My Retail Reality....By Thinking of My Favorite Things I Kept from becoming the Grinch this Christmas....

My son made this for me for Christmas....It's has a few of my favorite things....My Cat...Flowers from my garden...The snow covered mountains...A soft blanket....And my daughters buttery popcorn.
I love it, and it made me think....I did it, I did not become a grumpy Grinch at Christmas.  I enjoyed the season despite the stress of working in a retail store. I survived lines that were too long, multiple call outs, being pulled in 5 different directions, shifts changes that are crazy, working without breaks or lunches, and computers breaking down.. without coming home and being grumpy and cranky with my family.
Christmas came and I had a wonderful day with my family and got this beautiful present.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too.
G.G

# I'm not ready for Christmas....But I'm ready for Christ.....

The question of the week is "Are you ready for Christmas?"  And I am totally not ready for Christmas this year.  Here is our tree that finally had lights put on it late Sunday night.   It has been up since December 12th, but my husband had to go to New Jersey to visit his father who has been ill, and so nothing got done with it since then.  Basically because I know my husband has to put the lights on himself or he gets all stressed out. I left the tree for him.  I think visiting a sick family member and keeping the peace with decorating are more important than a decorated tree.  I did tell the kids who are teens that they could decorate the tree yesterday and they chose not too.

We do have one ornament on the tree...This little owl I bought to tease the cat.  She has tried to attack it a few times.

The stockings are hung, but I have yet to wrap any presents.  Christmas eve I think my job will be to wrap things,  I'm hoping I'll have the energy and enough wrapping paper.
I have not sent all my Christmas cards out...I have not baked the cookies, I did eat all the peanut butter cups that were supposed be part of the cookies...
So if you ask if I'm ready for Christmas....The answer is no....But in thinking about it...I am ready for Christ.
If Christ knocked on my door....I would be able to stop and visit...I would be ready to listen to him and not worry if my house looked good enough or not.
I'm ready to begin a new year, to focus on learning more about my Savior and becoming closer to him...I am ready to be a "Mary" instead of a busy "Martha".  I'm looking forward to building up the people I work with, and caring for my family and friends.  I'm ready to go to the Temple often and to find ways to spread peace and Joy.
So I may not be ready for Christmas this year....But I know I'm ready for Christ....And isn't that really what matters?
G.G.
He Is The Gift  #Share the Gift

Christmas Days 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20..... Boy I've been busy this week

I can say even with my crazy retail job, I have not become the Grinch yet!  Sorry to not have posted for a whole week, but I'm in the midst of crazy shift work, plus I have a horrible head cold on top of it all. But I've been thinking of my favorite Christmas things each day.
Day 10....I like looking at decorated Christmas trees....Mine is still not decorated.

Day 11...I like the colors red and white for Christmas....I actually have a lot of red and white decorations around the house this year.  I like this Penguin tree.
Day 12...I love listening to funny Christmas Songs...our favorite ones this year are "The Straight No Chasers"  12 days of Christmas and the Nutcracker

Day 13....I like wrapping Christmas presents with my helper.

Day 14...I like sending and receiving Christmas cards...Though haven't received many this year and mine are going out a little late due to my helper.

Day 15...Going to the city and seeing the lights with my family...even with moody teenagers!

Day 16...I like shopping for Christmas presents...though this year some won't be getting here on time!
Day 17...I like all the special meals that they make for us at work, baked potato bar, pizza night....
Day 18....I like being able to help people find the special gift they are looking for...I found something that one of the employees was looking for and that was great.
Day 19...I was happy I had the Christmas program Sunday off, I got to hear lots of great Christmas music and my son sang in the choir too!
Day 20...I love getting homemade goodies...We got lots of yummy bread this year!

The Christmas lights were beautiful this year in down town Salt Lake City.... The Macy's store had window displays made all of candy too.
Hope you are all surviving that last few days of Christmas shopping !
G.G.

My Retail Therapy: Days 4,5,6,7,8,and 9

When you work retail and you hear the song "It's the most wonderful time of the year" play you just want to laugh.  Oh the week I've had, I never in my life would think of cursing at strangers but boy Christmas seems to bring the bad language out. I think people forget that everyone is out trying to buy those special items, it does not matter what time you go shopping you will end up in a line.  But I've been doing really well I have not felt an inner "Grinch" wanting to come out yet.  When those customers leave I think of my list, of my favorite holiday things....
#4.. Singing Christmas Hymns at Church.  That is always a favorite with me.
#5.. Helping others, I gave a friend of my son's a ride home and found a persons lost purse (Pocketbook).
#6. The letter my son is writing as Santa's Elf for English class that will be given to a 2nd grader.
#7. Driving home by some awesome Christmas displays...If you live by Draper Utah you need to see the Draper Park Christmas light display it is so beautiful.
#8. Memories of Christmas past...I've seen a lot of toys I bought for my kids when they were young I'm so tempted to buy some little silly thing for each of them.  We had the craziest conversation about playing Candy Land the other night.

#9.  Going to Christmas Concerts.  My Son's Concert was wonderful tonight and the great thing was they did it twice so families could come at different times if needed.  So I got to listen to it twice and it was just wonderful.  They had the choir, orchestra, Band, Jazz band, Wind symphony and most of all it was all Christmas Songs...My favorite Christmas songs!  What a wonderful night!
Well what are some of your favorite things??
G.G.

# Throw Back Thursday.... The Hunt for the Perfect Christmas tree

Every year the weekend after Thanksgiving my family went on the great Christmas tree hunt.
When we visited with my children we also went out to find the perfect Christmas tree.

My parents always looked for a tall fat tree... I think my kids found a perfect one here.  I really like short fat trees.

Sometimes the little kids get lost in the tree forest.  I think my mom just found the lost Christmas tree hunter.
One year she not only got lost, but she also sunk down to her knees in mud...

Once the perfect tree is picked, Dad cuts it down and we help carry it to the car.  Sometimes depending on which farm you go to you also get a ride in a wagon.  And there are treats like hot apple cider and donuts.
I really hope that this year my husband will take me and the kids along to pick our Christmas tree.  I'm not sure why he feels he has to go out and pick it on his own.  I would really like to be a part of that.  And I'm hoping for a Short, Fat, Tree. 
G.G.

My Retail Therapy: Day 3 The opening song to A Charlie Brown Christmas....

One of my favorite things about Christmas is listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas songs.  They even play some of them where I work.  I love the opening song "Christmas Time is Here"

When I was young you had to wait to watch this show.  You couldn't buy video's or play it on your computer.  I think that made it special.  Now you can own the video and watch it over and over, but having to wait for it, and being home with your family on that special night was great.
What is something about the Christmas season that you like?
Someone told me yesterday that I need to try Chocolate Oranges.  Think I might buy one tomorrow.
G.G

My Retail Therapy: What I like about Christmas day 2

Yesterday I had to repeat a few times Cinnamon Scented Pine Cones at work....As people wanted to complain that they were not being helped fast enough, and somehow we were to blame for their sore back and feet..Or that we knew about this and had purposely made the lines long...

Today it is "Life Savers" candy books.  This brings me back to 3rd grade.  We had a live Christmas tree in the class room.  We all picked one students name from a hat that we would buy a present for.  The teacher gave us all these Life Saver Candy books as part of her present to us.  It was so much fun.  I don't think they even have "Christmas" parties in schools anymore, and a real Christmas tree I think that would not be allowed either.  So I have to say I'm thankful for my childhood memories.

I'm bringing the boxes of candy into work, I give out little "Life Saver" treats to employees that come in on their day off, or stay late because someone else is running late.  They are my "Life Savers"  Because without them I'd have a lot more tired and cranky people yelling at me about lines.  Believe me we understand about the lines, we don't want people waiting in them, but we can't control the fact that people call out, or are late or all the other things that create lines during the holidays.  Our legs and backs are sore too, our brains are a bit tired from working longer shifts and having fewer days off.  So please be a little more patience with the retail worker this holiday season.
G.G.

My Retail Therapy: Taking time each day to think of something I like about the Christmas Season

So the crazy holiday season is upon us, and for those working in retail it can become a time of stress and a time where you begin to really hate Christmas.  Why you ask?  Because even though all the songs say it is the most wonderful time of the year.... It can be a time when customers are cranky, and impatient and rude.  Everyone is out to get that special gift, and yet they don't want to wait in lines, they don't want to hear you don't have what they are looking for, and they don't want to be reminded that they are spending way more than they want to.
  I at first was not going to do any type of Christmas celebrating, I was heading into this Christmas season in great Grinch fashion.  I wanted to not have a commercial Christmas.  But that is not fair to my children or husband.  So what to do?  How can I get through this time of year without becoming the Grinch?
I've decided for the next 24 days to focus on the things that I love about Christmas.  And to share that with you.  Of course with my crazy work schedule I may not get to blog everyday.  But I'm going to try.
     So today one of my favorite things about the Christmas season is cinnamon scented pine cones.  I love walking into the grocery store and smelling these pine cones.  That is just pure happiness in a box for me.
Please share with  me one thing that you love about the Christmas season.  We did this at work one night and it was fun.
G.G.

Throw Back Thrusday...I'll be home for Thanksgiving in only in my dreams.....

When we lived in New Jersey we either drove 7 hours to Vermont for Thanksgiving, or celebrated Thanksgiving with my husbands family.  I never cooked a Thanksgiving dinner.  I have to say that Thanksgiving to me is a Vermont Thanksgiving cooked by my Dad.  Oh the wonderful smell of turkey and stuffing cooking all day.  Mashed potatoes, Squash, cranberry sauce and the olive and pickle plate. Yumm...

One year I even took a photo of all of it...Perhaps deep down I knew these wonderful years of family togetherness would cease to be.  Now we live thousands of miles away and I work on Thanksgiving. I don't mind working, but I sure miss this wonderful meal!

My son's first Thanksgiving.  He was so cute....I can't believe how fast the years have flown by.

I did not take a lot of photo's from Thanksgivings past.  I guess I was too busy enjoying to worry about photos.

I had so much fun when the kids were young with making turkey crafts....  And yet I think something I've learned is to make each day special.  Take time to have special meals all year long, not just on one day.  Enjoy your family all year long, not just on major holidays...When my parents visit we have Thanksgiving dinner and Easter dinner and birthdays...And when we visit them we do it again.  We enjoy each other when we can be together and don't worry about whether it is in November or April. 
But I have to Say I'm Thankful for this wonderful family I have.  We had Thanksgiving on Tuesday because I work today.  I'm thankful for my job too and hope it is busy tonight. 
Happy Thanksgiving.
G.G.

Throw Back Thursday....Halloween Costumes through the years......how I miss those little kid excited costume days....

Halloween is almost here, and with teens I'm not sure if they are going to dress up or not...I'm thinking they are not as we have not bought any supplies.  But I have had fun looking at my dressed up little ones.  The younger years they seem to have dressed up as characters that they loved.  This photo is of their love of Winnie The Pooh.  And the funny thing is my daughter is still a Eeyore type of person, sometimes gloomy, and always loves a cloudy day.

She was just so cute as Eeyore!

We went from Winnie the Pooh to Clifford and Blues Clues.  This year we actually spent Halloween at my parents.

The next year found us loving Blue's Clues again, Scooby Doo, and the Wiggles!  My husband looked kind of cool as Greg Wiggle and the neighborhood kids loved it.  

This was the year of the zombie and Winks club fairy. We had such fun going around the neighborhood.  These were the years that the bags of candy got a bit overwhelming.

This year my son was a Zombie hobo, my daughter was a cat...Think she was hoping we would get a cat too...

This is the year I think I really loved their costumes.  My son looks great as Indiana Jones, and my daughter she was.....

Road Kill Cat!  I think of all her costumes I liked this one best.  Something we made from other old costumes.

Well tomorrow is Halloween and I hope you all have a safe and happy one!

G.G.

Throw Back Thursday....A Day late.....More pumpkin patch memories!

Halloween is almost here.....I can't believe how fast this month has flown by.  I had today off and for some rest and relaxation I looked through all the old scrapbooks and thought of all the fun we had when the kids were young at Halloween time.  One year instead of going to the pumpkin patch we went on the corn maze.  The kids had a great time jumping out at us from the corn stalks.

Don't they look scary!

I love this photo of my son, I almost think this was a pumpkin that grew in my flower garden.

Time spent with grandparents was always wonderful.

Here is when we took my daughter to the pumpkin patch for the first time...She is only 9 months old and already walking....That was a bitter sweet moment for me as I knew there would be no more little babies..she seemed to grow up so much faster as she was always trying to catch up to her brother.

I miss the young child joy that came with holidays.  I don't even know if the mature teen's will dress up this year.  Perhaps the fun this year will be watching the young families around us.. But if I don't hide the candy we will have to put a sign on the door, "no treat's here we ate them all!"  As somehow everyone keeps finding the Halloween candy and eating it.
Happy Fall!
G.G.

# Throw Back Thursday.....The Pumpkin Patch part 1

October brings back memories of the pumpkin patch.  I'm not sure what year my parents started coming down to New Jersey and taking us, but I know we all loved it.  

Some years it was really warm, and other years it was pretty cold.  We would go and ride in a wagon full of hay out to the pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkin for our house.

The kids always had fun running around looking at all the pumpkins and picking one out.  And after there was a bounce house, pony ride and lunch to enjoy.

And they always had a place for taking a nice family photo

Looks like he would have fun driving this big tractor around.

I'm so glad my parents made their whirl wind trips down and took us every year to the pumpkin patch.  What great memories!

Happy Thursday.

# She Kicks like a Girl......And I'm So Proud of Her!

My Daughter is in Karate, and she loves it.  She doesn't love her photo taken and she is very humble about her ability.  Here she is heading towards her Karate Challenge.  She didn't want any photo's taken... What she forgets to realize is that she has family in far away places that want to see photo's of what she is doing.

I liked the invitation to the Challenge this year.  Great inspiring quotes.  I see so many commercials about #like a girl... And I thought you know, my daughter does great in the sport she is in.  The say she has a beautiful kick, and she has kicked a few people in the head.  And believe me you don't want to get kicked in the head by her!  This year she competed in all 3 events for her age and did wonderful!

The first event was Kata's. She got 2nd place for this.  I like this event as it is almost like a dance, I wish I had the ability to actually think of how she is defending herself from the different attackers.

Then she competed in the techniques class.  She looked really great and had a great attacker!  She placed first for this event.

She and the others her age all worked hard and it was nice that each of them placed first in one event.

The next event was sparing.... Mom....stop taking photo's of me!  I really don't like watching this as she is a brown belt and can be hit in the head.... That makes me nervous.  But she just has no fear, or at least it looks that way!

The competition was intense, but she place second and she worked hard for it.

It would be nice to be able to video with out the world walking in front of you, but I guess I'm just happy to have it recorded so her grandparents can see it.

I did tell my daughter that I thought a Karate Challenge was easier than a horse show, you only have to deal with one nervous teen, instead of a nervous teen and horse.  It was a great event.  And I have to say I'd be afraid of this girls kicks!
G.G.