Good and Not so Good

We got the tree up and many of the inside decorations. It was such a fun family time. Even Jessica (19) wanted to be here with her boyfriend so we planned it for Saturday because she didn't work.

All (except 1) of the gifts that are here are wrapped and decorated and under the tree. I finished that while Mike and the boyfriend watched a football game after the tree trimming.

So I went to make a picture to put on on the blog yesterday and my digital camera is messed up.

: (

We took it to the shop, but even if they can fix it, it won't be for 10 or so days.

So...no pictures till then. I just hope it can be fixed. I passed by several good (and cheap!) digital cameras on my Black Friday shopping trip.

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Lovely Week

Our Thanksgiving was so special. I think every year it just gets better and better for us. This was the first year in my great aunts "new" house. The one they had to move into because their "old" place was too much for them to keep up. : ( So we thought it may not "feel" right.

How silly of us.

It was more wonderful than ever. All of us there together. And it also happened to be her 80th birthday! Cause for a double celebration if there ever was one!

The food was wonderful and the whole day flew by in a flash.

Then a really good Navy buddy of Mike's was in town visiting relatives, so after we left my aunts we went to a local park on the mountain to meet up with his family. How fun!

That night the girls and I looked up all the sales and then got up at 4am to hit the stores. This is the first year the girls have done Black Friday and it went much better than I could have hoped! I didn't buy too awful much. I didn't need to. But it was the experience I was after and I'm *so* glad we did it!

I even got a *great* deal on a Christmas tree for my great aunt. We'll have to take it to her one day this week if possible.

Off now. Headed to Church!

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Thanksgiving Day

I've read many "I'm thankful for's" over the blog world and they all touch me. I too have much to be thankful for in my life. And then I came across one "I'm thankful for" that floored me. And caused me to look at this day in an all together different light.

It was a listing of the hard things in life. And I think I'll add a couple of my own.

I'm thankful that my mother had me so young that she couldn't care for me. It gave me many sweet years with my great grandmother and made me want to be the mother to my children that I never had.

I'm thankful that I lost some of the closest people in my life at an early age. It showed me how short life is on this earth, and to never take time with someone you love for granted. To love them today, because they may not be here to love tomorrow.

I'm thankful that I had adults in my life who never showed me how important I was to them as a child and only later told me so. It taught me that you have to not only love your children with all your heart, but *show* them every chance you get.

I'm thankful for the recent injustices that my family has suffered. It's taught me that we're stronger than I'd have ever thought and that we can make it through anything. And it's showed us who our real friends are.

I'm thankful for the fillings I have in my teeth because we couldn't afford toothpaste at the end of the month when I was a little girl. It's made me, to this day, appreciate that I can afford that tube of toothpaste every time I put it into the cart.

And I'm thankful for the blog I read that showed me to be thankful for these things.

And so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

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Holiday Week

Jillian has school today! (Co-op.) I admit that I'm a bit miffed about it. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE her co-op. But one of the benefits of homeschooling is that we get to take holiday weeks OFF. And while the co-op is only meeting Monday...that happens to be when my baby girl goes.

And if that's not enough, they have a test today. So she really *needs* to go.

And if *THAT'S* not enough? The teacher that is giving the test isn't even going to be there. She started her holiday week yesterday.

I may have to talk to them about this one.

On another note, I didn't make it to Sam's last Wednesday. It was dreary and rainy and cold. So that means the big trip is today. And it's beautiful and sunny and freezing.

LOL

Wish me luck!

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Inside Outside (Upside Down?)

For the last several days I've been on the go. It's like that here from Sunday 'till Wednesday. I had planned to do a big Sam's shopping trip today after I drop Julia off at her co-op classes, but it's ***dreary*** and drizzly and rainy and chilly. I think it's a good day to stay in and get some of the housework done for the possible houseguest we may have in a couple of weeks.

: D

And besides, for some reason Sam's is a hard place to shop in the rain. I have no idea why. I suppose because you have to unload all the stuff you get individually? Or because the lot is so big that you have to park several blocks (heh) from the door?

I'll save the trip for Monday.

Probably.

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A Small Brag

I got *every* *single* *Christmas* Present* (that I've gotten so far for my family) wrapped last night. I've *never* gotten it done this early. I hope to finish up my shopping on Monday, and hopefully have it all wrapped and done by the end of next week.

Then, when we put up the tree after Thanksgiving, I can more fully concentrate on the things that give me joy. Baking. Spending time with my family. Doing the little "last minute" touches. Maybe entertaining a little.

My lists of everything seem to be helping.

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Busy Times

Things have been so busy lately that I feel like I'm running on a treadmill about 12 hours a day! If the calendar proves to hold true, it looks like things will slow down a bit after Thanksgiving, but until then...

Saturdays have been full day Girl Scout activities for the last 2 weeks. This week is the third. I have opted out.

Sundays are full with worship. Both morning and night.

Mondays Jill has co-op and then we have Girl Scouts in the evening.

Tuesdays both younger girls have the YMCA homeschool group.

Wednesdays Julia has co-op and then both girls have youth in the evening.

Thursdays and Fridays are typically "my" home/homeschool days, but this week and next are dental appts and tonight is the mall parade!

And we also have some tentative company coming in from out of town in the next week or two. So I've been trying to get the house in tip-top shape.

Oh, and I've been *teaching* at the Tuesday YMCA homeschool group this session, and while it's a blast and better than I could have even imagined, it's *soooo* time consuming. I'm putting in approximately 10-15 hours a week getting things ready for that class.

I'm really looking forward to things calming down a bit! Until then, I'm still here. Just for a shorter amount of time. :)

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And on a More Serious Note

I want to start out by saying how much of a blessing it is to have finally found a place online where there are so many Christian women. I believe that what we surround ourselves with *does* matter. A lot. Even in online situations. Maybe even *especially* in online situations. :)

And so many of the women that I read are so inspiring. They exude so many qualities that I admire and want to emulate. They give me the added punch to take on my day with a different attitude. And I admire them.

And still there are so many Christian women online that appear to be extremely judgmental. This is something that I just can't rationalize. I know that we are to take a stand. But we are NOT to judge.

Again, I tend to find this more in the younger women as a general rule. And I'm not sure what this says about the collective "us" here.

Think about the recent Halloween blogs that have been written.

Judge not.

Simple really.

Mat. 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mat. 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

It's certainly something that I strive to apply in my own life.

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Oh My Goodness!

Do you ever have so many thought swirling around in your head that you just have to write them down or you know you'll forget them? Or not be able to sleep because you keep thinking of all that you have to do? Or things that you need to get done and not forget?

Well...I started on my "list". And it ended up over three pages. Yes, pages. With teeny writing! No wonder I was feeling stressed!

Well, I still feel stressed. Maybe more so than before seeing all this stuff that needs to get done. But at least now I can *see* it. And don't have to just try to remember it.

And don't ya just love marking off your "to do" list with a big fat red line?

: )

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