I am so excited about the holidays this year.
I think it's the fact that I don't have deadweight dragging me down. In the past, I had to do everything, shopping, cooking, decorating, buying and wrapping all presents, only to deal with someone who hated the holidays and made it miserable for the family.

This year, I'm on my own. For some reason, he's allowing me to visit my family for a week at Thanksgiving and a week at Christmas. He would refuse to travel, then proceed to make it miserable for me if I asked him to go.

I look forward to the holidays this year. And though I won't have my girls with me on Christmas Day, I'm more concerned about celebrating when we are together, and even going to my church service with them on Christmas Eve.

I feel more blessed now than I have in past holidays, because I believe that God has shown me that I am doing the right thing for myself and my girls.
God Bless you all.

we are looking forward to xmas. No more being with x parents every xmas since 1984. that included thanksgiving each year, summer vaction to H parents house. X would not take us anywhere but parents house. Wonder if OW will put up with that. This year we can do whatever we want. older son & his wife moved in with us so we plan to be one large family. Younger son said he is a lot happier now we moved from dad's town. X & son are in the angry stage. X is angry at me D him, not sure why he left me to be with MOW. Son says he hates his dad for leaving him to be with MOW. Only thing I wish for this year is for my son to find peace with his dad. his dad took away his childhood. X wants no contact with his only child, has made no effort to call, email or write him since 5-01. X would only pick him up sun. mornings for a few hrs that stopped 6-02 when we moved, X has joint custody. no contact since then to his son. After looking back over the years I can see X never knew how to be a dad. X was afraid to show his feelings. he has never been there for our son. The battle is over its time to move on with our lives. We may not have much to spend this year, but each gift will be special, its from the heart.

m-17yrs, 9mts, 12 days
d-5-02
c-13, 29, 8gd
x-43, me-48

ow-32
d-7-02
c-3 small
m-10yrs

I am kind of looking forward to the holidays this year. I'm not sure if I'll still be with H by then, but either way, it's sure to be memorable! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

If the boys and I haven't yet moved, then it will be nice to have one last family xmas together. But if we are moved in time, then it will be nice to be in a new home, and to start the new year of independance! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Either way, all is good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Karen

You betcha!
1- I'm no longer married to a money-sucking wife who had to spend a minimum of $1,000 for HER family, and something like maybe $90 for mine - year after year.
2- I'm flying to Lynchburg this Christmas to see my son, who had been brainwashed by said ex-wife but after going through USMC Boot Camp and Advanced Training, has begun to 'see the light' that his Dad (me) wasn't lying after all, and he wants me to come see him!
3- I'm spending these Holidaze with a wonderful wife for the 3rd Year now and she is sooooo everything that my ex-wife wasn't!!!
'Nuff said.
Harold (Most definitely HAPPY in Texas!) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Yuppers...count me in on this one. Although I'm still arranging things in my new home, the green and red cardboard boxes with the snowflakes on them are residing in my attic as we speak, right next to the tree stand, the bags of lights....and it's all MY home, our home I should say as daughter is lucky enough to spend 4 nights a month here.

I can't wait to bake cookies with D, sing along to our favorite Xmas album, which by the way was my favorite growing up, and my mother's favorite growing up....wow! Some things are timeless!

Newly:
I know from my 13 year marriage that Xmas is traditionally spent with the wife's family, and we did and it generally wasn't a problem except for the long drive albeit shorter than to OH. It's just that once I had a child, I wanted her to make the holiday connection with her own home....I didn't want to jump in the car on Xmas morning at 9:00 AM and drive 3 hours. Some day when she is grown...I hope she will want to come and see me for the holidays, but I also hope she has the spirit and compassion to make it a "homestyle" holiday for her own offspring.

What do you mean your STBXH is "allowing" you to go away for those weeks...are you two back together? By the way, you sound like you're doing terrific, keep it going.

Can't wait to make the house smell like turkey, cookies baking, turkey soup, conifer, and whatever other oderiferousness fills us with spirit.

<small>[ November 16, 2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: catamount82 ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> What do you mean your STBXH is "allowing" you to go away for those weeks...are you two back together? By the way, you sound like you're doing terrific, keep it going.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">We still have no custody agreement worked out, so I had to ask him if I could take the girls out of state. We meet again on Wed. of this week with lawyers, although I don't anticipate any agreements. My lawyer thinks it will definitely go to the psychological evaluations.
I am doing better lately, and truly appreciate all the wonderful things I have in my life.
Take Care.

I am trying to have a good holiday. I usually have some seasonal depression, and we're dealing with my sister's cancer treatment right now, but I DON'T have to pretend in front of my family that things are just peachy with my home life and I DON'T have to go to the out-laws for dinner!!

This is my year to have the kids Thanksgiving and not Christmas Day, so the whole family will be over for turkey ... oh gosh, is it only next week!? I need to go clean!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by ex-Princess Buttercup:
<strong>...but I DON'T have to pretend in front of my family that things are just peachy with my home life and I DON'T have to go to the out-laws for dinner!!
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Can't you just go throw the TROLL in the Lake - they you can eat their Dinner with your kidZ and not have to deal with them... heheeee.
Harold

I always look forward to the Holiday season.

I've got an extra day that I'm switching my X, then I'll be all set as far as the kids go. Unless you count her call last night asking for another switch which I'm not going to agree too.

So, I've got my babies the weekend after Thanksgiving, which I will be hosting a Family get together for agout 50 people.

Then I have them from the weekend prior to Christmas until the the day after Christmas, I'm really excited about that. Last year almost turned ugly over Christmas.

Anyway, it's going to be an extremely tight holiday season, but one that I'm quite sure is filled with love, hugs, smiles, giggles, and probably a couple tears.

God bless us all.