BLESSINGS

WE WISH YOU.....

memorable times spent with those you love most.....lots of yummy treats to eat....peace on earth.....

gratitude for your many blessings.....many wonderful surprises....thankfullness for answered prayers....
and love in your heart for the one that Christmas is really about....

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Spreading holiday cheer. Crooked antlers and all.

THE POINSETTIA

Yesterday afternoon, out of the blue, a complete stranger by the name of Carolyn gave me a poinsettia. She walked up to me and said "Has anyone given you a poinsettia this year?", and I replied "No". Then she said "Well I want to buy one for you". How sweet! She was a lovely lady who obviously has a heart of gold. To pass along the cheer, I bought two poinsettias myself and let the kids deliver them to two of our neighbors, one of which has had a grueling year watching her 5 year old son battle leukemia. It felt great to pay it forward and was a great example of giving for my children.

Thank you, Carolyn, wherever you are.

AN EVENING DOWNTOWN

Earlier this week I signed the kids up for a "Polar Express" party at the Mobius children's museum downtown. http://experiencespokane.com/mobiuskids/

Last night was the big night, and they loved it! They got to have hot cocoa and snacks, watch the Polar Express movie, make gingerbread houses and ornaments, and explore all the wonders of the kids' museum after hours! While they played their night away, I wandered around downtown, pathetically texted a friend about how lonely I was and guilted her into meeting me, treated myself to bath and body works goodies, Starbucks coffee AND a sea salt truffle from Boehms. Paco met us after work and wandered with us.

I'd share pictures of the kids' adorable gingerbread houses if they hadn't already eaten most of them. Part of the fun, I suppose!

COCKTAILS, ANYONE?

Oh, how I could go for a cocktail right about now. I had the workday from you. know. where. In fact, it was such a fantastic day that I am going back tomorrow morning at 3am. Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming. Who knew that my life would be so glamorous. If only I could spend every day at work accomplishing the impossible, completing work on an unrealistic labor budget, bringing my work home, and of course doing it all with a smile on my face because, of course, I can indeed work miracles and am more than happy to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Back to that cocktail. Given that we are heading out to the door in a short bit to Gracie's daisy scout meeting, it would seem apparent that alcohol would be a poor choice right now. You know. 'Cause I'm driving and all. Instead I will have to settle for a hot cup of hazelnut coffee served with a side of bitter and angry.

It just doesn't taste the same.

THE TREE. FINALLY.

Well, we finally got around to putting up the tree. Quite a bit later than we usually do. While we were partaking in tree-trimming merriness....our dogs were nestled snug in their beds being no help at all...
Glad to see someone is getting some well deserved rest around here.

WAKEY WAKEY

Up early yet again this morning as its going to be a busy day! Church, grocery shopping, birthday thank-you's to write, sorting through the kids' school papers, trip to the gym, housework and possibly putting up the Christmas tree. Everything is creeping up on me so fast! I've decided to nix Christmas cards this year so don't be surprised when you don't get one! HA!

I spent yesterday evening lying around playing with Paco's new blackberry phone. I'm hooked! SOOOO much fun stuff to do!

FINDING MY SPIRIT

I've really had a tough time getting in the holiday spirit this year. Part of it is related to my job. The grocery "biz" is exhausting this time of year. Every day at work is overload. I've been dealing with Christmas product daily since mid October. I've had enough! We've done nothing at home to decorate. We may put the tree up tomorrow but thats all I'm doing inside this year. I think part of the reason for my hesitation is that I'm just so tired of the commercialism of Christmas.

Every year I feel horrible about buying and receiving gifts that none of us need. Meanwhile, there are children out there in true need. Families living in shelters at night and out in the cold during the day. Children who ask for coats for Christmas. My children have so much that they can't even comprehend what its like to "need". There are children out there fighting for their lives....like little Kate McCrae in Arizona. I've posted her story on my blog a few times. She will be spending Christmas and her birthday in the hospital battling brain cancer. Sorry, but presents are the last thing on my mind right now. Our family will be donating to "Kate's crazy cool Christmas"....something that the McCrae family started to help make Christmas as great as possible for children in Oncology units. You can read more about this here....http://prayforkate.com/#/christmas/

Of course, I'm sure your local hospitals have something similar, but I have felt a connection to this story for the past several months, and feel led to help out the McCrae family.

If that doesn't put you in the holiday spirit, what will?

Next year, I'd like to encourage us all to donate our christmas money to helping another family in a big way. You could help out as a family at a local shelter, buy tons of presents for kids off the tree-of-sharing, help feed a family for a month...the possiblities are endless. Of course, Cole and Gracie will get "santa gifts", because thats such a fun part of Christmas for them, but an even better gift that we can give them is the lesson of genorisity to those less fortunate than us. We're also going to set aside more time for looking at Christmas lights, marveling at the tree display at the Davenport hotel and going on the horse and carriage ride with Grandma, sledding, walks in the snow, reading Christmas books, and just enjoying each other. We'll spend time at our church celebrating the REAL reason for this season. We'll pray for the less fortunate, and be ever so thankful for our own blessings.

I think I'm finding my spirit!

REMINDERS OF LAST YEAR

Last year we had record snowfalls here in Spokane. The kids had several snow days spent frolicking in the mountains of snow. Thought I'd share a few pictures...