That's all folks!!

So it's the last day of 2005. A little over 7 hours left here in Cali and then it will be 2006.

What a year. My ds turned 8, my dd turned 4, dh and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary, dh got a promotion, I got a part time job (something I thought I'd NEVER do until my kids were out of the house), our church got a new pastor and a new secretary (officially known as "administrative assistant"), I began public speaking again through programs at church - and that's just the big stuff. I could spend hours listing all the small changes.

So what will 2006 bring? My hopes - dh, ds, dd and I to grow closer together as a family; me living healthy and slimmer; the retaking up of piano; a bigger house; and all of us growing closer to God.

Will any of that happen? I don't know. Those are my hopes and dreams for the year. Almost all of those require action on my part. So I guess my goal is to get moving this year on those dreams. They aren't going to happen by wishing!

Happy New Year to all of you!!!

And how was your Christmas??

Ours was blessed - at least that's the word that first comes to mind. I really enjoyed the Christmas Eve candle light service at our church. It really put me into the mood to worship the reason for the season rather than being concerned about the hustle and bustle of getting here and there.

Christmas morning was nice and relaxed. We only bought the kids 3 presents each plus their stockings. It was a nice way to do things. Nobody was overwhelmed and enjoyment was had by everybody with what they did get.

We went to our regular Sunday morning service on Christmas day and it was wonderful to spend the morning with our family. I truly consider our church family our family. I see them more often than my own family and if I were ever in a bind or needed something people in that family would be first on my list of people to call before my blood relatives.

It has been a nice relaxing few days. My goal for the evening is to get Christmas put away until next year. Not sure it will actually happen today but I have hope that by tomorrow night things will be back to normal looking in the house.

The kids are outside playing with the neighbor and showing each other what they got for Christmas and dh is playing games online. I think it's a good time for a short nap for me before getting to work.

Hope the Christmas season was all you hoped it to be.

It's Official . . .

17 Days until the hooligans go back to school!! Today was the last day for ds before the "winter break." (Which I still call Christmas vacation - old habits die hard!)

I hope they don't drive me too insane. The good news is that dh will be home for 9 of those 17 days - that will either add to the chaos or make my life easier - probably a little of both!!

I'm kind of sad that in 3 days Christmas will be over. I've really enjoyed the season this year. Some years it passes me by and I hardly notice it. This year I felt totally immersed in it for most of the season. I hope the attitude and spirit of Christmas I've had the last two months follows me throughout the next year.

I do have to say I won't be sad to have the Christmas stuff put away - the house seems so cramped and cluttered with the tree hogging up half the place!!

It's Over!

So last night we had the cast party and watched the DVD of Sunday night's performance. I can't believe it's over. After focusing on not much else since the end of October it seems strange. It went really well and I had soooooooooooo much fun being a part of it! I can't wait to see what job will await me next year in the production. There was talk of being stage manager but I really do enjoy being ON stage. I'll stay open to doing whatever is most needed. Remind me I said that next fall when I get asked to do something that might not have been my first choice of things to do! ;-)

The kids and dh LOVED "The Chronicles of Narnia." They all 3 raved about it. I'm still bummed I didn't get to see it. I guess I'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD.

Now that our performances are done I'm realizing how much I have left to do to get ready for Christmas. It's a manageable list - I just wish it was a FINISHED list!

We have about 4 parties scheduled for the weekend. I think we're only going to make an effort to get to two of them and not worry about the other two. There are only so many parties one can attend this time of year without feeling totally partied out!

I hope you're Christmas season is finding you in good spirits and feeling blessed. We have a saying at church this year that we hope "Christmas gets all over you." I love that! It's what is happening to me this year and it's awesome!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

So the performances for our church Christmas program start tomorrow night. Tonight is dress rehearsal. I'm letting ds skip it so he can go to The Chronicles of Narnia with Grandma. He nailed it at rehearsal yesterday so I'm not worried about him. I am jealous I don't get to see the movie.

I've really enjoyed being part of all the Christmas happenings at church. I'm really feeling the Christmas spirit and am feeling so blessed this year. I've been moved to tears several times by the wonder of the season. Why should a HUGE God sent His Son to be born in such a lowly way just for me. The WHY of it is beyond comprehension. The truth is it's a miracle. It's hope. It's a Light shining in our dark path. It's pretty doggone amazing when you think about it!!

If you're reading this blog may hope and peace and the Love of God FILL your heart this Christmas season. Our pastor wrote a note in our newsletter this month about Christmas getting up all over you. I hope that happens to you this year!! Not the commercialized Christmas - but the simple joy of a baby being born in Bethlehem on an ordinary night that heralded in an extraordinary event!!

Merry CHRISTmas!