Christmas Countdown - 2017

[CGYager]

Well today is Candlemas, the OFFICIAL official end to the Christmas season.

I have a question: Does anybody actively consider Candlemas to be part of their Christmas season?

I know we all like to continue our Christmas celebrations well into January, and I don't doubt Candlemas is at least a thought in the back of any Christmas lover's mind when it comes up and is perhaps just a fun excuse to do something Christmassy every February 2nd and still feel justified in doing so. Which is fine. That's definitely the case with me.

But does anybody see Candlemas as a day meant for celebration and worship in the religious terms it is defined as? Are there any denominations or communities here in the US that do that? And if so, is it still technically part of the Christmas season and seen as such, or is it more or less considered separate from it?

Greetings Noodlenoggin. Like any observance/tradition, I am certain it is still celebrated somewhere. For me, I leave my decorations/tree up until the end of Jan/1st part of Feb for a couple of reasons. The first is that my wife hates to see them go down and nothing quite lights up a room at 5AM like a "foot activated" tree. Number two is that since it takes awhile for them to go up, it takes awhile to get them all back where they belong, so I will enjoy them a bit longer...

 

[nmc42088]

Carolina seems to be getting sick. She was acting fine but her cheeks were very red and flushed. My mom tried to take her temperature after she picked her up from my cousin, but a fit ensued so it didn't get taken til almost bed time. I'm hoping it is down by morning. If not a trip to the pediatrician or urgent care will be in our future.

I hope everyone is having a great relaxing night. Keeping everyone in my prayers

 

[made582]

Busy day. I wanted to stop in and say that I was thinking of all of you though. Hope everyone had a great day!!!

 

[CGYager]

Everyone have a wonderful evening.
I'm not sure if I'll make it back on before we leave for Hawaii - it's going to be a busy few day!!
Everyone, stay safe, happy, healthy & I'll see you all when I get back!!! I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts & prayers & I'll miss ya'll!!!

Have a safe trip filled with magical memories...

 

[made582]

I want to share a post by LittleCS (with her permission) from her face book page. Please pray for her and me too as we wait for the results to come in...

For those of you who read my update about my specialist appointment in London on Monday...and I said about being tested for essential Thrombocytosis and you don't know what that is...I looked it up and here is what it is:
Essential thrombocytosis (ET; also known as essential thrombocythemia, essential thrombocythaemia, primary thrombocytosis) is a rare chronic blood disorder characterised by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.[1] It may, albeit rarely, develop into acute myeloid leukaemia or myelofibrosis.[1] It is one of four myeloproliferative disorders (disorders characterised by increased production of a particular line of blood cell).
Scarry stuff huh? but I'm trusting God with it and know that He is in charge and will always be with me, even right now when I am kind of worried after reading that I may end up having myeloid leukaemia (I hope that doesn't happen, though)
I'm putting all this in God's hands and praying that it isn't going to be that bad.
It hardly ever is bad.
The doctor said that they want to eliminate this from the possibilities of what might be the problem.
The past few years it seems like it has been one rough thing after another but I keep smiling and day after day, I Keep on Fighting!!
I will update you when I hear more about what is going on. Also, thank you for those of you who are praying for me!
Hugs, Lisa

My prayers are on the way, Star.

 

[made582]

Everyone have a wonderful evening.
I'm not sure if I'll make it back on before we leave for Hawaii - it's going to be a busy few day!!
Everyone, stay safe, happy, healthy & I'll see you all when I get back!!! I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts & prayers & I'll miss ya'll!!!

Have a safe and fun trip!!

Your mom will be in my prayers.

 

[CGYager]

I want to share a post by LittleCS (with her permission) from her face book page. Please pray for her and me too as we wait for the results to come in...

For those of you who read my update about my specialist appointment in London on Monday...and I said about being tested for essential Thrombocytosis and you don't know what that is...I looked it up and here is what it is:
Essential thrombocytosis (ET; also known as essential thrombocythemia, essential thrombocythaemia, primary thrombocytosis) is a rare chronic blood disorder characterised by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.[1] It may, albeit rarely, develop into acute myeloid leukaemia or myelofibrosis.[1] It is one of four myeloproliferative disorders (disorders characterised by increased production of a particular line of blood cell).
Scarry stuff huh? but I'm trusting God with it and know that He is in charge and will always be with me, even right now when I am kind of worried after reading that I may end up having myeloid leukaemia (I hope that doesn't happen, though)
I'm putting all this in God's hands and praying that it isn't going to be that bad.
It hardly ever is bad.
The doctor said that they want to eliminate this from the possibilities of what might be the problem.
The past few years it seems like it has been one rough thing after another but I keep smiling and day after day, I Keep on Fighting!!
I will update you when I hear more about what is going on. Also, thank you for those of you who are praying for me!
Hugs, Lisa

My prayers go out to you both, along with many from the MMC community. Lisa is certainly trusting in the one who gives peace even amidst the storm...

 

[made582]

Christmas followed me a couple times today. I worked from home this morning because of snowy roads and because I had a midday medical appointment, so I turned on the TV while I monitored my office email. There was a broadcast of the old "I've Got a Secret" show from the 1950s, and it was a Christmas Eve show! Then on the way to my appointment I saw a fully decorated Christmas tree outside of a storefront business, all covered with red ribbon bows!

Unfortunately, the results of my appointment require yet another diagnostic appointment, so now I'm getting nervous. I won't give any details just now, but please send up a little prayer if you can spare a few moments. It means a lot to have some MMC prayers working for me. Thanks!

My prayers are on the way.

Good evening and Happy Febs!

An eventful day here, I didn't get any of the undecorating done, I got a call to pick my son from school due to a low grade fever. He didn't want to come home, and went into full on anxiety/panic attack. It took 40 to get him into the car, and another hour to get him out of the car when we got home. Then tying up loose ends for the Disney trip and other things I was on the phone for another 2 hours. Add in regular chores and other things the day was lost.
Back to work in the AM.

I hope you all had a great day.

Goodnight, everyone

Prayers for your son, Xmas. I hope today was a better day for him.

 

[made582]

Carolina seems to be getting sick. She was acting fine but her cheeks were very red and flushed. My mom tried to take her temperature after she picked her up from my cousin, but a fit ensued so it didn't get taken til almost bed time. I'm hoping it is down by morning. If not a trip to the pediatrician or urgent care will be in our future.

I hope everyone is having a great relaxing night. Keeping everyone in my prayers

Prayers for Carolina.

 

[CGYager]

Carolina seems to be getting sick. She was acting fine but her cheeks were very red and flushed. My mom tried to take her temperature after she picked her up from my cousin, but a fit ensued so it didn't get taken til almost bed time. I'm hoping it is down by morning. If not a trip to the pediatrician or urgent care will be in our future.

I hope everyone is having a great relaxing night. Keeping everyone in my prayers

And you and yours will be in mine before retiring this evening NMC. This day has been up and down for me. Not good and bad, just trying to keep motivated on a week I set aside to clean and "un-decorate" But I suppose a little time to relax never hurt anyone.
Good night...

 

[MerryCarey]

Evening Merry... all my thoughts and prayers go with you for the best results. The Lord be with you and your family...
View attachment 35480

My prayers are on the way.

Thank you both. I'm hoping to learn more next week.
Prayers are continuing for all in need of them.
Friday is on the way! Good night, all.

 

[nmc42088]

Prayers for Carolina.

Thanks made! Hoping that with medicine she will sleep all night. I hope your niece is feelin better too

 

[CGYager]

"The time has come", the Walrus said, "to speak of many things." "Of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and Kings." "And why the sun is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings."
And that means... I am getting tired
So time to call it a day. I pray all those with discomfort find the blessing of sleep to add to the healing process and that each new day will bring us not only closer to the next Christmas, but closer as friends...
Good Night...

 

[Binger]

Hey hey. A rare hello from Binger. Been busy sampling new coffee blends. Yabba!

 

[Binger]

Was thinking the other day about Christmas. Com and how long ago that seems.

 

[Crown 84]

It's been a long voyage, Bing.
Hope you are doing OK.

 

[Solice]

 

[Solice]

Everyone have a wonderful evening.
I'm not sure if I'll make it back on before we leave for Hawaii - it's going to be a busy few day!!
Everyone, stay safe, happy, healthy & I'll see you all when I get back!!! I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts & prayers & I'll miss ya'll!!!

Have a safe and wonderful trip Holiday.

Busy day. I wanted to stop in and say that I was thinking of all of you though. Hope everyone had a great day!!!

You are in my thoughts too Made. Hoping you are doing great!

 

[Solice]

Good morning FRIDAY
Hope everyone will have a wonderful day
After breakfast, I will soon be on my way to IKEA..
We just bought a white loft bed for Nathaniel, so today I have to find
a desk that goes under there...+ some other things...

Sending my thoughts and prayers for the sick ones....

 

[noodlenoggin]

Me too! I have never heard of it either!

We were born & raised Catholic, live in a predominant Catholic community.... probably 99% Catholic. Never had heard of it.

I have never heard of Candlemas. I am a practicing Lutheran. I will have to look into this.

I only stumbled on learning about Candlemas a few years ago when I was specifically looking into ways that I could extend my Christmas season as long as possible and if there were any dates after Christmas Day that would still be considered part of the official season. It's when I learned that the 12 Days of Christmas actually starts on Christmas Day, where before, like most people, I had always assumed that it ends on Christmas Day. It's also when I learned that January 6th was considered Epiphany and that it is actually a fairly commonly observed day. Which then, after some further research, led me to learn about Candlemas. And that these days are all officially part of the Christmas season according to the religious calendar and terms that characterize them. I'm not particularly religious myself, although I do gravitate to it from time to time. Like I mentioned before, for me, these days are primarily just an excuses to do Christmassy things and feel justified in doing so. I was just wondering what other peoples thoughts were about it.