December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

[dill]

Greetings! Here we go on week 4, although a day late getting started. Ooops!

Peace and strength and joy to all!

[cyntree]

Thank you, Dill, for starting us on week 4. Congrats all (me too!) who woke up hangover free. And if you didn't, hang in here with us - I would never have made it without this beautiful thread - truly you are all the gift that keeps on giving!

I'm finding it a little hard to carve out much time to post - Mom is very happy that I'm here, and I'm responsible for the 'party' atmosphere. We were snowed in last night, and her church was cancelled, but I was able to get a webcast from the National Cathedral of their midnight service, and once I hooked the netbook up to speakers, we had our own little private service! It was pretty amazing, and definitely better than being out in 9 degree weather, 40 mile an hour winds, and 8 inches of snow at midnight. I think it's a tradition I would like to keep!

Today we will be baking together- Mom's traditional English Plum Puddings. She's made them every year for over 60 years, so that's a tradition I thought we should keep up. I also had fortunately purchased some of my favorite xmas DVDs: It's a Wonderful Life, Desk Set (Tracy and Hepburn), and Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwyck), so we have them here for our entertainment tonight and tomorrow.

Sheri - Bless you, thank you for finding the post that I had mentioned, and for putting it up again. It was good timing for me to read it. Dill - can we hold onto week 3 for a little - I'd like to print out a few things from last week, and I'm without a printer.

LBH - Luminarias are what we use in AZ - seems better than putting lights on a cactus! I could envision your frosty, glowy walk - it must have been beautiful.

Peace today to all!
Christmas wishes -
Cyn

[ladybirdheart]

Greetings and it is great to be along for Week Four. I feel the countdown for the New Year beginning and this year I actually have first hand knowledge, not just hope, that personal growth and transformation is not only possible but likely. I am so glad you made it to your mom’s in the big giant storm, Cyn, and can now steam puddings, watch old movies, and use new technology to go to church. My late mother would have adored you. Hi, dear Dill, thanks for the launch. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

Thanks for remembering to change weeks Dill,

I just baked a poppyseed roll & a nut roll - smells wonderful......my Polish Mother would have been proud! A nice change for dessert after all the cookies the past few days!

Cyn, I know you are enjoying your time with your Mom, that's special!

Dill & LBH, can you believe we actually did it??? An AF Christmas...........what a wonder!!!
I'm going to reheat leftovers (believe it or not) for dinner. We had such a huge meal yesterday

Hope everyone is enjoying this marvelous day!

[Pamina]

Merry Christmas everyone! Sounds like sober holidays all round - fantastic! I did have a glass of port but so far that's it and I'm about to jump into bed. I've never seen the luminarias but have a mental image now. I'll have to google them to see if it matches reality. We're snowed in here and I was petrified shuffling along to church yesterday on icy streets. My candles aren't in sand but in lanterns in the snow. Hope everyone's having a peaceful evening with plum pudding still left over for tomorrow.

[dill]

Christmas Day is coming to an end. It was hectic and fun and full of laughter and good food. I hope everyone enjoyed their day. Christmas Day was AF here for the first time since....Oh, I don't think I can beat LBH's dragons reference! Let's just say in eons! Time for quiet and peace.

Peace.

[Lavande]

Same here Dill - I'm happily exhausted, AF as can be

Wishing everyone a peaceful, restful night!

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

Goodness, while I stayed on the alcohol free path, I am so relentlessly tired. I don’t have a single molecule of welcoming, visiting, feeding, charming, helping, diverting, calming, and cleaning left in my being. I loved hearing about your fire in the woods, Dill. I shall peacefully have that image tonight as my last conscious choice. Goodnight Lav, you broke free. Thank you Sheri, that quote has helped me a lot in the last couple of months objectify my addiction and gain an intellectual distance. You never what will ring true. Goodnight, Lil, Red, Cyn, Sooty and all who are around. Love, Ladybird.

[redhibiscus]

The day after Christmas and I am already cooking again. My daughter and partner are coming today and we are celebrating another holiday. Whew! Last night we arrived at home about 8:30 p.m. and I was so tired. Lots of visiting and food make for exhaustion. However, I slept well, and feel peaceful and ready for the second round.

Dill, your Christmas Eve sounded beautiful. I am so happy for you, AF and having a lovely time. Thanks also for starting the week four thread.

Lavande, the nut roll and poppy seed roll are alot of work, but do taste great. My Eastern European relatives used to make that, too. I have the recipe but just not the energy this year. I loved hearing that you have the same ethnic background and recipes.

Cyntree, LBH, sounds like you also are enjoying your family and working hard to make the holidays joyful for all family members. Thanks for sharing.

LBH, I cannot think about New Year's yet, but want to make AF traditions. I have in the past and love to wake up on January 1st feeling 100%. IT is the rest of the year I have a problem with. We'll have to plan together.

[Lavande]

Good morning Determinators!

Slept like a rock last night -- must have been all the extra food

I'm so happy to see that so many of us maintained our AF goals! Makes me feel even stronger & more determined to continue

Red, I made the poppyseed & nut rolls in lieu of perogies this year
My energy reserves are just naturally dwindling...... I wish I could do it all but just cannot anymore.

We're looking at rain all day today, temp. heading up to 50 degrees.........the snow is disappearing quickly.
Wishing everyone a great day, I'll check in later.

Lav