Christmas! Ack!

Just over 4 weeks till Christmas...... Oh My God! I'm shocked..... I'm panicked.... I'm absolutely terrified! I have nothing done. How did this happen? The only thing I've done is change the colours on my blog. I think I had better get with it.

I've worked on my Christmas poem and have that done I think. But I have only one gift ordered and I certainly haven't received it in the mail yet. What am I going to do? Well one thing is for sure... I am not going to let myself think about it too hard because I will start panicking. Ack! Oh I let myself think too long. OK I'm now hyperventilating.

When I think about baking... and gifts.... and decorationg.... and wrapping gifts... and keeping my house clean..... and... ok... I'm hyperventilating again! Why can't I be the cat and just enjoy napping under the tree when it makes it's debut? I think that being blissfully unaware of the most overwhelming time of the year would be a really lovely thing. Being a bear and hibernating through the season of light and joy would be wonderful. This time of year sees me searching for a dark cubby hole where I can wait out the next few weeks in private. I just want to hide. Maybe I could find an interesting hole that I can stick my head in.

I used to love Christmas but as the years have passed I have started to dislike it more and more. I have come to the conclusion that Christmas stresses out all mothers who have to see to the health and happiness of their children and husbands. We want Christmas to be wonderful! Full of surprises and interest. Problem is we forget about ourselves and so end up hating the very season that we want everyone else to enjoy. We work overtime trying to get it right but then we don't. Or at least I don't.....

By the time Christmas rolls around I'm usually sick. I usually wear myself out trying to do everything. Hubby is not much help. Last year he had a trip to Cold Lake in November and spent several hours in the West Edmonton Mall. I told him to do some shopping while he was there. He came home with a game.... that's it.... nothing else. The West Edmonton Mall is the biggest mall in Canada..... and he couldn't find anything. I knew then that I was in trouble.... I knew then that I couldn't ask Hubby again for help. I am completely on my own in this.

"Have a plan and execute that plan," my father always says. So I guess my next step is to put the plan on paper and then put the plan into action. Gees.... I feel like I am going into battle... like what is that all about?

Plan on paper... plan on paper... ok I guess I had better get on that..... in the meantime have a look at this:

The great big fist of winter has hit
Time to get out the scarves, hats and mits.
I find this year I don’t have as much time,
To figure out Christmas poems that rhyme.

But I’ll do my best to give you a clue,
About all that has happened and all that we do.
The first big thing I have to say,
Is I became ‘redundent’ and lost all my pay.

The College disappeared and so did my job,
It didn’t surprise me I didn’t even sob.
Businesses are closing in our little town,
But new ones are opening so I just won’t frown.

I’ve started my own called ‘Ye Olde Batt’
I’m milling wool so how about that!
I’ve bought myself sheep and some alpacas too,
Well you all know me I’ve got to have something to do.

So I am a shepherd with my very own flocks,
We give vaccines and clip nails and shear off their locks.
When I studied Philosophy at good old MUN,
I never thought I’d be having such fun.

The kids are impressed and Hubby too, I think,
I do have to say that he didn’t even blink.
It started out, with 2 alpacas, I said,
But then they’re so cute, it just went to my head.

16 animals later, I’m breeding them now,
And Hubby keeps on smiling, he’s holding out for a sow.
I asked, “Why do you want a great ugly pig?
They’re smelly and gross and nasty and big!”


You’ll have to wait till I write next year’s poem,
or check out my blog at yeoldebatt.blogspot.com
I’m sure if he wants there’ll be a pig here next year,
Then our small farm will be really in gear.

Even Daughter #1 is in on the farm,
“A horse,” she says, “A horse in the barn!”
She took up riding, on Rosie the mare,
with lessons each week, she hasn’t a care.

She has a good teacher and just loves to ride,
She sits on that horse with the greatest of pride.
Her school work too is good we can say,
We enter the teens this year and I pray!

Both of my girls give me wonderful pride,
They’re lovely and polite I cannot deny.
I worry the teen years will be a bad shock
But so far so good, my daughters just ‘rock’.

Daughter #2 keeps on doing so well,
Her marks are tremendous, her art is just swell.
She wrote a story that gave me such pride,
Her talent is growing and can’t be denied.

So from our little farm as the year passes on,
This season of Light full of joy is from God
We wish you all now, the gifts He bestows,
Joy, peace, and hope, with blessings that grow.

Merry Christmas with love from the Nichols Family