Bucket List

Happy Monday

How are you all doing? How was your Christmas? I hope you got everything you ever wanted, especially if it was tons of love and memories under the tree. I had a great Christmas. Thursday, John, Grant and I went to a wonderful family’s home for a Christmas celebration. We met some amazing people and just had a great time. Our host and hostess were incredible. Shawna didn’t miss a beat and had every detail planned just right. Friday, Kevin and Jagger came over for a little visit, dropped off some gifts and opened theirs. It was so beyond special being able to enjoy Christmas with one of my sons. After the kiddos took off, John and I went to another new friend’s home for some yummy pasta and appetizers and enjoyed Christmas Eve celebrating family and new friendships. Saturday, the three of us enjoyed opening presents, then John and I headed to San Diego for Christmas dinner at his sisters. It’s always a wonderful visit, especially time with his niece Megan. Yesterday was crazy busy too; Kevin was back with Jagger and her family for golf and a day at the lake. So today, is a down day. What was your Christmas weekend like? I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me a text or drop a comment. I can’t wait to hear from you.

While scrolling yesterday, I ran across something that made me really stop and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas, and that is the Holiday Bucket List. “Be present, instead of buying presents. Wrap someone in a hug, rather than wrapping gifts. Send love, it’s so much more than sending gifts. Donate food, because we know we always over buy in the grocery stores. Make memories, instead of making cookies, though, I’m a firm believer that you can make some fun memories all while making yummy cookies and finally, be the light, rather than see the lights.

While not taking away from the wonderful traditions of Christmas, the gifts, the tree, the lights and eating, those things are amazing and one of my favorite things about Christmas, especially the gift giving. I love to give someone a gift and see the expression on their face when they open it. One thing I came to appreciate this Christmas season was, it is about those you surround yourself with. It’s about a kind gesture or maybe meeting someone new at your local Starbucks, listening to their story and realizing, they’re spending the holiday’s alone because their spouse recently passed away and giving them your phone number and telling them, if you ever feel alone, just call, after all, we are neighbors.

Being present is something that our new age of technology has made very difficult. I saw this morning while watching Tiny House Nation, this couple who has two little ones under 4, and they decided to build a tiny house to escape the daily grind of technology and they called it, digital detox. They wanted the tiny house as a second home where they could go as a family and leave all technology at the door. They would place their cell phones in a basket and not be tied to them while enjoying family time. I’m sure they would check their phones from time to time, but they weren’t tied at the hip bone to them and that’s what I take from the holiday bucket list of being present.

How often are we with others and everyone is tied to their phone? You never know when it might be the last time you see that person., so my goal is to spend time with them and truly being present, rather than worrying what the text message is that just dinged on my phone., however, if we do find ourselves tied to a device of some sort, why not take a little time to shoot those in our contact list a happy day, or a happy thought. I’m sure they would appreciate it, especially the older ones in our lives.

Looking back on this Christmas, can you reflect on a wonderful new memory? I personally know a couple of families that recently lost a loved one within a week of Christmas, yet they still put on a smile for those still with them, however, that didn’t take away their pain. I suppose, their happy smiles were their way of not allowing a dark cloud to be what they remember, they are putting others first and doing their best to be a part of a happy memory. I’ve come to learn in my life, especially over the last few years, people can take everything from you, your home, your money, even people you thought were friends by lying about you, but the one thing that they can ever take, are your memories.

I’ve been waiting almost 4 years for photo albums of my kids, but for whatever reason, my ex still hasn’t given them to me, and while that bothers me, I have to let it go and realize, he can’t take the memories I built with my children. For the longest time, I was angry with God, and I would ask him for answers of why he allowed certain things to happen in my life. Through much prayer and study and of course, talking to spiritual people, I’ve grown to understand, the things that have happened in my life were God’s way of directing my step to get my big butt on the path he had in mind for me. The amazing part of all of this is, while I felt I was on a path that wouldn’t change, it did, and I found myself on an even better course.

“Often, the right path is the one that may be hardest for you to follow, but the hard path is also the one that will make you grow as a human being.”- Karen Mueller Coombs. What does this have to do with the bucket list, my bucket list? Well, simple, I’m growing as a person. I’m meeting new people and experiencing their amazing personalities and learning how they make the most out of each of their moments, like spending time with family and friends. I’m coming to appreciate being more simplistic when it comes to Christmas as regards to not going into debt buying presents. I’m also learning how to really pay attention to what the person I’m gift giving too really likes and enjoys, so that they get a gift that speaks to them and shows them how much they mean to me. My friend Shawna taught me that. She gave me a diamond art project and she said she knew I would enjoy it, because I had sent her a diamond art Christmas card that I made. It was the little detail of her gift to me that showed me how to really pay attention to others, especially when it comes to gift giving.

So, this Christmas was extra special. John and I created new traditions and enjoyed family and friends on a whole different level. Moving forward, I will continue to try and live by my new bucket list, not just making it a holiday bucket list, but an overall way to do and be.

What are your thoughts? Shoot me a text or leave me a comment, I would love to hear from you. I do hope everyone is staying safe and well during this holiday season. Give someone a hug, reach out to the older ones by way of text or phone call and enjoy the little things in life, those usually turn out to be the greatest memory makers. I hope we can all strive for an amazing and wonderful 2022 filled with love, joy and happiness.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++