Where are you Christmas?

I don't know why Christmas has been so hard for me this year, but it has.

A lot of it stems from Curt's job.   He's been working so much and has been dealing with a supervisor that basically should have been fired.  According to Curt, she's bored and spends her time micro-managing them.   He usually works a 60-70 hour week and hasn't had a raise in 3 years.   All the others around him have and Curt's frustrated.   He's forced to say "Yes" to everyone at work so, when he gets home, he automatically tells us "No!".  

Another frustration is I just haven't felt well until I had my surgery and was forced after it to stay down for 2 weeks.  Week 1 was easy, Week 2 was a pain.   I'm not one for staying down.  It really killed a lot of my "Go-go-go" attitude that I normally have.

I'm going to be putting up the lights today.  We are getting the tree this weekend, because I feel like I might just need a real tree this year (have you seen the price of a real tree?  They've totally come way down.)    I'm reading a Christmas Carol, and that is even taking longer this year for some reason.

Shopping is done.  I'm not spending anymore.   I'm concerned that my kids are going to have the "gimmees" and so we cut back!   I feel right in doing this but I'm sure that they kids won't be disappointed.

Aaron and Alyssa had their Christmas Concert for band and orchestra.  But since the schools took Christ out of Christmas, there was only one christmas song per group.   It was nice to see that the time that I force my kids to spend practicing was worth it.   Next week is their "Winter Sing". 

I went to the Mesa Temple last night to see Mesa High Acapella and they did pretty well.  This is kind of a tradition.  But Curt was working, Aaron was at scouts, Alyssa was at Activity Days.  It was nice to hear the music and share that with Hayden... but it was kind of hollow. 

It was also irritating... it was mutual night.   I don't remember being disrespectful and yelling during the performances when I was younger.   Some of the Missionaries were being really loud too.  I hope there weren't too many non-members there, there were not many good examples to be seen.  There was a couple of kids who were running around the wise men on the front lawn and one of the kids was trying to climb the camel.  No one stopped them, the adults were laughing.  It was really bad and chaotic.  I hope it's better when I take everyone to see the lights next week.   

Curt and I are going to the EVMCO Christmas Concert tonight.  I think that if I had been able to join this choir, it may have helped.  I didn't audition because their practices are on Wednesday night and those are the busiest nights for us already.   I will be auditioning the next time around because I feel like I need it.    I need to sing.   I don't get asked often because people forget that I do.   I enjoy singing and playing the piano.   I'd rather sing than accompany but I'd do either. 

I hope that I find the "Spirit of Christmas" soon, but it's something that I'm searching for.  Next is the 12 Days of Christmas with the Nativity Scene and scriptures.   I can't wait.

Guidelines for friends.

I have three very good friends... 2 of them I knew growing up, but they really weren't friends with each other; the other is my best buddy from the MCC ward and she doesn't know the first 2. I love them all in different ways and for different reasons. 

P is the happiest person in the world.  She's very confident, and open, and I want to be just like her.  P also is a cosmetic~savvy lady, so much so that I love to look at her eyes and the beautiful sparkly stuff that she puts around them.  Oh, and she has the MOST gorgeous hair.  Seriously, it's the most beautiful shade of red that you can imagine!  AND she has the BEST laugh in the whole world.  I would know her laugh anywhere; she makes me laugh just by hearing her laugh!

G has always been the one that I share everything with.  She helps me and I help her.  I love her and her girls.  Each of her daughters are SO different from the other, they are beautiful together.  G is the one that is patient with me, doesn't beat around the bush, and we share our trials.  She  has tried over and over and over to teach me how to crochet... it just goes over my head.  She knows just how to phrase things to make me feel better.

M, oh M.  The first time I met her, I hated her.  We joke about it.  I thought she was a snob, she thought I was a brat.  We were both right.  Then, we got stuck together on the stand in church and got to realize that we have the same sense of humor.  A few years ago, I was on bedrest and she had just had foot surgery to remove a pencil (ouch, long story).  I was bummed, so I called her.  She came over and we played "The Lord of the Rings" on the XBox for hours.  Lots of Hours.  When Curt came home, we bossed him into going to get us Chinese food.  Poor guy; it was like he had two wives, one on crutches and one on bedrest.  He decided that the polygamists were crazy... or deaf.

Anyway, my relationship with these wonderful ladies has been ongoing and we have had trials!  We have worked through them.  We have learned from them.  I love them as though the were my own sisters.  They will never replace my wonderful sisters and sisters-in-law, but they are very much a part of my family.

I was thinking about them today.  I was reading a book that talked about complicated friendships. We all have them, but what I've learned from them is monumental.  This mostly applies to friends, sometimes to family and hopefully, they are the same thing.

Sometimes patience is the only thing that you can give to a friend.

Saying "sorry" isn't the fix in every situation... but at least it's a start.

When feeling replaced by someone else, remember that they'll still always be there.

Don't sit by your friends in church... you might end up with the bishop staring at you to be quiet and stop laughing.

The best feeling in the world is getting a call from someone that you think has forgotten about you.

Forgiveness is key... even if you aren't quite sure what you're being forgiven for or what you're forgiving.

Silence is golden... especially when wanting to give unsolicited advice.

Letters matter... write one.

Emails are great, but they are no substitiution for good, old, face-to-face conversation.

Friendship goes way beyond friends... they become family; hopefully, family can become friends.

When a friend moves away... nighttime minutes are free but call on a Friday night.  That way you can talk for hours and not have to stress about getting up in time for something in the morning!

If you are going on vacation, always stay with your friends.  They miss you as much as you miss them.

Love your friends.  Love your family.  Love your neighbor.  All this is easier if you love yourself.

My Favorite Workout buddy

This is my new best friend.

If you have never worked out with a kettlebell before...

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

This is my friend that even when I am just swinging it around,

makes me hurt because I'm trying to stay upright.

I can do a ton of exercises with it, and it won't hurt my poor, sad back!

Here's the only thing to remember:

When swinging it, have a good grip.

It can fly far.  ☺