I'm Falling....and I must get up!

Falling behind that is. I've mentioned before that I NEED order, I CRAVE routine, I LOVE tradition, I AM sameness.....or...I unravel. Well, it's so true, and I feel like I'm unraveling. By this date each year, the house is clean, the trees are decorated, the halls are decked and the gifts are bought, wrapped, and mailed or under the trees. By this time, I am making tamales and cookies. By this time, I am lunching with friends and watching the other frantic shoppers as I leisurely meander through the mall. Ack! What happened?

Double the pleasure.  Double the fun. :-)

Seemingly little things, like adopting 2 five month old cocker spaniel puppies early this summer. They are adorable and we love them and they are completely integrated members of our family. However, I've had to purchased three additional sets of sheets (Michael chews them), rugs (for inside and outside), replant the winter garden, wash and rewash my denim slip covered sofa, clean the carpet over and over and over, purchase gates that turn the house into a fortress....

Frosty and His Magic Hat :-)

And bigger things, like having my 29 year old daughter move back home while she rebuilds her dream. It is lovely having her home, sharing meal times and watching her make an adorable little pink gingerbread house. And I am happy, really, really happy that she is okay...more than okay as she plans this next chapter in her life. However, I've had to make room. Lots of room. She's a baker, she's a designer, and she needs creative space and time. It's important...

Our Angel Tree (2008)

So now what? I'm going to think about and pray for those who are struggling with their health, or caring for loved ones who are ill. I'm going to think about and pray for those who are wondering where money will come from to feed their children. I'm going to think about and pray for those who have lost loved ones this year and will be spending that first Christmas without them.

And our family tree

I'm going to count and be grateful for my many, many, many blessings. I'm going to clean the house today, deck the halls tomorrow, decorate the trees over the weekend, shop on Monday for the Crisis Nursery, and for family and friends on Tuesday, lunch on Wednesday, Wrap on Thursday, make tamales on Friday, and perhaps bake cookies over the weekend with Brandi. Ahhhhh, order...sighhhhhh, routine...yesssss, a plan. I feel better...thanks for listening :-)

Christmas Morning (2009)