Monday, November 30, 2015

Not Sitting Home Alone This Christmas

Here's an inspiring note from a reader about surviving the holidays. I can't think of a better outlook and * truth that transforms * than what this "honey" of a widow had to say. Thanks for letting me share this Honey Bee!
Hello Ferree,

I have found it absolutely necessary for me to have a plan for Christmas. The first Christmas after David's death, I spent alone. We had no family. Not a good idea. Neither was sharing with other families. I felt like a fifth wheel, or a charity case, although folks meant well.

The next year I went to Nashville with a tour group and had a great time. The following year I went with a tour group to New Hampshire's White Mountains. Another fabulous time. Last year all I could find was New York City, so to NYC I went and had an amazing time. This year I'm booked to go to Frankenmuth, MI, a lovely Bavarian Village.

It doesn't matter where I go, as long as I'm not sitting home alone.

The bus tours work well for me. They do all the work and the planning. I just show up. Because I have had Stage 3 Cancer and then Congestive Heart Failure after my husband died, my strength is so limited, but I can still have a wonderful life, making new friends, getting "out there", and making sure I am constantly building community in my life "one conversation at a time".

This week one of the baristas at the Starbucks I frequent almost daily said, "You have an exciting life." Yes, I do. * God is good. He opens doors, and the more doors I walk through, the more doors seem to open. It's all documented in my stack of Gratitude Journals.*

I love the encouragement you provide here, Ferree. Yours was one of the first websites I discovered as a new widow. Thank you from my heart.

God bless you and all who visit here.
Honey Bee

6 comments:

  1. Honey Bee, you were an encouragement to me this morning. Thank you!

    Candy

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  2. Candy, and Honey Bee, I've heard the same from other widows too! Thank you for your comment, Candy, and thank you Honey B, for embracing this gift of life with all of your heart!

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  3. What a great idea!

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  4. What a great attitude! Thank you for this wonderful post!

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  5. Bravo! How do we find out about these tour groups? This sounds like it would be great.

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