The pre-Christmas preparations have started and this week has felt like a very productive one. I’ve been busy ticking things off the to-do list – making lists, going shopping, buying presents. I’ve even made a start on the wrapping which is unheard of this early in December. I’m hoping that being organised will help ease some of the usual pre-Christmas stress later on. Hubby is due to go away for work for a few days in the middle of December, which is usually when I’m most stressed with all the Christmas preparations. Let’s hope that I won’t feel too overwhelmed while he’s away.
I made a Christmas wreath for Jessica again and took it up to her forever bed at the start of the week. My Christmas present to her. I wish I could go shopping for her like I do Sophie and Thomas, but as I can’t, I just pour all the love I can into making her Christmas wreath.
To be honest, I don’t think this second festive season without Jessica is any easier than last year. I can’t say I feel very festive at all, but I’m trying to make it fun for Sophie and Thomas. It is lovely to see how excited Sophie is for Christmas and Thomas seems to be enjoying the festive season so far too. We’ll be okay. Just got to keep taking it moment by moment, that’s all and remind myself that Christmas is about spending time with family and everything else is just trimmings and nothing more.
Things that have made me smile this week
- Baking cakes and cheese scones for our coffee morning fundraising for Little Hearts Matter.
- Watching Sophie having fun at the school Christmas fayre.
- Having my sister come and stay for a couple of nights.
- Having a rare date night with my hubby and going out for a lovely meal.
- Getting to see one of my WOS friends from The Sound of Music performing in panto.
- Having sleepy snuggles with Thomas.
- Sophie’s excitement at being able to walk with Thomas, holding his hand, on the way to and from school.
- An after-school trip to Santa’s Grotto.
The world likes to tell us that being festive means prancing around covered in tinsel and fairy lights, sprouting carols and inhaling gingerbread. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of those things, but feeling festive is really about having time with family like you say. It looks like you’re already doing a rather good job of it to me! 🙂 #WotW
Thank you Emma. It’s easy to get caught up in all the expectation and stress this time of year! I’m trying not to get sucked in!
Sounds like a lovely week! #WotW
Oh Gosh, how adorable is Sophie the reindeer!
Well done on having a productive week, it sounds like you fitted in a lot of fun things.
Grief never gets easier and it never goes away and special celebrations make it so much harder. But, if you do something special, like make a wreath, it does help a little. I always go to my families resting place (4 of them in the one spot, makes it a little easier) and we light candles for them and put wreaths down. Then we go into the church and pay £1 to put a bauble on the huge Christmas tree in memory. It’s the little things we do that make it just a little bit easier. I lost my Mum on Christmas Day 2008 and my brother January 3rd 2009. My Dad has been there a LOT longer and my Nan since 1997. I miss them all so much, but as time goes by the memories are more precious than the pain we bear. xx
Thank you Anne. I can imagine it is hard for you too at this time of year and hope that having your tradition of visiting their resting spot, lighting candles and putting wreaths down helps you too x
Your little Sophie looks adorable with her face painted! I think your attitude about the holidays is a good one. You are doing the best you can to make it fun for your two little ones. This is such a busy time of year, and there is so much celebration going on, it’s easy to feel down if you are hurting. I am thinking about you, Louise and wishing you all the best.
Thank you Laurie. I’m trying to focus on keeping it special for Sophie and Thomas while also giving myself space to grieve when I need to.
I love your wreath. It is filled with love, that could never be bought at a shop. Beautiful photo of Sophie holding hands with a walking Thomas. I think you are right about not needing all the trimmings. I honestly believe that our children would rather remember us laughing and smiling, during the festive period, than scowling over the little details that really don’t matter in the long run and probably not even in the short run either. Sophie does make a good reindeer! #wotw
Thank you Cheryl. I think you’re right that children would rather have us laughing and smiling than getting stressed over little details.
It sounds like you have been busy. It sounds very sensible to get as much as you can done before your hubby goes away.
The Christmas wreath is beautiful. Such a lovely gift for Jessica.
Aww! How cute is Sophie as a reindeer and those sleepy snuggles are the best x
Thank you Kim. Thankfully he no longer needs to go away but I do feel better for being a little more organised this year!
The wreath is lovely. Making the festive season about family is more important than any thing, and I do like the quote by the entrance to the grotto – Winnie the Pooh always was a wise bear.
Thank you Karen, I love that quote too.