Day 8 - Tune in!

Rejoice - Punctuation - Reunion - Rest - Presence - Doing for Others - Anticipation

"Rejoice Punctuation, and Reunion with Rest, while Anticipating sharing your Presence in doing for Others" ...this will be fun   

Day 8!  Based on my scientific research, there are 4 more days before Christmas.  I'm not counting the day of...I mean today plus 4, which lands us on the 24.  The red carpet walk, before the party.  This year, the holidays have felt different.  There is no single reason why. I can tell you many reasons..but not all today. Actually, I started the season in a humbug mood, especially when I saw 'Santa' for sale in the stores, before my jack-o-lantern was lit.  That just ticks me off.  Dear Mr. Retailer...stop it. 

I'm pretty sure I spent less time this year looking for sales, coupons, lines, etc.  We considered what we wanted to buy, made a list, checked it twice, then fought the internet traffic for a place in line, only to check out with great ease.  ...and thanks in part of Momma-elf in the GA workshop, who agreed to wrap some of these quick online purchases, upon arrival.  

Point, click, shop.  A few in-store purchases were made too, but we were focused.  That is NOT easy in Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  I will give you a reason why I need to stop and consider each and every booklight, pop up speaker thingy, and eye mask.  Not to mention those large plastic cups with your fav sports team.  I do NOT need one (have them!), but feel a need to look for our teams every time I walk buy...I mean by.  

I could go on..but my point is that our shopping was easy, and basically done.  Stress reduced! The house has been cleaned well enough and we are ready for family and friends to visit. The tactical planning has paid off in spades.  So is planning my joy? No...although is DOES make me happy. I am a planner to a fault sometimes.

My joy is the music! *WHAM* That just happened.  What the heck, lost my stream of thought....?

I've made a point to listen to one of my fav radio stations this season, and really listened to the Christmas songs.  Rather than letting those songs aggravate me, in the car, in the house, at the grocery store, in the store parking lots (really, Mr. Retailer was blaring...I mean sharing...tunes into the parking lot!), I chose to enjoy them.  I chose to enjoy the music of the season, and it has been an excellent side kick while staring at webpage to compare deals.  I sing loudly and off tune, in the car, in the house, and at work. Actually less singing, more whistling at work.  Fa la la la la, la la, la la

SO, find a station, tune in, and lighten up!  The prep work has been done, you've walked the red carpet...now lets relax and start to really appreciate the holiday, the wonderful people around us, the accomplishments of the past year, the struggles we've over come, and the excitement of new things ahead.