Back in the saddle again.....

So today was my first day subbing at Cole's school. YEAH. It was a super easy day actually, almost too easy. The first half of the day I spent in a kindergarten room but there was a student teacher (oh do i remember those days) and she did everything which left me feeling helpless - but that's ok. Then I spent the afternoon with the fourth grade which was like going home. A great class!!! A few things I wasn't used to - but that's ok, I can adapt easily!! I'll be back there next week as well and I'll be in the PTO sponsored Holiday Shoppe for a while on Tuesday as well. So the more I'm seen at the school, the better I guess. I like being involved and so need a job!!!

On to other things - I have so much scrapping I want to do - it's ridiculous!!! SERIOUSLY!! I have pictures waiting, I have projects waiting!!! Oh I just wish I was motivated. I also have tons and tons of wrapping to get done. Geez - December is always crazy isn't it? Wacked out kind of crazy!!

While I was at Cole's school today someone stopped me to ask about donating to St. Jude. I love when I can spread their message and people give because of that!! This was someone wanting to give anyway, not just because of talking to me, and just wanted to know the best way to do it. So, oh course, I pointed her in teh direction of the website and she'll be giving!! YEAH - the cool thing is every other year, she doesn't get to see parts of her family for Christmas and during that time they make a donation to a charity instead of buying a gift and mailing it. What a wonderful idea huh? So maybe this will be something she'll tell others and they will give too! That would be great.

So, while I'm talking about it - you can certainly give too - and I'm making it easy peasy. Just click on that St. Jude logo up there on the screen and donate. I was watching a bit of FoxNews this morning and there was my favorite celebrity - Marlo Thomas, talking about St. Jude. Did you know that most charitable places only have to solicit 9% (I believe) of the money they need to operate from individuals. St. Jude needs to solicit 78% (again, I believe) of the money they need from individuals. So WOW - that's a lot. and 85 cents of each dollar given to them supports a child with cancer - maybe even MY child - so if that isn't a reason to give, I don't know what is. Oh, what - another reason to give - your healthy child :) - give because you've never had to go through countless MRI's, blood and platelet transfusions, needle sticks, oh I could go on forever!! Anyway - just give, if you can. I certainly am not rolling in the dough - so it's hard for us to just give a ton of money, but we do what we can, when we can - another reason why I'm super excited about the small group at church - I found another way to give back or pay it forward, so to speak!!!

Ok, enough already. jason should be home any minute and we officially have nothing in the house to eat or drink except milk and OJ - no Diet Dr Pepper - that's BAD!!!

L

The best thing ever....

All I can say is WOW - WOW - WOW. Yep, triple WOW. Jason is in school, going to night classes. I've been going to a church here that came highly recommended by Monique and Jer McLean. I've been several times and Cole is going and loves it. Jason went with me once, but will go more when his crazy school schedule lightens up. He really liked it too. And I don't just mean, we sorta like it and will stick around a few weeks and see what's up. I mean, I absolutely HATE when I can't go. If something comes up - like company's in town, or we're out of town - I just get so disappointed that I have to miss. And good grief - don't date tell Cole we aren't going!!! That's a big mistake!!

The one time Jason went with us he saw someone he's in class with. Well, he was talking to her last night in school and she mentioned the church's small groups. They have small groups that meet in different times, different places, etc - and share a common interest (could be a sport, a hobby, whatever, and God of course). So she tells Jason about the small group she's involved in. They go to the Children's Hospital here and spend the third Friday night each month with the kids. They feed them, play games, visit with the ones that can't get out of their room, they do all kinds of things. They do the same things that other people have done for us when we were in those hospital beds. I just couldn't believe it.

So today I called the contact person for this group. She called me back and we had a wonderful talk. She too got involved because of cancer, but it was her mom where for us, it's Cole. I told her just a little about us - how I've been hoping for so long to find a way to give back. I just can't afford to give back financially - but I can give from my heart - I can be there to lend a shoulder, a hand, a hug - all those things that I really have wanted to do for so darn long!!! I just can't believe it.

So, I'm so very excited about this - and wish it was tomorrow night - not four weeks from now!!

I just had to share - because I'm so happy about this!!
L

Our halls are decked!!

I would love to put up more decorations and lights but I think I'm just done. I've been working on it for about a week - okay maybe two weeks. I really have some other things I want to work on, so I'm leaving the rest of the decor in storage!! The first picture is part of our Christmas village we got for next to nothing a few years ago after Christmas.

This is my favorite thing!! I love my ornaments hanging from the lights.

This is an old desk I inherited from my Nanny. It's perfect in our entry way and I added a few happy Christmas things to the top!

And below are my elves - i LOVE them!!

And the tree.....

I just love Christmas and love having all the decorations around! It just makes everything better in life. Cole seems to be confused this year - we've always put the tree up early, usually even earlier than we did this year - but he seems to think Santa is coming every single day. He woke up yesterday morning at about 5:30 and ran in our room, crying. He said he's had a bad dream. I just patted his back and kissed his face, wiping away his tears and tried to get him back to sleep. I asked him when he woke up for school what he dreamed about and he said he dreamed he didn't get any presents. How sad. Then we go into the living room for some before school cartoons and he says "See, Santa didn't come" so I had to explain to him how many days we have left until Christmas. He keeps saying is it Christmas yet, when's Santa coming? So I'll be so glad when Saturday gets here and we can start our countdown to Christmas calendar! Maybe that'll help!!

Well, got a few things to do before heading out to the scrapbook store. Have a wonderful evening!! ~L

Merry Christmas

It's been awhile since I've blogged - as usual! I'm going to make it a resolution to do better and post at least once a week!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did. It was nice - lots of family, food and football. Although the football part of the holiday weekend wasn't so great. Jason and I started our diet again today. Recovery from the feast we had on Thursday. I really want to lose about 20 more pounds, but would love to lose ten by Christmas but I'm not sure it'll happen. I'm trying!! I will have to make myself get on the treadmill tomorrow. I didn't do it today, but honestly - it was quite a day. I had to go to the dentist today and it was horrible. I hate the dentist. I've always hated the dentist. Thanks to Dr. Duke - and he's an Auburn fan, so that should explain a lot. I just remember a really bad experience as a child and since then I avoid the dentist until it is no longer avoidable and sit there white knuckled the whole time. I mean, couldn't they just hand me a cd player and let me play some Kenny Chesney while I'm laying there trying to remember to breath? Maybe next time I go, I'll try that. I don't have an IPod but my phone plays tunes just as well and I have headphone for it. That's something I'm going to look into. The ONLY good thing about the dentist is it's right next door to a scrapbook store! So BONUS - just like the old days when I didn't cry too badly and got to go to TG&Y and get a Barbie or a new Barbie dress with matching shoes. So after the dentist, I stepped next door and got some goodies. Doodlebug Christmas paper is so cute - better then the stuff last year that looked all the same for every holiday - just different colors. It's really cute this year! And got some other cool things I'm hoping to play with soon. I'm in desperate need of some crop time. Just being away from home and cropping - I want that so badly. Its just different to be away from home, no dishes or laundry calling while you are trying to focus!!

I haven't done too much scrapbooking lately but I have worked on a few things. I copied an idea from someone and used Cole's hand and footprints to make some Christmas canvases.

And I made a cute little Ho Ho Ho for my mom. She saw it in a magazine and wanted something similar and I think I accomplished it. Although, now I want one for myself!!

And I was going to post pictures of my holiday decorating but I think I'll wait until tomorrow - that will make me post again without waiting more than a week!! woo hoo

Happy Holidays and I don't mean that in a politically correct way because I'm scared to saw Merry Christmas - I really mean Happy Holidays - nothing political about it, just what I like to say! Merry Christmas too and HO HO HO!!

L