It's the weekend!!

     I am so excited that the weekend is finally here.  I don't have any "big" plans, but I look forward the the weekend all the time!

     I am usually off on Thursdays, but I worked this week.  Thursday is my day to do laundry, clean house, and just have some alone time.  I really missed my Thursday.  Thankfully, Jim has taken over and given me time off! Last night he sent me to bed at 8 pm.  I was out for the night!  He took over the evening!

     Tomorrow, Delainey and I are making gingerbread houses.  We bought a kit (yep, a kit for those of us who are lazy) that has five smaller houses. This is one of the traditions that she and I have together and we enjoy the mess that we make!

     We have to grocery shop tomorrow as well.  Like Old Mother Hubbard our cupboards are bare.  Hopefully we can get in and out quickly.....

     Christmas preparations are almost done.  I did a little more shopping today.  I still have some giftcards to buy and a book to get.  There is only a little more wrapping to do as well.  I haven't sent cards out yet because I am still waiting for our pictures to come back.  I am going to have to send them out soon, pictures or not.

     We are going to be childless for a few days.....school will be out, so Delainey will be spending some time with Mamaw and Papaw.  The house is always quiet when she is gone, but she needs time with her grandparents.

     Sunday we are going to try church again to see if Delainey will sit through a service.  I hope so, I miss not attending church every Sunday. Next Sunday we will be home, so we can worship with our church family.  I know that we will find a place to attend down here, but it just takes time! We have a Christmas party Sunday  evening.  I am sure that it will be a relaxing time for all of us!

Happy Weekend to all!!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

     This isn't about the yummy turkey sandwich kind of leftovers, I didn't have any of those this year.  I started the month of November with a daily Facebook posting about something that I am thankful for.  Then my computer decided to take a vacation for a few days.  When it came back home, I was out of the habit.  There are some important people that I didn't get to mention in my daily gratitude posting, so here are my "leftovers".

     I am very thankful for my family.  We don't always agree with each other, but we are always there for each other.  I have never had a "traditional" family, but it is mine.  My mom, my brother, and I were a team.  I grew up spending holidays with my aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.  I miss those times of celebrating with my extended family.  I have wonderful inlaws who welcomed me into their family very easily.  When Jim and I married, I gained two sons.  Being a step-parent isn't always easy, but Shane and Dylan have always made it interesting!  Delainey is truly my miracle child.  She is so much like me, but she is also her own person.  She makes life fun!

     I am very thankful for my friends.  I have been so lucky with the friends that are part of my life.  There are days that they make me laugh out loud.  They cry with me, laugh with me, and support me in so many ways.  I have talked about my friends before, but they deserve an extra shout out here as well!

     I am thankful for my amazing husband.  Jim is my partner in life.  He knows when I need my space and when I need to be pushed.  He can make me laugh with just a look.  He is my best friend and I enjoy his company.  He is my safe space in the craziness of life.  He makes me smile!

     Most importantly, I am thankful for my Lord and Saviour, Jesus.  I know that I am so blessed in my life.  I have rough times, but the good outweigh the bad times.  The thanks and praise all go to God.  He makes all the things in my life better!

Christmas Traditions

     I  love, love, love Christmas!  I love sappy Christmas movies and old tv shows, musicals and Christmas songs.  I love decorating and shopping, wrapping presents and sending cards.  I love the scents and excitement of the season.  I love spending time with friends and family.  I love the traditions that come along with Christmas.

     Jim and I have worked to build traditions for our family.  Some of them we have planned, some have just happened.  Our first married Christmas, we bought a Waterford crystal ornament.  We buy one every year now.  It is a big decision for our family deciding which one will be on our tree.  This year, we have a crystal tree--I was out-voted, maybe next year I can get the shamrock.


     We also take one day to go shopping.  Jim and I start when the stores open and shop until we have to be home.  Some years we have a list, others we just shop.  Last week, we finished most of our shopping in one day. We spend the day together, have a lunch out and just enjoy the time with each other!  We window shop and people watch.  We reconnect with each other during this busy time of  year.

     Delainey has brought some new traditions to our family as well.  She loves to look at light displays, so we try to get out a couple of times in the evenings to see all the wonderful lights.  Last year her Sunday school class made paper chains with activities for the days leading up to Christmas.  It was so much fun that we did it again this year.  It keeps the "how many days until Christmas" in check.  We have spent time each year ringing bells for the Salvation Army as well.  Since I am a slacker,  I didn't get our plans made soon enough, but next year we will be ringing again!

     This year everyone is talking about their "Elf on the Shelf".  We don't have an elf, but we have Mary and Joesph making their way around our house to the manger in Bethlehem.  Part of Delainey's job is to find where they have gone each day.  Some days she has a hard time finding them, other days she sees them right away.  It is fun to decide where they will be each night!  They will end up in the nativity on Christmas eve and the baby Jesus will be there in the morning.

     Jim and I have had to blend our traditions together.  His family has always done gifts on Christmas eve, mine on Christmas morning.  We found our middle ground by celebrating with his parents and the boys on Christmas eve.  We then spend the Christmas day at our home where Santa has filled stockings and brought gifts to us.  It works for us and we get to spend the day relaxing and playing with our gifts.

     My favorite tradition is remembering what Christmas is really about.....

             "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
             which is Christ the Lord
             And this shall be a sign unto you; you will find the babe
             wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
                                                                           Luke 2:11-12

     Enjoy this Christmas season!