Sweet friends,
Going to keep this short-n-sweet. Just want to share some upcoming holiday cheer and link-up posts in hopes of encouraging you to join the fun. Grab your calendars and have a look…
Holiday Mini Bucket List
Consider this your cordial invitation to join me for my second annual holiday mini bucket list post going live on 12.01.2018. You can check out last year’s post, here and the update post, here, that takes a look at how I fared on my mini list.
Haven’t given a lot of thought to my list yet but know that I want to include a feel good, pay it forward type activity. Like picking a child’s name from the giving tree at the mall. Paying for a soldier’s meal at a restaurant. Donating blankets or food.
Also I want to do something crafty. Still have a fall craft pending on my autumn bucket list. Maybe I can figure out a way to combine the two.
And what’s a bucket list without a date night activity? Might be time for another progressive date. Or maybe a backwards date?
Hope you will put together your list and come back to join me for this post on Saturday, 12.01.2018. Mark those calendars!
Deck the Halls
You might remember the mug exchange I participated in earlier this fall. I was paired with the hostess of the exchange, Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me. Have gotten to know Stephanie a little bit and joined her for a cookie swap blog hop. I shared a recipe for lemon almond cookies that I guarantee you will love.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will join Stephanie again for two more holiday posts. Deck the halls on 12.12.2018, a holiday home tour. And YOU can link-up with us. So start snapping those photos of your ho-ho-holiday decor!!
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
Join me in looking for as many of these holiday themed decorations as you can find throughout the month of December. Snap a pic and create a collage of your favorites, then share 12.24.2018 on Instagram using #2018ChristmasLightScavengerHunt and comment with how many of the lights you were able to find.
Christmas Moments Photo Challenge
Last but not least, six of us are hosting a Christmas moments photo challenge.
Penny http://pennyspassion.blogspot.com/
Using the prompts on the graphic below, take a photo for each day’s theme. Share on Instagram using #2018ChristmasMoments.
Your Turn
Have you penciled these into your agendas and planners? I am going to do that right now. Just received my shiny new 2019 planner, have you picked out one for the coming year? I will be sharing the one I chose in an upcoming post. Stay tuned.
Update on My Mom
The Thanksgiving holidays were very difficult for our family. As I mentioned here, my 91-year-old mom is really struggling. She has never liked the holidays so at best, the weeks between Halloween and the new year are always a challenge for mom. But she is having some physical and mental health concerns that we are working to understand and get to the bottom of. I will be flying to Kentucky in little more than a week to visit mom and try to figure out how best to help her. Thank you for the well wishes and prayers, my friends.
Now, let’s get these holidays started!
Hugs and kisses,
Debs
Can’t wait to see what you come up with on those link ups you are involved in. Bearing in mind that my home decorations have to take into account a 2 year old whirlwind of a grandson and an inquisitive Cavapoo dog, my decorations have to be a little more minimal than I guess others may be! Nothing below waist height! I bet you get some good photos of holiday lights – we aren’t as ambitious over here and I know I’d have trouble with a ‘decorated cactus or palm’!
I do hope that your trip to your mum goes well and that she is getting the professional support she needs – must be very worrying when she is quite a distance away from you. Don’t forget to take care of yourself while you are taking care of everyone else x
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Had a giggle about your description of decorations only waist high and above! My mom put their Christmas tree in the playpen when I was a baby. Instead of keeping me away from the tree they kept the tree away from me! What a grand holiday you will have with your two darling grands. Can’t wait to see photos of baby Rosie.
Thank you for the reminder to take care of me. I am really dragging tonight. Maybe to bed early and tomorrow I will be back to normal.
Kellyann Rohr
Oh Leslie, bless you heart and your mom’s too. What a challenge, trying to figure things out. You are in my prayers sweet friend. Specifically I’ll be praying for your safe travels, and wisdom for your mom’s medical team and discernment for you and your family as you try to decide how best to help her. Hugs!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so very much for the prayers and kind words for my mama and me. Your words/prayers are perfect. Hoping we soon have some resolution to her issues.
Laura Horton
I hope your mom improves physically over the holidays. I know the season can be so hard on the elderly, but safe travels to you as you go to visit and assist with her care. Thanks for posting the Christmas linkups!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Sweet Laura, thank you for your well wishes for my mama. This time next week, I hope to be hugging her in person.
Have been thinking of Wayne as I see the UPS, USPS and FedEx folks delivering packages all over our neighborhood. Hope he remains healthy and is taking care of himself.
Juhli
So sorry to hear that your Mom is struggling. I am sending hugs to both of you as you try to navigate this portion of her life successfully.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I have such dear ‘virtual’ friends. Thank you for the hugs, Juhli. I sure needed them.
Penny Struebig
Thinking of you and your mom. I hope you get to the bottom of her health issues and she can experience some joy over the holidays. I’m really looking forward to all the fun linkups you have listed! This will make the holidays a little brighter for all of us participating!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Awww, so excited to have you doing the link-ups with me! And looking forward to creating some fun with you in the new year. Let me know what you coe up with for Thinking Out Loud Thursdays. And thank you for thinking of my mama and me. Worrisome times for my family.
Daenel T.
I’m sorry to read about your mom. I hope everything gets back on track soon and she finds her way – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I’m going to keep note of the challenges, they look like fun.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay, yay!! Would love to have you join up for the Christmas challenges.
Thank you for the well wishes for my mama. This has been a very difficult three weeks. Have forgotten how it feels to sleep soundly. Will be visiting her in a week. Hope by then things will be on the right track.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
What is a backwards date? That sounds fun! Our fall season is so busy, I never do bucket lists anymore. I love doing them when the kids were little. I will live through yours! 🙂 I am so sad to hear about your Mom. That is so hard, especially not being local. My dad has been doing pretty good, but I always worry it’ll take a turn. I just hope to get through the holidays with him doing ok.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So glad your dad remains healthy. I know there was a time when you and I both were worried about our parents. I will be in Kentucky this time next week. Hope we can get my mom back on track.
I kind of made up the backwards date idea. Or thought I did, but just now looked it up and there’s such a thing!! Ha! I used to do it with my kids…we would eat dessert first and then the meal and then appetizers or salad. So a backwards date night might start with a movie, then dessert, then dinner and then drinks. Going to figure out the details and try it for my mini bucket list.
Donna
These are awesome holiday link-up, Leslie. I look forward to reading and participating.
Very creative ideas here!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Donna! So excited that you plan to participate in some of the holiday mischief. Will be excited to read your posts and see your pics. In the new year, maybe we can do some fun things together?
Laura
You’ve got some fun things planned for this month! I feel like I am just barely keeping my head above water. I look forward to when I can get more organized and participate in more fun blog things like you!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Girl, you have so much going on!! You and Sarah at Foxy’s Domestic Side and Carrie all amaze me. Hope Santa brings you a cleaning team!