What's on your menu today (Friday) RNYers?

I don't think wanting your son home for Christmas is selfish at all, it sounds like a wonderful gift for all of you. I hope you enjoy all the time you get to spend with your family. 

Morning menu peeps! I get off at noon today and probably won't be bac****il after the new year! I will try to stop in from time to time. 

QOTD: I'm not sure really. I guess it would be the Breyer Horse & book set I bought for my 7 year old daughter. When I was a child I collected Breyer horses so I have hundreds of them. My daughter keeps asking me to get them out of the attic but I don't want to do that until I know she can take care of them. So, that's why I got her the horse and book set. To see if she can care for the horse and she loves to read so the book is a bonus! 

B - eggs & sausage

L- Ham

S - Cheese

D - Chicken thigh

Merry Christmas!

Happy almost Christmas menu buddies!  Hoping all of you have a joyful weekend and celebrate in whatever way gives you the most happiness.

QOTD: Still feeling blah because the kids are gone.  Getting ready to host our Orphan Christmas.  Expecting about 12 people who had no where else to go this Christmas to come and share their holiday with us. I bought random fun little presents and labeled them all "For You". Christmas morning everyone will have several little presents to open.  In the LGBTQ and alternative sexuality community folks often lose their relationships with their biological families because of who they are leaving many to have no holiday family gathering.  We are going to play Christmas music, make and decorate sugar cookies, have a big ham dinner with greens and all the fixings, and have a big game of Cards Against Humanities. I am grateful to be able to bring together a Christmas for all of us who would be stray otherwise. That for me is the best present I am giving this year.

PHOTO FRIDAY! I know there is no theme but I wanted to share some recent pictures. They are Christmas related so I hope you all enjoy them.

Menu: B: Nada!  I left my lunch bag on my kitchen counter...uhg!  L: Nada... might try to run home for my lunch bag or just go to grab coffee. D: Making manicotti (I've never made it before but I have great hope it will be good)

Accountability: Down to 121 this morning.  Have been suffering the blues a bit and not eating much.  Need to work on that.  Also...my smoking quit isn't happening today.  I decided to hell with it and am going to try again Monday.  Just feeling down about the kiddos being away and it was one more thing I couldn't manage.  Instead of beating myself up about it I decided to just wait till after Christmas. 

I agree about waiting til Monday,E. The holiday minus kids is bad enough and no smoking is just one straw too many. No need to beat yourself up at all. I have one kiddo here and I am still sad they won't both be here. Oldest will be home in a week though so we will get to see him and his girlfriend just not at Christmas. You give so much love and care and then they grow up and move on. I have to keep reminding myself that that's what I was trying to do--raise sensitive,caring responsible adults. It's great to see them succeed but still hard emotionally. Bless you my dear for your Orphan Christmas plans. I feel terrible for those who are deserted by their families. One of the pastors I work with here in town is lesbian and is ostracized by many supposed "Christians" because of that. Don't even get me started there please. Her "Christian" parents refused to speak to her until the last few years too. I can't even fathom it. I'm so sorry that people have to be so judgemental and hurtful to anyone but especially their own children. Big cyber hugs to you and your friends this holiday Season! You are a special lady,E!

I want nothing more than for them all to grow up to be healthy, joyful, productive independent adults... but part of me wants them to crawl into my bed and ask me to read a bedtime story still.  This parenting thing isn't for the feint of heart, eh? 

Thank you for your loving acceptance of all people.  You represent your faith beautifully everyday. Love is kind...always kind. I am sad when religious people forget that bit.

~E

Good for you, Elizabeth!  My wife's family abandoned her when she had SRS and it is always sad at the holidays.  My family always give her gifts, and include her, but you just can't gloss over the fact that your "family" no longer recognizes you as theirs.

Nothing can fancy up the warthog in a **** puddle that is a family turning their kid away but you love with all you have and that will do just fine. Also...decorate sugar cookies. Love and decorating...it will be more than enough.

Hugs to you and yours!

~E

When my cousin first moved across country away from all family her mom suggested she organize an orphan Christmas for friends she knew who weren't able to get home for Christmas either. That was 10 years ago and even though she's married with kids now and her parents have moved out there to be with them they still include some people from that original group along with a few more that joined over the years. It's an awesome tradition and it sounds like you guys have a great time planned. Enjoy!! And Merry Christmas!!

Your "orphan" Christmas sounds wonderful. We have a close friend whose family ostracized him over 40 years ago because he was gay. He just recently reconciled with his brother *****ached out when he was dying. At the funeral, more family members came out of the woodwork.  Because we are ALL just people and who we love doesn't matter, just that we do.  Our son is also gay and thankfully has always been able to be comfortable with himself and his relationships with everyone in our family.

love the pics! and 121, wahoo! can't wait to be there!!

good luck with manicotti, ive made it once only!