Good Evening everyone

How are you today? Are you now just sitting back waiting for Christmas to arrive, having got all your pressies all bought and wrapped up neatly and properly, all around your home festooned with Christmassy decoration goodness, stocked up the food cupboards , fridge and freezer with enough food to feed an army for at least a month and having leafed through the tv programme guides and set to record all your favourites programmes? OR are you like me, having though at one time you had loads of time, due to one thing or another, you still trying to think never mind buy presents whilst trying to remember what you bought aunty, uncle, cousin and sister what you bought them last year so you don't repeat the same thing? Still not bought the Christmas food and the decs seem to be stuck in a big box somewhere that last year was thought a safe but easily findable place that now you cant find,lol! Well maybe Im not quite that bad, I do have one box of decs out even if all the decs are still inside them and I am going food shopping with offspring tomorrow plus have got just over half my pressies so maybe put like that Im don't need to panic quite so much,lol!
   If you like me every year you promise yourself 'next year I will be SO organised' Yeah, right, like that even starts to happen half the time,lol! But, I did really mean to be this year and whats more I haven't even got the excuse any more that been busy having to run round picking up offsprings mess from the inner regions of the sofa/under the bed. from behind the chairs, or spending half the day trying to clean hair dye off  the windowsill, and she has moved out this year! So cant even blame it on her,lol! Now its just me getting late and overloading myself with stuff in the months leading up to it plus being a whole week in bed . But it will happen one year, I promise!
   At the end of the day, I should try and keep calm about it. Christmas, much as it might seem it is, isn't about the amount of money spent on presents, it's not about the glittering light, who has the biggest tree, has little Tracy got the best nativity costume ever, making sure all the relevant people have been sent their Christmas cards, or how many parties you have been invited to. In this
 busy busy world, so much is places on keeping up with the Joneses, having the best Christmas lights and decorations,making the perfect gingerbread house and Christmas pudding, inviting the right people, not leaving anyone out and buying enough food to fee the five thousand even though shops are open all but shortest time they can get away with these days.
     The best Christmas isn't about all those things at all. The best christmasses are those we get to spend with those who matter most in our lives, sharing laughs and smiles, making new memories, reminding each other of past ones, sharing in the magical Christmas spirit and that doesn't necessarily mean being with loads of people. Christmas doesn't have to be a one size fits all. Christmas can be just as joyful with two people sharing a special meal or even a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows as it can be with a large family. Christmas memories are what you make them. Yes I know that as time moves on, some people who are near and dear to us may pass away and that may make Christmas a very emotional time when just it being what it is seems almost too painful to bear, and doing the usual Christmas traditions or plans can be very painful and upsetting.   BUT, think on this
If this is the case and Christmas is a sad time because it is a time you lost someone dear to you that used to enjoy the festive season and who you joined with in making memories and creating certain Christmas traditions within your circle, instead of grinning and bearing it for the sake of others, why not create a new Christmas so to speak by creating new traditions. Instead of trying to carry on doing the things you used to at Christmas, why not do something new. The same goes if this year you suddenly find yourself on your own. Fill your time by perhaps volunteering to help out at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, invite someone else you know will be on their own for lunch on Christmas day, perhaps have a short break away for a different Christmas, treat yourself to a night out at the theatre if you don't usually go, go to some special events at your local church or school, do something different and create a new Christmas!