Merry Christmas to my MENA friends

[Cathi 5,748]

Wishing my MENA friends a Merry Christmas. This is my husband's second Christmas here with us in the US. we will be celebrating with my dad and his wife and family tomorrow, Christmas Eve we will host at home, and Christmas Day we will travel to Massachusetts to my brother's to celebrate with his family, my mom, and my family again. My parents are divorced so we always have several celebrations to attend. My youngest son's birthday is Sunday December 22(in 2 days)and my older son's birthday is January 6th so I will also have friends and family over New Years ever to celebrate their birthdays and ring in the new year. I am busy busy busy, Several years ago the adults in our family made a decision to stop exchanging gifts amongst each other and focus on the children. Instead the adults do a simple yankee swap, which is much more fun. It has made the it day more enjoyable and a lot less stressful. Now we focus more on the true meaning of the holiday instead of rushing around like maniacs to buy gifts to people who really don't need anything. My husband and I also decided that instead of exchanging gifts to each other we would take a long overdue trip to Amman to see his family in May. When we go we will bring my older son with us, my younger son doesn't want to go. My younger son has Asperger's syndrome and a central auditory processing disorder, so anything that strays from his normal routine is too stressful for him, he was anxious just thinking about going.

But I digress; I wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or none of the above. Stay safe and warm, and may all of your wishes come true.

Cathi

[Virtuous45 31]

Thanks for taking the time to share a little of your story with your VJ family. I look forward to my first Christmas with my husband and my new family...hopefully Christmas 2014. All the best for the season..

[Lokie 5]

Merry Christmas and may God and Jesus Christ be with you and all Muslims.

[Lokie 5]

There aren't many of your MENA friends responding. Hmmmmm

[KimberlyAhmed 28]

Merry Christmas. This will be Ahmed second Christmas as well. We are having dinner at our apartment for our family(6 in total), so it will be a relaxing one this year. Save travels!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

There aren't many of your MENA friends responding. Hmmmmm

Sorry that folks in Palestine haven't answered right away... they've been kinda busy getting ready for Christmas (much like a lot of people who usually frequent this forum)....

I will post my annual Christmas in Palestine thread later... but here's a preview of the preps outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem:

Merry Christmas !

[Nasturtium 500]

There aren't many of your MENA friends responding. Hmmmmm

When you learn to properly spell genie, then you can come and play.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Because Muslims and Christmas and Jesus are like vampires and garlic or Superman and kryptonite.

That being said, I hope everyone celebrating has a wonderful holiday, with lots of love from family and friends, and lots of yummy treats.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Merry Christmas VJ Peeps! This year totally flew by. Last year this time if I were to guess how my year would have went I would not have thought things would happen the way they have with us taking in family into our home to temporarily help support, 2 blood clots & now as of last week our first vehicle accident where we were hit. We are good & our jeep is still in the shop getting fixed. Also, Im about 2 days away from officially announcing to my co workers that I will be the new HR assistant at my job- something I talked about 2 years ago but this blood clot issue has led me to being in there to help out to the opening and position for me to be in permanently this coming Monday. In all things give thanks & I'm thankful for yet another year with my husband by my side. Tamara

[Cathi 5,748]

There aren't many of your MENA friends responding. Hmmmmm

Your point? If you're here to cause drama, please feel free to stay out of the forum

[Cathi 5,748]

Sorry that folks in Palestine haven't answered right away... they've been kinda busy getting ready for Christmas (much like a lot of people who usually frequent this forum)....

I will post my annual Christmas in Palestine thread later... but here's a preview of the preps outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem:

Merry Christmas !

Gorgeous

[Cathi 5,748]

Merry Christmas. This will be Ahmed second Christmas as well. We are having dinner at our apartment for our family(6 in total), so it will be a relaxing one this year. Save travels!

Same to you Kimberly!

[Cathi 5,748]

Merry Christmas VJ Peeps! This year totally flew by. Last year this time if I were to guess how my year would have went I would not have thought things would happen the way they have with us taking in family into our home to temporarily help support, 2 blood clots & now as of last week our first vehicle accident where we were hit. We are good & our jeep is still in the shop getting fixed. Also, Im about 2 days away from officially announcing to my co workers that I will be the new HR assistant at my job- something I talked about 2 years ago but this blood clot issue has led me to being in there to help out to the opening and position for me to be in permanently this coming Monday. In all things give thanks & I'm thankful for yet another year with my husband by my side. Tamara

Congrats on the new job position! I'm sorry to hear about your accident and the blood clots, do they know what caused them?

[Cathi 5,748]

Because Muslims and Christmas and Jesus are like vampires and garlic or Superman and kryptonite.

That being said, I hope everyone celebrating has a wonderful holiday, with lots of love from family and friends, and lots of yummy treats.

Same to you Sandinista. Unfortunately I've had a few too many yummy treats this past year, it's time for me to hit the gym January 1st

[JohnR! 5,495]

Here is wishing you & family a wonderful holiday season as well!!!

Kudos on the gift idea. A few years back we decided we would not exchange gifts anymore. Our present to one another is the promise to make it to the family reunion in the summer, so that we can all be together - that is the biggest gift one can ask.

Be safe and have a happy new year !

Note: Since a less-than-aware poster once suggested I should only post in the MEAN forum - because we all know the 'M' in MENA stands for Monaco - I thought it would be appropriate to reply! LOL

Wishing my MENA friends a Merry Christmas. This is my husband's second Christmas here with us in the US. we will be celebrating with my dad and his wife and family tomorrow, Christmas Eve we will host at home, and Christmas Day we will travel to Massachusetts to my brother's to celebrate with his family, my mom, and my family again. My parents are divorced so we always have several celebrations to attend. My youngest son's birthday is Sunday December 22(in 2 days)and my older son's birthday is January 6th so I will also have friends and family over New Years ever to celebrate their birthdays and ring in the new year. I am busy busy busy, Several years ago the adults in our family made a decision to stop exchanging gifts amongst each other and focus on the children. Instead the adults do a simple yankee swap, which is much more fun. It has made the it day more enjoyable and a lot less stressful. Now we focus more on the true meaning of the holiday instead of rushing around like maniacs to buy gifts to people who really don't need anything. My husband and I also decided that instead of exchanging gifts to each other we would take a long overdue trip to Amman to see his family in May. When we go we will bring my older son with us, my younger son doesn't want to go. My younger son has Asperger's syndrome and a central auditory processing disorder, so anything that strays from his normal routine is too stressful for him, he was anxious just thinking about going.

But I digress; I wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or none of the above. Stay safe and warm, and may all of your wishes come true.

Cathi