Are you “over” the holidays yet? It is a wonderful time of the
year yet it is also harried. Sometimes we are disappointed, either
by schedules or unforeseen circumstances. Or….worst of all,
disappointment in the interactions of our friends or family.

It is almost a catch 22 as this time of the year brings out the
love in families but also the jealousies and resentments. As
humans, we tend to think that others have MORE of what we
wish we had. Either more loving interaction with friends and
family, more glamorous parties to attend, more time to do all
we need to do, more money to buy more presents, more
decorations, more….more….more….

Why do you think that you are not enough…for yourself and
for everyone else. The simplest of celebrations sometimes
can be the most enjoyable. Everyone is relaxed and simply
reveling in what they are experiencing. The Holidays are not
simply one day. one “EVE”, one gift or even one person.

Actually, when do you begin preparing for your Holidays?
I shop all year. My children and most of my grandchildren
are all grown up so I do not purchase one gift for each.
I fill stockings for each. Throughout the year, as I am
going along doing other shopping, I keep an eye out for
small things that I think they would enjoy. Sometimes
it is a funny gift or something I heard them say they would
like or something I am guided to give them.

My children and grandchildren have no idea what is in
their stockings because I “disguise” the gifts. I wrap
each one individually and sometimes I am able to
change the shape or put it in a bigger box than it actually
calls for. Even after the wrapping is off, they are never sure
if the box is empty or if it actually contains what the writing
on the box says is in it. It was so heartwarming to hear
my granddaughter tell her son, my great grandson, that
Memere wraps things in ways or boxes that you can’t
recognize so expect to be surprised.

I have a grandson who has his own car now, so he has
graduated to getting a signature item….a coupon for a
free car wash. My adult children look forward to getting
that each Christmas as they know that their car will at
least get one car wash during the winter with all its mud
and salt. His sister is old enough to have a car but she
hasn’t saved enough for one yet, so I wrapped a $10 bill
in a very small box. Another signature item is a calendar
from my church that is actually like a lottery ticket. Each
calendar has a unique number and there are drawings all
year that give prized from $25 and up. Usually one of my
children will win at least once and then the stub is put
back in for other drawings. Sometimes they get candy, or
even small tools that are so useful in the “junk drawer”. Things
that you only need once in a great while but are so grateful
that you have it when you need it.

When I discussed Christmas with my children as the family
had expanded and I was buying toys for the young
grandchildren, they agreed for me to stop buying gifts for
them but the thing that they wanted to keep most of all was
their stockings. It is exciting to have a lot of gifts to open,
never knowing what it is,even if it is nonsensical.

I have also graduated to using paper shopping gift bags for the
stockings so they each can carry their gifts back home with them.

Would you believe that my little tree is still up and there are bags
(stockings) under it? My oldest son and his family were supposed
to come the day after Christmas. He fell ill while they were in
New York on Christmas Day and was hospitalized . He is still
recovering but at home. We are hoping to celebrate Christmas
tomorrow if he is up to it.

So you see, you can have Christmas even after New Years.
Christmas never actually ends. It is truly a state of mind. I must
say though, that it will be nice to put my tree away and for
things to get back to normal. I am looking forward to
sharing the Christmas spirit with the rest of my family tomorrow.

I sincerely hope that you had the opportunity to listen to
Jennifer McLean’s Predictions Week. It was great and
we did a lot of laughing as well as hearing all the great
things that will happen in 2011.

Jennifer did it again and she came up with the most
fabulous idea of creating a Healing Circle that all
of us can participate in. Just imagine the prayer
energy that we can send to the world as well as
to each other. You can make a difference. I
know I will be registering as I love the opportunity
of joining with all like minded people once a month
and making a difference in my life and the lives of
others.

Check it out here!!! I hope you will join us…

==> http://www.mcleanmasterworks. com/1111PrayerCircle

Love and Light

Mary Grace
www.TheWoundedChalice.com
www.TheWoundedChalice.com/blog
[email protected]

PO Box 403
Wales, MA 01081, USA
413-245-3977