What a wonderful Christmas this year. We got to spend time with ALL the people we love. It was a little different that usual because we have so many people in our lives that Christmas seemed to last the whole twelve days....
The Rojas family is such a part of our lives and it was such a good time shared playing games, laughing, eating, and laughing some more.
Mom, Dad, and Tim...always so gracious...always such a beautiful experience, made the holiday warm, loving, fancy, and perfect
Mark and Tina share their home and their hearts with all of us and it's so relaxed and feels like family. We love spending time there...as always...great food, great people, beautiful decorations!
Tricha and David always make sure tradition is upheld. We had such a wonderful time there. Emily is growing up so fast. Sharing Christmas day with them was fantastic.
Dylan and Alex were such a joy! Kristi looked beautiful, Dylan has grown so much and is so smart. Alex is still just as sweet and loving as ever. Watching them play with their gifts and sharing the day with them was amazing!!!
Usually, I have a little bit of the blues after the holiday has come to a close; but this year...I am filled with such joy and know that when Eve and I make the journey to New Jersey...we will feel that we were able to make the proper good byes and have the best memories of Christmas joy.
Thanks to all of our families for making this the best Christmas EVER!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Checklist? Check!
Okay, there's only 1 more day til our holiday festivities really get underway. Eve has an office party today, then she's off at noon tomorrow for the remainder of the Christmas holiday. WEEEHOOO....so, the checklist comes out...
1. is all the laundry done for the trip? Yes
2. are all the gifts wrapped and ready to go? Yes
3. Have we changed all the Christmas counters to the correct number of days? Yes
4. Are we near all the people we love or making plans to see them? YES
5. Is there joy in our hearts? YES
I love Christmas so much...not for the gifts, not for the lights, and the glittery things (although my heart does beat faster, and my smile widens when I see the sparkles), but for the meaning of the season. I love how families come together to share their stories, their laughter and their love. I love how the clerk at the register smiles a little more, wishes me a joyous season. I love how I am a better person during this time of year. I love the gleam in the kid's eyes - big and little! I love the carol-filled trips to Mom and Dad's, Grandma and Grandpa's, and all those we love! I love the thought that on this day God saw me and sent a savior for me - the greatest gift of all.
Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas...may this season's joy last throughout the year.
1. is all the laundry done for the trip? Yes
2. are all the gifts wrapped and ready to go? Yes
3. Have we changed all the Christmas counters to the correct number of days? Yes
4. Are we near all the people we love or making plans to see them? YES
5. Is there joy in our hearts? YES
I love Christmas so much...not for the gifts, not for the lights, and the glittery things (although my heart does beat faster, and my smile widens when I see the sparkles), but for the meaning of the season. I love how families come together to share their stories, their laughter and their love. I love how the clerk at the register smiles a little more, wishes me a joyous season. I love how I am a better person during this time of year. I love the gleam in the kid's eyes - big and little! I love the carol-filled trips to Mom and Dad's, Grandma and Grandpa's, and all those we love! I love the thought that on this day God saw me and sent a savior for me - the greatest gift of all.
Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas...may this season's joy last throughout the year.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Getting ready for the Holiday
Wow...is it really only nine days til Christmas? No matter how prepared I am - the holiday rushes in! I love it though...getting excited about gifting and sharing and spending time with family!!!!
It's been an interesting ride in regard to our travel this year. First, we made plans to go to Bossier or Longview this year. Then, we realized that the loss of my job may make that trip impossible. Now we have decided that "it's only money - we'll make more" and threw caution to the wind. Yea!!!!! This weekend we're sharing a wonderful traditional Italian Christmas dinner with my brother and his girldfriend, Lauren on Saturday, then after they leave, we're going to Whispers to share Christmas and Birthday celebrations with our friend Melvin. Next on Sunday, we're sharing a wonderful Christmas celebration with our friends, Frannie and Robert, Kane, Edward, Briana, and Caralinna. Next, Christmas Eve's eve, we're going out to the ranch to celebrate the holiday with my Dad, Tim, Mom, and the kids. We'll wake up early on Christmas Eve morning and share Christmas with Chris, Amy, Gage and Kaleob. Then, we're driving to Bossier on Christmas Eve to share the holiday with Mark, Tina, the kids, and many other loved ones...then we're driving to Longview to share the joy of waking up Christmas morning with loved ones and watch the baby (Emily) open her Christmas gifts. Later that same morning...we're going to drive to Rayville to see Dylan and Alex (We miss them sooooo much). Finally, on Christmas evening, we're driving back home to have a day of relaxation and fiddling with Santa's presents.
Wow...we're some pretty busy folks this season, but it's wonderful, awesome, fantastic, and very festive. Eve and I are so blessed and thankful for the people in our lives. I was listening to the news this morning and heard this man talking about his book...365 days of gratitude...every day of the year he writes a 'thank you' letter to someone in his life - one day he wrote one to the two people at the coffee shop who always remember his name and what he drinks. What an amazing gift of self. This gentleman said that he got the inspiration while on a walk in the mountains when life wasn't going so great. He realized that until he was thankful for what he had...he could never be hopeful for the things the wanted. What a wonderful message, and I think I will adopt that practice...so...if you get a thank you letter from me just for being you...know that I am forever endebted to the people in my life and their love, which makes me who I am today. For starters...a broadcast "THANK YOU" to the family who supported me no matter what...to my landlord who provides my shelter...to the A&M staff who saved Mr. Frodo's life...to my co-workers, past, present and future, who make a day go by...to my professors who challenge and motivate me...AND, to Bill Gates...who made this entire blogging experience reality.
I love you all...wish you the happiest of Holiday Seasons, and hope everyone is feeling the same joy as me!
It's been an interesting ride in regard to our travel this year. First, we made plans to go to Bossier or Longview this year. Then, we realized that the loss of my job may make that trip impossible. Now we have decided that "it's only money - we'll make more" and threw caution to the wind. Yea!!!!! This weekend we're sharing a wonderful traditional Italian Christmas dinner with my brother and his girldfriend, Lauren on Saturday, then after they leave, we're going to Whispers to share Christmas and Birthday celebrations with our friend Melvin. Next on Sunday, we're sharing a wonderful Christmas celebration with our friends, Frannie and Robert, Kane, Edward, Briana, and Caralinna. Next, Christmas Eve's eve, we're going out to the ranch to celebrate the holiday with my Dad, Tim, Mom, and the kids. We'll wake up early on Christmas Eve morning and share Christmas with Chris, Amy, Gage and Kaleob. Then, we're driving to Bossier on Christmas Eve to share the holiday with Mark, Tina, the kids, and many other loved ones...then we're driving to Longview to share the joy of waking up Christmas morning with loved ones and watch the baby (Emily) open her Christmas gifts. Later that same morning...we're going to drive to Rayville to see Dylan and Alex (We miss them sooooo much). Finally, on Christmas evening, we're driving back home to have a day of relaxation and fiddling with Santa's presents.
Wow...we're some pretty busy folks this season, but it's wonderful, awesome, fantastic, and very festive. Eve and I are so blessed and thankful for the people in our lives. I was listening to the news this morning and heard this man talking about his book...365 days of gratitude...every day of the year he writes a 'thank you' letter to someone in his life - one day he wrote one to the two people at the coffee shop who always remember his name and what he drinks. What an amazing gift of self. This gentleman said that he got the inspiration while on a walk in the mountains when life wasn't going so great. He realized that until he was thankful for what he had...he could never be hopeful for the things the wanted. What a wonderful message, and I think I will adopt that practice...so...if you get a thank you letter from me just for being you...know that I am forever endebted to the people in my life and their love, which makes me who I am today. For starters...a broadcast "THANK YOU" to the family who supported me no matter what...to my landlord who provides my shelter...to the A&M staff who saved Mr. Frodo's life...to my co-workers, past, present and future, who make a day go by...to my professors who challenge and motivate me...AND, to Bill Gates...who made this entire blogging experience reality.
I love you all...wish you the happiest of Holiday Seasons, and hope everyone is feeling the same joy as me!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
time to breathe
Finally, I have some time to spend doing things gone to the wayside. With all the holiday decorating, Thanksgiving preparations, extra long hours at work and traveling behind me for a moment, it is nice to get home early, brew a pot of coffee, and spend some time attending to personal needs.
I love the holidays, but there's always so much to do. This week - in the grooming industry - there are almost no dogs coming to the shop. People who usually have the dogs hair cut short are only getting baths since it's starting to get cold. People who are close to time for the next groom either just had it done for Thanksgiving or are waiting to a little closer to Christmas. I will probably not have much work to do for the next ten days or so. That's awesome!!! I am home by noon and can spend time researching, reading, or cleaning before my babysitting duties begin.
Oh...did I forget to mention that since Amy went back to work, I babysit on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays. It's a lot! Can't spend time on the puter since the kids require constant supervision. I love the time with them, though. We're moving to New Jersey in August of 2011 and then I won't get to see them very often, at all.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Shreveport and at the Ranch. Family is such a wonderful part of who I am. I am so blessed for all the people in my life. Christmas will be different. Eve and I are going to Bossier, but not sure what for, really. I have to work on Christmas Eve - so by the time we get to Bossier, the festivities will be winding down or already over. That means we'll be at a hotel on Christmas Eve and wake up Christmas morning uncertain of what the plans are for the day. I want to go to Rayville to see Dylan and Alex before I move 2000 miles away from them. I want to share the holiday with Pat, Kathy, Tricha, David, and Emily, but everyone's got their own thing going on. We want to share the day with Grandma and Grandpa, but don't want to invite ourselves to their house and make people feel like they have to include us in gift giving and so forth. I want to spend Christmas with Chris, Amy, Gage, and Kaleob, but we just cannot spread ourselves that thin...what a dilemma!
Oh well...it'll be what it's supposed to be and as long as I am with Eve on Christmas morning...all is right with the world.
I love the holidays, but there's always so much to do. This week - in the grooming industry - there are almost no dogs coming to the shop. People who usually have the dogs hair cut short are only getting baths since it's starting to get cold. People who are close to time for the next groom either just had it done for Thanksgiving or are waiting to a little closer to Christmas. I will probably not have much work to do for the next ten days or so. That's awesome!!! I am home by noon and can spend time researching, reading, or cleaning before my babysitting duties begin.
Oh...did I forget to mention that since Amy went back to work, I babysit on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays. It's a lot! Can't spend time on the puter since the kids require constant supervision. I love the time with them, though. We're moving to New Jersey in August of 2011 and then I won't get to see them very often, at all.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Shreveport and at the Ranch. Family is such a wonderful part of who I am. I am so blessed for all the people in my life. Christmas will be different. Eve and I are going to Bossier, but not sure what for, really. I have to work on Christmas Eve - so by the time we get to Bossier, the festivities will be winding down or already over. That means we'll be at a hotel on Christmas Eve and wake up Christmas morning uncertain of what the plans are for the day. I want to go to Rayville to see Dylan and Alex before I move 2000 miles away from them. I want to share the holiday with Pat, Kathy, Tricha, David, and Emily, but everyone's got their own thing going on. We want to share the day with Grandma and Grandpa, but don't want to invite ourselves to their house and make people feel like they have to include us in gift giving and so forth. I want to spend Christmas with Chris, Amy, Gage, and Kaleob, but we just cannot spread ourselves that thin...what a dilemma!
Oh well...it'll be what it's supposed to be and as long as I am with Eve on Christmas morning...all is right with the world.
