Feeling refreshed for 2011

Never Again.  Never again will I plan my Christmas  so poorly that I spend the week before Christmas trying to get all my shopping done - and I mean ALL my shopping.  I didn't even start until December 17th.    It was one of the few times in my life that anxiety struck - and it struck hard.  Two days before Christmas I was completely overwhelmed with thoughts of gifts and dinner and cleaning the house and gifts and so on and so on.  Other than our polar express trip at thanksgiving - I did none of our usual holiday activities with the kids.  No breakfast with Santa, no driving around looking at Christmas lights, no baking.  I even worked at the Rec Center's holiday festival - and didn't bring the kids! Now that I think about it - I was a Scrooge this year!  Not that I was consciously aware of it - I just was so consumed with my To Do list, I didn't really get to enjoy the season.  However, on December 26th my anxiety finally came to an end.  I had taken the entire week off of work between Christmas and New Years.  I did nothing but read, play the wii with the boys, see a couple movies and go to dinner with a friend.  In short - I found my life again.  AAAHHH.  That week off felt like being able to take that first deep breath after a miserable cold.  By the time January 1st rolled around I was actually ready to go back to work. But let me tell you this:  LESSON LEARNED.  The holidays will not be like this next year.  I will be prepared.  And most important I will remember what the season is really about:  The birth of Jesus Christ - and sharing what that really means with my kids.