Do You Hear What I Hear?

That ear!

Kristinmas Krafting

I got a wild crafting hair last week and made these little wall hanger thingies from some wood blocks I found in the garage.  With some sanding, painting, papering, modge-podging, gluing, glittering, and more, they are a fun addition to our holiday decor.  They are cuter in person than they are in the pic.

I am stealing this from Kristin (who has a really cool name that's spelled right), who stole it from Stacie, who stole it from Danifred, who in turn stole it from Rebecca. this is not a true "steal" because I've changed my answers . . . also because I'm desperate for blog fodder as well!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping paper but aren't gift bags SO easy???

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.  This southern girl is used to a good ol' plastic tree that doesn't make me sneeze or drop needles every-freaking-where.

3. When do you put up the tree? Todd the Christmas Boy has to have it up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? If it doesn't get taken down the weekend before we go back to school, it might as well stay up until summer.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, with lots of rum.  Todd?  not so much.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  I don't remember having a Christmas where I didn't have an awesome, favorite gift.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have a couple of them.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my Dad and Marilynn or our teenage nieces.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Todd.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Mail - even when they're late.  :)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The first thing that comes to mind are some of the gifts from students, but I also know how excited they are to give me the treasures they do.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving.

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? the candy my mom makes

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear!

17. Favorite Christmas song?  "Oh, Holy Night" is the first that comes to mind.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home 

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but I won't list it here in case you decide to steal from me.  :)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Had an angel my grandmother gave me, but she is so fragile that I've put her elsewhere and now have a bow.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?  The stress of having everything together can be a bit much.  The past few years, the sadness that comes with missing loved ones.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? None really.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year?  I told Todd that all I want is a baby.  Since they aren't sold on amazon, I have a Kindle Fire or tablet on my B list.  I still want a baby.


Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and make the time to remember that we celebrate Christmas because God gave us his Son.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Our tree has been up for two weeks, but I finally got around to attempting a bow tree topper.  Even after watching a youtube video on how to make tree topper bows, I still really needed my Mary or Aunt Rita to do it for me since it's a pretty scary looking bow.  Oh well, the tree is READY!

Time to wrap the gifts, wait for Santa, and celebrate Christmas!

Another Goodbye

We lost my Great Aunt Rita on Sunday.  She was like a grandmother to me because my Dad and I spent almost every weekend with her and Uncle Charlie.  She spent time playing games with me, teaching me to read (I read at age 2!), took me places, taught me Sunday School, helped me with college finances, talked about All My Children with me, and even taught me to drive a stick shift in their Jeep.  We won't mention that it's surprising she didn't die that day . . .  :)

Aunt Rita, Uncle Charlie, and I on my wedding day.

Aunt Rita and Uncle Charlie were married almost 65 years!  Can you believe that?  They were the model for marriage to my family and I.  The love they had for one another was precious and rare.  I now worry for Uncle Charlie because he has lost the love of his life - literally.

I am thankful that I had the chance to see her Saturday night and  take the time to stroke her hair, tell her I love her and say goodbye.  I knew it would be the last time.  I just felt it.  Now I'm imagining how heartbroken Uncle Charlie truly is but also imagining her in Heaven with the many who went before her.  Yes, we'll see her again someday, but we sure do miss her now.

More Prayers

I know I haven't really blogged much about it in the past THREE MONTHS, but my brother Jeffrey is still in the hospital.  He was moved back to ICU yesterday.  Please keep him in your prayers.  He is much more resilient than the rest of us because our family is pretty worn out.

Guest Room - New Pic

Damn dogs.  They are all that plus a bag of chips.  Guest room door is now closed.