😦 Budget time at work – board making random cuts and increases that make no sense in the “real” world of camp ministry
🙂 🙂 Prayed and left the budget in God’s hands – main budget changer commented that he felt he needed to give the budget back to God, that the board member was being too controlling! God is good 🙂
🙂 Christmas!!
🙂 Both children home later this week + sweet girlfriend 🙂
😦 Five days before Christmas and I haven’t yet finished my Christmas letter. (It’s on the docket to finish today.) I’ve usually mailed that last handful by now!
🙂 I have work coming in–work I like–at what is usually a slow time of the year.
🙂 The family has really gelled as a family this last year. The first year was very awkward, with quite a few times I made myself scarce to give the girls some breathing room and to allow them times with their dad without me present; the next year everyone was really trying, and it felt sweet but still “new” to everyone; this year it has felt natural and I’ve stepped more fully into the role of “mom” without an asterisk, and I don’t see the girls holding back at all anymore. I’m doubly blessed because I know that with some stepfamilies that never happens at all.
😦 Our internet service has been so bad that we sometimes have to try for a couple of hours to load a single website.
🙂 My husband has called and complained “Our internet is down” so often that the head of the company called this week to tell him that our check for two months’ service was being torn up, and that we are supposed to get more bandwidth sometime in the next week.
My daughter-in-law says HER grandson is walking. Two weeks now. He will be one on 13 January.
They think he is taking after Mary. That could be good and bad. Mary is very smart, but she was the “wild child”. Chuck once said, “Mary, I hope you get one just like you.” Maybe she did.
She turned out well, but a boy with her traits could become reckless.
Went to my daughter’s coffee shop for a few minutes yesterday and my sister was there. I gave her a big hug and we got to visit for a bit. I know God is going to build relationships in my family this time.
🙂 as I unpacked things this morning I found 2 beautiful Willow Creek figurines that I did not remember I had. Now my home is decorated. Lovely
🙂 A good week off, with the exception of working Tuesday night into Wednesday to cover the “Unbroken” premiere in Zamperini’s hometown.
🙂 Film is good, book is better.
😦 Would have only taken a tweak here and there to have avoided at least some of the criticism that the movie brushed over Zamperini’s Christian faith too nonspecifically and lightly.
😦 Movie struck me as somewhat of a one-dimensional portrayal of Zamperini. But that’s often the tradeoff when you take a good book that so beautifully plumbs the depths and nuances of a character and then put it into movie form.
😦 Not feeling very Christmas-y this year for some reason. Sigh. I started strong a couple weeks ago but now feel it’s all petering out. I’m ready to get on to the new year already.
🙂 Still need to pick up some cat toys/treats for Norma’s kitty when I see her tomorrow for church.
🙂 Much needed rain with snow visible on the mountain tops.
😦 No more rain in our forecast for the immediate future. But it is staying cloudy, overcast and quite cool — it *looks* like it could rain …
🙂 At least it’s not going to be 80 degrees on Christmas like it’s been in some past years.
Tuesday evening, Lee & I babysat Forrest while Emily had a date with A. (Well, Lee helped until he had to go to bed. At least he had the next day off, so he could sleep in.) Forrest was very difficult, as he had been all day for Emily. He was so wound up, he didn’t fall asleep until 11:30.
The reason, I’m pretty sure, is because of Emily going on another date. He is used to her going to her classes, & working a bit with Lee, although sometimes he wants her to stay home, but he’s having a hard time with her having a new man in her life. Fortunately, Emily has realized this, too, so we can work on this together, in agreement.
Then, Chrissy & I were babysitting Forrest on Wednesday night while Emily was in her classes. He gave us a hard time about lying down in bed, which was getting very frustrating, but there was a reason. His tummy was hurting, & eventually erupted its contents onto a rug. Then later onto the kitchen floor. And he looked so very pale. Poor little guy. (He also threw up again sometime in the middle of the night.)
🙂 Babysitting today was a breeze. Forrest was exhausted from his late nights & illness (which seemed to pass fairly quickly), & slept through most of the morning. Then he was rather low-key the rest of the day, obviously not feeling up to par, but not having anything we could put a finger on, & he had no specific complaints.
🙂 Christmas tree up & decorated, cards sent out in the mail, cookies baked, presents bought (online) & wrapped. Trying to make a nice Christmas for my family without over-stressing myself, & somehow I succeeded. We don’t have much money for many presents, but I hope the girls & Forrest will be pleased.
🙂 After several days of fog, no wind and milder temperatures, it is SO beautiful outside I can hardly stand it. 🙂 Words and pictures just don’t do it justice, but I have a Winter Wonderland album on my Facebook page if anyone is interested. I’m looking forward to the drive to church this morning – it’s just going to be incredible. We might have to leave early just so we can take pictures along the way 🙂
🙂 A wonderful Christmas service at church this morning, with several beautiful Christmas carols to sing.
For some reason, under our former pastor, we did not sing any Christmas carols during the Christmas season, & I really missed that. But there would be decorations, so it’s not as if he didn’t believe in celebrating Christmas in church.
Karen, I’ve heard the recommendation that single moms not tell their children they’re dating, at least not unless it’s likely to head to marriage. If the relationship doesn’t go anywhere, the child is stressed needlessly. And if the mother ends up going through a lot of different relationships, then the child can feel quite insecure. Seems wise to me.
Greg told our older daughter pretty quickly, but then, he was serious pretty quickly and she was a teen but already “of age” and in college. (The younger one was out of the country as an exchange student and thus he didn’t tell her for several weeks, because he didn’t want to disturb her until he was very sure. We then had to wait to get officially engaged until she was back in the country, and then I was able to meet the girls and we made it official a few days later.)
🙂 Loved the songs we sang today in church, too: “Joy to the World! The Lord Has Come” (I think that’s become my new favorite Christmas song even though I know it’s about His second coming), “O Come all Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
🙂 Handed over a Christmas gift bag full of “little” things to Norma this morning, most of which were for her kitty — she has an easier time accepting gifts like that, it makes her very uncomfortable & stressed to get what she considers to be ‘expensive’ things.
😦 Still debating on a gift for another friend. Ordered something that I may send back. … ‘Tis the season for chaos and indecision.
Cheryl – Initially, Emily wasn’t going to tell Forrest much about A, or that she was dating him, but somehow it came out. Forrest has seen his dad go through a few girlfriends.
It is interesting how God’s plans for marriage are kind of innately in us. Even children who have never seen their parents living together somehow want their parents to be together. I don’t know if Forrest feels that way, but if not now, I’m sure he eventually will.
Wandering Views 
🙂 Christmas!!
😦 Budget time at work – board making random cuts and increases that make no sense in the “real” world of camp ministry
🙂 🙂 Prayed and left the budget in God’s hands – main budget changer commented that he felt he needed to give the budget back to God, that the board member was being too controlling! God is good 🙂
🙂 Christmas!!
🙂 Both children home later this week + sweet girlfriend 🙂
🙂 Christmas day afternoon plans with friends
🙂 Christmas eve plans with friends
🙂 Boxing day plans with friends
🙂 Feeling blessed
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😦 Five days before Christmas and I haven’t yet finished my Christmas letter. (It’s on the docket to finish today.) I’ve usually mailed that last handful by now!
🙂 I have work coming in–work I like–at what is usually a slow time of the year.
🙂 The family has really gelled as a family this last year. The first year was very awkward, with quite a few times I made myself scarce to give the girls some breathing room and to allow them times with their dad without me present; the next year everyone was really trying, and it felt sweet but still “new” to everyone; this year it has felt natural and I’ve stepped more fully into the role of “mom” without an asterisk, and I don’t see the girls holding back at all anymore. I’m doubly blessed because I know that with some stepfamilies that never happens at all.
😦 Our internet service has been so bad that we sometimes have to try for a couple of hours to load a single website.
🙂 My husband has called and complained “Our internet is down” so often that the head of the company called this week to tell him that our check for two months’ service was being torn up, and that we are supposed to get more bandwidth sometime in the next week.
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Rejoicing with your FAMILY, Cheryl!
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My daughter-in-law says HER grandson is walking. Two weeks now. He will be one on 13 January.
They think he is taking after Mary. That could be good and bad. Mary is very smart, but she was the “wild child”. Chuck once said, “Mary, I hope you get one just like you.” Maybe she did.
She turned out well, but a boy with her traits could become reckless.
LikeLike
Went to my daughter’s coffee shop for a few minutes yesterday and my sister was there. I gave her a big hug and we got to visit for a bit. I know God is going to build relationships in my family this time.
🙂 as I unpacked things this morning I found 2 beautiful Willow Creek figurines that I did not remember I had. Now my home is decorated. Lovely
LikeLike
🙂 A good week off, with the exception of working Tuesday night into Wednesday to cover the “Unbroken” premiere in Zamperini’s hometown.
🙂 Film is good, book is better.
😦 Would have only taken a tweak here and there to have avoided at least some of the criticism that the movie brushed over Zamperini’s Christian faith too nonspecifically and lightly.
😦 Movie struck me as somewhat of a one-dimensional portrayal of Zamperini. But that’s often the tradeoff when you take a good book that so beautifully plumbs the depths and nuances of a character and then put it into movie form.
😦 Not feeling very Christmas-y this year for some reason. Sigh. I started strong a couple weeks ago but now feel it’s all petering out. I’m ready to get on to the new year already.
🙂 Still need to pick up some cat toys/treats for Norma’s kitty when I see her tomorrow for church.
🙂 Much needed rain with snow visible on the mountain tops.
😦 No more rain in our forecast for the immediate future. But it is staying cloudy, overcast and quite cool — it *looks* like it could rain …
🙂 At least it’s not going to be 80 degrees on Christmas like it’s been in some past years.
LikeLike
😦 A couple of stressful nights babysitting.
Tuesday evening, Lee & I babysat Forrest while Emily had a date with A. (Well, Lee helped until he had to go to bed. At least he had the next day off, so he could sleep in.) Forrest was very difficult, as he had been all day for Emily. He was so wound up, he didn’t fall asleep until 11:30.
The reason, I’m pretty sure, is because of Emily going on another date. He is used to her going to her classes, & working a bit with Lee, although sometimes he wants her to stay home, but he’s having a hard time with her having a new man in her life. Fortunately, Emily has realized this, too, so we can work on this together, in agreement.
Then, Chrissy & I were babysitting Forrest on Wednesday night while Emily was in her classes. He gave us a hard time about lying down in bed, which was getting very frustrating, but there was a reason. His tummy was hurting, & eventually erupted its contents onto a rug. Then later onto the kitchen floor. And he looked so very pale. Poor little guy. (He also threw up again sometime in the middle of the night.)
🙂 Babysitting today was a breeze. Forrest was exhausted from his late nights & illness (which seemed to pass fairly quickly), & slept through most of the morning. Then he was rather low-key the rest of the day, obviously not feeling up to par, but not having anything we could put a finger on, & he had no specific complaints.
🙂 Christmas tree up & decorated, cards sent out in the mail, cookies baked, presents bought (online) & wrapped. Trying to make a nice Christmas for my family without over-stressing myself, & somehow I succeeded. We don’t have much money for many presents, but I hope the girls & Forrest will be pleased.
LikeLike
🙂 After several days of fog, no wind and milder temperatures, it is SO beautiful outside I can hardly stand it. 🙂 Words and pictures just don’t do it justice, but I have a Winter Wonderland album on my Facebook page if anyone is interested. I’m looking forward to the drive to church this morning – it’s just going to be incredible. We might have to leave early just so we can take pictures along the way 🙂
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🙂 A wonderful Christmas service at church this morning, with several beautiful Christmas carols to sing.
For some reason, under our former pastor, we did not sing any Christmas carols during the Christmas season, & I really missed that. But there would be decorations, so it’s not as if he didn’t believe in celebrating Christmas in church.
LikeLike
Karen, I’ve heard the recommendation that single moms not tell their children they’re dating, at least not unless it’s likely to head to marriage. If the relationship doesn’t go anywhere, the child is stressed needlessly. And if the mother ends up going through a lot of different relationships, then the child can feel quite insecure. Seems wise to me.
Greg told our older daughter pretty quickly, but then, he was serious pretty quickly and she was a teen but already “of age” and in college. (The younger one was out of the country as an exchange student and thus he didn’t tell her for several weeks, because he didn’t want to disturb her until he was very sure. We then had to wait to get officially engaged until she was back in the country, and then I was able to meet the girls and we made it official a few days later.)
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🙂 Loved the songs we sang today in church, too: “Joy to the World! The Lord Has Come” (I think that’s become my new favorite Christmas song even though I know it’s about His second coming), “O Come all Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
🙂 Handed over a Christmas gift bag full of “little” things to Norma this morning, most of which were for her kitty — she has an easier time accepting gifts like that, it makes her very uncomfortable & stressed to get what she considers to be ‘expensive’ things.
😦 Still debating on a gift for another friend. Ordered something that I may send back. … ‘Tis the season for chaos and indecision.
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Karen, does your church have a Christmas Eve service? Maybe you’ll sing more of the songs then.
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Kare, I have seen those days. Absolutely makes me yearn for Heaven, knowing how absolutely gorgeous days can be here, I cannot imagine….
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Of course, it makes me incredibly grateful for the opportunity to live here and now, as well.
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Cheryl – Initially, Emily wasn’t going to tell Forrest much about A, or that she was dating him, but somehow it came out. Forrest has seen his dad go through a few girlfriends.
It is interesting how God’s plans for marriage are kind of innately in us. Even children who have never seen their parents living together somehow want their parents to be together. I don’t know if Forrest feels that way, but if not now, I’m sure he eventually will.
LikeLike