I seem to be spinning my wheels lately and obviously blogging has been put at the bottom of my "to do" list. I have been busy doing some fun and happy things and also found myself running a fever for 6 days, visiting the doctor and finally getting over whatever it was with the help of a strong antibiotic. I think I started with a bit of flu (a week after the shot) and it turned into a sinus infection. I just was so busy that I kept popping Advil and pretending I wasn't sick. That doesn't work very well.
In the past couple weeks I have been blessed to have celebrated my birthday 3 different times having lunch with friends. I had my oldest friend come spend the night and do some shopping, and we had friends we haven't spent time with in more than 10 years come through town and stop for a good visit. We squeezed in a day in St. Louis, a birthday lunch with my sister (celebrating our birthdays on my Mom's birthday), a couple of doctor's appointments and of course all of the normal, daily things that need to be done. During the "sick days", I did what was on the calendar and fell into bed the minute I walked in the door. So...my blog friends and my readers paid the price for my crazy life. I guess we all have times when we just can't do everything!
So, I am a little torn on this early push for Christmas. I am seeing more and more stores that are now going to be open on Thanksgiving and it seems so wrong in some ways to completely ignore a holiday that so many people love. I really feel sorry for those that are being forced to work on a day that they should get to spend with family. On the other hand, usually by Thanksgiving evening, getting out and going shopping might be fun (for me it beats football)! We no longer do much on Thanksgiving, so it doesn't matter much to us, but it does to others. I'm thankful every day for my blessings, but I do remember how important it was when the whole family could be together.
Because of the way my family now does Christmas, I have to be done, wrapped and ready early in December, so I feel the holiday push much sooner than most these days. I am actually almost done with my shopping! The house is still decorated for fall, but the gifts, boxes and wrapping paper are ready when I find the time to put them all together. As for decorating the house...I'm not in the mood to do the work and every year I wonder why we do it when we don't have Christmas at my house, but I always find the inspiration. I'm counting on it happening again this year!
I have good intentions of getting around to visit blogs the next few days. I can't wait to catch up and hopefully find that holiday decorating inspiration that I always find when I see what others are doing!