Why can't I just get into Christmas already?

I feel like such a scrooge! I've put up the tree, hung the decorations, purchased way too many gifts, read the story of JESUS' birth to the kids again, and I still just can't get into Christmas. I purposely scheduled my surgery after the holidays so that I could focus on them and have a good time but I think I did just the opposite. Now all I think about is the surgery. I went to do all the bloodwork, EKG, talked to Dr.B and the "knock-me-out" doctor on December 11th and now its all fresh again. I can't seem to curve the antisipation (did I spell that right? whatever you know what I mean right?). I can't seem to sleep either (but I sure can eat!). I've got a ton of presents to wrap and have not even mailed out my Christmas cards. This sucks man. I should have did the surgery first, then I could actually focus on the holiday. Well, thanks for letting me vent. Robin

Well, I did it all first, and it does not seem like Christmas to me this year at all. I hate this. I don't know what to do about it. The ladies here at the recovery house got a Christmas tree for the house, but its not decorated, and I think they are waiting for us to leave, then they will have 2 weeks off. I have prayed and did all my planning early and got my stuff done, and read the word, watched Christmas movies....I think its just the commercialism of it all now. Life is too full to leave room for what is important. Monday is one week away, and it just does not seem like Christmas at all!! I am praying for a peaceful Christmas and also for a joyous noel!! I was determined to make it special this year, but not happening. My sister in law and her family are taking a cruise to Hawaii, must be nice! Anyway, that is an update from here, CA. God Bless you and give you the joyous noel in your heart this year and remember with your kids, traditions build and will help with your feeling this way. Love you Deb

Thanks so much Deb, I was wondering if anyone else felt that way. I went shopping and the people were just so rude. So many people have forgotten the reason we are all celebrating in the first place. Life is too short to forget about JESUS for one second even. I'll pray that all goes well this holiday season for everyone. I plan to just chill out and have a good time in honor of our LORD. Thanks again hun, counting down the days till surgery. I think it's like 19 days left to go. Thanks for being a friend. Robin

READING ABOUT YOUR CHRISTMAS BLUES ... WE'VE HAD A FUNNY KIND OF HOLIDAY SEASON, MS ROBIN. OUR YEAR HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS, FINANCIAL STRESS & STRIFE AMONG OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. SEEMS LIKE ALL WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IS ONE ATTACK OF SATAN AFTER ANOTHER & WE HAVE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON HANDLING EVERYTHING THAT CHRISTMAS HAS COME UPON US WITHOUT US EVEN NOTICING, REALLY. NICK & I ARE SO BUSY & EXHAUSTED THAT WE DON'T THINK WE WILL EVEN HAVE TIME TO PUT UP OUR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS OR TREE, & I WAS A BIT SAD AT THAT. BUT, LAST WEEKEND WHEN WE WERE BOTH AT THE HOSPITAL WITH MS TOWANA & MS KYLEE, IT ALL HIT ME. THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT ... DOING FOR OTHERS AS CHRIST DID (&, DOES) FOR US. SO, WHILE CHATTING WITH MS TOWANA, I SUDDENLY HAD SUCH A JOY, SUCH A FEELING OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BECAUSE NICK & I WERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE AS JESUS HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES. WHEN WE DROVE INTO OUR DARK DRIVEWAY WITH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS GLOWING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES, OUR HOME SEEMED ALIVE ... &, I REALIZED THAT THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS CAN BE FELT IN LIGHTS & TREES & WRAPPING PAPER WITH PRETTY BOWS ... BUT, IT'S THE LOVING TOUCH ONE PERSON GIVES TO ANOTHER THAT IS THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTmas. WHAT WAS IT THAT THE GRINCH FIGURED OUT? SOMETHING LIKE ... "MAYBE CHRISTMAS ISN'T JUST PACKAGES, BOXES & BOWS ... MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH MORE" ... &, THEN HIS HEART GREW 3 SIZES THAT DAY. SO, I NOW THANK GOD FOR ALL OUR NEIGHBORS WHOSE HOUSES ARE SO BEAUTIFULLY LIT THAT WE CAN ENJOY ... &, I'M THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN NICK & I SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OTHERS & EXPERIENCE THE JOY THAT OUR EFFORTS GIVE NOT ONLY TO THEM, BUT TO US! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK

WOW , ONLY 19 DAYS LEFT UNTIL YOU ENTER AN ENTIRELY NEW LIFE; WE'RE SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU & CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE IN YOUR MANY SUCCESSES ... &, ENCOURAGE YOU THROUGH THE CHALLENGES! YOU'RE SO CLOSE LIVING IN N CHAS ... HAVE YOU JOINED US YET AT OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS OF OUR LowCountry Bypass Buddies??? WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU PERSONALLY. WE'RE VERY INFORMAL ... LOTS OF HUGGING & LAUGHING & CHATTING. BUT, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH (whether related to surgery or personal), THESE LADIES & GENTS ARE THE ONES YOU WOULD WANT ON YOUR SIDE. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH FOR THE CHARACTER, INTEGRITY & HEART OF OUR "BUDDIES". GO TO MY PROFILE & CHECK OUT THE PICS I HAVE OF OUR GROUP & SOME INDIVIDUAL PICS AS WELL OF MY LCBBuddies. YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO ANYTHING ... COME EACH WEEK; COME ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS ... IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE & THEIR FAMILIES & FRIENDS. WE HAVE HUSBANDS, CHILDREN & FRIENDS WHO COME WITH OUR BUDDIES. WE'VE HAD SURGERY CELEBRATION DINNERS AT LOCAL RESTUARANTS, A BABY SHOWER & A CHRISTMAS BASH AT MS SUSANN'S (our FEARLESS LEADER) & I THINK ONE OF OUR MEMBERS IS PLANNING ON HAVING A NEW YEAR'S GET TOGETHER SOMETIME IN JAN. I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING WITH SOME OF THE LADIES & TRYING TO SET UP A SPRING OR SUMMER PICNIC SO WE COULD ALL MEET EACH OTHERS' FAMILY MEMBERS & LET ALL THE KIDS & GRANDKIDS PLAY. WE HAVE ABOUT 30 MEMBERS & NORMALLY HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 15 JOIN US WEEKLY. MS CHERYL, THE OWNER OF JC's WHERE WE MEET HAS HAD WLS SO SHE HAS PUT TOGETHER A MENU THAT WE CAN ALL EAT & OFFERS, COFFEE, TEA & CRYSTAL LITE TO DRINK. HER CHICKEN SALAD IS TO DIE FOR! THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, MS ROBIN. WE WELCOME EVERYONE! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK

Morning Robin... If it will make you feel better, I am slow getting into the spirit as well. I think it has something to do with the weather. When it is warm, it just does not feel like Christmas. It is suppose to be cold at Christmas. Maybe that is it. I am also behind on my Christmas cards, hopefully today I will at least get the stamps and get them filled out. Do what you planned? Concentrate on the Christmas season. Keep telling yourself your surgery is next year, maybe that will help. If you need me, let me know. Juolie

COME OVER & DO MY CHRISTMAS CARDS, MS JULIE ... I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THEM. HOPEFULLY, I WILL WRITE MY CHRISTMAS LETTER TONIGHT & BEGIN THE CARDS AS WELL! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

I have the book for you on Pet Sitting. Let me know if you want to read it. Good luck with the christmas cards. That is my tonight plan as well. Julie

YES MA'AM I WOULD LOVE TO BORROW IT. NICK & I ARE LOOKING INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ... &, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO ONLY HAVE ONE BUSINESS, RIGHT? BRING IT THURSDAY IF YOU'RE COMING TO LCBBuddies. &, I SO APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST & HELP. I HAVE TO GET OFF THE BOARD IF I'M GONNA WRITE MY CHRISTMAS CARDS & LETTER, HUH? DAH-UHHH! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Thank you all so much for the support and kind words. Dawn you almost made me cry with your comment. Thank you for reminding me that it is because of JESUS that we are even having a Christmas celebration. I finished reading the story of JESUS' birth to my kids tonight and to see the look of amazement in their eyes was enough to shake the blues away. I am so grateful and have so many reasons to be happy. I have met some wonderful people here who have great hearts and care about each other. It's beautiful to see that. I've heard about the LCBB but have not had a chance to visit yet. My husband and his Dad owns the kitchen at the night club right across the street so I know exactly where it is. I will make more of an effort to attend soon. It seems a bit surreal that in just a few days I am having the surgery. I'll keep you all updated on what's going on. Thanks again to all of you for being my rock and for helping me realize that I'm not crazy.