What Are You Planning For The Holidays?

[Serenity13]

I am trying to avoid the whole ordeal truth be known -

Kind of hard with 2 kids...

Normal tradition would be going to my parents house for Thanksgiving, then on Friday get up early with my Sister & Mom for Black Friday Shopping - H would have the lights hung for Christmas by the time I got home and we would then decorate the house, put up the tree, build a fire etc...

Now I have no house to decorate, no spouse to hang lights and snuggle with by the fire, the kids aren't happy with the way things are right now, I hate the way things are right now...

I have no freakin clue how I am going to get through tomorrow much less Christmas.

I am thankful for what I do have, I am thankful I have a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, my family, my children, all of you etc...

I am not thankful of the situation at this present time.

I am trying to keep the mindset of "In Everything Give Thanks" but there is a piece of me who just doesn't have it in her today.

[Gardener]

Well, when STBXW and I married, we switced Thanksgiving Day Celebration to Friday to eliminate at least one of the which-parent-this-time conflicts for the kids. Worked out great. STBXW and I felt like we kinda had 2 Thanksgivings. Had the wonderful extra day to prepare and cook, put on the Macy's parade on the TV and had a non-hectic blast. We've done it for 17 years.

I'm continuing it this Friday with my S,32 (S ,33's in Colorado), My B, SIL, and two N's as always. StepS had said he was coming. Now, not so sure. So, missing will be Wife, StepS (probably) Recent WAW DIL, 32 and GS, 4.

So, there'll be a little more elbow room around the formerly crammed table (so crammed that wife and I shared the piano bench at the head of the table).

And as always, even this year of two Ds in the Gardener Clan, there is much to be thankful for, not the least of which are the dozens and dozens of helpful, caring friends on theses boards - friends I didn't have last Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

[luvless]

First Thanksgiving ever I will sit at the table and look at my H with disgust.

[Serenity13]

(((Luv)))

I have to say I actually giggled reading that line you posted...

I can just see you now (how you look in my head since I don't know you) glaring at your H...

Makes for a comfortable dinner -

[luvless]

thanks Serenity - I needed that

[Serenity13]

(((((Hugs)))))

Here is a big one to carry you through dinner tomorrow...

Nothing but peace and joy for you and your family.

Peace and joy for us all

[Awoken]

My WAW decided to go to the other side of the country for thanksgiving to be with her family and her new FB friends. She left tuesday. Thankfully, she's leaving our two kids here with me.

I haven't told my family much about what has been going on, and I was truly dreading seeing them. I decided instead to have thanksgiving at my house and invite them all over and have as normal a thanksgiving for my kids as possible (except WAW is not cooking!)

Friday and Saturday, I've got gigs (I'm a musician) on the coast and I'm taking both kids with me for the weekend. They are both excited and we should have a great time. I'm so thankful for the time with my kids, and I can't imagine how hard it is for those of you by yourself for the holidays.

[twistfigure]

My office pays double time and a half for working on a holiday so I signed up for a shift thanksgiving, black friday, 2 shifts Christmas eve and a shift Christmas day just to fill the time. I figure might as well act like it's a normal day and make some extra money in the process.

[PainfulDusk]

hugs for everyone, hope you have a peaceful, and drama free holiday.

I for one have been invited to a friends family get together tomorrow. Im looking forward to it.

I have no intention of msging my H nor do I expect anything from him. Im ok with this. We'll see how I feel xmas tho.

Dusk

[mlj]

I thought I would pull this thread up again for any updates anyone had

I had plans to go to my D house who lives several hours away.
BUT
It isn't to be.

Since school got out the other day, I have been sick in bed with the flu. I think it was a gift from one of my students.
I also have a dog who is going to be sixteen tomorrow who needs a lot of TLC

I have never spent a Christmas alone, and anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Christmas time. I guess I'm about to find out what it's like. I know I'm not the first, and I know unfortunately I won't be the last.

So...
I'm about to find out how strong I've grown.
Just remembered, I won't be alone, I have my boys (dogs).
If I'm feeling better in the next day or two, I will take a trip to the store and buy my fav foods.

I never thought I would be a loner on Christmas.
It will just make the next one that much better.
Who knows what the future holds.

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful friends I've made here!
We're all going to come out of this better than our wildest expectations could ever imagine.

2010 will be our year!


(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS TO ALL)))))))))))))))))))))))))

MJ