Christmas Decorations Are Up

I put these pretty origami flowers on the tree.
Sarah and Charlotte made them for me for
Mother's Day. 

I debated whether or not to decorate for Christmas since we usually spend our holiday in Louisiana with Matt, Julie and the kids. But I made myself lug the stuff upstairs from the basement and decorate. I'm glad I did. I feel more Christmasy and cozy.

Christmas has actually been fairly simple ever since our kids have been grown up. I do very little shopping anymore, just gift cards. I feel somewhat selfish because my holiday focus has become more on receiving than on giving. I focus on the Christmas music others provide: the lights at other people's homes (the house down the street from us has the best Christmas lights in the world . . . professionally done, I'm sure), the goodies other people provide (at work the dental specialists shower us with sweets during the Christmas season as a thank you for referring business to them during the year . . . even my Hindu friend who is a Pedodontist sends a basket of chocolates every Christmas.) Maybe I will attend the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carole or the Air Force Band Christmas Concert. I will attend a few Christmas parties, but I won't host any. I spend most of the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, with my kids, and they do all the work and provide all the holiday spirit I get to enjoy so much. There seems to be plenty of holiday bounty to go around, even if I don't provide any of it. If I can get over the guilt of not being a provider of anything except a good attitude and maybe doing a few dishes, it's really fun.

A couple of years ago we hosted Christmas at our home, and I enjoyed it. When our kids were younger, I always preferred spending holidays in our own home, and I assume my kids now feel the same way about their own homes (but I'm not sure they actually feel that way.) I always enjoy hosting and will be glad to host anytime any of my kids tell me they want to come to Omaha for any holiday, but I now prefer spending the holidays at my kids' homes. We have new traditions: Thanksgiving in Grand Junction, Christmas in Louisiana. This year when we spent a few days after Thanksgiving at Sarah, Tyler and the kids' home in Salt Lake City, we got to help/watch while they put up their Christmas decorations. Sarah said she would like to make it a tradition for us to be there after Thanksgiving to inaugurate their Christmas season. I think that is a good idea.

This is my Thursday 7 am BNI group. We each brought a child's
gift to donate to the Open Door Mission. Each gift was supposed
to be related to our business. I donated a Play Dough Dr. Drill 'n Fill
set (and some mittens).  The home and car insurance guy brought a toy
 house and a toy fire truck. Cute. I am kneeling next to Jeff my financial advisor
who donated a Monopoly game. The personal trainer gave a Transformer because she
transforms people's bodies.  Ken from Chem Dry carpet cleaning donated a toy vacuum cleaner.
So I have contributed something to the Christmas season.