Of Family, Traditions, and Christmas by Konnie Enos

My oldest son (next to youngest child) drove home from where he is living and working to celebrate Christmas with us. Yeah, for me. Three of my five kids are here, at least for a few days.

Today, being Christmas Eve, is packed with our traditional activities.

My oldest son, I believe mostly because of his ADHD, cannot even start Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve, so he’ll be spending several hours in search of gifts for the rest of us. A sharp contrast to me having all my shopping and wrapping done before Thanksgiving. It even contrasts with my other two kids, who were done with even the wrapping by last week. But there is only four other family members here, so it isn’t as if he has to get a lot of gifts.

While he is doing that, my daughter will be directing the rest of us in the kitchen. My daughter and I cooking while my husband and son fetch and carry for us, and maybe even wash a few dishes. We are not only making Christmas dinner but preparing Christmas morning breakfast so it’ll be something quick and easy for people to get as they want in the morning.

After our dinner is ready, we’ll set the table. Hopefully, by the time we are ready to dish up my older son will have returned from his shopping expedition so that we can have a family dinner.

After dinner we’ll probably get my husband and one or more sons to do the dishes (relax, most of them will fit in the dishwasher), while my daughter and I make sure all the leftovers get properly stored.

Once the house is back in order I’ll make every effort to gather my family around the Christmas tree and read Luke 2, and also “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Both are tradition in our family.

After that my husband will probably retire for the night, while my oldest son secrets himself into a bedroom (whichever one he can get us to vacate for him) to wrap his gifts.

While he is doing that, my son, daughter and I will gather our stockings and work on filling each one with treats and surprises. Then, of course, we have to clean up any mess we made and make sure the stockings are all nice and ready for morning. By then my oldest son should be able to add what he got to the stack of presents already waiting under the tree and we can all retire for the evening.

Though, traditionally, my oldest son does not sleep Christmas Eve. I have my doubts that my oldest daughter sleeps Christmas Eve.

When they were all much younger we had to tell our oldest we were not getting up before six. As in, I point blank refused to get out of bed before 6 a.m. no matter how much she begged. She started making sure she woke us up promptly at six because she wasn’t waiting any longer. Since she’s the mother now, I’m fairly certain she has to work with the desires of her own children.

Once she was out of the house, and all my kids were adults anyway, we moved our gift unwrapping time to a much more reasonable time. While middle daughter was still in the house, it was 8 a.m. Now, since at least half of us have to get up at 7 a.m. to feed fur family members, we open presents after that. So, by 7:30.

And since breakfast just needs reheated, we can do that as we feel we need to eat. Though I sincerely doubt it’ll take us more than an hour to unwrap what’s bound to be less than 40 gifts divided between 5 people.

Plans are already in place to call my oldest sometime that morning. Plus, I’ll call Bonnie at some point. Probably even the oldest of my remaining brothers. My husband might call at least one of his sisters, if not both. Maybe even his baby brother. (The man will be 50 next year so he isn’t little anymore.)

The rest of the day is a bit less structured. Though I’m sure my son (youngest) and daughter will try to get as many of us as possible to play a game or two. Plus, my daughter has already prepared things for a massive cookie baking session with all hands-on-deck. Though I’m not exactly sure what the guys will be doing beyond possibly washing dishes as needed.

Hopefully, all that will go smoothly so that we can have a pleasant couple of days. I’m assuming my son will have to leave sometime Friday, so he doesn’t miss any work.

How is your holiday shaping up?

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.

 

Merry Christmas by Konnie Enos

I don't know about anybody else, but I've spent most of the last week or so prepping for this morning and I have plans to spend most of the day with my children. Well, at least the three who actually live here in Las Vegas.

Now, it's time for everyone to go enjoy the day with their loved ones.

Merry Christmas!

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.

Of The Season and Tree by Konnie Enos

 

Monday, Jerry and I had reason to leave the house for a few hours. When we returned I walked up to our front door and noticed my wreath was out.

Now I had not noticed my wreath being on the front door before then, but we had already been decorating for Christmas. We did not have our tree up yet (still don’t) for various reasons. I had, however, managed to set up my Christmas village and Nativity. Which was a step in the right direction because we hadn’t been able to do that for a couple of years.

Anyway, I noticed the wreath and stepped into the house to both my kids in the living room sitting on the couch talking. I asked my daughter if she’d put it out while I was gone. I also noted that they’d removed some more things from the living room so we could put up the tree.

Both said they’d been working on clearing the necessary space for the tree.

So, I’d been right, the wreath hadn’t been up before I left that day.

Well, after Jerry and I had both gone to our bedroom, and changed our clothes, Jerry went to the front room and was talking to our kids. Apparently, he noticed and asked when our son’s desk had been cleaned off. (It’s in the living room.)

Mind you, I had looked in that direction. I had seen something moved from the general area where the tree will go to the area by the desk. However, I hadn’t registered that the desk was no longer piled high with my son’s stuff to the point that the drawers couldn’t close.

I saw it, but I hadn’t registered that it was a change.

My kids laughed and teased me about it because they had assumed that I would notice but Jerry would not.

We then discussed what still needed to be done in the living room so that we could, finally, after several years of not being able to put up our tree. Which was clear out all the boxes stored in the corner. Boxes that had ended up there because the house and garage were full of people and things.

But, in the last year, our older son and his friend moved out, while my youngest son moved into the front bedroom.

We’d also had that catastrophe in the garage which not only forced us to clean it out but forced us to throw away a bunch of stuff that were ruined by the water.

We were able to get rid of enough to make more room in the garage. Not to mention that my daughter is determined to sort through what’s left and get rid of everything we absolutely don’t need anymore. She’s already started two piles. One for stuff we are keeping. The other for stuff we can throw or give away.

All this cleaning up not only means we have room to put up our tree, but my kids were sure they could find it. Something they dove into do yesterday after the living room floor was completely cleaned.

Yes, they found the tree, or at least most of the parts.

The tree is no longer usable.

They couldn’t find the stand. The attached lights no longer work. And it’s shedding, which is a clear indication it’s too old.

So, the kids and I spent some time discussing the benefits of a pre-lit tree over one that doesn’t have lights and looking up the cost of both. We eventually discarded the idea of a pre-lit tree and only partly because of the issues we’d had with an entire section of our old tree going out years ago and we couldn’t fix it. The main reason we didn’t do pre-lit is because all the pre-lit trees we found were all only in white lights. We want multicolored.

So, we ordered a new tree and are going to buy new lights this week. We should have our tree up finally next week.

And before you ask, use fake Christmas tree for multiple reasons.

First and foremost, for many years, while the kids were young, we had to fight Jerry to wait until after Halloween to put the tree up and it never came down until well after the new year. Two and half, to three months is way too long for a now dead tree to be in your living room.

Second, we have family members allergic to pine, and I apparently react to at least fir. (It aggravates my asthma.) So, fake trees it is.

Next we have to dig out the Christmas socks and hang them up. And wrap some presents, which I haven’t finished doing yet.

Anyway, enjoy the season.

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.

Of Colds and Seasonal Thoughts by Konnie Enos

Since it is Bonnie’s turn to post this week, I had not been thinking about what I would write so I spend most of last night, after she told me she was sick, trying to come up with an inkling of an idea.

What I kept coming back to is that’s it’s December.

The time of the year when people stress themselves out by focusing on things, to-do lists, and what they don’t have. How their life isn’t the picture-perfect life. Or they focus on the commercialistic standard that has prevailed in our society for too long.

But maybe that’s beginning to shift.

I have noticed a change in our collective focus since 2020. I’m not seeing the ads about all the things individuals should ask for this year, but I have seen ads about family, togetherness, and helping others.

I will admit that I don’t watch TV, and I can’t remember the last time I listened to the radio, but I’m still on the internet daily. I’ve seen some ads. All about family or giving.

This is a positive change, and we need to help keep our focus on what really matters.

Family, friends, love, acceptance, and the true sense of connection and community you get when you help others.

So, in this season of giving, think about all the ways you can build community.

Find an Angel Tree, a Giving Machine, or a charity close to your heart where you can give not only money, but time to something that you believe in. Contribute and connect with your community in positive ways.

Not just volunteering for important causes, but in your everyday words and actions. When posting on social media or talking to people around you be mindful of the impact of your words. Try to be upbeat and positive.

Spread cheer. Spread love and acceptance. Call family and friends just to express your love. Think about your friends and neighbors who are chronically ill and could use a friendly face. A helping hand. Or a pot of chicken noddle soup.

When you are out and about, smile. Be open and friendly. Help strangers when you see they have a need.

But most of all, fight the negative thoughts, and judgmental attitudes that help no one, especially yourself. We are all human beings, and we all deserve understanding, acceptance and love.

So, in this season, I want you to think of just one thing. Think about what you can do to have a positive impact in your community. How can you spread love, acceptance, and cheer?

I’ll leave you to think about it.

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.