My "What Mattered Most" To-Do on Christmas Day

     

Yesterday was Christmas day; it was so nice to have my youngest son and his new wife here with us.  We opened gifts, ate a nice breakfast casserole, relaxed a while and got dressed for our Noon Church service.  I have to admit I wasn't excited to get dressed and leave my home for Church, but I went.

As I was sitting in the pew listening to talks and beautiful Christmas musical numbers (both in words and instrumental) I had the feeling that I was where I most needed to be on that Christmas day.  I was filled with the spirit of Christ and was brought to tears with an overhwhelming knowledge that I was sitting exactly in the spot I needed to be surrounded by family and friends; it was the highlight of my day. 

The rest of the day was spent in making a simple meal of ham and scalloped potatoes, relaxing in my pj's and in visiting with family over the phone since everyone lives far away.  ( I love my family and am grateful that we have "facetime" using the ipad2. )   After a long nap we had a few friends drop over to enjoy a movie with us; it was a nice day. 

As Christmas day is over and a new year is upon me, I will strive to remember to keep the spirit of Christmas with me all year long.  It's not as easy to do without all of the beautiful Christmas music and beautiful Christmas lights as well as the fun decorations, but I was reminded yesterday from the pulpit that as we think of Christ and think Christ-like thoughts, we can have that feeling always. 

What, I Have a Blog?

Today a friend of mine paid me a great complement, stating that through my blog I had helped change her thoughts and perceptions a little bit during the year.  I am grateful that I was able to help even if it was just a smidgen.  As I was reading her complement, I was reminded that yes, I do have a blog.  I've forgotten about it just a little during this past week and  half of madness with Christmas and a wedding!

I have thought a little bit about what I'd like to accomplish during the coming year on Thought"full"ness.  I feel like I need a direction instead of so much randomness.  There's a book called The Happiness Project, in which the author maps out a year of things to do to be happy.  I think that's a great idea and I love the book. 

Her first month, which was January, she picked "getting more sleep" as an avenue to achieve more happiness in her life.  She would go to bed earlier in the evening; I'm not sure I want to give up all of my late nights (at least not yet!).  I'm not certain that we all have to do the same things to become happier; it's an avenue to explore; we are all individuals with different personalities and responsibilities. 

I do think this would be a great year to explore all kinds of ways to become happier and more fulfilled and to do it with ease instead of struggle.  Would any of you like to take a journey in 2012 with me?  I'm not huge on New Year Resolutions; I just like the idea of a new year to grow and to learn, adding new experiences and memories to my life. 

So on this Christmas Eve, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with much love and wonderful memories.  I am grateful to my Savior for his birth, life, death and resurrection.  May we celebrate his life in living ours to the fullest, including others in our journey. 

Remembering

When I go a few days without posting on
Thought"full"ness, I miss it; not that I necessarily have amazing things to write about but it's a kind of therapy for me, I think. 

Today I feel like the air has gone out of me; it's been a few days of being so busy and getting things done for Christmas as well as for my youngest son's wedding (not that I'm doing alot for his wedding, but I do have to look good, right? so I had to purchase some new clothes and all that goes along with that).  I'm tired, which is nothing new, but this tired is almost the feeling of letting go of everything that's not that important and only focusing on what really matters. 

Last night (or should I say early this morning) when I finally laid down to try and sleep, I could have used this quote; I found it this morning on one of my pinterest boards.  It's not that I have anything bad going on in my life that I'm being torn apart, but I have allowed myself (once again) to be ruled by getting things done (and if it's not being done it's still in my head to be done) and forgetting to pay attention to the wondefullness of the season and even to " just breathing". 

So today as I, once again, have to finish a few things before Christmas (since we will be gone for almost a week before Christmas) as well as the house cleaning and packing (well, you know the drill) I am choosing to remember the positives in my life; the wonderful help I'm given from my Father in Heaven so that I can "hold it all together".   I will remember to breathe as I am at the Post office and while I am finishing up the few Christmas gifts and especially as I tackle the process of creating a photo book for my Mother-in-Law. 

It's a great day to be alive.