Merry Christmas to you!
To all who celebrate, I wish you a lovely day! (and I also wish you a lovely day if you don't celebrate Christmas!)
If it's a hard day this year (and there are many reasons this can be true), I'm sending you a virtual hug. As I always say, holidays sometimes press extra hard on the sore spots in our hearts.
I'll be spending my day at the hospital with people who are not having the Christmas they expected, and honestly, that is a very fulfilling way to spend the holiday.
Merry Christmas, friends!
P.S. I know today is a Thursday, but we'll skip Thankful Thursday for a week. Save up your thankfuls, and we'll list them together on New Year's Day next week.
Merry Christmas Kristin!
Merry Christmas, Kristin! and happy holidays to all!
Merry Christmas Kristin !
Thank you for the good wishes and the same to you, your family and to all those who you specially care about, Kristin.
I am Jewish so this specific holiday does not really "apply" to me. But I just love, love, love what you said about your shift at the hospital today with the patients who most probably spend a Christmas as not really expected - that it truly is a very fulfilling way of spending the holiday! Your patients are so lucky to have you Kristin.
I love the topper! It’s just right for you and Zoe!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and a happy day (off?) to those who don’t.
Merry Christmas, Kristen! And wishing all of the commentariat a peaceful and joyful season.
Merry Christmas to you, Kristen, and to all and sundry. May your day be merry and bright.
Happy Holidays and big supportive hugs to all my friends in the Commentariat!
Merry Christmas Kristen!
Merry Christmas Kristen! Your patients are lucky yo have you, today and everyday. Happy Holidays to the Commentariat! Thank you for making my days merry and bright 🙂
@Price Chopper Shopper, You said that just right and exactly what was on my heart. So may I please join in with thanks to all of you across the many miles. Thank you all, for everyday making this the wonderful safe place it is. Full of kindness, humor, and wisdom. ?
@AZ Lynn, I agree this is a wonderful place.
Your patients are very lucky. And so are we, your readers. I wish you and your loved ones a (very well deserved) Happy Christmas.
Merry Christmas and a Peaceful day to all!
Merry Christmas! I love the tree topper!
@Melissa, I have a feeling that tree topper may suddenly and mysteriously sell out! I am seriously thinking about looking for it online. I don't have a tree anymore, but I do have a much loved cat named Bella. So, despite being frugal, I may make an intentional spark joy purchase. After waiting to see if it goes on clearance, OF COURSE.
Thank you Kristen for taking care of those who are unfortunately in the hospital today. At least they have your care!
Merry Christmas! You have brought so much joy and happiness into my life just reading your words. I’m so glad I have found the frugal girl and sending you a virtual hug and saying thank you.? You have been an inspiration Kristen to so many people with your positive energy. Have a blessed day.
Merry Christmas, Kristen!
Wishing a joyful day to all!
I love the cat on top of the tree!
Merry Christmas Kristen and everyone else! If you don't celebrate, I hope you have a lovely day!
Merry Christmas! The world needs more nurses like you. Your attitude is amazing. I just got home after five days in the hospital and I can’t imagine spending another day with the nurses that I just had to deal with. I’m so glad that you’ve chosen your profession. Thank you for what you are doing!
@Debbie, glad you are home for the holiday and hope you are continuing to heal!
@Debbie,
I'm also glad you're home! I work in a hospital, and while I'm not a nurse, I see nurses (and other staff) who are truly kind, compassionate, and VERY skilled at what they do (like our Kristen. 🙂 ) Sadly, I see many nurses (and other staff) who are not any of these things, too.
Best wishes to you for continued healing and recovery!
@Heather Mar,
Thank you!
@Liz B.,
Thankfully I’ve not experienced hospital stays. My best nurse was the last night and we had a nice conversation about that. I shared with her about Kristen’s journey and how surprised I was that some of these actually made it through school. I guess common sense can’t be taught either. I know there are good and bad in every field of work. I do commend those who are doing it well!
Merry Christmas to the best blogger and her family!
I think your positive attitude will be a special gift to your patients stuck in the hospital during this holiday week.
Merry Christmas Kristen!
The tree is lovely! Bless you and all the others who care for people on the holidays.
I have a pan of your overnight cinnamon rolls on the go right now to bring as a treat for Christmas breakfast!
Merry Christmas to you, Kristen, and to all my friends here in the comments! What a fulfilling way to spend your holiday, doing something that brings you purpose and truly helping others.
Merry Christmas:)
Here's a Happy Late Chanukah, a Blessed Winter Solstice, a Merry Christmas, a Joyous Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year to Kristen and the entire Commentariat!
Still, for all of us FG widow(er)s, divorce(e)s, and others for whom the holiday season sometimes "goes pear-shaped" (as the Brits say), I extend hands across the miles. I've been busy enough yesterday and today, goodness knows. But on the Bestest Neighbors' tree, there's a tiny tool box with DH's name lettered on it. He's been gone 2.5 years now, but we don't forget.
@A. Marie,
We lost my sister in law this past Halloween, and my niece gave her dad/our brother in law a Christmas gift based on a photo of BIL and SIL together. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere near where my BIL was sitting when he unwrapped it. We also will never forget my in laws or other sister in law who have been gone 6+ years.
@A. Marie, because of you, your DH lives on in my memory and I've never met him. Wishing you and the family of neighbors and friends you've cultivated much joy this winter and through the coming year.
@A. Marie,
There are so many expectations during the holiday season. Our Christmas Eve definitely went pear-shaped. It was our very own version of the holiday classic, "Christmas Vacation. " One day we will laugh, and it will be part of our family history which is filled with good and bad memories. Did I ever tell you about the year that the bottom fell out of the garbage disposal and flooded the kitchen?
Wishing you peace, love and joy!
@A. Marie, a few days ago, we lost the 3rd person in my immediate family to the Abhorrent A as I now call it. We'll have a celebration of life in early summer next year.
My wish for you all is that everyone have a merry and meaningful Christmas Day.
I am thankful, most of all, that 2,025 or so years ago in a very humble village of Bethlehem, overcrowded with people coming in to report for a Roman census, a young woman gave birth in a lowly animal barn -- a stable. Her Child was the King of Kings, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; yet, He chose to be born in not in a fancy palace but in very poor surroundings -- an animal stable, no less. His makeshift bed was a feeding trough lined with hay, and yet here He was -- God's Most Precious Gift to us all.
Angels announced his birth, not to kings or billionaires or people considered important, but to agricultural workers out in the night, guarding the sheep from wolves. These shepherds had one of the lowest, dirtiest, and hardest jobs out there; yet, they were honored by being the first to hear the news -- good tidings of great joy.
Christ did not come in glory to conquer and be a traditional king; He came to heal the sick and teach people that they mattered to God, and then, 33 years after His lowly birth, to sacrifice Himself by going through possibly the most painful execution possible. He died on the cross to save us all.
It is a sadness to me that most people think of secular legends and made-up stories on this day, and all during this season, instead of the miracle that occurred during the night in that lowly animal barn.
Happy Birthday, Jesus Messiah. Let us never forget what You did for us, and are still doing for all humankind.
Merry Christmas from a very soggy, rainy, and windy N.CA. This is my first Christmas without my dear husband. I miss all the laughter and good times we had. The patients in your hospital are fortunate to have you as their nurse.
Christina, A. Marie’s comment reminded me to send texts to two good friends who are also spending their first Christmas without their husbands. I am sorry for your loss and am sending you a virtual hug.
@christina, I add my good wishes to Cheryl's. See my comment above.
@christina,
Sending you a big hug and a hankie for all those cherished memories. I lost my husband, dad and brother 4 years ago. I love when friends share their stories.
@christina,
The "firsts" after losing a loved one are the hardest, I think. Sending you comforting hugs.
@christina, I'm sorry for your loss this year. Wishing you peace today and gentle new laughter and good times in the coming year.
Merry Christmas, Kristen! And happy holidays to all!
I love the tree topper, so cute!
A Merry Holiday to You and Yours, as well! I hope that you have the most boring day ever at work, which would mean other people are having a safe and healthy holiday!
Merry Christmas Kristin to you & yours! Love your tree topper:)
Wishing you all joy and peace! Thanks for providing this wonderful space, Kristen!
Merry Christmas to all! We have a lot to be thankful for here, but I'll just save it for next week. 😉 I hope everyone has a lovely day!
Happy Holidays to you, Kristen! My sister is a recently retired RN who has worked many, many holidays over the years, so now I'm glad that we get to enjoy more of her. How lovely of you to focus on bringing some cheer to your patients! I'll be spending some time caring for my mother with Alzheimer's today, and I will try to bring some of that same cheerful energy with me.
Happy Holidays to all!
We can all be thankful for this wonderfully positive group that shares friendship and hot savings tips.
Wishing you all a happy and merry Christmas!
I hope your day at work is uneventful. Would never use the Q word. My favorite holiday memory from working was Christmas, 1984. I worked at a Children's Hospital. One of the players from our local NFL team somehow managed to get enough Cabbage Patch dolls - the hot toy that year - that we could give one to every patient, and even most of their siblings. He did not want anyone to know that he was the donor or have any media coverage.
Merry Christmas, Kristen and family.
Merry Christmas (or happy Thursday) to all my virtual friends along the Commentariat and around the world! Hope this is a wonderful day for everyone!
Merry Christmas Kristin!
Love the tree topper and the real kitties that live with you!
I know you will touch each of the patients you are with today.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all. I am grateful for all of you and our Frugal Girl?
Have a good day taking care of patients. Nurses are the best.
I retired 4 years ago after 44 years as a hospital RN on a med/ surg floor. I always worked Christmas ( and a variety of other holidays) as I have no family, so others with kids could have off. Not a bad time as patients had many visitors to occupy them and people usually were in a holiday mood. Hope you have happy holidays and give yourself credit for all you do and what you have learned.
I like your cat angel tree topper!
Wishing you and your family (and your patients) a beautiful day. Merry Christmas! LOVE your cute new kitty tree topper - how very festive!!
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to all.
Kristen, your tree is beautiful and that topper is adorable.
This is my first in 18 years that I get to celebrate Christmas morning. I loved working holidays at the hospital.
14 kids spent the night, we did chores, cocoa and coffee and stockings, Cowboy Church and now we are gathered around the fire, snuggled in quilts.
Nope. Not skipping it.
I am thankful that your patients have you today. I am thankful for the paper heart gifts that my youngest gave to me. I am thankful for singing in church today. I am thankful that my father and I were *this close* to making a major pinochle comeback against 2 of my sons. I just love pinochle. I am thankful for the chocolate I got for Christmas. I love chocolate, too. I am thankful for Christmas; it's almost the best holiday ever. I am thankful for those hymns that were written in Latin originally more than a thousand years ago and that we still sing versions of today. I am thankful that some crazy symptoms I have been "enjoying" can all be linked to life's fun change-- no big worries. I am thankful for the sunshine coming through the window and making my plants and Christmas tree even more glow-y. I'm thankful that I finally fit into that dress I saved for more than 20 years-- you know, that one I wore when my fiance took me to the ballet, back before we were married and I was perpetually pregnant for 12 years. I am thankful that my children were thoughtful about gifts for each other. I am thankful that my kid's bestie is handling a tough situation well. I am thankful that Kristen bought that car; am I the only one who can smell the new car smell through the computer screen? I am thankful that I finally have a planner for next year and that I have the myriad lists and new appointments written in it. I am thankful for cheese and well water. I am thankful for that game we play when we make scrambled eggs and have both store-bought eggs and backyard eggs in the bowl all at once and we pick out which yolks are from the store. I'm thankful for all the commenters who have become folks I look for over and over again and for those I haven't learned to recognize yet (because, to be honest, this is a healthy blog!). I am thankful for the ones who are no longer here, but not that they are no longer here. (It's a weird thing when people you don't know--yet do know some-- go away and you don't know why.) I'm thankful for the Jodi at the bank; we're spelled differently, but I liked talking to her about it this week. I'm thankful that the broken dryer situation is not permanent. I'm thankful my kids know what I love most. Surprise! They only think they do. I love them more than the chocolate and such things they gave me. I am thankful for our silly kittens. I am thankful that my son didn't crash this week. I am thankful for the sermon my husband preached this morning. If you made it all the way through this ramble, I am thankful that you cared enough to keep reading and getting to know me.
Merry Christmas.
@Jody S., that is a great list of “thankfuls” - many resonated with me.
@Jody S., I read every word, felt all of the joy, and am glad to come to know you a little bit more. Merry Christmas to you and your colorful family!
It makes me smile seeing all you have accomplished this year! Love the cat topper and the all the ways you saved money on your dream car. Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Merry Christmas, Kristen, and to all the gang here, too, happy holidays! Wishing everyone brightness, peace and hope.
Merry Christmas, to you, too.
Thanks for the tree pix. Always love seeing them.
It is great that you can be at the hospital. Christmas has to be one of the worst times to be sick.
It makes such a difference to have nurses with your upbeat attitude around. YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. So, thank you for YOUR service!
Merry Christmas!
I'll never forget the extraordinary care my relative received when she had to be hospitalized on Christmas. Decades later, I still send a wave of gratitude to the nurses who spent extra time helping her feel cared for!
Awww I love that!
Merry Christmas. I hope you had a pleasant day. I know the patients and their families appreciated you.
I have spent time in the hospital around Christmas, quad bypass and then a year later heart attack. Nurses were like angels to me as they cared for my broken body. I know you bring your light and love in to each patient you care for. Thank you.
I so love reading this every day. You are so appreciated. Merry Christmas. Yuur tree is so beautiful.