Christmas Countdown

What am I doing sitting at my computer when I have a million things to do?

Today, I hope to finish up a the tree skirt for my daughter and make a few candies before church. Of course, I have to run to the post office, too. It seems as if I go every other day, mailing off 'just one more thing'! I am praying tomorrow I can just do my Christmas cut out cookies and get them frosted. I think I am in for a few long nights.

My added extra this week is an 8 week puppy named Gus, that we are 'sitting' until Thursday night. He is about 4 times the size of Belle (including his puffy hair), and can look over the back of the couch when he balances on his hind legs. Of course, he has no manners or bladder control. I have throw rugs everywhere and wash them daily. While I am sewing, he tries to chew on the cords. I can't keep him outside because if he sees me, he almost rips the door down trying to get in. He is a night whiner and barker and he and Belle get going at each other throats. They each think THEY are the alpha dog around here. Gus is a very sweet puppy and I know I will miss him.

I have no decorations up and have ordered cards that have not come yet...they are expected the 22nd and we leave town the 23rd. Its balmy in Fargo now, but looks like it will turn cold again once we get there. Jim said after being in Fargo, January down here will be a breeze for us.

We have no tree up and very little Christmas things out. We get back around midnight the 28th and celebrate with Jim's kids on the 29th.

I really thought I would have it more 'together' this year, since I am now retired. Is time management my problem or is it the delusion of having more time so I take on more projects? I guess the common denominator is time...wait, no...maybe the common denominator is ME!

While the dogs seem to be napping, I'd better get back to my sewing machine. The Good News is that Christmas will come, whether I am ready or not. Jesus always shows up and I AM ready for Him!

May God richly bless you and your family!

Staying Power

Remember how new love felt when you were young? It was tingly, almost magic. There was nothing else like it. It was physical, in your stomach and in your heart. This feeling was like the Holy Grail, something to strive for, something worth seeking. (At least, that's what I thought at the time.)

Now I am older, and happily married, but I still get this feeling. It's from new friendships...well, maybe that is also new love. How exciting it is to meet another woman with similar interests who appears to like me and SAYS it!

I don't mean she has to say "I like you", which is nice, she can also say this in other ways. I recently had a new friend tell me she liked me by saying "Stay" when I was starting to go. That spoke volumes to me!

It was a church event that my husband did not participate in and I planned to go home with him instead of the cast party afterwards. In fact, I was feeling a little 'disconnected' without him, as we are usually in service together, so I wasn't really 'up' for a party. She said "Stay, please stay. It will be fun. Stay." My husband also encouraged me, so I reluctantly stayed. I am so glad I did!

I was able to visit more with her and other friends, the food was great, and I got to sign a gift for our Choir Director, who thanked me for coming. That, in itself, amazed me. I really didn't think it would matter to anyone that I was there, but it did...and it mattered to me.

I read a quote from a magazine afterwards, that perfectly expresses how wonderful friends can be: "'Stay' is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary." by Louisa May Alcott. I will never forget the salve the word "stay" gave me that day. God bless my friends for being there---even when I don't know I need them to be!

The perfect Autumn leaf in Winter

Nothing beats looking out my bay windowin the morning. As I walk through the kitchen, the sunlight streaks through the windows with the promise of a big surprise if I venture out on the deck. (Which I am compelled to do, and not just because my dog has business outside.)

I don't know what kind of trees we have but many of them have the most HUGE leaves I have ever seen! Some of the trees stay green all year, but these huge-leafed trees change color. Some of these colored leaves donate themselves, in a spiral nosedive, to the increasingly thick carpet below. They make a soft landing and they seem to invite you to step off the deck.

What I am looking at right now are the perfect, burnt orange leaves of my Autumn in Georgia, which is really Winter, back home in Fargo. I once preferred the red leaves of our Bradford Pear trees on the front lawn, but my son-in-law has given me new eyes to appreciate orange, his favorite color. I wish I could capture this picture for you, but nothing does reality justice.

Through the center pane, I spy my favorite wind chime hanging from a deliciously colored tree. A piece of orange stained glass with a golden cross in the center hangs below the pipes, which are designed to play the notes of "Amazing Grace" when the cross stirs them up. (Does the cross stir you up?) Of course, the notes aren't playing in order, I can't sing along...but I can appreciate the perfect sounds of the beautiful hymn and for a moment in time, feel that this is my private cathedral, my place to worship Him and His creation that is here for me to enjoy.

In most seasons, my wind chime collection is somewhat hidden in the jigsaw pattern of the leaves, but they delight by showing off in the winter. They seem to tinkle and ring louder; perhaps they are simply applauding Belle, my dog, as she plays in the leaves, re-burying and discovering her bones and balls.

The fat sister

I hate being the fat sister. It seemed to happen overnight and I can't get rid of it! I remember gaining a few pounds and thinking, NO BIG DEAL. Then the divorce, my Dad died, and my life went upside down for awhile. Meantime, my weight was like a yo-yo. Oh my gosh...then I got married again (wonderful man!) and moved to Georgia, where you can't even go outside in the summer!

I should have been more like my slim baby sister who will gain a few pounds and kick up the workout and watch what she eats until she is down again. She has perfect control.

Well, I joined a local gym for women. I retired. Oops...now I have a time contol issue; I have trouble here, too.

Going back to Fargo, ND for Chirstmas has me in a panic. Okay, I can be the fat sister again this year...but I just want to get down 1 size! So, I am back on track and my mantra is "I'm not the fat sister! I'm not the fat sister! I'm not the fat sister!"

But, out of the 4 of us girls, I will be the biggest one again this year...just don't put me on the end for group pictures!