Christmas is over already?

Why is it that you work so long and so hard for something that is over in a flash? I absolutely love Christmas, but even if you decorate at Thanksgiving, it is still over way to soon. I don't want to take the decorations down, I'd like to leave them up for at least another month...that won't happen. I guess with the break in the weather I should take down the outside stuff. It's so pretty. I'll leave the tree up for another week.

Micah went back to Virginia this afternoon. He slept much better on the new mattress. It's hard to believe he's been here and gone already. He really had fun shopping for all of us this year. I got a cast iron pot (I've wanted one for years)It's gonna be great. It's an Emeril pot! And I also got a real chef's knife. It's REAL SHARP! I also got a wonderful set of knives and block to put them in from Chris. I got a new keyboard for the computer from Jordan.I am still getting used to it. The keys are more like they are on a laptop (flat) and real quiet. I can actually come down and type in the middle of the night and not wake Jeff up "clacking" away.

Jeff got me a bunch of stuff from Christopher and Banks (my favorite store in the Mall) he got me a gift certificate too, and when we were at the mall yesterday to watch a movie, we went shopping and I spent my "wad" so I'll have to wear new stuff to church tomorrow. Since NewPointe is not having services, we are going to go to church with Chris down in Uhrichsville. It'll be nice to see old friends we don't see often.

Chris and a couple of friends are getting ready to cook deer steaks over an open fire. They have red potatoes, and veggies and who knows what else. It's going on 9 PM and they are cooking? I'm gonna head upstairs to bed. I bought some old movies as stocking stuffers, and I got one for myself. Sleepless in Seattle. It's one of my all time favorites, so Jeff will have to watch a "chick flick" he'll humor me since I watch his movies all the time.

Well it is Sunday now, so I'll finish this so I can post since it's been too long between postings.
we had deer steaks for lunch today after church. They were really yummy. I never thought I'd hear myself saying that, but they really were good. So tender, and such a mild flavor. I don't really care for strong meat.

I am about ready to take a nap, it's my traditional day for napping. I have to say that I have a Facebook page, and I am so excited. I have made contact with so many long lost friends and past roommates from college and beyond. Yesterday I found a family that I have known for about 25 years that I haven't seen for about 5 years. It was so fun to make contact! Hi Amy, Karen, Melanie and Carmen!

I found out just before Christmas that the other story I submitted did not make the cut for the book. I was pretty bummed out, but my writing group really liked the story and encouraged me to continue to submit it to other places, so next week I'll start over. I have to work on Through The Tears also. I need to re-write it and have Lee help me do the line by line edit. Maybe I'll have it ready to submit to Howard Publishing in May. They were very interested last year and said if I'm not published by this May to let them know....

What a beautiful day it is today. Windy, but beautiful! The sun is shining, and it looks warm. Jeff was out earlier in his "sun booth" trying to catch a few rays. He cracks me up when he does that.

I am trying to get my brain wrapped around that 2008 is drawing to an end! I am just getting used to writing 2008, now I get to be corrected each and every time I write it wrong...2009 WOW! I'll be 49 this year. I CANNOT believe I'm that old. (my kids can, and they love to comment about Jeff and I being old). Of course I comment about Jeff's age since he's 53 already!

This year will be the year that I no longer have any teenagers. Chris will be 20 in March! Liz would have been 26 on March 20. Then in August, Jordan will be 22 and September, Micah will be 25...INCREDIBLE. How did they get that old???????

I guess I need to take it one day at a time. Let's get through the end of 2008, and have our pork and kraut to begin 2009. Then I'll think about what is next. Have a great rest of the weekend.

I'm almost ready

The decorations are done, the cookies are baked, the candy is made, the stockings are hung...hmmmm what else? I guess if the weather is lousy tomorrow I'll wrap presents. I don't have many, but I haven't done any wrapping. I have a couple of loads of laundry to do, and sheets to change... and a mattress to buy (this weekend Jeff says).

I am pretty excited about what I am seeing on the scales too. I have gotten past the plateau! Woo-hoo!!!!!! I have 14 pounds to get to my goal! Maybe I can lose some more before we go to Micah's ordination in January. Maybe.

The boys got their grades, whew... they both did well. Now we have to pray in the funds for Jordan's trip to Zambia, as well as tuition for two! Well Lord, how are you gonna supply this time?

We had our family picture done before Thanksgiving.

Here is a preview:

I have been in a very nostalgic mood these past few days. I guess the holidays tend to do that. I know that's the case, I teach my GriefShare groups that! It's so hard. It's hard not seeing Liz in this photo.

This one doesn't look quite right...it's a bit out of focus (I took a picture of a picture)

I seem to be skipping around in my normal ADOS fashion (Attention Deficit...Oooooh Shiny) maybe I can blame the caffeine (I had a bottle of Dr. Pepper today the first one in over a year) I also had something that has caused me to break out in an itchy, blotchy mess on my face. Oh joy, something else I am allergic to.IT BETTER NOT BE THE CHOCOLATE! I was making chocolate covered peanut butter crackers, and chocolate covered marshmellows. UGH!

My guys are watching the movie Flyboys, so I am curled up in the corner with my computer! I guess I am bored. I have things I need to do, but I DON'T WANNA.

I have been wondering about the stories I submitted. I heard from the Gary Chapman people, I didn't make that cut, but I am still waiting to hear form the Jim Bell people... I e-mailed my contact person (she's probably thrilled) to see if they have heard from the publisher as to who made the cut. I keep hoping!

My Writer's group met here on Monday (minus one person). It was still a good meeting. I read the story I submitted to the Jim Bell "people" and got a positive response from the group, let's hope the publisher agrees.

I have been contacted by two other churches to speak. St Joe's Catholic Church in Dover asked me to speak during Lent, and Sharon Mennonite asked me to come on January 4th. Maybe this will be the year I can be put on the "circuit" of professional speakers and writers association. You never know what will happen.

Well, I cannot think of anything else to write tonight, so I'll go get my "jammies" on and call it a day. I hope to blog before Christmas, but just in case I run out of time Merry Christmas to all of you!

Another happy moment

By supper time today I'll have two of my boys home for almost four weeks! I'm one happy mama! They each have one more final, then they hit the road for home. I am planning one of their favorite meals for tonight. Gotta celebrate.

I am hoping for a break in the rain to get the outside decorations up. Seems that time is quickly slipping away from me. I will be working for the next two days at the church. Jean and I will be preparing food for about 600 people... whew! It's fun but really tiring. Sunday night we have small group here at our house. It'll be our Christmas party. Monday I am having our writer's group here in the morning through early afternoon, then I'll be back at the church to help with the staff Christmas party.

I have most of my baking done, but I have yet to start my candy. I have the stuff, but ....

So much to do, so little time to get it all done. I am still amazed by the fact that I used to do all of this and work! No wonder I would get sick.

I know this is a short update, but I have toilets to clean (oh joy) and floors to sweep and one last load of laundry to fold.

Yessssss....

I am so excited, I got my first deer today! Uh-huh! Here is a picture to prove it! Yep, I went out all by myself, and I got him! (He was a button buck) It wasn't the big buck I had hoped to get, but it was a deer nonetheless. WOO-HOO. I still have three more days to get another one. Maybe I'll go out during primitive weapon season if I don't get another this week. We only have three muzzle loaders in the family.

It's nice to have a happy ending to the story I wrote called Diamonds, Long Fingernails and 20 Gauge Shotguns.

Moving on to other things that need updated...

The guest room.

Yes, I did get it done just in time for Micah to come home for Thanksgiving! I have a mattress dilemma though. Here are a few pictures of the room. I am planning on moving a few things around after we get new beds, and Jeff builds the headboards I want. In the first picture you can see the mattress on the floor... an antique stand and magazine rack that my great grandpa made.

In this second picture you can see some of my quilts I have piled up. I have not had the time to make the quilted wall hangings, and dresser scarves I intend to do, but winter is a loooong season.

In the third picture you can see that I have used the ladder that Chris used to climb up into his loft bed as a quilt holder. The dresser is also an antique that was given to us by our old neighbors.

This last picture is the bed again but it also includes the small table that my great grandpa made too! I still have a sewing cabinet that is also homemade, and an old rocker to put in there.

Also, the Christmas decorations (inside) here are a couple of pictures of that too.

So, I think I have fulfilled all of the requests made...

Our GriefShare Surviving the Holidays was held on Tuesday night. We had 23 attendees plus Jeff and myself as facilitators. It was a real blessing! Thanks to all of you that were praying!

I am going to go warm up, I'm still freezing from being outside. Plus I have a realllly sore arm from my gun...OUCH!