"Sleep in Heavenly Peace..............."

This is one of the sweetest pictures ever............ This is Jayda Karen Alofipo, born Nov. 29, 2009

This is what I call "Sleep in Heavenly Peace"

Throughout the entire month of December, I kept thinking about this thought; "Sleep in Heavenly Peace". I wanted more sleep. I wanted more peace.

Why does December have everything in it; the best of times, the worst of times; the most memorable family moments, and the most stressful and hair-pulling moments?

I had planned on being a little bit more calm this year. That was my goal.

I thought I had it all figured out.
Shop early. Chill out.

Plan. Plan. Plan. Write out my plan. Put my plan in a notebook.

Chill out.

Enjoy Every Day.

Carry out my PLAN.

Cherish EVERY moment.

Chill out. Rest a little every day.

Meditate and plan some more EVERY day.

BUT.........

This is how I felt.......in spite of all my planning

Even though it's Dale in the picture, I felt like I was the one being "chewed up" by the bear. The bear of 'stress and anxiety'.

( Just looking at that bear makes me feel anxious. :) Long story for another day.)

I spent the last 20 months of my life learning to "CHILL OUT". "It's all good", as some of you would say. I kept telling myself that whatever happened was going to be just that, "all good". December is a month of special feelings and I WAS NOT going to get stressed out and be a screaming idiot that no one wants to be around. That was the "old Karen", and I have changed ;)

I did learn a hard lesson this last month: "Old habits don't die easy"

Now it's over. It's January 1st, 2010. (btw, Are we going to call it twenty-ten?)

I am going over everything that happened.

Did I accomplish what I wanted to?

Did I enjoy my family?

Did my family enjoy ME?

What did I LOVE about the holidays?

(lovingly known by me in the past, as the "HOLI-DAZE")

I am going to list a few "LOVES"...

I loved thinking about others while I was shopping.

I loved listening to my children and their spouses laugh together at 2 am.

I loved watching my grandchildren perform the Nativity.

I loved eating Prime Rib. (rare is the best)

I loved hearing that others loved the gift I gave them.

I loved looking at my Christmas tree.

I loved soft white lights around the house.

I loved seeing "babies" all over representing baby Jesus.

I loved hearing my grandbabies say "thesus"

I loved the space I had in my new kitchen.

I loved being alive.

I loved having energy.

I loved feeling a lot like my old self.

I loved that I finally got my "sleep in heavenly peace";

today from 1-5 pm

what did you LOVE about December??

I want to hear ALL about the good things that you saw and

experienced that made December special to you.

Maybe I can try some of them next year.

I hope you had a MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND I am wishing all of you a

HAPPY NEW YEAR