Hi, I know exactly what you are going through, but I have also decided that things need not always stay the same way. I bake what I can and yes the frosting is not that great, but it can still be eaten and enjoyed. I always did these fancy wraped presents, that is not so easy either, but once again life is not about a perfect wraped present. Be kind to yourself and don't sweat the small stuff, life will go on and everyone will still enjoy Christmas! Sheri Harper -----Original Message----- From: Monica Bolin <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:53:50 +0000 Subject: Holidays Me and my Martha Stewart ways will have to change! For years I have made homemade candy at least 10 different kinds of hand dipped chocolates and other types of candy, three kinds of cookies and up to 12 pies at Christmas. Then all the typical decorations (she would be proud) and the properly wrapped presents that have a theme, i.e. the bow or decoration matches the theme of the wrapping (an angel on the angel wrap, etc.) The 8-foot tree with all the trimmings from my 30 year old's kindergarten reindeer to my 11 year old's cub scout ornament. All of the painstakingly handmade ornaments that I have made each year are added to the tree. But the hand strung popcorn is not. This year I find I can not stand long enough to dip the chocolates, and they are not without mistakes due to the shaking. The hand decorated Christmas cookies with 7 different frostings, all different colors and flavors, sit partially decorated in a tin until I can get to them, again, when I am relatively able to do it without much shaking. The packages sit in the closet, waiting for the finishing touches, the bows, the tags and all. (I hope I don't forget who they are for when I can get to them again!) The lights are partially up, and not at all finished, the nativity set is still in the box, but the manger is out-empty and beckoning. I have only so much energy and good hours to use! How will I ever finish before Christmas comes? Well, I must decide which things are not necessary, not important, or not needed. Already the children are complaining that Christmas isn't like it used to be, with so many "shortcuts"! What am I going to do? Monica P.S. Thanks, Dee, for the insight! I had just written this to send to you all, as I'm sure you have all been at this point. I am still getting used to the idea. >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn