Being with my family today really matters to me. We are having our annual ThanksChristmas Party today. Because of past traumas in our family, we choose to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas on a day when there are no triggers for anyone. We have done this for years, and it has been a great decision.

Some years we have had a theme, and all dressed up in costumes. Doing this gave us a kind of distance emotionally, and it worked beautifully. We all chose a Doctor Who character. That year we did it around Halloween.
Other years we have gathered and had a low key celebration. It just depends on how the year has been, and where everyone is emotionally. We did not meet when Covid had us in lockdown, but we did Zoom.
It started out taking place in the summer months, but gradually shifted to happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has been one of the best ideas I have ever had for our family. And we have been doing it for over 11 years.

As we have healed through the years, the Celebration has moved, but only when almost all members were able to meet without intense family triggers.
We have one member who was given up for adoption, and he really tries to come, but sometimes the pain is still too much.
We let him know he is always welcome, but we understand, and respect and honor where he is….he has, over the years, developed a relationship with some of the younger members of the family, and that matters very much.
So, with the new variant out there, we are still going through with it, and hope we are safe. We will wear masks, except when we eat, but will social distance. Say a prayer for us…..my husband and I are very much at risk……
I saw a friend the other day, and asked her if her family were getting together for Christmas. She told me her family is so fractured they do not get together for anything anymore. Ever. They do not see each other at all.
I am so grateful for my family, even though we are far from what you would think is the ideal family. We have survived.
So it really matters to me that today happens.

So I am starting over again. After a very harried two weeks with much stress and tension, I have come out the other side. Sometimes you just have to go through things to get to the other side.
And I saw how all of this, lived over the past few weeks, had shifted my being grateful in certain areas of my life. So this morning, regardless of the insomnia, I greet the world with a grateful heart. And I will honor that gratefulness by leaving these words, and moving on to my morning meditation. I had dropped it, and it showed! May you all be well, healthy in body and mind, and be at peace. May it be so and blessings to all.

I have not visited in such a long time, but thought I would pop in and say hello…I would love to share files, but have found they are always too big, so must get it figured out….any tips?
I have been meditating on the words, ‘Have a good day/great day”lately. What do I really mean by that, or what do others mean by that? I usually mean-I wish you well today-as I am sure others do, but for some reason it has bothered me lately. I finally figured it out, and I wanted to share my joy somewhere, so here I am!
I was raised a Roman Catholic, which had many good things to offer as well as negative things, just like alot of religions in the 50s. In the parochial school I attended, we went to daily mass, and had catechism every day. in school. One of the things that came out of that was an Examination of Conscience. We were told, I believe from second grade on-as I remember-to do it before going to sleep every night. To go over any sins or shortcomings we had done during the day, and ask for forgiveness and to do better the next day. Where did I fall short during the day? How could I have done better? All these years…and now I have the antidote.
Before going to sleep I have a piece of paper-one by my toothbrush, and one on my nightstand-that says, “Recall the good or great things of the day”. I am so grateful for this healing….blessings to you all. I may not be able to “check in” with you often, but I will try….
NOW, to continue to clean out that closet I have been working on in our exercise room…in more ways than one!!!

I guess because I am old, most of the people or persons who have made a big impact in my life is not someone I have known for a short time, especially with Covid happening these past few years…but the one I can recall is Heather Cox Richardson. I technically have not known her, but her Letters From An American have had a huge impact in my life. Knowing the difference these past few years between fact and fantasy, truth and lies, has been monumental. Knowing I am not alone in this, knowing the history of it all, has been calming and helpful in these stress-filled times. And knowing I am not alone in this has been healing.