Anymore Takers for the Giveaway? And a Few Other Things.

I can't believe there are only 3 of you gals interested in this book! I know there are more of you out there. Last chance--I'm doing the drawing tomorrow! In case you missed it, HERE'S the link.

I had an incredible Saturday with my friend Amber. Superman was a superhero for Christmas, and gave me a gift certificate to a Spa. But the clincher--it wasn't just for me, but for a *friend*, too! It was probably the only time he's ever been able to surprise me with something...somehow I always end up finding out. Amber has never had a massage before, but she was a willing participant. We both got facials and massages and felt completely pampered for a few hours. We topped our morning off with lunch at a local Cafe that made me feel oh, so gourmet. Sorry about the picture quality...I think the lady taking the picture was trying to see just how much she could move her hand around and still have the picture turn out.

I've been thinking of going back to school for my master's degree in marriage and family therapy for about four or five years now. I recently decided to take a leap and go for it. Superman seemed compliant, but not necessarily excited. I made plans, ordered transcripts, started filling out the application. But Superman informed me a few days ago that he's not completely on board. I'd say he probably has like the top half of his body on board, but his legs dangling off. I'm totally ready, completely stoked to be working toward a goal. But if Superman isn't 100% behind me, there's no way I can do it. So, I guess I wait. I hope he'll be on board before I'm too old and can no longer see anymore, but who knows. Sometimes being in a partnership is tough.

Days 22, 23, 24 & 25 of the Advent Angel...and Merry Christmas!

Don't think I'll be updating here 'till after Christmas, so figured I would just pop on and let you know how our Advent Angel will round out this month.

Day 22: No one got anything. The kids were out of control crazy when my sister and her kids came over (don't worry, Soni, it wasn't your kids), and all the rules went out the window. Why is it that the instant another child steps foot in this house, our kids morph into some crazy freakish children that jump on the couch and run down the halls and scream at the top of their lungs?? Oh wait, maybe that just happens all the time. Anyhoo, the kids got a sad note from the Angel letting them know she was disappointed in their behavior.

Which leads me to another post I will write about after Christmas--we've developed a new "code word" for our home...it's wonderful, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Day 23: Tonight we'll have a birthday party for Jesus. I'll be posting pics after Christmas. There will be cake and presents (in the form of thankful words) and an empty chair just for Him.

Day 24 (tomorrow): The Advent Angel will leave each child a note telling them something special that she has observed about them over the last 24 days...and maybe include a piece of candy. =)

Day 25 (Christmas): All the kids will leave thank-you notes and cookies for the Angel and in the morning, their notes will be gone! Miraculous.

So, friends, Merry Christmas! May you be richly blessed over these next few days with family, friends, food, and the joy of our Savior filling your hearts! I'll see you in a few days...

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!!

I know it's only Thanksgiving, but as I've gotten older (not OLD...oldER), I've realized how fast time flies. And Christmas time is my favorite time of year, so I want to enjoy it! Please don't rush it! I need to enjoy it more! So, we put up our tree on Monday...today Superman studded our house with adorable white lights...ah, I can smell the Christmas-ness in the air...

My dear friend Amber, who has an incredible blog posted this wonderful idea of Hot Chocolate on a Stick. She was kind enough to give us a sampling, and a few nights ago, our kiddos tried it out. N decided that eating the chocolate straight off the stick was the best way to go...my kinda gal!

Every year from Dec. 1st - 24th, the "Advent Angel" comes to our house. It's a little tradition I started when our boys were 2. Every night the "angel" leaves a note in the box that gives a clue of where to go...i.e., "Go to where your daddy poops." When they get to the location, there is a little trinket waiting for them. I usually hit up Wishing Well and buy a bunch of those 5-or-10-cent things and stash them away. They work really well. But this year, I think I'm going to avoid the cheap trinkets and do something a bit different...each day, the angel will tell the kids what activity we'll be doing that night...watch a Christmas movie together, read a Christmas story together, play a game in the dark, do kind things for other people, etc. On the 25th (Christmas), the kids leave something for the Advent Angel; thank-you notes, drawings, cookies, etc. It has become a much-looked-forward-to event in our home.

I just love having the Christmas tree up. There's something about having all the lights off in the house, and the tree lit...

Here's N admiring the ornaments...

She and G looked at the tree for a good 1/2 hour after it was put up.

Every year after Christmas, I wait until all the Christmas stuff is 75% off at Target. Then I stock up for the following year! Such fun. Last year I bought these mini-trees and mini-ornaments for less than $10 for 6 trees and 4 boxes of ornaments. The kids had a blast each decorating their own trees, and it kept them occupied for, oh, at least 30 minutes...which is like an eternity around here.

So many fun Christmas traditions...we also do the 12 days of Christmas and do an act of service for someone...make cookies for the police station and fire station, rake someone's leaves, etc. Oh, and one of my personal favorites, we give out an award each year to the family that has the best decorations (in our opinions). We usually bake cookies and make a poster, but this year I may go official and get a REAL plaque made! I'm stoked about that one. I'm sure I'll be posting more. What are some of yours?

How did a week go by?

I don't think it's possible that a week just flew by without me writing in this blog. I must have been in some alternate universe, because I'm sure it's only been a few days.

At any rate, my calendar informs me that it is November 2nd today. That's right--it's almost Christmas! I know, I know, let's not neglect poor little Thanksgiving. I do love Thanksgiving, but mostly because it is a gateway to Christmas.

Last week in my Bible study (we're doing a Precepts study on the book of John), we had a fun time of fellowship. We have a few new gals who joined our group this year, and we were supposed to sit next to someone we don't know very well and get to know her better. We were specifically supposed to share a bit about our childhoods.

During the course of the conversation, my favorite memory came up. Christmas.

I think that word deserves the italics.

There wasn't a lot of stability in our home, but my grandparents lived just down the street. Their involvement in our lives was vital to me turning out to be a confident, contented, "normal" woman. I'm sure I'm not abnormal in any way. =)

Christmas morning, my grandparents would call before they left their house to tell us how many "helpers" they needed. The more helpers, the more presents! I know, this seems completely trivial and shallow, but for a child, it was a true source of glee. My grandparents are still pluggin' along...ages 96 and 91!

I often think about where our kids would be if they weren't with us. I think about how on Christmas morning, they would only have a temporary family. They wouldn't know the sheer joy of feeling unconditionally loved, carrying no burdens {as children shouldn't}. They wouldn't have a life filled with fond memories of Christmas morning, hot cocoa, sticky buns, stockings, and presents. It tears me apart to know there are thousands and thousands of children, just right here in California who will grow up in foster care, only to age out of the system without a family to come home to every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and on all those days when they just need a shoulder to cry on. Sigh. I wish there was more we could do.

Christmas is my favorite time of year...people tend to be more giving, they want to help others, they seek out ways to help neighbors. It would be nice if it was like that all year, eh?

So, what is your favorite childhood memory?