Lessons Learned in 3D — Wrap Up
Dear December,
Thanks for coming to visit. You brought some unexpected surprises, and you demanded way too much of my time and energy. But, I still like you. I love your tinsel. You’ve got style, even if you are a lot of work.
As we wrap up and part ways, I wanted to share the top 10 lessons you have taught me as a way of saying “thanks for the memories.” (Cue the Bob Hope song here.)
1. If your mom says that your dad has an “infected pimple,” this could actually be the shingles.
2. If your dad gets the shingles, your mom will probably get the chicken pox.
3. If your mom gets the chicken pox, you should run to Walgreens and get a Varicella vaccine. You won’t need a prescription, and it will cost you $150. If you do this within 72 hours of kissing your infected mom, you will probably avoid catching what she is sharing. (Note: If your mom attended your cousin’s wedding the day before she got the chicken pox, you may need to go into a witness protection program before the next family reunion.)
4. I discovered that I really love song #3 on the album We are Young and Free by Hillsong Young and Free. I can’t get the lyrics and melody to “Wake” out of my head….
5. If your girl gets really terrible news on a Friday night, it helps to split a really ginormous sundae. This is excellent therapy.
6. I need to use my crock pot more. For Christmas, I bought a 6 lb. Boston Butt and made Pulled Pork just like my sweet mother in law used to make. It was easy peasy and very yummy. My husband was super happy.
7. Quiddler is a card game with letters instead of numbers. You try to put words together with your hand of cards. (Note: My husband is very good at this game.)
8. If you invite your friends to come over on a Thursday, they will show up and have a story to tell. (Many thanks to everyone who is participating in Thought-Provoking Thursday! You have encouraged my heart.)
9. This year, the Christmas staff party was at a Mexican Restaurant. Then, a week later, my sister in law decided we should move our family Christmas dinner to a Mexican restaurant. Apparently, Santa likes to eat burritos. Who woulda’ known?
10. For 46 years, I have been singing the wrong lyrics to “Up on the Housetop.” Tonight, I googled the lyrics and discovered that the last line of the verse actually says “Who wouldn’t go?” instead of “Who woulda’ known?”
Who woulda’ known??? 🙂
Q4U: What did you learn in December?
I’m joining Emily and friends today.
Oh and how many times did we find excuses to have a sundae when my girls were teens! Good Job MOM! Stopping by from Emily’s place! Happy New Year!
Diane, thanks for stopping by. The “girl” in question was actually a good friend from church, so there were 4 middle aged “girlies” digging into that sundae.
You sound like a wise mom to me! Thanks for the excellent parenting advice. I am going to tuck that one away for future reference. 🙂
These are cute, Lyli. 🙂 One of my good friends came down with shingles this year, and my uncle had a really rough time with shingles last year. Not an easy thing! I’m currently getting over the flu, but now is as good a time as any since hubby is home. 🙂 (And he got it first.) Have a great new year.
Lisa, mom and dad are both on the mend, but it’s been a crazy month. I hope you are over the flu soon — glad to hear that your hubby is home to take care of you.
Happy New Year! 🙂
Haha! The last lesson was my favorite. Wrong song lyrics are the best. Happy New Year!
I am the Queen of singing the wrong lyrics to old 80’s songs, but this one caught me by surprise. I really thought I had it right.
Oh I love this… I too have offered the same kind of therapy… it’s powerful and so very helpful!
I made pulled pork in my crockpot this month as well… so good!
That card game sounds like so much fun! I’ll have to look for that one!
I got Shingles several years ago… it sounds strange – but Apple Cider Vinegar is like a miracle! I used it both directly on the shingles and I diluted it a bit and drank it! The pain was gone in hours and the shingles disappeared in days. Unfortunately – once you get them… they can reoccur (and can be brought on by stress…) so now I take ACV every once in awhile – but especially if I am feeling stressed out! No reoccurences here!
I’ve enjoyed joining with you on Thursdays this month! What a great gathering!
Happy New Year!
~K~
Karrillee, thanks for the tip on Apple Cider Vinegar. I told mom she needs to go have the shingles vaccine. I hope dad doesn’t get them again (not a fun thought!). You are the 2nd person I have spoken to that got shingles at an early age. I think that’s pretty rare these days.
I’ve loved visiting your blog these past few weeks. So glad you are part of our Thursday crew!
Hope you have a fantastic New Year’s. 🙂
Wow. It sounds like your December was eventful, to say the least. Shingles are the worst. I hope everyone is on the road to recovery. I love your sense of humor about everything that came your way this month, made me laugh. Happy New Year!
Heidi, thanks for stopping by my little space on the web. I am happy to report that my parentals are both on the mend. Hope you have an awesome 2014! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
I have learned a few things this December…
1. Sometimes the best thing to say is “No.” It relieves stress and makes me much more easy to live with.
2. I can enjoy Pinerest with absolutely no intention of ever making anything that I see. I can pin and forget with no guilt. Priceless!
3. Spur of the moment is sometimes the best moment.
4. I should proof read my FB posts closer.
5. God is good all the time! (And no, I did not learn that this month, but I was reminded!)
6. I am thankful for the godly heritage that I have enjoyed and, really, taken for granted for much of my life. But, I am so thankful that God did not leave me there, but has continued to trim and shape me to be more like Him.
7. I love Christmas!!!!!
Carole, I love your list. Thanks for sharing it with us here. I put a “no” button in my husband’s stocking stuffer this year. It’s a big red button you push, and it says “No” in like 5 or 6 different ways. (He has a hard time saying no…). He loves that thing… He hasn’t stopped playing with it yet. 🙂
Now I did not think that there was anyone else out there in the universe who had a loved one with chicken pox this December. But here we are. My husband came down with it about 2 weeks before Christmas. He is 42 and was MISERABLE. No one could believe he had it and we have no idea where it came from. We don’t know anyone who recently had shingles. You aren’t in KS, are you, LOL? Now I have never had chicken pox, but my 8yo and I had our vaccinations around the year 2006. I figured, oh boy, if I get it – even a lesser version of it – it’ll show up around Christmas or New Year’s. So far so good! I hope you don’t get it either!
Stephanie, so sorry to hear about your husband! We are in Florida, and I managed to avoid the pox (for which I am very thankful….)
Oh, Lyli – Did you get the chicken pox? Your poor mom and dad. My 3rd son had shingles when he was 2 – I thought it was chigger bites first! LOL I swear he got them from my mom who had shingles. BTW – I love crock pot pork butt, too! It’s always a hit! Wishing you joy and blessing in the New Year – and see you Thursday!
MaryLeigh, I managed to avoid the chicken pox (hallelujah!), but last week I had a couple of bites, and my husband said they were chiggers (I think they were fleas from mom’s doggie).