OUR CHRISTMAS LESSONS LEARNED

WITH ALL THE MEDICAL ISSUES WE HAVE FACED BECAUSE OF MY HEART CONDITION, WE WERE FORCED TO FACE OUR WAY OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS. LIKE MOST, IT WAS SLAM UP THE HOUSE DECORATIONS INSIDE & OUT ... SHOP, SHOP, SHOP SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE EVERYONE EXPECTED STORE-BOUGHT GIFTS FROM US ... SQUEEZE IN MASS ... COOK A HUGE DINNER IN WHICH A LOT OF THE LEFT OVERS WERE THROWN OUT BECAUSE EVERYONE GETS TIRED OF EATING TURKEY IN 100 DIFFERENT WAYS ... CLEAN UP & DROP INTO THE COUCH SOMETIME AROUND 9:00 CHRISTMAS NIGHT TO "CELEBRATE" THE HOLIDAY. THIS YEAR, WE "HAD" TO CHANGE A BIT. WE DECORATED, OF COURSE ... BUT INSTEAD OF "WAITING UNTIL WE COULD AFFORD AN EXPENSIVE NATIVITY SET FOR THE FRONT YARD TO PUT UP SOMETHING "CHRISTIAN", WE FOUND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FULL-SIZED FLAG WITH A PICTURE OF MARY & CHILD, & ANGELS ATTENDING TO THEM. WE HUNG IT ON THE FRONT OF OUR HOME & PLACED A SPOTLIGHT SO THAT CHRIST IS THE FOCUS OF OUR OUTSIDE DECORATING. THE COST WAS A MINIMAL $25.00 INSTEAD OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR MY IDEA OF A GRAND NATIVITY SET. THAT MAY COME, BUT FOR NOW WE'RE STILL HONORING OUR LORD & HOPEFULLY REMINDING SOMEONE WHAT THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT. HAVING A SMALL HOME, AFTER THE TREE & A FEW CANDLES ARE SET AROUND, THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE. THIS YEAR, WE "MADE" ROOM & COVERED A PIECE OF FURNITURE IN THE ENTRY & PLACED OUR MANGER THERE SO THAT IS THE 1st THING ONE SEES WHEN ENTERING OUR HOME. THE SMALL TREE & FIRE BURNING IN OUR FIREPLACE THEN OFFERS THE WARMTH & FRIENDSHIP WE EXTEND TO OUR GUESTS. WE TOLD THE GROWN KIDS THAT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS WOULD BE FOR THE GRANDKIDS THIS YEAR (&, WE'LL PROBABLY STICK WITH THIS IN YEARS TO COME). WE AREN'T WEALTHY & NEITHER ARE OUR KIDS. EACH OF US SPEND MONEY WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY PRESENTS FOR THE ADULTS THAT THEY PROBABLY WON'T USE WHEN ALL WE ADULTS BUY FOR OURSELVES & OUR SPOUSES YEAR ROUND. SO INSTEAD, WE ARE PLANNING ON SENDING LETTERS TO THEM TELLING THEM HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THEM & MAYBE RE-TELLING OF SOMETHING FROM OUR PAST THAT IS A SPECIAL MEMORY WITH THEM. FOR THE GRANDKIDS, AT THE SUGGESTION OF ONE SET OF PARENTS ... WE'RE NOW BUYING US SAVINGS BONDS TO BE PUT IN EACH GRANDCHILD'S EDUCATION FUND. WE'VE ASKED THAT THEIR PARENTS MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT TAKING THE CHILD TO THE BANK TO PUT THEIR BOND IN THE SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX SO THEY LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING FOR THEIR FUTURES. THEY ALL HAVE ENOUGH RELATIVES & FRIENDS WHO BUY THEM TOYS & ITEMS THAT WILL BE BROKEN IN NO TIME OR SHOVED TO THE BACK OF THE CLOSET FORGOTTEN & UNUSED. BUT WHEN FACED WITH THE ENORMOUS COSTS OF FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION, THEY'LL THINK ... "WOW, MaMaw & PaPaw WERE SMARTER THAN WE THOUGHT ... &, THEY'LL HAVE A LITTLE SPENDING CASH TO COVER SOME EXPENSES AT COLLEGE. NICK & I DECIDED THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO BUY ANYTHING FOR ONE ANOTHER EITHER. WE ALREADY HAVE MOST EVERYTHING WE NEED OR WANT ... &, WE CAN ALWAYS BUY NEW GADGETS ANY TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. INSTEAD, WE ARE FOCUSING ON SPENDING TIME TOGETHER TRULY CELEBRATING MY PARENTS' (55th) & OUR (3rd) WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES ON CHRISTMAS EVE ... &, GOING TO MASS ALL TOGETHER & ACTUALLY ENJOYING IT (FOR ONCE) BECAUSE WE AREN'T STRESSED LIKE WE NORMALLY ARE. WE'RE HAVING MY PARENTS OVER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER. IT WILL BE DELICIOUS, BUT "MORE REASONABLY SIZED" SO THAT OUR FOCUS IS ON SHARING OUR BLESSINGS WITH THEM & ENJOYING THE TIME WE'RE BLESSED WITH TOGETHER. THE FIREPLACE WILL BE LIT & CHRISTMAS SONGS WILL BE PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD IN OUR HOME ... BUT, FOR THE BEST AMERICA HAS TO OFFER ... FOR THOSE MILITARY MEN & WOMEN OFFERING THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOMS OF EVERY AMERICAN & FOR OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD, A FERVENT PRAYER WILL BE PRAYED FROM OUR TABLE. MEMORIES OF WHEN MY FATHER & MY HUSBAND GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY WILL COME TO US & A FEELING OF PRIDE WILL FILL MY MOTHER & I. INSTEAD OF "GETTING", WE'RE FOCUSING ON "GIVING" TO OTHERS IN NEED ... &, GIVING BACK TO MY PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO ME, & TO NICK & I. WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK, YOUR HEART JUST BREAKS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY HURTING PEOPLE WHO JUST NEED A HELPING HAND. WE'VE BECOME SOMEONE'S "SECRET ANGELS" ... DOING THINGS FOR THEM BUT NOT LETTING THEM KNOW WHO WE ARE. WE HAVE SO ENJOYED THIS &, WE REALLY HAVE "RECEIVED" FAR MORE THAN WE'VE "GIVEN" IN THE GRATITUDE OF THOSE WE HELPED & THE EXCITEMENT OF DOING SOMETHING GOOD IN SECRET. FOR US, I THINK WE'VE FOUND A WAY TO TRULY CELEBRATE GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO US, HIS SAVING SON, JESUS. WE'VE FOUND PEACE & JOY & IT DIDN'T COME ON A CREDIT CARD ... IT CAME FROM GIVING TO THOSE STRUGGLING, & SHARING OF OURSELVES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS. FOR US, I THINK WE'VE BEGUN A NEW, FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITION. IT IS OUR HEART-FELT PRAYER THAT EACH OF YOU EXPERIENCE THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ... OR, THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE TRADITIONS OF YOUR CELEBRATIONS OF THE FAITH THAT GUIDES YOUR LIVES. NO MATTER WHAT FAITH LIES IN YOUR HEARTS ... MAY THIS SEASON BLESS YOU & BRING YOU PEACE. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, OUR DEAR FRIENDS DAWN & NICK

I have to tell you that your post really touched my heart! This year my kids can't come for Christmas and my husband doesn't have the time off for us to go to Canada so i've been sitting here feeling sorry for myself because we are alone for Christmas, we didn't even put up a tree. But i have sooo many things to be thankful for.... your post just made me think about all those things. thank you sooo much love Dar

I'M SO PLEASED THAT I COULD LIGHTEN YOU SPIRITS, MS DAR! NOW, GO FIND SOMETHING TO GIVE YOUR HOME THE WARMTH OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ... REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THE BLESSING OF A WONDERFUL HUSBAND SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU ... MAKE THE SEASON SPECIAL FOR THAT REASON IF NO OTHER!!!! REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE YOU HAD KIDS ... JUST THE 2 OF YOU ... THAT SPECIAL LOVE IS STILL THERE ... CELEBRATE IT TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS! YOUR MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT IS JUST WAITING TO ARRIVE ... THAT BEAUTIFUL TINY SOUL THAT IS YOUR 1st GRANDCHILD!!!!! YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT PATIENTLY & THEN YOU'LL HAVE A LIFE TIME OF JOYS. & HEY ... YOU HAVE ALL OF US HERE ON THE BOARD ... WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

WOWOWOWOW ... JUST CHECKED OUT YOUR BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES ... WHAT AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION! WHAT SIZE DO YOU WEAR? YOU'RE SO ITTY BITTY, MS DAR ... NOW, THAT'S ENCOURAGING! IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT BIG A CHANGE IN YOURSELF, SO CAN I!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE'S AN ITTY BITTY BODY INSIDE ME SOMEWHERE & I'M GONNA FIND IT!!!! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

Lady D your absolutly right i do have a wonderful husband.. we married only 7 years ago and he has been such a blessing to me and my kids i can't even begin to tell you! You know i can't exactly understand yet what is going on inside me about my first grandchild but i have to tell ya..i often find myself in tears when i think of this little soul coming into our lives, i can't even describe what this child means to me, so yes yes yes what a wonderful New Year we are gonna have!! Thank you so much for the compliments.. i have been feeling soooo much better physicaly and mentaly about myself.. i'm in a size 8 now, you know i keep telling my mom i think they make clothes bigger than they used to because i don't remember wearing anything lower than a 12. But better than anything else is, i will be able to enjoy my grandchild and look to the futur with much much better health than i was hoping for a few years ago! I am sooo glad that this is an encouragement to you and i hope to others too because i know how it feels to be obese and ill and if i can get to the point i'm at so can you and others! I really didn't think there was much hope for me at one point... soon you will be there too cause your doing great!! love Dar

DOC SAID THAT AT MY AGE, HE WOULD BE HAPPY IF I HIT 140 ... I WRINKLED MY NOSE AT THAT & SAID, HOW ABOUT 125? WELL, IFFFFFFFFF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT ... BUT, THAT WAS BEFORE HE GOT TO KNOW ME! THEN, I GOT LOOKING AT MY OLD PICS & WHEN I WAS 19, I WAS 118 & LOOKED REALLY GOOD ... THAT MAY BE A BIT LOW FOR ME NOW, BUT THAT IS WHAT I'M SHOOTING FOR. IF I CAN GET PLASTIC SURGERY, I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT I CAN GET TO 118, BUT WITHOUT IT, I'M NOT SURE, BUT WILL CERTAINLY TRY MY BEST. THE SMALLEST I EVER WORE WAS A SIZE 10, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING FOR. NICK WILL BE HAPPY WHEN WE CAN SHOP IN VICTORIA'S SECRET NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE!!!!!!!!!! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

Well i wish i could get some plastics done but no can do at the moment.. hubby just started working so we will have insurance at the end of Jan. I have a hernia and it's the same area where the doc already fixed it during wls, below my navel where had multiple surgeries before for c-sections,ovarian cyst, exploratory surgery , another hernia.. it just wont stay together! So when i go see a pcp at the end of January i'm kind of hoping she will say that i should have a TT(forget the medical term for it) to help fix this hernia.. the mesh stuff they have put in before is just not working. Thank God Dr. Ungson found this problem during surgery.. part of my bowel was strangulated and dying already had little tiny holes in it and now i often have a sore tummy like i had before so it worries me some.. anyway.. i hope i'm ok till the insurance kick in at least.. Victoria Secret huh? your giving me some love Dar

OOHHHH, SORRY THAT YOU'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE SAME AREA ... BUT, IF YOUR INSURANCE IS LIKE MINE, A HERNIA IS AN AUTOMATIC AUTHORIZATION FOR A TUMMY TUCK, SO MAYBE HAVING IT WILL BE A BACK-HANDED BENEFIT FOR YOU, MS DAR. MERCY GIRL, YOU HAD A MAJOR ISSUE THERE ... SO PLEASED THAT YOUR DOCTOR WAS DEDICATED ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OK. SOME DON'T ... IN & OUT. KUDOS TO DR UNGSON FOR FIXING THE STRANGULATION! OUR DAUGHTER'S OVARY STRANGULATED & SHE WAS IN EMERGENCY SURGERY LIKE, RIGHT NOW ... THAT'S NOTHING TO FOOL AROUND WITH! IF YOU GET THE OK IN JANUARY, YOU'LL HAVE TO BE OUR GUIDE ON TTs ... NO ONE HAS BEEN THROUGH PLASTIC SURGERY SO WE'LL BE ALL EARS!!!!! IF YOU DO DECIDE TO GO THE PLASTIC SURGERY ROUTE, THERE IS A MESSAGE BOARD HERE ON OBESITYHELP.COM THAT IS DEDICATED TO THAT TOPIC ... YOU MIGHT GET SOME GOOD INFO FROM THERE TO HELP YOU MAKE WISER DECISIONS & KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

My Dear Dawn...I just read your post...WOWWWWWWW!!! I'm inspired...and moved beyond words...My Sweetheart and I have celebrated this Blessed Day in a very simular way for the last 4 yrs...kudos to you and Nick...after all...Jesus is the reason...for the Season. May you and your love ones have a Blessed Christmas...and may His Blessing be overflowing in the New Year... Tonya

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS TONYA. SOMETIMES YOU "KNOW" SOMETHING ... BUT, NOTHING CHANGES UNTIL YOU PUT THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION. THIS YEAR WAS CALMER, MORE CENTERED ON GOD'S GIFT OF JESUS TO US ... ON SHARING TIME WITH FAMILY. NEXT YEAR WILL BE EVEN BETTER AS I'LL BE SO UNBELIEVABLY HEALTHY THAT WE CAN ATTEND MORE OF OUR CHURCH'S FUNCTIONS, PUT MORE EFFORT INTO THE SHARING SIDE OF CHRISTMAS ... SHARING WITH THOSE HAVING A BIT OF A HARD TIME. NICK & I BOTH LIKED THE CHANGES WE MADE THIS YEAR & HAVE MORE IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR TO MAKE OUR CELEBRATION MORE CHRIST-CENTERED & CHRIST-WITNESSING TO OTHERS BY OFFERING UNEXPECTED KINDNESSES. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK