Just for Today....

 

JUST FOR TODAY
I will try to live through this day only
and not tackle my whole life problem at once.
I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me
if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be happy.
This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said,
that, "most folks are as happy as
they make up their minds to be".

JUST FOR TODAY
I will adjust myself to what is,
and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.
I will take my "luck" as it comes and fit myself to it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will try to strengthen my mind.
I will study. I will not be a mental loafer.
I will read something that requires
mental effort and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will exercise my soul in three ways.
I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out.
If anybody knows of it, it will not count.
I will do at least two things
I do not want to do - just for exercise.
I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt;
they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be agreeable,
will look as well as I can,
dress becomingly, talk low,
act courteously, criticise not one bit,
not find fault with anything
and not try to improve or regulate
anybody except myself.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a programme -
I may not be able to follow it exactly,
but I will have it.
I will save myself from two pests:
hurry and indecision.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a quiet half hour
all to myself and relax.
During this half hour, sometime,
I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be unafraid,
especially I will not be afraid
to enjoy what is beautiful,
and to believe that as I give to the world,
so the world gives to me.

There is no time like Christmas.

The yuletide season is associated with goodwill and festivities, when family and friends gather to celebrate the holidays.  Good food, gifts under the tree and a home adorned with decorations and ornaments all combine to make Christmas special.

This particular Christmas will filled with much joy and happiness, and yet disappointment.  Stephanie arrived on Monday.  It was so nice to have her home for several days.  My parents, Michael, Beth, Clay & Anna arrived late Tuesday night. We prayed for a safe journey.  They were traveling late and a long way. We enjoyed a lazy day together on Wednesday, followed by our Christmas Wednesday evening.  I couldn't believe that everyone was on their best behavior during the Dirty Santa exchange.  Well, except for Beth, who keep picking the gift she had contributed.  She must have REALLY been fond of it! Following the gift exchange we over indulged in the dishes which had been lovingly prepared.  Thursday morning we had a nice breakfast, and shortly Michael and his family were on their way home.  

Friday was a day of rest in the Leath household.  We slept late, watched a Christmas Vacation and then began to prepare for our second round of Christmas.  Barry's brother, George, his wife Mary and their son Frankie, were driving in from Hytop, AL.  Don't worry if you have never heard of it.  It's as close as you can get to the Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia state lines, and it's rugged land, not to mention COLD.  

Barry has just gotten out of bed on Christmas day to put the turkey in to cook, when the phone range.  Barry, said George, we just are not going to be able to make it, we have six inches of snow and ice, and it's just getting started. According to George they wouldn't get out of their drive way.  What a disappointment.  

They sure missed a good meal, even a homemade pecan pie.  But most of all, we missed them, not to mention Mary's killer fruit salad.

Hopefully we will get to visit with them through the New Year's Eve weekend.  

Barry and I hope each of you have a joyous Christmas and are looking forward to a prosperous 2012.   Love to all.

Christmas is almost here, and I'm becoming a bit nervous.

Not nervous about whether Santa will stop by my home or not.  Not anxious about what will be left underneath the tree or if Santa will like the cookies and milk left for him.  My nerves are on edge because there is a “large” pair of shoes I’m trying to grow into.

Growing up I was fortunate to live very close to my grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins.  How much better does it get?  Lisa, Pam, David, Michael and I knew that MawMaw and PawPaw would begin visiting the home of each grandchild.  They must have started around 1am and surely visited Lisa, Pam & David first.  The always seemed to be the first ones up to see the load Santa had left. 

Later Christmas Day, we would all gather at their house for our big Christmas meal.  There were endless tables of yummy food and a living room filled with beautiful packages of all shapes and sizes.  As if Santa hadn’t left enough for each of us, we absolutely could not wait to open gifts.  And interestingly enough, we were happy to help clean up the debris when all the packages had been unwrapped.

All this seemed to happen, just magically.  No one seemed stressed over the shopping, cooking, decorating and the clean up.  Everyone seemed relaxed and enjoyed the day together. It’s those memories that begin to make me nervous.  MawMaw and PawPaw are no longer with us, and our Christmas traditions have had to change.  My brother, Michael, has a family of us own and lives near Huntsville.  Barry and I live in Roanoke, AL and our daughter, Stephanie, lives in Columbus, GA.

I’m not sure when that “large” pair of shoes became mine.  Perhaps someone suggested that I try to grow into them, maybe I offered in a brief moment of insanity, or could it be that that’s what daughters do.

My home is decorated (yes, with seven trees), everyone knows the plans and what time to arrive.  The beds and pillows have been fluffed, as everyone will be spending the night because they are traveling a long way.   I don’t know how many years we have had the family Christmas in my home, but in that time we’ve never over cooked the turkey, forget the dressing or burned the bread.  OK then, why the butterflies in my stomach?

I strive to provide the loving and cheerful environment for my husband, daughter, parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, just as I felt growing up.  Tonight, in addition to my prayers for the needy, I will ask God to keep his hand on my shoulder as I strive to be a gracious hostess, like those who came before me.  

Growing into the “large” shoes is important to me.  I would like to think my MawMaw would approve, and I enjoy seeing my Mom & Dad enjoying the day with their children and grandchildren. Perhaps that’s how I got the shoes; perhaps the best Christmas blessing for me is having my family relaxing and enjoying each other’s company in the comfort of my home.  Is it possible that I will never feel comfortable in these shoes?

Only time will tell.  Whether the shoes are comfortable or not, I will continue to open our home in hopes that our family will continue to gather here.  And in the years to come, I will share what I have learned with my daughter and my niece, as the shoes will one day be passed along to them.

If you are wondering about the seven trees, I will add pictures to my blog, provided I can figure out how.  In case you can’t tell, I’m new at this!

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Can you believe that Christmas is almost here?  I'm sure the powers that be at the calendar office must have moved the date up.  Not to worry.  I have seven trees (yes, seven) decorated throughout the house.  Each bedroom has been lovingly prepared for each guest.   The menu is finished, with kitchen duty not far away.  

To some this may seem extreme.  Come on, do you think seven trees are really necessary?  Probably not, but we enjoy them.  By Wednesday our home will be full of family and friends.  What a Christmas blessing!  We will laugh often as we watch the customary Christmas movies, and exchange Dirty Santa gifts.  We don't exchange gifts with everyone, because we are so fortunate to have everything we need.  However, if you become involved in our Dirty Santa Exchange, you will be in for a treat.

Oh, I just realized that the Christmas stocking have not been hung on the chimney with care.  Better get to that.  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.  Check back and I'll let you know how the Dirty Santa exchange went.