I LOVE Christmas!!!!

As I'm sure I've said many times before, Christmas is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year. For the most part, everyone is in a good mood - other than in crowded stores. I was able to finagle my schedule to have 2 1/2 weeks at home over the Christmas holidays. The first few days were all about travel. I spent a couple of days in the Dallas area, and then we went down to Livingston for Sean's coming home party. (He made it safely home from Iraq last month. PRAISE GOD!!!!)

Just a side note on our brave Marines, Soldiers, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard . . . Please continue to pray for their safe and quick return home, as well as for all those who've been wounded protecting our freedoms!

After we left his party, we headed to Houston to visit my nursing school roommate. We all went to church together that Sunday morning - where the hand bell choir played some Beautiful Christmas carols, - and then we went to GRINGO'S . . . some of the BEST Tex-Mex in Texas! YUMMY!!!! :)

Monday & Tuesday were filled with shopping. Unlike most people, I actually enjoy going to the stores/malls during the Christmas holidays . . . for short periods of time. (Even I'm not that insane!) Then, Wednesday was "spa day". My mom, mamma granny, and I went to a local salon for some fun. My granny's birthday present was to get a facial & massage, so my mom & I decided to join her - rough life, huh? :) I was SO excited because my hair had finally gotten long enough to donate again. YEA!! In case you've never heard of doing this, there is an organization based in Florida called Locks of Love that makes wigs for children who've lost their hair due to some illness. They take donations of hair (or money if you can't grow your hair out), and I believe the wigs are free for the children. I've been able to do this a few times, and it's always so rewarding to think that some little girl won't have to be bald! Thursday, I got to spend some time with one of my good friends in the Dallas area and her two little boys (my 'nephews'). They're ages 2 & 4 and SO FULL of energy!! I always have a blast playing with them. :)

Starting on Friday, it was time for baking!!!! I baked . . . and baked . . . and baked . . .well, you get the idea. SO MUCH FUN (& food)! :) My parents and I spent most of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the kitchen. We all had a good time. All good ways to pass the time until the BIG DAY . . .

Christmas Eve, we spent some time with my Grandaddy and Granny Shirley at my aunt's house. It was good to catch up with the family again since I hadn't seen this side of the fam since the summer. Then, came CHRISTMAS!! I guess I'm still part kid, because I just CANNOT sleep in on Christmas morning!! I was nice and let my parents sleep until about 7:30, but then I couldn't take it anymore - it was time to start the fun! I love watching people open the presents I've picked out for them and seeing their reactions. It's one of my favorite things about Christmas. Later that day, we got to spend some time with my Mamma Granny and Papa Art, as well as some aunts, uncles, and cousins that I don't get to see much. Good times.

Wednesday was one of the best days of the 2 weeks since I got to go see my little Sam. He's so precious! He's really big into the matchbox cars right now, and he MUST have them lined up end to end. If one gets turned sideways, he'll just stand there and scream at it until someone fixes it. TOO FUNNY!! :)

Then came Friday . . . as a Christmas gift, my parents were given tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra performance in Dallas. Thankfully (for me) there was an extra ticket that I could have. There aren't words for that show!! It's "80's punk rock band meets classical music." Along with the phenomenal musicians, they had constant laser light shows, pyrotechnics, snow, or all of the above perfectly in sinc with the music. Lot's of people have started timing their Christmas lights to flash along with the music. I've attached a video of one of them. Just multiply it by about a 1000 and throw in the live musicians, and you'll have something similar to the concert. If you EVER have the chance to go to one of their shows (and aren't prone to seizures from brightly flashing lights!), I'd highly recommend you go!!!! :)

I hope the video works for you. If it doesn't, just go to this website.

So, that was my Christmas vacation in a nut shell. It was VERY busy, but also VERY fun! I hope your Christmas was just as wonderful!

Kids & Christmas!

One of my FAVORITE things about the Christmas season is watching the children's programs! This year, I got back to Texas just in time to watch one of my "nephews", Evan, in his preschool Christmas program. What a treat!!

Evan's in the white shirt with the navy vest.

Evan singing his heart out!

Almost all the songs had hand motions :)

After the AMAZING performance, we all went back to their house for hot chocolate & visiting. While Steve, Melissa, and I visited, the boys ran circles around us . . . literally! It was so cute to watch them play with each other. :) The boys found the Alabama Christmas cd on the stereo and started blasting it as they danced around.

Joel dancing . . . His eye's a little red after he poured some of his hot chocolate in it earlier. :)

I had SUCH a great time that night catching up with friends. Then, I got to go over to my sister & brother in law's house. It was nice to visit with them that night and all day on Friday. I hadn't gotten to spend much time with Amy this year, so we had a wonderful visit Friday morning! I've been going non-stop since I arrived back in Texas Wednesday night, but it's been a BLAST!

A Stress Free Holiday

A pipe dream? Well, not when it comes to my work this year. For the first time in over a year, I had the details of my next assignment worked out LONG before it started. YAY!! :) I'm working 3 more days, and then I'll be home for TWO WHOLE WEEKS to celebrate Christmas with the fam!! Since the Christmas Day Celebration will be at my parents' house, I'll get to help with the baking - something I truly missed last year. I've already been thinking about cakes to bake! Can you tell that I'm excited?!? There's nothing better than baking during the holidays with my favorite Christmas music in the background - it's the recipe for a perfect day. (go ahead & roll your eyes at that one - I just couldn't help it) :)

I'll be coming back here to Greenville, NC, for a 3 month contract after Christmas. I enjoy working at this hospital, and let's face it - it's easier to stay here than to learn a new hospital, again. :) I'm just hoping that North Carolina doesn't have a record breaking cold winter in 2008!!!! But, even if they do, it's all part of the adventure, right?

On a side note, I had a fun experience this afternoon - one that should NO longer surprise me, but it does every time. Since my current contract is only 3 weeks long, I am staying in a hotel instead of an apartment. The plus side is that someone else comes in to change my linens and bring fresh towels whenever I want. The minus side is that I have to find someplace to go for them to do this. Well, I finished all my errands today before they finished my room, so I decided to work on my Christmas cards in the hotel lobby. While there, an interesting lady who works here (doing what, I'm not quite sure) spotted me sitting there and decided to come "visit". Lucky me! :) Now, to make things even better, I've been working straight nights the last 2 weeks, so being awake and coherent during daylight hours can be somewhat of a challenge. This lady proceeds to tell me her ENTIRE life story - complete with reports of visions of her dead mother "in the green". I have NO idea what that's supposed to mean, and, honestly, I was too scared to ask her for an explanation. I learned of her life, the lives of ALL her siblings (7 of them!), her mother and 12 aunts/uncles, her children, 14 grandchildren, and her stepchildren. Please tell me, what about me sitting alone in the back of the hotel lobby at a table writing Christmas cards BEGS a complete stranger to come and talk for FORTY FIVE MINUTES?!? I honestly don't understand how I get to be so lucky. But, mom you'd be SO proud - I held my laughter in until she left and I could get back into my room. This was quite a feat on my part, considering some of the strange parts of the story which are not appropriate for my "family friendly blog"! Anyway, thank God for having a room to retreat to with a door that closes & locks! Boy, can I attract them! :)

By the way . . .

18 Days & Counting until Christmas!!!!

Thankful

My "Sam" turned 3 a few days ago! This is a day many of us caring for him in those initial months of his life never thought would get here. It hasn't been an easy road for him, and he has more trials ahead, but I am so grateful that God has lent him to us to enjoy for a little longer! I'm so grateful for his wonderful foster parents who love him like their own son and provide a Godly home for him. I spoke with his foster mom on his birthday, and she said that he was having a great day just laughing and laughing while pulling his socks off that morning. I love seeing the world through the eyes of children - where everything is new, exciting, and so entertaining! Thank you for all your prayers for him over the years, and please continue to pray for his health and comfort.