'Tis the Season to be....

'Tis the season to be busy. It seems that everyone is busy around the holidays. The stores are packed, and the restaurants are too. The roads are crowded and the lines are long. Nobody is home, and no one is blogging. Things need to be bought, made, wrapped or baked. It's that time of year. There is just too much to do and never enough time to do it.

Just another example of what happens when you don't plan and execute the plan:-)

Each year I tell myself that I am going to have all the shopping completed by Thanksgiving.

Each year I tell myself that I will schedule a family picture in September, print the cards in October, then address and mail cards in November.

Each year I tell myself that I will make some fantastic gift for my family, and usually end up not sleeping for the week before Christmas to finish it because I started late. I actually thought I had enough time, I always do.

Each year I promise to think of a Christmas list I can share when the question is asked. What do you buy the woman who doesn't want anything that can be purchased at a store or wrapped under the tree? How can you box "silence", "sleep", "getting along", "naps", or "potty training"?

I am actually torn over Christmas lists. I like getting what I want, but I also like being surprised by what people think I might want. It is possible to miss out on many wonderful gifts when you tell the giver what it is that you want.

For example, my mother in law recently told me that one of the best gifts that she uses all of the time is a pair of pot holders that I crocheted during the super-lean years. We didn't dare ask people what they wanted because we knew very well that we wouldn't be able to get them what was on their list. But who would have thought to ask for crocheted pot holders? If I didn't give what I thought they could use and what I was able to make my mother in law would have been denied her favorite pot holders. They really are amazing. In fact, I may need to learn that pattern again because I never made a pair for myself. That year we gave them all away.

Now there isn't much that I want. So this year I am telling whoever asks to surprise me. There really are so few surprised left that I want to enjoy them when they come.

But if anyone needs a little help here are three suggestions:-) Babysitting! Babysitting! Babysitting!

Before things get to crazy, don't forget Medical Monday's is coming up again January 6, 2014!  It will be a New Year and a new guest co-host. By January we will all be feeling more like ourselves, maybe even better.