“I usually have my Christmas shopping done by now,” a girlfriend told me last week.
My stomach lurched. “Really?” I was astounded, because I knew she wasn’t shipping overseas. I was just happy we’d purchased a birthday gift for our grandson, who’s about to turn six. Was I living in the land of denial? No, I reminded myself, we haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet. And I’m busy finishing a manuscript. Shopping can wait, although retailers are raring to go, as if the world is spinning at double-speed. Hurry up, already, and spend your money!
My generous sister-in-law hosts a fabulous Thanksgiving feast each year. We don’t get leftovers, but I’m spared the ordeal of attempting to create perfection, which includes a turkey cooked at the right time and no lumps in the gravy.
I asked an Old Order Amish woman in Lancaster County, PA, if they celebrate Thanksgiving with all the trimmings. She said, “Oh, my, yes!” Her voice brimmed with enthusiasm. I imagine her daughters and in-laws help her, and that her home is already neater than ours. She’s industrious and organized. Still, many relatives might arrive and cleanup time without a dishwasher would be a tremendous chore. No matter, she’d have a system of shared responsibility. And genuine thankfulness.
Along with disappointments and loss, our household has much to be thankful for, including a miracle in the health arena that would make many doctors shake their heads in amazement. My husband and I sure did. The AMA accepts a double-blind study that prayer works, so why am I always so surprised? Yet not all prayers are answered the way we’d like.
How about you? Have you found a way to keep November and December from spiraling into anxiety-filled fast-forward? I’m not ready for 2015! If you have teenage kids showing signs of mental health conditions, you may help them seek residential treatment for teens in Phoenix. You can also learn more about trauma-focused bodywork as a complementary approach to support their healing journey.
Please share a tip or leave a short comment to enter to win this petite Amish-made purse (approx. 4” X 9”) from Lancaster County, plus a copy of one signed book from The Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. An early Christmas or Chanukah present from me! USA & Canada. Winner has five days to respond.
If you want stress free holidays you might want to take a lesson from your friend. Shopping early isn’t about making a list and hitting the store with a vengeance. Sure you might make the list, but you take your time making your purchases. Look for sales while you’re out doing regular shopping. If you see a good deal or that perfect item for cousin Ann, you buy it. I’ve had Christmas presents in my closet since at least September. I’m not stressing over Christmas and plan to enjoy the next two months.
Good shopping tips, Jennifer! I bet you’ll enjoy the next two months more than most, me included. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
This year has been a stressful one. We lost my dad in August and I’m trying to keep my mom company. I’m hoping I can get her involved in some kind of craft project. I try to lower my anxiety by reading and taking care of my houseplants.
House plants and reading sound like a lovely remedy for anxiety, Kathy. Please accept my sympathy for your recent loss. If you loved a parent I’m not sure you ever get over losing them, but joy eventually returns. Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanksgiving for us will be different this year. My 81 year old mother has shingles, so rather than a day filled with family fun, my parents may only be here long enough to enjoy the meal before wanting to return home. We chose many years ago not to exchange Christmas gifts so the hustle and bustle is not an issue for us. It’s been very liberating for us. 🙂
So sorry to hear about your mother, Michele! My prayer is that her shingles will take Thanksgiving off and steadily improve. We don’t buy very many presents, which does simplify life this time of year. Thanks for writing!
Spend time with family instead of money. I’d love to read any of those books.
You definitely have your priorities in order, Ola! Thanks for writing!
would be great to win.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Susan! Good luck in the giveaway!
Adorable purse. Stay organized. Read, take tea breaks and have a hot bath and walk daily.
Thanks, Anne! Good luck in the giveaway!
I do the black Friday deals, but I avoid Toys R US (I used to go when my first born was a baby for the diaper sale, but I have learned that Babies R Us is less crowded, crazy and has the same deal.) I go with my girl friends on Black Friday, so it is a nice girl time. We take turns in line sometimes. I do not get desperate and pushy. Nothing is worth that. I have two little boys. My husband thinks I am nuts for doing Black Friday, but he does Christmas Eve shopping with the boys, and I am the only one they need to shop for. They usually run out of time before stores close and we have to get ready and go to church. So I think he is crazy. And I have quite a few gifts from craft shows or garage sales already (My brother wanted a Captain Picard collectable figure and I did not know it, but he mentioned it in May, unbeknownst to him I found a Worf figure in it’s box, he likes Worf and at one point was trying to learn Klingon.) Anyway, I try to not stress. We do not have credit cards either. So no temptation to spend more money and be sorry for it later. Thank you for the giveaway!
That sounds like a fun girlfriend time, Karen! I chuckled as I read about your husband and sons. Thank you for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I try to savor each holiday. I love Thanksgiving, and all that it means. I get sad that fall ends, but December is so exciting with all the Christmas activities. Sometimes I do get stressed about it, but I just try to pace myself & be organized in regards to being ready for each activity that comes along.
Sounds as though you have a great outlook on life, Kathy! Wonderful how you pace yourself. Thanks for writing and good luck in the giveaway.
I love listening to Christmas music it helps me to relax and I don’t get stressed out
I love Christmas music, Missy! Always helps me relax too, and singing is actually good for one’s health, both brain and body. Such a deal. Thanks for entering the contest!
To be honest, the holidays are always very stressful for me. The only thing I’ve found to be helpful is doing most of my Christmas shopping online. And if necessary, our adult children receive money. They don’t mind and it’s easier for me.
I’m relying more and more on online shopping, too, Tammy! Sounds as though you’re making life easier on yourself. Once our kids become young adults they never say no to money. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
I don’t think I’ll ever find the right coping mechanism for holidays; they all come and go, all while I’m still trying to get ready for them. However, as the years have caught up with me, I simply take them more in stride, thus less anxiety. It makes me happiest just to see others happy during the holidays and throughout the year.
Taking the holidays in stride sounds perfect, Linda! I love seeing others happy too, but have come to realize I can’t MAKE them happy. Presents are wonderful but there are 365 days in the year … Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
I love the purse,it is so cute.I love reading all your post Kate.Thanks for sharing.I guess the only tip I can give about stress is just do what you can and don’t sweat the small stuff.Focus on the true meaning of Christmas and be a blessing to all.
Thank you, Jackie! Great advice. I should print that and put it on a card to read every day. Good luck in the giveaway!
I am anxious about Christmas this year, My husband is in a care facility on hospice. One of my adult children will be coming from out of town. She is very ill with Lyme disease. My other adult child is developmentally delayed and still functions as a child. I do not know how to make it a nice Christmas for everyone. Traditionally, we have just all been together at home and everything has been wonderful. I feel like I can not be all things to all people, but I know that is the expectation and if I am not, it just won’t happen. I am open to suggestions from people who may have been in similar situations. My husband is only 64. We are too young for this. His condition is very rare and totally unexpected.
Oh, Karen, what a terrible challenge. I pray for your husband and whole family. No, you can not be all things to all people. I have several friends battling Lyme disease. Most of the medical community ignores it or refuses to treat patients, even in CT, down the road from Lyme. A very difficult situation. Thank you for taking the time to enter this contest!
Hi Kate. Cute purse. I used to pick up little gifts all through the year to be less stress. But my problem is putting off getting the wrapping done early. I don’t have to cook anymore for the kids all do the dinner and take turns going to a different one each year. I can’t afford much but have to get something for I just love giving gifts. Started when I was 9 yrs old. Kids are harder to please now than they used to be tho. My health is worse now and can’t do my sewing gifts anymore. I just wish people would just give little gifts of love and not go overboard with spending . many who will take all of the next year to pay for it. I just love being with my kids, grands and many greats. Linda, can’t get over you having 3 Jennifers. How often would that happen? Must use nicknames. I would love to with your #3 book with this cute little purse Kate. Thanks for a chance.
Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Thanks for writing, Maxie! Ah, yes, the wrapping is always a challenge. I agree about not going overboard and putting yourself in debt. Little gifts of love are much better. Good luck in the contest!
Love,love your books,also love the purse would love to win Thanks
Thanks so much, Martha! Good luck in the contest!
I was a working Mom when my kids were growing up so I never had time for homemade gifts. Now as a retired Grammy I am hoping to start working on making things for Christmas gifts. Also being retired means there is significantly less money coming in so making things is also more a necessity. But I do enjoy sewing & crafting. Want to make shirts for son/grandsons & rag quilts. Haven’t figured out what to make for my daughter ~ probably a quilt & shirts for her as well. But this year will be pretty slim with the gifts as I haven’t gotten started on making anything yet. I also enjoy baking for gifts. I always enjoy your contests & reading your blog. And definitely enjoy reading your books! Need to win or buy “Leaving Lancaster” so I can read “Pennsylvania Patchwork” as it is the only one I have of this trilogy. Blue is my favorite color & the purse is really pretty. God bless you this Thanksgiving & Christmas season.
How wonderful that you enjoy sewing and crafting, Mary! Ooh, and rag quilts. Love those! Blue is my favorite color too. Thanks for writing and I’m wishing you good luck!
I have found the way for me to deal with stress is prayer. All day at work, driving home, even in line at the store I find myself doing a prayer.
The purse is darling and would love to have it.
Thanks for the chance
Excellent, Marsha, as I can’t think of a wrong time to pray! Good luck in the giveaway!
All my life I’ve wanted to “BE” Amish. My maternal side are PA Dutch from York, PA. I grew up in the deep south, but was raised with PA Dutch ideas, etc. I would love to live a simple life. I guess I do compared to most people but I’d love it even more if it was even simpler. I would treasure winning that little purse.
I would love to simplify my life too, Denise. But then I wouldn’t be using a computer right now. Your heritage sounds interesting. An Amish woman assured me their life isn’t perfect, either, so I guess we Englishers will have to do the best we can in this modern world. Thanks for writing and entering the contest!
It’s cold here inOceanside, CA at 59! And I’m readinf under my electric blanket. That’s my tip! I’d love yo win purse and a book! Sm
I can imagine 59 is cold in Oceanside, Sharon! You probably don’t own a pair of long underwear or a down comforter. Thank you for writing and entering the contest. Good luck!
Thanks for the opportunity to win! I would love to win and would be so blessed to win! I would give the purse to my Mom, who we had to make a tough decision to put her in a nursing home, as she is very hard headed and refuses to walk or do anything for herself anymore! God Bless Her! I would give it to her because my brother took away most of her possessions and wont let me bring her anything extra, he is her power of attorney and I called the Department of Aging about it, but they said that he can do anything he wants with her things! But she is still competent, so I really don’t understand! But it would make her day that much brighter, so maybe if i pray enough, I will win, I would read the book first but then give her that too, as she loves to read as much as I do!!! But anyway, it is a cold, 35 degrees down here in Florida today so I am lying under an electric throw as I am writing! As I am very cold blooded! I have also been very ill lately and spend a lot of time in the hospital for treatments, and I love to read, so books, especially Amish books, really help me to get through it! It has been doubly hard as there are no funds to buy books, and my library, when I can get there, is small, I have read all of their Amish books and they don’t currently have funds to purchase any more books right now! If anybody reads this, and has any Amish books that they could spare, it would be such a blessing plus I could either donate them to the hospital when I am done, keep them or donate them to the Nursing home! Whatever the person would want me to do with them! But I really need some books! I have been trying to win a Kindle or Nook, but it hasn’t happened so far, then I would have access to a lot of free books!!! I try not to get too anxious or nervous about the holidays, but the power of prayer always works too when there are any issues! I was thinking of having an Amish Christmas, hand made and simple gifts from the heart, church of course and being with family for a nice meal! God Bless You and Your Family! Thanks again for the opportunity to win! God Bless and Good Luck to Everyone!!!
Thanks so much for writing, Frances! How interesting that you are thinking of having an Amish Christmas. I’d love to know how that goes for you. Please let me know. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
The holidays can be as stressful as we let them be. My motto is ‘don’t sweat the small stuff as there is enough big stuff to deal with’! My husband, mom and me celebrate Thanksgiving the day after with lasagna! I drive in to see my mom a few weeks before, then my husband flies in Thanksgiving day and we celebrate together on Fri. in a non-traditional way that works for us. The main thing is I won’t always have my precious 87-year old mom and so we try to keep things simple and make memories. The purse is adorable and would love to win and absolutely love your books. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Linda
So true, Linda, your mother is precious. And so true about not sweating the small stuff! I’m delighted to hear you enjoy my books. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I do not let the holidays get stressful. The holidays for me are all about family.
Living on a limited budget, I often cross stitch gifts and make crafts instead of buying toys and gifts that will have no meaning to recipients in the future. (most toys will not last that long…)
Faith and Family… This is what these next holidays are all about!!
Good for you, Elaine! Faith and Family would make a great slogan or title for a non-fiction book. Good luck in the giveaway!