It’s hard to believe another year has flown by. This past week alone has been a whirlwind. I feel like I’ve traveled and visited more people than I did all year!

My friend Kris & I went out to dinner in Olde City on Thursday and then to see my friend Tim

in a singer/songwriter’s circle at a little venue. I hadn’t realized how long it have been since I’d seen Tim – but it has been too long. The show was great – it was wonderful to be out, to see Tim, to meet his wife and to just have fun.

Last night we had a youth group game night for new year’s eve. I don’t usually do anything on new year’s eve because I host an open house on new year’s day and always spend the night getting ready. But this year I decided to try something different. We had a pretty good turnout and I had a good time. Michelle & I especially had fun playing Scattergories as a team…lol. (You’d have had to be there to understand…but we were loony!) I was so exhausted by the time midnight rolled around; I was ready to go home.

Once home though, I still felt like I should do some things to get ready for today so I didn’t get to bed until about 1:30…and boy, did I feel that this morning when I had to be peppy & raring to go to lead teach sunday school. Thankfully, the kids were tired too and we had a quiet craft to work on! Then I rushed out of there to come home and get all the food and stuff ready.

Whoo. It was a nice night – it was good to see friends and relax. Some of the usual suspects weren’t in attendance this year…and I missed them. : ( It is so hard to find time to get together with people these days…and that makes me sad. It shouldn’t be so hard.

Well, now I am totally exhausted. Thankfully, the new job doesn’t start until Tuesday, so I have another day off. I am hoping to sleep in and indulge in some real R&R. We shall see!

I’ve got some thoughts about the new year, resolutions and what not…but that will have to wait until later. Must sleep!

Wishing you all happiness in the new year!

…for me to get sick, fa la la la, la la la la.

I don’t know what it is about the holidays but I truly can’t remember one when I wasn’t sick. I made it through Christmas day ok but now am battling a cold. So much for my time off from work! I hope I can get well enough to do everything I have planned for the rest of the week…

I had planned to post when I got home on Christmas evening but didn’t have the energy. Christmas Eve had been draining for various reasons (though I was glad to have some time to catch up with my friend Matt who was visiting from Colorado) and I was feeling slightly under the weather. But we ate a lot of food, visited with relatives and had a nice time before I headed out. My uncle lives off the beaten path and man, was it foggy! But thankful I made it home without getting lost or having any problems.

Yesterday was shopping day – I got up early and redeemed my gift cards and stocked up on Christmas supplies for next year. But by one o’clock the cold was kicking in and I took a siesta. Watched Polar Express last night – very good! I highly recommend it. I may have to add it to my holiday movie repetoire!

Today I had lunch with my mom and her best friend Rose. It was nice to get together and catch up but I was really feeling crummy by the time I got home. So back to bed with me again until now. I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything I wanted to get done this week and it’s bugging me! At least I have Adventure Theater planned for Sunday – that’s a BIG something, I guess.

Well, I’m off to try to get some other things done around here. TTFN!

Yesterday was my last day at my job. It feels so strange to think I won’t be going back there in the new year, that I’ll be completely starting over somewhere new. I’m nervous, but excited at the same time.

Last night, we had a little Christmas party over at a friend’s house. It was a great time and I got to meet my friend’s buddy, Ron. Ron has been serving in Iraq since this summer and is home for the holidays. It’s funny – I couldn’t stop thinking about him last night when I got home and today. As much as many of us (myself definitely included) complain about our jobs…Ron’s got a job where people are literally shooting at him while he does it. The whole thing is really hard for me to get my brain around. I pray that he will be safe when he returns to Iraq and that he’ll make it through his tour over there unscathed. If you think of it, say a prayer for Ron…and for all the other men & women involved in this war. It doesn’t matter what your politics are or how you feel about the President or the war…these are people, away from their loved ones, facing danger every day.

Kind of puts other things in perspective…

I know I haven’t posted in a while. I’ll use the age old busyness at the holidays excuse, topped by the busyness of trying to wrap up projects and close out six and a half years of working for one company. It’s odd to be leaving at the holidays, in so many ways. I’m looking forward to having next week off to catch up with people and relax…hopefully my nerves about starting a new job will be held at bay at least until the new year!

On a more festive note, I present the holiday meme, courtesy of Anisa

and Cheryl

!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I do enjoy the nog this time of year but peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks is my favorite holiday treat
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He’s got elves to do the wrapping!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white on both…I only like colored on houses if they are the really large old fashioned looking bulbs. Those are cool.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I haven’t in a few years…seems like a waste when there’s no one you want to kiss under it!
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I don’t think I have one.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Watching the yule log on tv at the Asay’s house – the parents would all be drinking, the kids would be playing, and once in a while the news would cut in with sightings of Santa
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I knew when I was like 10 but I kept up the ruse until I was 12 for my parents sake.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually, unless it’s from a friend.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Sugar cookies.
11. Snow: love it or dread it? I love it when I don’t have to shovel it.
12. Can you ice skate? Never tried.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My Barbie Dream House with the elevator.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Trying to focus on the reason for the season instead of all the commercial hubbub.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? David’s chocolate pecan pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas eve service at church
17. What tops your tree? I don’t have a tree but I have a cute Boyds Bear angel that would top it if I did
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?: Definitely giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas carol? “Do You Hear What I Hear”, with “The Little Drummer Boy” as a close second
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum? They’re ok. I usually have about one a year.

And there you have it, folks!

The other day, I got a letter in the mail thanking me for the money I raised this year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. Volunteers who raised a certain amount are eligible for thank you gifts and you have to go on their website by a certain date and choose.

I went on and one of the gifts is an iPod. Oh my gosh! But here is my dilemma. I can accept the gift or I can donate it back to the society. On one hand, I feel like I should donate it back. On the other, I’ll never be able to afford an iPod on my own….

So, what should I do? Cast your votes…

We took the youth to see The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe last night. I read it long ago and didn’t remember much of it – but the movie was great. I was really impressed with how well done it was. I feel like I need to see it again, for I’m sure there was a lot I missed!

Ok, I rescind my previous comments about snow! It is a wonderful, beautiful thing, which allowed me a glorious day off from work yesterday. I was able to wrap Christmas presents, do some organizing around the house and, thanks to it ending mid-morning, get out to finish my Christmas shopping. And oh, the three day weekend is marvelous too!

I’ve been running around literally ALL day today. And now I am quickly baking a cake for my church Leadership Christmas party. The party is always a lot of fun and we do a white elephant. I will say, however, that I get the WORST white elephant each time (although some would dispute that, claiming that THEY always get the worst gift). The last two years, I actually came home with nothing because I gave my gifts to someone who actually wanted them. We’ll see if tonight is any different!

I’m cold at work every day. For some reason, they can’t get the temperature regulated. People wear scarves and coats all day; my friend even gave me an electric throw blanket to use at work when it is too unbearable – and I have!

I’m cold at home. Not entire sure why, other than it takes a while to heat back up from me turning the thermostat down while I’m at work. That and the outlets and stuff not being insulated, so the wind whips right through them. I wonder also if my upstairs neighbor’s basement window being broken and just covered with flimsy cardboard has anything to do with it…hmmmmm…

And now it is supposed to snow up to 8 inches between Thursday evening and Friday at midday. Ack! I used to love snow when I was a kid – a chance for a snow day, sledding all day with Jess and Sheri and the rest of the gang. It never seemed COLD then!

Now that I’m a “grown up” who has to shovel, drive in it and get to work, I’m not so fond of snow anymore. And suddenly it is really cold!

Speaking of cold, I bought fleece sheets at Kohls on black Friday. The best winter purchase I have ever gotten, I must say! They make me not want to get up in the morning, but really, what else is new with that? I highly recommend them. Much better and cozier than flannel!

Me & my grlz 

Tonight was our church anniversary banquet – one of the few excuses I get each year to wear something sparkly and dress up. It’s always nice to catch up with friends and have a few laughs. And it’s a perfect opportunity for picture taking!

Santa was in the hooooooouuuuuuusssssssse 

Tonight there was another event going on at the venue and they asked if there was anyone in our group who would be willing to dress up and play Santa Claus. We elected David – and he fit the part well!

Santa & the missus 

And behind every great man is a great woman…need I say more?