Happy Holidays!

Well, Christmas is almost here. I am always suprised by how busy this season gets. This year I attempted to make life more smooth by shopping early... ahhh I wish it had worked. Oh well, I am still looking forward to the last few days leading up to the big one.

I can't wait to watch my kids on Christmas morning. It is such an exciting, magical time when they are little.

I have had my little "reality check" moments lately when I realize there are some serious struggles out there. Families without jobs, children with major disabilities and the lonely members of the senior population just to name a few. What a world we live in! I think my Christmas wish this year won't be for world peace but rather just a day of peaceful living for everyone out there. I think if everyone could have just one moment of true, simple peace for just one day that would be miracle enough for me. Merry Christmas All!

An uneventful day

I keep putting off posting for lack of something interesting to say. I have realized that most of my days are uninteresting and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I am blessed enough to not have any major disturbances in my life and that is a great thing. My days come and go and mostly I do the same things. The differences from day to day are small. However some of those small things are my big things as well. For example: the things my kids do day to day may seem small but they are literally changing right before my eyes. They will be big things in the big picture of my life.

Today I took three kids to the mall to finish up some Christmas shopping. We walked around, found a few items and stood in a long line to make my purchases. While we were waiting my three year old saw some big red dots on the floor that he decided were for jumping on. It was very cute watching him jump and giggle... A woman behind me told me how she actually misses having her children around all the time, even shopping, now that they are grown. When it was finally my turn to pay, my 13 month old pulled a glass jar off of a shelf from his stroller (and here I was worried about the jumping 3 year old) of course it shattered all over the floor. The woman behing me then kindly said, "that part I don't miss so much...we've all been there though." I can already see that even though right now it seems like it will be ages before my kids are big, that I will miss the stages they are in now.

I love being the big thing in their life right now. I am important to them, and even the little things I do matter to them. I'm sure it won't matter too much to them wether or not I go to the gym in a couple of years so I guess for now it's nice that they care. I love watching them play and hearing them talk and giggle. I love having them mess up my stuff and get in my way. I love that they are my little, big things in life.

Getting ready for Christmas

One of Grandma Jessie's Ornaments

Well, we have officially set our house up for the Holidays. I can't believe how quickly time flies and that it is already this time of year again. Over the weekend we got all of the Christmas stuff out and I must admit, it is a fun time of year.

I have been ambitious and have most of my shopping done already. I did brave the crowds for a bit on Friday... I get a kind of adrenaline rush when I think about going out on that day to shop but then I stand in a line or two and I'm done with it all too soon. I like to shop not stand in ridiculously long and slow lines. I did see a long lost friend while I was out - someone I haven't seen in over 10 years. I am typically slow to cry but just seeing her made me tear up. Good friends are a treasure!

As I said before, we live in Matt's grandmother's home. Not only do we live where she lived but we have some of her furniture, artwork, and for now her Christmas tree and ornaments. I love having decorations that are special in more than one way. I guess I am kind of a sentimental fool after all.