Not Quite Ordinary Observations

For Today...Wednesday, December 21

Outside my window...gray.

I am thinking...about the day and the order in which each item on my to-do list needs to be tackled.

I am thankful for...the anniversary get-away Doug and I had Monday and Tuesday (the reason this post was delayed until today!); my parents for keeping the kids; a wonderful home to return to.

I am wearing...3/4 sleeve maroon top with a black tank; jeans; chilly bare toes

I am creating...the last of our Christmas gifts – should be totally done today! Hopefully! Soon I’ll get to share a post of everything we’ve been making.

I am remembering...the week before Christmas 13 years ago. Actually, I don’t remember anything about Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 23rd. Saturday was our wedding, we were in Little Rock through Sunday for a short honeymoon, then it was back to work Monday morning for both of us. That Saturday had been nice and warm. By Christmas Eve, though, we were in the throes of a nice Arkansas ice storm. My incredible new hubby fought the icy roads to get me to Judsonia for a couple of hours for Christmas Eve. Then he was on call (worked for a funeral home) on Christmas Day, and he was called in. Because the hearse drove much better on ice than the minivan they typically used, we both climbed into the hearse when he had to go to work. We were delighted and thankful, though, to get to spend our first Christmas together, even if it did mean me having to tag along with him as he worked!

I am reading...or supposed to be reading…Living Close to God When You’re not Good at It by Gene Edwards (review book). Hopefully I’ll get most of it read through today since it seems to be a pretty easy read.

I am hoping...for a little Christmas snow. Not a lot, but just enough to be pretty. I know. It’s not very likely. But it would be fun!

I am hearing...a very quiet house. All I had to do was send the kids to clean their rooms!

On my mind...learning to pray better for my family.

From the learning rooms...Christmas break!

Noticing that...Olivia is growing up so quickly and in so many ways!

From the kitchen...leftovers? Later this week, there will be Christmas cookies to share and finger foods for Christmas Eve and Cornish game hens for Christmas Day. But, for now, probably just leftovers.

Around the house...a little clutter that must be conquered today or tomorrow.

One of my favorite things...big hugs and morning snuggles from my big kids.

A few plans for the rest of the week...finishing our sewing, wrapping all the presents (no, we haven’t started – but it shouldn’t take too long), church tonight, Browning Christmas celebration on Friday, Christmas Eve service on Saturday, Christmas Eve & Day at home, then Hibbard Christmas celebration Monday.

A picture worth sharing...penguin carolers met me at my bedroom door the other day. I think it was Angie’s doing again.