Christmas Countdown - 2017

[Murphman]

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Christmasstar]

Well, it's Christmas Day and I've been up for two hours already. O'Malley and my husband are having their early morning naps (not together).

Gives me a chance to pop in here and wish you all a wonderful Christmas celebration.

Last evening I noticed that my mom wasn't wearing her Christmas Eve earrings that Dorothy and Burl Ives gave her many years ago, long before Burl passed away.
My dad said our stockings aren't being filled. I said, "They better be hung on the fireplace with a few Clementines inside; I've been good all year!" This Christmas has been met with a different flair, but it could be worse so I'm happy that my mom although facing mobility challenges is still with us to celebrate.
After a wee doze, she sprung awake with a "HOHO, HEY!" We moved our visit to her bedside, my brother and I climbed aboard alongside her and my dad pulled up a chair on the other side and we chatted and talked about plans for today.

I was keeping her company while my brother and dad lit the annual luminaries along the street outside and up their walkway and front steps. Their tenant brought some luminaries over to the soldiers epitaph and placed them there for all to remember those lost and to comfort those living who miss them. I missed not being part of our tradition, but when I was walking to my car I still felt the calm and hope for peace and welcome that they emit.

I was brushing the snow off my car and feeling a bit sad by the situation and then heard a strange song in my head via a harmonica. As it turned out, it wasn't in my head, someone was standing on the corner observing the luminaries and playing O Holy Night.

Here's what I heard (well, not quite that good, but still very much appreciated).



He shouted a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" to me and I thanked him for being there and wished him a very Merry Christmas in return.

I took a bit of a drive on the way home, just a longer route than usual, I found a few other homes lighting luminaries and a group of family or neighbours near the police station standing around an outdoor fire pit singing carols.

I realized that this Christmas isn't better or worse, it's just different and that's okay. I'm so thankful that I can appreciate the little merry pleasures that come my way; this forum hugely among them.

May you discover the best gifts of the season and may they bring you comfort and joy to last through the year.

Festive Regards,
Auntie M.

thankyou, my dad played the harmonica so that brought back many great memories of him at Christmas.

Good Morning, and MERRY CHRISTMAS Dear Friends!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

I will be taking my annual one week break from countdowning from now through the balance of the year, resting up for the launch of Christmas Countdown 2018, which will commence immediately after midnight January 1st, at which point this thread will close down.

It's been another great year. The posting rate was off but the quality certainly was not!

Have a Marvelously Merry Christmas Monday, Folks.
Enjoy your day to the fullest!

thanks for keeping us on track all year, look forward to connecting again on January 1st !

 

[Dasher]

Merry Christmas everyone

 

[Edge612]

As Christmas ends, thanks for a great 365 days MMC. Been a lot of fun as always. Thanks Crown for keeping it alive all year here and everyone else who are hardcore Christmas fans no matter what day of the year it is. On to Christmas 2018...it's not about just December 25th (although Christmas is still very special and at the very top of the best days of the year list) but it's really about the year-round build to it too and all the things leading up to it. Good night and don't be sad that Christmas ends...for now it just begins all over again for us.

 

[Crown 84]

Sounds like you have just the right feel there, Edge.
Thanks for the thanks, but it's a team effort.
Thanks, team!

 

[ballcoach]

To quote the great Binger....

Christmas is either here or on its way!

 

[ballcoach]

Friends, it was spectacular. A little busier than I would have liked, but that goes without saying for many us.

All in all, I'm blessed beyond measure. My family, all of us, are sitting here watching Christmas Vacation for the last time this season. In a few minutes, I will send them to bed and watch Polar Express for the last time this season. After that, I plan to lay on the couch in the dark and look at the tree...and just listen to silence.

As I do, I will certainly think of all of you. Thank you for making this a great year.

Merry Christmas, MMC.

 

[Solice]

Merry Christmas everybody!
Im so sorry I haven't been here this season
Some "familystuff" just broke my heart this autumn, and I hope it heals through 2018

I missed you guys so much ♥ and I hope to be back soon

 

[NcGunny]

As Christmas ends, thanks for a great 365 days MMC. Been a lot of fun as always. Thanks Crown for keeping it alive all year here and everyone else who are hardcore Christmas fans no matter what day of the year it is. On to Christmas 2018...it's not about just December 25th (although Christmas is still very special and at the very top of the best days of the year list) but it's really about the year-round build to it too and all the things leading up to it. Good night and don't be sad that Christmas ends...for now it just begins all over again for us.

364 days to GO!! The true lovers of Christmas never really see it go away. And I dont mean by visiting a website or Google Images everday. The people that it becomes a lifestyle for, chase Christmas the whole year. I have always found when people inquire about my love for Christmas: If I have to explain it, you probably will never truly appreciate it. I once told my friend "If you could get past looking at Christmas from the commercial perspective, travelling all over, the (I am to busy to even breath) Christmas then it might sink in."
So we ended Christmas 2017 and we now move onto 2018. ( Time for Gunny to hit the Christmas sales) Btw..Bubble Lights had me in a tantrum the whole while.)

 

[NcGunny]

Merry Christmas everybody!
Im so sorry I haven't been here this season
Some "familystuff" just broke my heart this autumn, and I hope it heals through 2018

I missed you guys so much ♥ and I hope to be back soon

Merry Christmas Solice!!

 

[NcGunny]

 

[Christmasstar]

Good Morning MMC !!

its boxing day, anyone heading out for the sales ?
My son is looking for a new phone and will be getting it tomorrow, but for me there is nothing I want or need.
It had gotten quite cold here at -18c (wind chill of -26c) [-1f and -15f]
and we have lots of beautiful snow, the ski hills are very happy !

Hope your post Christmas ...or actually now it is pre Christmas, dday is a great one !!

 

[angelpugs]

Good morning,christmas day was just wonderful as it snowed here all day we have plenty of snow and now for the next week we will be zero and below,which is okay as the woodstove is keeping us all cozy and warm.

 

[Crown 84]

Good Morning, Folks.

On my Merry Countdown break until January 1st but still here!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is having an enjoyable holiday season.
Remember, we are still within Christmas Season 2017 and will be so through the balance of the year, so have fun, watch some bowl games, get creative with those Christmas dinner leftovers, finalize your New Year's Eve plans and above all, don't let the post-Christmas blues chase you down.

Cold here this morning, at 34, but it's calm and clear.
Snow is a possibility by Friday morning, however. We will see what develops.


Have a Terrific Tuesday and a Fantastic First day after Christmas, Everyone!

 

[Edge612]

Morning MMC! December 26th...well it was a great Christmas here. The whole season lived up to what we always hope for and expect. I hope that everyone had a great one and don't be sad because now we start preparing for Christmas 2018. It is freezing cold out and going to stay that way right through New Years. I'm just trying to relax some today other than a few errands. Hope you all have a great day!

 

[Edge612]

Good Morning, Folks.

On my Merry Countdown break until January 1st but still here!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is having an enjoyable holiday season.
Remember, we are still within Christmas Season 2017 and will be so through the balance of the year, so have fun, watch some bowl games, get creative with those Christmas dinner leftovers, finalize your New Year's Eve plans and above all, don't let the post-Christmas blues chase you down.

Cold here this morning, at 34, but it's calm and clear.
Snow is a possibility by Friday morning, however. We will see what develops.


Have a Terrific Tuesday and a Fantastic First day after Christmas, Everyone!

Thanks Crown! I know it's your week off so enjoy it but 364 days till Christmas!

 

[SnowflakeMom]

Good morning MMC! We had a great Christmas and today I am just relaxing. My husband is working and I am going to catch up on laundry. Have a great day!

 

[Iteachpercussion]

Good morning everyone. Today will be Christmas Part 2 for my family. We head to my wife's family Christmas. Her parents, sister (and husband), and two kids. It will NOT be a small Christmas. My in-laws go all out for Christmas.
Tomorrow is Christmas with my dad and Saturday is Christmas with my mom.

So, while Christmas is technically over, I get to hold on for a little while longer. Though in truth, as everyone here understands, Christmas never really ends, it merely starts over again.

I hope everyone has a chance to relax, enjoy and reflect on Christmas.

 

[MerryCarey]

Late report ... This year's Christmas season was extraordinary ... our annual DVD of Christmas clips came together in record time ... the office where I work got into a decorating frenzy and held a decorating contest ... recording and editing and processing and wrapping and baking got done, impossibly, on time ... I had some days off before Christmas to enjoy ... the gifts I bought for Mr. were ALL hits ... there was even an iconic snowfall late Christmas Eve night into Christmas morning, and the sun came out later in the day to shine on snowy Christmas scenery. True, I was too busy to get the trees decorated until the 11th, and we didn't get out to our family Christmas gathering yesterday (the plows didn't come around until after noon, and our driveway wasn't plowed until after 1 p.m.), but the two of us had a wonderful day at home anyway. For the most part, things just went exceptionally well and it was, and still is, a wonderful Christmas season. It will be hard to let go of this one; I'll have to just carry a piece of it with me into the New Year!

 

[ballcoach]

It had gotten quite cold here at -18c (wind chill of -26c) [-1f and -15f]
and we have lots of beautiful snow, the ski hills are very happy !

I was just about to complain about how cold it is here, but I would sound like wimp after seeing your temps! Goodness! Stay warm, friend!