Christmas Countdown - 2012

[Christmasstar]

I am the same way. Once I got Tapatalk on my iPhone, I thought it would be a lot easier to check in, but I still fund myself busy and I just can't make the time. I think that may be one if my New Year resolution's!


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I wanted to share a reading from the Advent and Christmas Seasons booklet that we get at church just before Advent. In the selection for Christmas Day entitled "Mary's Christmas," I read:

"Think back to Christmas 41. Not 1941, Christmas in the year 41 A.D., 1,971 years ago. It must have been a lonely day for Mary, who would have been in her late 50s. She must have missed her son. She must have missed her husband who was long since dead. No matter how many of her relatives may have been there in that little village of Nazareth, it was probably lonelier for her than some other days...just as Christmas today is often lonelier than some other days for people who have lost their wife or husband, people who are divorced, people who don't have any family to speak of. For whatever reason, Christmas can be a lonely day."

I really thought a lot on this reading and just could not get it out of my mind. It really made me appreciate all of you that much more. Thanks for sharing your Christmas with me. Even though I was not alone at Christmastime, I still had a lonely corner of my heart, thinking about those whose loneliness overwhelms them. Take care, my Christmas friends. No more sad talk from me!

thank you that was lovely. I think everyone has experienced loneliness at some time in their lives.

 

[ballcoach]

People would think we are crazy!!! How is it that we like the same teams and they are rivals? I live in Pittsburgh so people groan and yell at me when I put on the Romo jersey! Steelers fan first but the Cowboys are happily second!

You are my new favorite person....the only one that is like me in the world!!!!

 

[ballcoach]

[youtube_browser]g5sOy7_NWIA[/youtube_browser]

I'm sorry, even though CD's and MP3's are much more crisp and clear, there is just something about imperfection in music that makes it more....human...if that makes sense. I think that's why I prefer live music of my favorite bands instead of the recordings....

 

[Christmasstar]

Home from wifey's wisdom tooth extraction....she's is all medicated and passed out....time for a quick nap.....

See yall this afternoon for coffee and football.

hope she does not have to much pain and feels better quick.

 

[ballcoach]

hope she does not have to much pain and feels better quick.

Thanks! It's funny you posted this, she actually just woke up for the first time today...she's been asleep for almost 26 hours with only being up for one or two since yesterday at 12:30....

 

[RadioJonD]

~~~ Positive Vibe Wave ~~~

I'm sorry, even though CD's and MP3's are much more crisp and clear, there is just something about imperfection in music that makes it more....human...if that makes sense. I think that's why I prefer live music of my favorite bands instead of the recordings....

As a child I was inoculated with a phonograph needle. Plus, growing up I was exposed to high levels of AM static, FM modulation, and all manner of tape hiss.

The warmth of analog flows deeply in my veins! The stark sterility of digital is for sissies!

 

[Christmasstar]

How many of you are still listening to Christmas music?

We are still going strong, we still have one radio station that is playing Christmas until Jan. 6, and my MP3 player is loaded with 500+ Christmas songs. Music Choice is also helping. I am loving it.

Have a great afternoon.

you mean we are supposed to stop???

 

[MerryCarey]

I love lentils, so the soup sounds so good. Who else wants a ride to Meceka's? We can just jet around the world, stopping at all y'alls places and eat whatever y'all have fixed. Hmmm. Stops along the way: Meceka, Christmasstar, Solice, Bradmac, who else?

Here to play in the snow and watch movies.


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[Christmasstar]

Good evening, Christmas family

We DID IT !!! We gave Wishbone his very first sub q infusion all by ourselves today !!! It was really easy but I was scared to put the needle in. I just summoned up all the courage I could and inserted the needle gently but firmly and Wish didn't seem to notice !!! He is getting 200 mL of fluid per day. I am praying that it helps keep him feeling well and with us for a while longer xo

good to hear it was easier than you thought, also I think Wishbone knew it was to help so did not complain.

 

[Christmasstar]

I need some help/advise/reassurance/guideance here from a situation that my family has decided to get involved in; it's about taking in another teenager.

This may a little long here, but I will try to do my best to get to the points.

The beginning:
I met this kid 6 years ago (his name is Austin) from the rest of the kids in the neighborhood that constantly/ always hung out at my house. I never liked him at first because he was smart mouthed, always stirring up trouble in the neighborhood and with other kids (stirring the pot), etc... and he was disrespectful to other adults.

About 4 years ago, he mouthed off to me outside of the house one day and so I gave him the boot off the property and told hime he was banned until apologized and showed some respect; (I directed my kids to stay away from him as well).

The Middle years:
So, for 2 years, he was not around, but as a board member of my HOA, I kept tabs on him, (if there was a problem in the neighborhood) because of his past behavior. During that time I noticed a change over him, he got quiet, and stayed low keyed, stayed close to his own neighborhood, (apparently, he got a steady girlfriend) and the girls parents are know to be very strick with her. Well, they sort of gave him some guideance over those years (as I was told) and I noticed a major change in him.

A year ago:
About a year ago, my son approached me and told me that Austin was outside the house at the end of the driveway and he wanted to talk to me and apologize to me. I told my son to tell him that I needed to think about it. A couple of months went past, I was working out back and my son came to me again and told me that Austin wanted to talk to me, I said ok. I went to the front porch and we talked for an hour, he apologized, said that he has changed for the better and he would really work hard to earn my trust back again... I was, impressed with his sincerity!

Now:
Over the past year, he slowly started coming over the house to visit and hang out with the other kids (NOTE: Since we have lived here, we have been adopted by every kid in the neighborhood, Perry Hall, Baltimore County... Well, at times it seems like it, lol - we have always held this belief that if we let them stay here, then we know where they are, who their with and what their doing.... plus help to keep all of them on a straight path), and he had earned his trust back after time. Now, during all of the years since we known him, we did not know much about his family, past or troubles...

He joined the Army on a delayed entry and was scheduled to go in around September, a month prior to this, he was told to leave his house, get out, pack your stuff and leave by his stepfather and mother, (apparently, he couldn't get along with the stepfather and the stepfather with him). So we let him stay with us (I couldn't see the boy living on the streets), he slept on the couch in the basement and we charged him nothing. He left for the Army as scheduled, but injured his ankle during basic training and the Army discharged him (a general discharge).

He told my son that he was going to ask to stay with this one and then that one, (just bounce around), we know he had a troubled past and knew that could be dangerous so we told him he can stay with us on a temporary basis. Now he is with us, sleeping in my sons room in a sleeping bag. I became frustrated with the apparent lack of information from his family so I went up there (unannounced) and talked with them for 4 hours. Wow, I left just completely blown away with all the information I had.

Apparently, Austin was an abused child (verbally and physically) and so was his mother, by the ex husband as well as she was as a child as well by her own father...Yikes...from talking with the mother, there is alot of pain there all the way around! The stepfather - seems like a nice guy, firm, quiet but yet strict; he fully accepted her two children when he married the mother, but one child never accepted him, for 5 years; Austin.. hence, there lies one problem!

So, here we are now, sort of stuck with this 18 year old kid in my house, the mother and stepfather are writing a contact for Austin to sign in order for him to return back to their house, but they told me that it is only for 7 month and then after that he has to leave again...WHAT??? and get this, he has to pay for his own food, have strict hours when he can take a shower, has to stay in certain portions of the house only, and it gets worse.... worse that bootcamp or a prison! I mean even if he goes back home, I can guarentee that if there is one problem, boom - he's out of the house again, and where is he going to go???? My house! I like the kid, but am in no means prepaired to have a permanent boarder in my home forever.

He loves us to death, he's best friends with both my daughter and son and the rest of their friends. he told us that after 6 months he wants to try to go back in the military again, after his ankle heals properlly. I'm at a moral crossroads here and I don't want a permanent boarder and yet I don't want to see the boy on the streets. He's cleancut, no tatoos, no body pericings, says yes mam/ no sir, etc.... I don't know what to do!

Thanks~

good for you for being willing to help. It certainly is a complicated issue especially with his mom and step dad not wanting to help. I agree with others who support him joing the miltary.
Go with your heart on this one.

 

[Christmasstar]

Proud to say the wifey is up and eating chicken noodle soup....she actually kinda laughed earlier....I'm glad she is up....it has been too quiet....I see her laying there sleeping and I want to wake her up and talk to her....I hate seeing her hurt, but this is just gonna be for a few days...the doctor said that while her procedure went great, it was one of the more difficult wisdom teeth he had pulled because it was growing parellel to the gum line and into another tooth....so they had to cut some of her bone out so they could twist it out.....

OUCH

ohhh, that sounds painful

 

[made582]

I can't bash the Steelers...they are my 2nd favorite team!! I know, I know....it's like committing a crime to like those two at the same time...kinda like being a Red Sox and a Yankees fan (which I'm not a Yankees fan)!

The steelers?????? SMH. Next you'll be admitting you like Kyle Busch.

 

[ballcoach]

The steelers?????? SMH. Next you'll be admitting you like Kyle Busch.

Haha!

Friend, you will never hear that from me!

 

[made582]

I managed to find one Santa on my shopping trip and my sister just called and told me about another one she saw. So I'm off to the north side of Indy. I'm also going to meet the friends I went camping with for dinner since they are both in town this weekend.

 

[Christmasstar]

Good evening, friends~

It was a LONG day of packing, and we are exhausted!!

Adrian still has to finish up some work, so we haven't shut down our computers just yet, but soon- later tonight.

So I wanted to pop in one last time. I read most of the posts, but don't have enough time to comment on them individually..

Thinking of you all, and wishing you a great week~
Stay safe, warm, and healthy. xo

We go to pick up the U-Haul tomorrow morning, then we start loading.
I have a feeling it'll be an interesting day. We have friends helping, and some coming later to say a final goodbye. =[

Harlowe is very anxious, stressed, and confused- poor little girl. I'm trying my best to reassure her that she's coming, but she won't realize it until she's in the car. Tomorrow, I'll test out the lowest dose of her sedative prescription. Please keep her in your thoughts.

I'm gonna miss you guys. Take good care!!

Stacey :sparkle:XO

praying your move goes smoothly and you will soon be back here reporting from you new home.

 

[gabulldawg]

Hey everyone! We did not go skiing this weekend as planned because right at the last minute before I made the reservations we both got cold feet about leaving the babies so soon!! James is 6 weeks old but 3 to 4 days seems too long...we are thinking about going later in the winter when Brandi gets Presidents day along with a few other days for what they call winter vacation it will be like a 5 day weekend. But it looks like Wv,Md and the northeast is getting a nice snow!!! Other than that not much going on...post Christmas blues are under control but even brandi wants me to take the tree down..I remember her doing this last year too..this year it's not as big an issue,I guess because she knows I won't bend when it comes to my Christmas traditions! BUt I do plan to take it down New years Day.Not A minute before...I go back to work on the 7th so it is coming up soon too! I hope everyone is having a good post Christmas weekend...At least we still have New years to look forward too!

 

[sugar142286]

This past December 27th was my wife's (CAH) and my 9th anniversary of being together. Not wedding anniversary, just being together as a couple. It has flown by, but it has been the best 9 years of my life. Happy Anniversary sweetie!!!:celebrate::dance:

Congrats!


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[Christmasstar]

not much going on here today...been doing the laundry....going to the river with kandice to feed the ducks with old bread (she loves doing that!!!!)....and now I am chilling on the couch...and warm my neck a little...cos it tensed up...then later I will do some cooking....and am still trying to think of a present of my niece who turns 9 years-old on Monday....holla back my friends

when my kids were small I took them often down to the river to feed the ducks and swans. Did you know feeding them bread is not good for them. They have a hard time digesting it. Instead feed them dry corn or shredded lettuce. Here there had been a big education push for this because the swans are such an important part of the city. I laughed so hard one day when I was down by the river, a few tourists were there having lunch and feeding the swans. One lady gets up and tells the others that the swan with her babies needed extra food because she was still nursing! LOL.

 

[Christmasstar]

Christmasstar, how is your mom doing?

She is getting better, seems it was the meds she was on that was causing the problems. She was having a strange reaction to them. Has been off of them now for a couple of days and feeling much better.
Thanks you do much for asking.

 

[Christmasstar]

I was in for a good nights sleep but this nagging cough decided to have a "party" and keep me up last night! I finally gave in and took some cough syrup, went back to sleep then my dogs woke me up early to go potty. I don't mind my dogs waking me up but a little mad at that cough! Oh well, Merry On!!!

Wayne and I will probably hang out and play some games today. We hope to catch some of the Greasy Skillet tonight! Everyone join in if you can! The link is below if you are interested!

my daughter has that too, not fun! Now I feel like I may be getting it too, but am trying to drown the sucker out of me!!!!