Christmas holiday: hectic, happy, or both?
@1creekgirl (40515)
United States
December 14, 2018 3:22pm CST
This time of year can get really crazy. That's what I get when I try to cram too much into a short amount of time.
Christmas was a lot more busy when the kids were young. There were chorus concerts at school, Boy Scout programs, several church activities, shopping, decorating, baking, plus working full time jobs, plus school.
How did we ever have the energy for all of it?
I guess part of it was we were a lot younger back then!
Now the kids are grown, the grands almost are (except for the nine and 15 year old.) We're retired, so our son and daughter have inherited a lot of the activities for their kids.
In some ways I miss all the stuff going on during the holidays. But mostly I enjoy being less stressed and busy. We still have some activities at church like the play and the Christmas covered dish dinner. And I still cook and bake a lot.
But the shopping has really slowed down because we mostly give cash and gift cards. No little ones to buy toys for.
So, I guess our holiday is both: hectic and happy. As long as we're well and can be together, and stuff ourselves on lots of good food, we'll be happy and have so much to thank God for.
Especially for that sweet baby Jesus who's having a birthday!
Is your Christmas hectic or happy? Or both?
14 people like this
18 responses
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
14 Dec 18
That's good, Alfredo. Merry Christmas!
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
14 Dec 18
@1creekgirl A very Merry Christmas to you.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79722)
• United States
14 Dec 18
Mine is both....hectic and happy. The whole family gathers at my house so it's a happy fun day but the preparations can get a bit hectic. I spent the day wrapping presents and thinking that the grandchildren are getting older and the fun of toys is coming to an end.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
It's kind of sad when they outgrow toys, isn't it?
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79722)
• United States
15 Dec 18
@1creekgirl they grow up so fast. Don't know where the time has gone but I don't have any little grandchildren anymore.
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
15 Dec 18
I have an 11 year old disabled boy and a 9 year old daughter. On the last day of the school term I will give them money to buy their own presents. On Saturday 22nd December we will visit my children's grand parents. My children break up from school on Friday 21st December so it is rather late this year. Christmas is a happy time to have a blissful time together.
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
15 Dec 18
@1creekgirl Thank you. I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and make a happy time in 2019.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
I pray for a very peaceful and blessed holiday for you and your son.
2 people like this
@a_jerobon (2304)
• Eldoret, Kenya
15 Dec 18
My Christmas is great, not hectic at all.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
15 Dec 18
@1creekgirl now I looked at the picture you have there, and it seemed so sweet. and jelly at the same time not a hard candy. yummy
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
@Mavic123456 It's actually plastic that looks like candy. It's one of two ornaments our son received as a baby, so it's really old!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
Hope you have a blessed holiday anyway!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Dec 18
Mine is less stress now that we don`t shop for gifts, we give money mostly.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Mine is both, I have some hectic times when interacting with the family but mostly I do things on my own. I no longer have to shop much as I give a monetary gift hidden in a nominal fun gift so I just buy one gift for each member of the family and a stocking stuffer for each. All very easy.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
17 Dec 18
Those are good ideas. Merry Christmas!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
21 Dec 18
It sounds like your Christmas is filled with the things you like the best. Yay!
Ours is mostly quiet, but surprising how much there is to do during the season anyway
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
21 Dec 18
Actually, I'm in Urgent Care with a sore throat and headache. Still too much to do for Christmas! How's your mom? Take care of yourself, too.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
21 Dec 18
@1creekgirl Oh no. I will pray you feel better soon.
Mom is recovering, little better each day. Though I still wish she felt up to eating more to regain a little weight.. Thanks for the reminder and for asking, fellow Vicki :-)
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
15 Dec 18
Mine is not as hectic as it used to be. Our kids are grown and we have four little granddaughters, ages 6 and under.
My mother-in -law just passed away two weeks ago, so this Christmas is kind of bittersweet. She had been in a nursing home the past three Christmases. We went to eat with her there on Christmas day, then usually had a holiday gathering with out kids/grands on Christmas evening or another day.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
15 Dec 18
I'm so sorry about your MIL. I know this will be a sad holiday without her.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I like to try to keep it as little hectic as possible. I too have resorted to gift cards. Gosh, people have EVERYTHING these days. Plus, a lot of the gifts we wind up getting really serve no purpose, and so I think its better to just give someone the opportunity to get whatever they want and will actually get some use out of.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
17 Dec 18
I used to prefer giving a gift card instead of cash. But too many times the card doesn't get used, so I think sometimes cash is better.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (30285)
• Petaluma, California
1 Jan 19
Yup, we were definitely younger. 
I don't have children, but there were a lot more things to do around Christmas when I was younger. As one of the songs we sang in a Christmas play at church said, "Until the season's over, there's no time to celebrate!"
As always, thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.
My Christmas this year was busy, though I wouldn't say, "hectic." It was different, as it was the second Christmas without my Mom, but thankfully, thanks to my brother and his girlfriend's family, not lonely.
I don't have children, but there were a lot more things to do around Christmas when I was younger. As one of the songs we sang in a Christmas play at church said, "Until the season's over, there's no time to celebrate!"
As always, thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.
My Christmas this year was busy, though I wouldn't say, "hectic." It was different, as it was the second Christmas without my Mom, but thankfully, thanks to my brother and his girlfriend's family, not lonely.1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
1 Jan 19
I'm glad you had family...I know you still miss your mom.
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I miss those days, but it really is nice to slow down some.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
15 Dec 18
I'm like you, I do sometimes miss the hustle and bustle but mostly I'm happy not to have all the stress. Getting older does that to us I reckon. Our Christmas will be mostly quite with the kids visiting as they can and of course - Food!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40515)
• United States
16 Dec 18
You sound a lot like me. Most of our kids and grands will be here for Christmas. The oldest grandson is in Maine and won't be here.
1 person likes this
