Eagle, I love you. You are such a loving and caring woman. I know God is going to bless you this Christmas season. Keep your eyes open to His grace and you won't be disappointed.

We had dinner with FIL and BIL last night and we left feeling guilty that we have one another to spend the holidays with. My prayer is that everyone feels loved, and no one feels alone this Christmas. Anyone else interested in joining in this prayer.

Smile, it's so great to hear your voice again!

My youngest sister lost her husband a few months ago. I have invited her and her children to spend the Christmas holidays with me but she has not yet made up her mind. I would really like her to come. On her behalf and for many others with similar circumstances, I join you in prayer, Dotsie.

Dotsie, I too join you in your prayer. Being alone, and feeling lonely are the worst at this time of the year.

Eagle, I'm hanging in there. Had my spirits lifted with those acceptances. I haven't written anything of value since my Dad got sick but sent out some old stuff which turned out to be a good idea! I am decorating more to keep myself busy than anything else. Love, Light and Remembrance is the theme.

Together, through this forum, we'll get through this season!

Dotsie, that's a prayer very close to my heart. This is one of the toughest times of the year to be alone, especially if it's a "new" alone.

TVC, I'm holding you so close to my heart these days. It means a lot to me that we travel this Advent journey together...

That means a lot to me Eagle and I feel the same.

Anne327, you sound like you are on your way to a good time. Good for you. You are absolutely right about being with friends instead of family sometimes. Lord knows I have issues in that department as well!

Anne, You go girl! How's that saying go? ... You need friends, to make up for your family.

Who cares about the Martha Stewart form of perfection. The perfect meal, perfect gift, perfect decorations, and perfectly clean house went up in smoke when the kids were born.

The perfect of everyone showing up and getting along went when the kids became teenagers.

Now we're just coasting on imperfection--And loving it.

smile

I'm a recovering perfectionist. Perfectionism is (for me) definitely an illness (maybe a distant relative to OCD?) Anyway, this time of year does bring out all those old compulsions to do everything just right and make everyone's Christmas the perfect day. But that's the strange healing thing about fatigue - one wouldn't think that chronic fatigue could be healing, but in this case, it is. Because it forces me to accept my limitations and work within them and not care so much about things that aren't my responsibility (like making everyone's Christmas the perfect holiday - that's not my job).

This year it's been even easier to be imperfect. With half my time spent at my brother's, I simply don't have time to do anything perfectly - barely have time to do anything at all! So whatever's getting done, is getting done as quickly and painlessly as possible.

I like that image, Smile, of coasting on imperfection. I have to say that the more I let go of these perfectionist tendencies, the more serene I feel about life. "Coasting" is a good word for it. Maybe I'll try "serenely coasting" on my imperfections for the next few weeks and see how that gets me through!