savor times like this.
I also want to savor spending time with my husband and with our family. I don't want to rush through moments that I love.
3. Do you still send Christmas cards? What kind? How do you feel about the tradition.
Yes! I still love sending Christmas cards and I like to make sure that they have a hand written message inside. I like to send unusual cards! I enjoy selecting cards that I know people will enjoy.
There is something very meaningful to me when I hold a card knowing that someone paused and thought of my family...addressed it....and sent it with love.
Sending cards is a tradition that I hope never fades. I enjoy it way too much.
4. Least favorite holiday task? Favorite?
Least favorite is planning the Christmas eve meal and the Christmas day meal. I honestly do not like to cook anymore and for this reason, I would say planning and cooking a meal is on the bottom of my list.
Favorite? Decorating...buying gifts....Wrapping gifts...Christmas music...This is where my Christmas spirit sits and usually stays all month long.
5. Holiday This and that?
shopping or wrapping? BOTH 💛
Baking or decorating? Decorating
Eggnog or wassail? Wassail for sure!
Real tree or artificial? REAL !!
Turkey or Ham? Neither
White lights or colored? BOTH
Ugly sweaters or matching PJ's? PJ's
Peppermint or cinnamon? Cinnamon
Presents Christmas Eve or
Christmas Day? Christmas Eve!
6. My random thought?
With so many of my blogging friends having a lot of snow right now....my random thought is "What would it be like to have a White Christmas?"
We've never had one!!
Christmas Cards...so many of them have scenes of snow covered trees and sleigh rides. This seems so magical to me. The idea is dreamy in a chaotic Texas-flavored way. lol
White rooftops, twinkling lights reflecting on the snow.
Will it happen? Probably not.
But...imagining it sure makes my Day a little more entertaining.
Shug.....
I wouldn't mind a little snow at Christmas but it needs to fall between our travel times. Flying is challenging these days, even when weather isn't an issue. I am cooking for a crowd the weekend before Christmas and need to figure that out still. My hubs ordered a prime rib so that will be the big meal. We're doing Christmas with our grands the weekend before since this is their 'in-law year'. Hope you have a great day!
ReplyDeleteWe've had a few Winters with snow but not many. No fun when you're working and having to travel in it but being retired...no problem! lol
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
One has to learn to live with the snow! It's harder, the older one gets. I am looking forward to snowshoeing! We've another storm on the way... It's way better than drought.
ReplyDeleteWe had another storm last night and everything is closed today. I prefer my snow only on Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to read this update on Sam. Praying for him and you too.
Given that so much of the country does not have temperatures cold enough for December snow I wonder why the stereotype of a White Christmas still stands.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't realize Valentine's is already in the stores! Your daughters are beautiful and I will say a prayer for Sam. I love the moon rise term! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteSnowy landscapes belong on Christmas cards, it seems, though white Christmases are rare.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry Sam is so ill and hope the new oncologist has some helpful solutions.
May I just say that you, my friend, are a TREASURE! I've only known you for less than a year now, but God has used YOU in so many ways in my life in that short amount of time. Thank you for being an instrument of His grace even when you have no idea that He's using you. xx
ReplyDeleteHello, I woke to 6 more inches of snow. ;-) We will be having a white Christmas for sure. For the past two winters we have not had much snow, so this is a blessing for us Wisconsin folks. Winter brings skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and more. :-)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED your answer to #3!!! Someone paused and thought of my family ... really liked how you wrote the importance of sending a Christmas card.
xx oo
Carla
I love to send and receive Christmas cards, too, Shug. Like you, I plan to keep on doing so until I can't! No snow here, and if you could see our steep driveway, you'd know why I don't want or need a white Christmas - LOL! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI still love Christmas cards and we send out a lot each year. I love checking the mail box to see if we received any!! Here in Alabama there is no snow. I don't know if we've ever had snow at Christmas! One time we had tornado warnings on Christmas day!
ReplyDeleteI still send Christmas cards, in fact I mailed them this morning.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a white Christmas and probably never will, though one Christmas we had snow flurries for about 10 minutes. It was beautiful while it lasted.
One of my favorite activities of the season is shopping for other people. And I do not like the meal planning at all!! If not ham or turkey, then what?
ReplyDeleteOops! Forgot to tell you...you have totally outdone yourself with this gorgeous header!! I always look forward to what you will have,
ReplyDeleteYour Blog is beautiful! I have never experienced a white Christmas here in So Calif. I enjoyed reading you post and I am glad to know someone else likes to send out Christmas cards. I am behind but will get it done. I am sure you will have a beautiful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI also send cards, though not quite as many as I used to.
ReplyDeleteLove your answers my dear Friend! I love it all (even the cooking to a degree) and especially the Christmas music. I start as soon as Halloween is over and listen all through the season. EVERY SINGLE DAY. :) I wish i could send you some snowy Christmas from my neck of the woods. It does add that special layer. Blessings always. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered why even though I lived my whole life without a white Christmas and even though there are only 12 states likely to have a white Christmas, All the Christmas cards have white Christmas. I can say most of my life was either Savannah ga which we always had Rain on Christmas day and here in Florida we always have Sunshine.. I did make a few Chrismtas cards for the blog for Florida, thanks for reminding me. I will use them next week..
ReplyDeletethe things I liked the most about Christmas were FOOD and Presents FOR ME.. I do love giving gifts but only if I know the person.. not a shopper, not a decorator, OH MY. I may be a MAN and not know it
I love how you manage to direct your thoughts to such peaceful places, Shug. Yes, if more people would just SLOW DOWN and appreciate everyday precious moments. Snow? I used to enjoy it -- back in the day before I had to drive!
ReplyDeleteWe are in Ohio (albeit southern) and so we get snow but it´s also not super common? For instance this season, we´ve had two very small snowfalls. So we don´t normally have a white Christmas but it´s always a possibility! I enjoyed reading your answers. Noticing something in nature is wonderful with loved ones and I´m glad you could appreciate the moon rising with your family! I love the pictures of the trees in your blog header. So pretty!!
ReplyDeleteFirst off ... Praying for your precious Sam and all that's going on with him. Praying that he will be able to eat and gain strength. Praying for refreshment for his soul and emotions. These prayers go for you too Dear Shug. May you be strong and tender too.
ReplyDeleteChristmas will be strange for us this year. One son and family lives in Oregon not coming here. Other son and wife are going to Granddaughter and her husband in Las Vegas. We were invited but Dave just can't ride in the car for 8 hours and then live at their house for a week. Things do change as we age !! Other Granddaughter and hubby are going to his parents in So. CA. So its just us at home. We are still trying to figure out if there are friends that need a place to chat and chew. Maybe if nothing happens we will go out to eat on Christmas Eve ...
Fortunately we are having Steve and Family over for a pre-Christmas celebration before they leave. So we will enjoy that and feel like Christmas happened.
I do love all the wonderful Christmas music and miss singing in the choir. Church we attend doesn't have a choir .. boo..
(((hugs)))
Sue
I don't think you will see a white Christmas. Sorry. I am with you - I don't like to cook and do all that planning like I used to. But I am having fun shopping and decorating.
ReplyDeleteI agree slow down - breathe - and enjoy the moments - partake in them. Live them.
Praying for tomorrow.