Where Are You Christmas Spirit?

Alright now, time is running short! If I must be sick anymore, it will just have to be after the holidays are over. I must draw from the depths of my innermost self, find the strength I know is there, pull myself up by the boot straps and get on with the holiday festivities.

That was my mantra yesterday as I went shopping with the kiddies and wrapped packages, etc. I will just ignore the crud, medicate myself appropriately and it will go away long enough to be happy and get through the holiday festivities of Sunday without a hitch! Sunday's agenda was to be as follows: worship, Heartsill Christmas in Greenville, church again at 3 pm, caroling and a party afterward for the carolers...a full day of fun! I took my medicine and went to bed in order to be able to wake up ready to hit the ground running. About 2:30, Gracie comes to my bedroom crying. Her ear is hurting really badly. I didn't count on this! I can muddle through, but I can't make my children buck up and keep going at all cost, when they are sick! Yikes! So, I gave her Ibuprophen and put a moist heat on her ear which didn't help very much. So we tried the old tried-and-true blowdryer in the ear trick and it seemed to help. About 5:00, she asked to take a shower and in the middle of that, she vomitted. After she got out of the shower we applied more blowdryer heat to her ear and by then, the pain meds had kicked in and she fell asleep. That was around 6:30.

Needless to say, we missed worship. Michael is going to take her to PriMed to see the doctor and hopefully we will make it to 3pm church and the other two can go carolling and to the after party so their day will be somewhat normal.

I am still looking for my Christmas spirit and am determined to find it before the 25th. I have caught a glimpse of it here and there, so I think it can't elude me much longer! Maybe I need to talk to Santa.....hmmmm.....

It Just Doesn't Feel Like Christmas

I don't know why, but this year has been so "off" for me. Nothing has seemed right.

First, all the plans we had for all the big parties for the parents didn't come to fruition until the very last one, summer was eaten up with hospitals and nursing care, but I thought by now things would feel normal.

Thanksgiving was not the same as usual. I don't know what is going on. Maybe it is my attitude, maybe its hormonal, maybe its the weather, maybe its that my children all know about Santa, whatever it is...it stinks and it is really putting a damper on my festivities.

It is less than a week before the "big" day and I have yet to purchase one gift for my children. I have a couple under the tree for my boyfriend and one for me, but none for the little ones. We have been sick for a while and that has taken up time, but this is more than that. There is a whole different feeling to the season and I don't like it!

I have got to find my Christmas spirit...I know it has to be around here somewhere!

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She Who Must Be Obeyed

She Who Must Be Obeyed

A Tribute to a Long Life, Well-Lived

My niece took this picture of Millie and I think it is just too beautiful. How poignant that she is looking toward the sky with her hands clasped and such a sweet smile on her face. This photo brings me much peace. Kristi, I hope you don't mind that I put it on my blogpage, but I can look at it often here and it gives me comfort. A tribute to a long life, well-lived.

A Precious Friend, A Dear Aunt

This morning about 6 am, my mother phoned to tell me that my Aunt Bill had died in her sleep during the night. Her name was Mildred Ruby Conway Durden and she was 96 years old. She was born on February 25 to Lloyd Colvin and Lena Idell Daniel Conway.

She was married to a pharmacist and she always called him Durden although that was his last name. She was widowed at a relatively young age with a young daughter to raise. She owned a clothing store in Montgomery with her sister for many years then retired to Fort Deposit where she lived until she broke a hip a few years before her death.

She was active and spunky all her life. She never let anyone run over her and she took care of her business like a pro. She was smart, strong, and tough when necessary, but she had a heart of gold.

She was kind, loving, generous, good-hearted, and funny. She was a domino champ...no one could beat her! She was a world traveler, but she loved "home".

She was easy to talk with despite the difference in our ages. She loved her family and we loved her. I had planned to see her tonight when we sang at the nursing home...I had a Christmas card for her room. I will surely miss her powerful presence in my world. She was a force to be reckoned with!

Now, of the original ten siblings in my father's family, there are only four left with us. We hate so badly to tell them goodbye, but that is because we selfishly want to keep them with us. They are in a better place now. We will see them again.

Aunt Bill was ready to go. She was not afraid of death. I can't imagine her being afraid of anything. She goes with our love and a little piece of our hearts, but we get to keep a little piece of hers with us in the exchange. It will have to do for now.

We love you, Millie.