Once the food was ready, things started to look up. We had our neighbors from below come up because their mom/wife was on the mainland. It was nice. Great food. Great company. We cleaned up with no complaining and started getting the Christmas decorations out. We were watching "Elf" and I was laughing and enjoying myself. Then my sister called. I love my sister. I love my family. But one lesson I have learned about myself after living away from them all for 13 years, is that I don't do well when I call them or they call my on a holiday when they are all together and I am not there. I can talk to my parents after everyone is gone and be fine, but hearing them all together is too much for me. I see her name come up on my phone and I made the choice to answer. We had a great conversation. She was also a little sad because it was her daughter's first Thanksgiving away from home. Everyone got on the phone and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. Then they told me what they were doing. Playing games, watching movies, napping. Pretty normal stuff. Things went downhill from there. I could picture it all and I wasn't there. The fact that I know we are not going for Christmas didn't help matters.
I hung up the phone and shed a few tears and then headed out to continue decorating the tree. Everyone wanted to help, but the ribbon wasn't going on right and I had to take it down three times. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I told my family I was too tired to decorate the tree, they should just do it themselves, and I went outside to sit in the dark and drink egg nog. (Yes, I am still on Weight Watchers, but Turkey Day is Weight Watchers free. Did you all not know that?) As much as I would have liked to be alone, my kids kept coming out trying to cheer me up. I retreated to my bedroom and just let the tears flow. I have become quite adept at crying silently. I didn't want to ruin their Thanksgiving. But they love tradition, like I do, and we decorate the tree together. They don't do it without me. Brian came in and let me vent, then he did the unthinkable - he invited the kids into my dark cave of sadness. I try to hide my sadness from everyone, but he told me that I wasn't fooling anyone, and the kids felt bad for me. They came in and I apologized for crying on Thanksgiving, but I just missed my family. They all told me how much they loved me and then they prayed for me. They said it was ok to be sad sometimes, but they weren't going to decorate the tree without me. I fell asleep feeling so thankful for my family. The ones under my roof. The ones that are with me on this crazy adventure. They are pretty awesome and they love me a lot. Happy or sad. Now if only I had cut myself with a knife, my title would have been perfect, but the sweat and tears were enough for me this year.
I weighed myself that morning instead of on Friday, because who in their right mind weighs themselves the day after Thanksgiving??? Not this girl! I was down .2. Not two pounds. Point two. But a loss is a loss!! This week was better. I was down 3lbs!! Three whole pounds. That makes 9 for those of you who are counting. I didn't exercise three times. It has been so busy. I didn't have the extended prayer times I have been hoping for either. I still need your prayers for that. Going into the next two weeks, I think I have one day off. The Christmas show is taking over and I need prayer to keep my attitude right. I would like to have Christmas be tear-free!! For my sake, and my family's. God says He doesn't give us more than we can handle, so I have to believe I am a lot stronger than I think I am. I am thankful for you all and your support! Here's to another great week!!
