Christmas is Drawing Near!

With all the hustle and bustle, it is calming to stop a minute for a deep breath and a reminder about what this celebration is really about.  It isn't the gifts, the decorations, the wrapping, the cookies and candy, the special meals....it's about the birthday of our Lord and Savior.  It is about love and joy and thanks-giving.  The gifts, the food, the decorations - all in preparation for a special birth.  How wonderful to share it with family and friends.  Feel the joy.  Share the love.

My work day is almost done.  I am caught up.  There are things I could do for year-end, that have to wait for January 2nd, but that's okay.  I am looking forward to the next 12 days!  Our Christmas isn't what it was in years past.  Our sons can't be with us.  Joey and his wife, Darlene, don't believe in celebrating Christmas or birthdays and our youngest, Jeff, works for Safeway Super Markets (almost 30 years!) and never seems to get time off during any of the holidays.  His life has changed, too, since his divorce a few years ago.  Life goes on, however, and we will enjoy this weekend with our two grandchildren and their mom and step-dad.  Christmas day will be spent with our friends, Al and Helen.  We make new traditions as we travel through this world.  It is what it becomes.  We will rejoice at the 7:00 Christmas Eve Mass on Monday.

After work today, I will be seeing my friend, Dawn, who does my facials every four weeks.  I so look forward to the pampering and catching up with her and her family.  We talk through the entire hour and a half.  Joe usually has a subway sub waiting for me when I get home, around 7:30.  Nice indeed!

I need to bake a sponge cake tonight, and get the pudding fillings made ahead.  I will be taking the makings for the Italian Cream Cake with us, in a cooler, down to Naples, and will put it together on Saturday.

I did a little research on bursitis today.  I wasn't happy about the information I found.  My pain has not lessened at all, and I am frustrated that the cortisone hasn't 'kicked in'.  Now I see that the cortisone shot itself may cause pain for several days.  I also found that I should be staying off it as much as possible and should ice it several times a day.  Now how am I supposed to do all of that?  At least I have 12 days to stay off it as much as possible.  When we meet up with cousins at Downtown Disney and Legoland, I will look into renting one of those scooters.  Seems like that might be fun anyway!!  I'm just frustrated, and frustrated with myself.  I have osteoarthritis, and was diagnosed years ago.  Being overweight only aggravates it,  and the weight I gained back this past year is most likely the reason I am having such a hard time with both knees.  I need to stop self-destructing with food.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.  If you don't celebrate, I wish you a good holiday, and to everyone a healthy and happy new year!!  I won't have my computer this weekend, but will have my little Nexus 7 tablet.  I'll keep up as best I can.  May the peace of Christ, our new born Savior, be with you always!!  Peace, love & hugs!!