WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2018
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Good morning all! I slept in until 7:45 and it felt WONDERFUL!! Drinking my coffee, still in my pjs, and hoping you are all having a wonderful Christmas Eve/Christmas Day! The only "have to" on my to do list today is have birthday lunch with my youngest son, Colin. He is 25 today. Here is his birth story. I wrote a version of this for our local paper a few years back in answer to their request for most memorable Christmases. It definitely stood out from the many memories of gifts, traditions, and stockings. But this is the memory that rushes to the forefront of my brain every Christmas. Bittersweet, for sure.
"In December of 1992, my mother was in the kitchen and her legs suddenly gave way beneath her. In short time, we had her off the floor and on the way to the hospital. The doctors found a mass wrapped around her spine. Inoperable. Her cancer was back. Her third meeting with the “beast” in seven years. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. By the beginning of March she was at home and the end was near. She had asked to be taken off the morphine when her time was close, as she had things she wanted to say to each of us kids and wanted a clear head. On my last visit with her, I entered her bedroom with my daughter Lauren (then four years old) and my mom greeted me with her usual smile and warmth. “Oh! Kelly Jo! I am so happy you are here! Who do you have with you?” Figuring this was confusion due to illness, I gently reminded her, “It’s Lauren, mom. You remember Lauren!” and my mother answered, “No! I am not talking about Lauren” (to Lauren, “Hello dollbaby! How are you?”) “I am talking about the baby in your arms! Whose little boy is that?” I replied, “There’s no baby!” Opening my empty arms to show her, “Just me and Lauren.” She looked confused and then thoughtful for a moment. Then smiled and said “Oh, I see. Nevermind!”. We continued with our visit and then I went home. Mom passed away later that night. Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. For the next few months, my sorrow was deep, the emotional pain was all encompassing and I would drown myself in my work because that was the only place where I was NOT thinking about my loss. The whole time this baby moved gently and quietly inside of me. So different from my first pregnancy, when my unborn daughter would seemingly be doing all sorts of tumbling and gymnastics inside, then would lean against a certain nerve in my back and knock my feet out from under me. This baby was different. Moving gently, as if trying to NOT stress me any more than I was. November came, I was as big as a house in my eighth month and like most pregnant women, ready for this baby to arrive. Then, my father passed away. The doctors figured it was the stress of losing my mom that caused a heart dissection. The heart actually tears away from the wall, causing him to bleed internally. He thought he had the flu, so didn’t go into the doctor until it was too late. Dad was gone. My heart was in pieces. Those last few weeks of the pregnancy was a blur. But life does go on. I had two children at home, ready for Christmas fun and wonder. On Christmas Eve morning, I left my house for a check up with my obstetrician. I told my husband and kids, “I have to go to the doctor, and when I get home, we will open presents!” Well, you know what they say about the “best laid plans”. My ob decided that we needed to induce labor, and my baby boy was born at 6:30pm on Christmas Eve. He entered the world without a sound and eyes wide open. Even that little spank that they give so his lungs would fill with air, produced only a couple of screams of indignation, which then quieted as soon as they placed him on my chest. He just nestled in and went to sleep. Soothing my soul and healing my heart and “nurturing” me as much as I would be doing for him. My husband had let my brothers and sisters know that the baby had arrived, and like shepherds, or maybe lost sheep, they all made their pilgrimage to my hospital room to see this baby. This baby who was a sign of life after a year of death. This baby, who as he was passed around from arms to arms, was a soothing balm for each aching heart. Now, the birth of this child was no more special than that of any other child, but he was the child that made me truly know there is a God. I am positive that my mother saw a baby boy in my arms, and that her soul and my son’s soul “saw” each other. One soul on the way out of this world, and one soul on it’s way in. I am sure that God gave me this gift. This life that I so badly needed in 1993. Every Christmas as I am reminded of the absence of my parents, I am reminded of the gift of life. A baby is never just a baby. Happy birthday, beautiful boy."
xoxoxo thinking of you all as I rest, celebrate, and have some egg nog. Love, love, LOVE to you all! KJ (Kelly)13 -
(((Kelly))) ~ Love your story!0
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Kelly I’m still crying having just read your story. Thank you
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Oh Kelly~ I am in tears.. what a beautiful story~and I read this and listening to Heather's wonderful choir at Kings college...sitting in front of my little electric fireplace.. what a wonderful way to spend the morning with my darling friends xoxox0
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Kelly, what a great story
Pip, *kitten* for Christmas---yippeeHeather, how great that you are enjoying your new location so much. I am feeling much better than yesterday. I slept well last night and was able to get up and walk the dogs this morning. Just to be careful, I'm going back to bed in a few minutes for a nap before tackling my morning projects. Thank you for all your get well wishes. 4 -
Merry Christmas to all my friends here. My NY resolution is to get back here more often! I have managed to lose 17.1 pounds since DH has been away and I think it's mostly due to the Trulicity. It has really curbed my appetite! I appreciate all your support. Take care, Meg from cloudy Omaha6
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KJ -
Well, I've had my cry at the choir and the readings and a glass of sherry. Wrapped DH's Santa presents.
Love you all my friends.
Heather UK xxxxxxx6 -
Heather~ oh it was just beautiful I enjoyed the choir so very much ... I am having a cup of tea and relaxing before going to my daughters, I made a winter fruit salad she wanted and will bring regular salad and rolls... I am listening on youtube to music box Christmas.. my mom had the LP and would have it on the stereo every Christmas.. I still can smell the pine from the Christmas tree,the fire in the fireplace and the smell of good food and great company... how blessed was I, things are different this Christmas... last Christmas Eve my dad was so very sick but not diagnosed until the day after Christmas... but will enjoy the company and my family..
I am so Blessed to have you all in my life and thank you all so much for being such dear friend xoxoxox2 -
KJ: Your story was so moving. Happy birthday to your son and blessings to your family this holiday season.
Karen in VA: May your DIL's father RIP. Olivia is just gorgeous.
Pip: Yay for Kirby and his 'special' present. Big hugs to you both.
Barbie: Rest, and more rest. You'll knock that cold out of your healthy body quickly.
Machka: Your hair looks great. I share your frustration with trying to manage the humidity frizzies. I miss my friends in Honolulu, but not the super warm Decembers.
Janetr: Ditto what Karen said...I'll always remember our fun dinner together.
Mars and I will head out to deliver his cards, then I'll go to the gym, run errands and be home the rest of the day. Have laundry started. DH has promised to shower and shave (he's overdue!). We will have tamales and Christmas ale tonight while watching football. Good fun for us.
Stay well friends. Smile through it all...the stresses, the messes, the surreal and sublime. You are amazing...never forget that.
Rori
Colorado Foothills
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Merry Christmas eve all you lovely ladies. I am working until 5 and then we will go over to DS and celebrate with his family and part of the DGC.
Kelly--I love the story of your son's birth.
Blessings, Vicki GI NE 3 -
Machka The only time I have had a potato plant was when a composting potato sprouted because I didn't keep things hot & stirred up...so those little flowers, do they produce a fruit of some kind? Can you eat a potato fruit?
Karen in Virginia
Oh NO Karen! Don't ever eat potato fruits! They're poisonous! Same family as deadly nightshade. Somebody wrote a whole detective story where potato fruit was the murder weapon. Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie, I forget.
/Penny, on my phone and a bit formatting-challenged4 -
I just slept for over two hours and got up with enough energy to do some household chores. I'll take it easy today but I feel much better. My father grew potatoes in his yard and had to compete with the gophers when they were ready to harvest. 4
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Penny OK, then! No potato fruits for me!
Heather I enjoyed the BBC podcast so much. Made me teary. Then I read Kelly's story, and I blubbered. And I haven't even had a glass of anything yet, much less given my daughter-in-law a hug since her father died. Oh, this is going to be a wet Christmas.
Barbie Glad you feel better!
Pip Glad Kirby is pooping!
Karen in Virginia3 -
I just sat down and wanted to catch up with you all ...
Kelly ... you have me in tears ... I believe wholeheartedly in signs from God, as you well know ... Happy Birthday to your son!
Getting ready to start my Christmas Eve dinner, which we'll have early, and then to an early church service. Home by 8:30 or so for one gift and some time sitting together.
It has been snowing all day here, so we have a white Christmas!
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas! Thankful for each and every one of you!
Beth near Buffalo3 -
Big hugs to you Kelly! I didn't mean to break the spell of your wonderful poignant story.
Just I'm on my phone and a bit handicapped.
/Penny again
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Machka: Thank you for the Christmas greeting—and the reality that you are having a lovely summer day.
Pip: Crossing my fingers that Kirby is able to tolerate semi-solid and solid food.
Congratulations on your Christmas gift from heaven. If Kirby pooped, he is getting better. YAY!!! :bigsmile:
Janet OKC: I agree that this is a special group of ladies. What a great stroke of good luck it was to find this goup. :bigsmile:
Viv: I’m glad to hear that your Dad is home. That is an excellent Christmas present all by itself.
Machka: Gardening is healing, and your DH is wise to spend his time in the garden. Happy Christmas Day! :flowerforyou:
(((Kelly))) What a wonderful blessing you received. Thank you for sharing your Christmas story.
Meg from Omaha: Your post is a lovely gift. Thank you for checking in. Congratulations on losing 17.1 lbs. WTG!!!
Allie: We have Music Box Christmas, too—somewhere. I’ll look for it today.
Rori: :heat:
Barbie: I’m gald you’re feeling better.
I dropped a package off at the post office this morning and ran some errands. DD will be getting a Christmas tree topper. It is a Teddy Bear Angel, that I made for her in the mid 1970’s. I also made one for myself, and one for DS. He’s asked me to keep his for now. It won’t fit his wife’s decorating style. I don’t mind a bit. It will be ready when he is ready.
Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon
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Happy Christmas Eve, ladies!
First, Katla did a great job and expressed my thoughts exactly:quote="Katla49;c-43048564"]Machka: Thank you for the Christmas greeting—and the reality that you are having a lovely summer day.
Pip: Crossing my fingers that Kirby is able to tolerate semi-solid and solid food. Congratulations on your Christmas gift from heaven. If Kirby pooped, he is getting better. YAY!!! :bigsmile:
Janet OKC: I agree that this is a special group of ladies. What a great stroke of good luck it was to find this goup. :bigsmile:
Viv: I’m glad to hear that your Dad is home. That is an excellent Christmas present all by itself.
Machka: Gardening is healing, and your DH is wise to spend his time in the garden. Happy Christmas Day! :flowerforyou:
(((Kelly))) What a wonderful blessing you received. Thank you for sharing your Christmas story.
Meg from Omaha: Your post is a lovely gift. Thank you for checking in. Congratulations on losing 17.1 lbs. WTG!!!
Allie: We have Music Box Christmas, too—somewhere. I’ll look for it today.
Rori: :heat:
Barbie: I’m gald you’re feeling better.
I dropped a package off at the post office this morning and ran some errands. DD will be getting a Christmas tree topper. It is a Teddy Bear Angel, that I made for her in the mid 1970’s. I also made one for myself, and one for DS. He’s asked me to keep his for now. It won’t fit his wife’s decorating style. I don’t mind a bit. It will be ready when he is ready.
Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon
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I want to add, Kelly, the story you shared about your mom "seeing" your new little one and your dad's passing and your son's Christmas eve birth -- it was like something straight out of Guideposts. Thank you for sharing it and giving me chills this morning.
Heather - I will search for that Christmas music you mentioned, hopefully it's recorded somewhere. If my DH wasn't home right now I've have Christmas songs playing full blast.
Katla - would you mind sharing a photo of your Teddy Bear Angel some time? Sounds really cute! Thank you for posting the .gif of the Christmas Tree
Desert Diva - welcome, and love the photo of your kitty! Sounds like you are all set to get back on your keto plan! Do you have a name you want us to call you and also where do you hale from - state/location is good. And it helps to add this info every time you post. Sometimes we are really chatty and it's hard to remember/keep folks straight unless we are constantly reminded.
Machka - how many boxes of hair color do you need to use? It looks wonderful - amazing to think you have temps equivalent to the mid - 80's here. That Christmas Eve Pavlova looks scrumptious! So happy your DH is out there gardening again - I've heard that gardeners keep their brains active and ward off dementia. Not sure why - maybe the exercise, planning, soil preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting? Plus being out in the sun?
Potatoes do bloom, and sometimes produce little fruit that look like teensy green tomatoes ( they are both in the nightshade family) so, my recollection is that whatever potato part above the soil is poisonous. We would always dig potatoes when the plants died.
Pip - SSOOO glad Kirby's plumbing is working again. Any idea what caused it?
Today is my 2 year anniversary of being with this group. So grateful and happy to have met you all and I am forever indebted for the advice and support I received from you all.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas or other Happy Holiday celebrations!
Lanette
Cool and cloudy SW WA State5 -
stats for the day:
ride hm 2 gym- 8min, 12amph, 133mhr, 1.5mi= 76c
helix machine- 145mhr, 1.4mi= 167c
ride dome 2 hm- 5.40min, 15.7amph, 126mhr, 1.4mi= 56c
ride Puyallup 2 sumner sta- 14.36min, 12.5amph, 142mhr, 3mi= 152c
run sta 2 wrk- 5.01min, 9.54lmin mi, 149mhr, .5mi= 63c
run wrk 2 sta- 4.41min, 10.06min mi, .148mhr, 4mi= 63c
ride sum sta station 2 hm- 1hr, 13min, 51sec, 10.3amph 146mhr, 12.6mi= 632c
total cal 1209
I thought we were going 2b off at 3, I was wrong, that's on New Years eve. today we got off at noon. no train, so I rode home. and we have no idea what caused that with Kirby.2 -
I'm going to bed now and it's just over an hour until Christmas Day.
I heard this evening that my friend Shirley, who had the terrible brain disease, died on December 6th. I feel sad, but I am glad that her and her family's suffering is over. I will be writing a lot more about her in the new volume of my memoir. Life deals some random cards.
For now I wish you all peace.
Love Heather UK xxxxxxx
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Merry Christmas Eve!!
Okie2 -
Kelly thanks for sharing your story. I just shared some stories with a dear friend. She and I shared stories they do not have a rational explanation. I believe you are right that your mom saw your son before he was born and to be born on Christmas Eve what a wonderful present. Magical.
I believe!1 -
Evening Ladies
I am home and in bed,what a wonderful afternoon..I know my dad and mom were smiling down on there family today..my DD and I did the cooking and got dinner together and everything was just spectacular..Taliah loved the gifts I got her especially the box set of the chronicles of Narnia..she was so excited...there cats name is Aslan after the lion in the books..I told you the story of my mom reading my brother and I the whole series on winter nights in front of the fireplace and I have a feeling tradition will carry on..let me see if I can post a picture..3 -
Christmas Eve’s ornament
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Held my plank for 3 minutes then took the extremepump class. The plan for tomorrow is to do a Total Cardio Burn DVD
Wouldn’t Olivia and Joaquin make such a cute couple? I agree, Kelly, from here on out, it is a mortal sin to hide pictures of grands
Barbie – I am so so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Prayers for you to heal quickly, I know that this must be really getting to you. I know it would get to me if (when) I couldn’t do what I usually do.
Pip – fingers crossed. I’m sure Kirby is going to be fine since he’s in such great shape Update: yea for him pooping!!!!!
Desert – welcome! What a beautiful kitty
M – I’m thinking that for New Year’s Eve when I’ve asked Ken and Lynette here (which I think they’ll come to) of making a pavlova. Never made one before
KJ – when I first read your story and got to the part about how your mother asked whose baby that was….well, that sent shivers up my spine.
Merry Christmas everyone! Looks like just Vince and I will be going to midnight Mass tonight
Heather – I’m so sorry about your friend
Having a mini-pity-party here and indulging in 1/2 a chocolate chip cookie.
Got a call from Sam's club. They have the shingrix vaccine in! I never in my life thought they would get enough for us. I was told there were about 100 people on the waiting list ahead of us. Guess we'll go sometime this week and get it.
Michele in NC
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Santa's on his way from the land of snow and ice.
Santa knows if you have been naughty or nice.
Santa will reward you if you have been good,
so please mind your manners and don't be rude!
☘️IRISH TERRI☘️6 -
(((Kelly))) What a wonderful blessing you received. Thank you for sharing your Christmas story.
Yes ... Katla said it beautifully. (((Kelly)))Machka: Thank you for the Christmas greeting—and the reality that you are having a lovely summer day.
Machka: Gardening is healing, and your DH is wise to spend his time in the garden. Happy Christmas Day! :flowerforyou:Machka - how many boxes of hair color do you need to use? It looks wonderful - amazing to think you have temps equivalent to the mid - 80's here. That Christmas Eve Pavlova looks scrumptious! So happy your DH is out there gardening again - I've heard that gardeners keep their brains active and ward off dementia. Not sure why - maybe the exercise, planning, soil preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting? Plus being out in the sun?
They got my husband into the Rehab garden when he was still in hospital because he expressed an interest in it, and so when he came home, I made sure he got right into gardening here. We're now eating the onions he planted soon after he came home.
Our yard/garden isn't huge but it is complicated with many different areas. It takes a bit of work to keep on top of it, and in recent years it had kind of gotten away from us. Now it looks the best it has in a long time! He even discovered an old irrigation system that is timed. It hadn't been used in who knows how long, but he's got it working again so that it comes on for 20 min in the morning.
It gets him moving, gets him out in the fresh air, gives him something to do that needed to be done ... so there's purpose, and he is using his brain to plan what he's going to do with each of the areas.
Apparently a lot of people with brain injuries suffer quite severely from depression and end up just sitting in front of the TV not doing anything. His psychologists have said he shows no sign of depression, and I wonder if the gardening may have helped in that regard. He's quite enthusiastic about it.
It takes 2 boxes of dye. I divide my hair in two, and do the dark under-layer first, then when that's done, I do the lighter upper layer. Sometimes I do blonde streaks too, but this time I decided to leave it as is for now. I might add them later.
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Merry Christmas!!
It's a cooler day here in Tassie. That's pretty typical ... a hot day, then several cooler days, then another hot day.
I've had a very relaxing morning and am still in my Christmas PJs. My work's social club gives gift cards to everyone who does not attend the Christmas Dinner ... we've got a choice: attend the Christmas Dinner or get a gift card. I've attended the dinner a couple times but decided it wasn't really worth it, so I get the gift cards now. With my gift card, I bought new super-comfy summer PJs. I had my eye on them for a little while and then thought ... why not!!
My husband and I exchanged cards ... and had a little cry, hugs and kisses. Earlier this year, we didn't know what this Christmas would bring.
We bought pressies earlier ... a new bicycle helmet for me and a 2-pack DVD set for him. They're sitting near the tree with a bow on top of them.
Machka in Oz
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Hey ladies, new to the group so Merry Christmas to all! Little bit about me...55 year old (well 55 in April coming) in Ontario, Canada. Looking to get more fit and hopeful to drop about 20 lbs in the process.7
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Have a Beautiful Christmas Eve my lovely friends. I count each of you as a blessing in my life. Have a wonderful Christmas full of joy.
Janetr OKC
King of Kings
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lindamary44 wrote: »Hey ladies, new to the group so Merry Christmas to all! Little bit about me...55 year old (well 55 in April coming) in Ontario, Canada. Looking to get more fit and hopeful to drop about 20 lbs in the process.Welcome, I hope you will come back and join our conversation. You can get lots of encouragement from the great women on this thread. Barbie from NW Washington 1
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