Where did Christmas go?

Well, it's been a week.

And by a week, I mean a week we'll always remember.... not fondly.

But, being who I am, I'm going to try and at least finish my 12 Days, with twelve things I'm grateful for this week.  It's going to be a stretch, but hopefully keep things light for me.

1. Generators.  (even though it sounds like someone is mowing their lawn in my bedroom.)
2. Heat.  (No-Power Fun Fact #1:  The worst reminder that your house is 44 degrees is the toilet seat.)
3. Laptops.  (Without our laptop I wouldn't have been able to snuggle with the boys Christmas Eve to watch Home Alone.  Without power we wouldn't have done it.)
4. Family and Friends.  (Both to share the misery or offerings of love.  It's been duly noted :))
5. Twitter.  (The conversations between Toby, Andy, Regina, and Andy G were simply priceless.)
6. Slippers for cold floors.
7. Blankets.  Lots and lots of blankets.  Although we figured out that Evan's down blanket has a hole.  Feathers everywhere.
8. Gas fireplaces.  We wouldn't have survived without it.
9. Sleepovers on the dining room floor.
10. Candles.  Yes, I had three setting aside as gifts for Christmas... oh well.
11. Speedway coffee.  Who knew it was so good and only 99 cents?
12. The human spirit.  This whole week has been a giant reminder of how blessed we really are.  You never know what you really have till it's taken away.  Got it, God.  And I am grateful.

I hope you all had a week that reminded you of what gratitude really is about.  Some people in life will never get it, and I simply will never understand that, but let them be a reminder of what you don't want in your life.

Happy Friday!

Evan's Top Ten

Sixteen years ago today, at 2:15 in the afternoon, I had my Evan.  He was a month early, and is still living life according to Evan.

I cannot believe it's been sixteen years.  It's as if time has flown while standing still at times.  Every horrible stage felt like it would never end, only to open up to an amazingly wonderful stage.  My son would magically appear, new and improved.  Oh, Dr. Spates had warned me that kids would also regress right before a growth spurt, mentally and physically.

And boy was she right.

So, of course in my own fashion, I'd like to take a moment and remember the wonderful stages...

1. He is funny.  I married funny, and had a funny son.  Funny how that works out.
2. He loves every.  single.  animal.  on the planet.  But mostly he loves his Goldie Girl.  The two of them are like two peas in a pod.  Their favorite game to this day is hide and seek.  If you've never seen a boy play hide and seek with a dog, you're missing out.
3. He's smart.  He doesn't always know this, and quickly forgets when he does, but I know it's in there.  
4. He is a genuinely nice person.  It astounds me how much he cares about other people.
5. He is friends with everyone.  He doesn't want anyone to feel left out, and truly tries to be nice to most people.
6. He spends a great deal of time trying to figure out a way to scare me.  He'll hide around corners, in closets, and behind doors in order to do this.  It's not my favorite thing about him, but still I wouldn't want him to stop any time soon either.
7. He has grown to be really grateful and thankful.  It's no secret that the past few years have been much tighter than usual, and he never complains.  Well, almost never.
8. His hair.  Yes, it's long, and at one time looked a little like Bieber, but now it's just him.  To love Evan is to love his hair... give it time, it'll grow on you.
9. He can do spot on imitations of many people... mostly those with a lisp.  Now looking back at #4, all I can say is he'd never do this in front of them :)  His voices are the best.
10. Even though he tells Blake that he's adopted on a daily basis, he's still a good big brother.  Last night during mass while saying the Our Father, he squeezed Blake's hand so hard he yelped and doubled over.  The row in front of us started to laugh with us.  I know it's not appropriate, but those are the moments they will remember.  He is teaching him to be a better person in many little ways, and even if he doesn't know it Blake adores him.  I can't wait to see them ten years from now.

And no I'm not wishing the time away... just looking forward to a fun future.

Happy Birthday Evan!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Here's a little video to keep you in Spirit this Christmas Eve from Fred Clause.  This is just my opinion, but probably the only good scene in the movie.

Enjoy...

Have a blessed silent night.

Light

At Christmastime, my mom used to go a little crazy in the head.  You may think I'm kidding, but if you knew her, you know exactly what I mean.  Christmas was hands-down her favorite time of year when she could shop and decorate to her little heart's desire.  


And by decorate I mean Snow Village.

This isn't hers, but it was similar...and by similar, I mean bigger

For those of you who have no idea what Snow Village is let me explain.  It is another world.  I'm not even sure if it's even still popular, but I'm sure there's someone who still collects the houses and stores, trees, cars, people, animals, fake snow,and of course those little light fixtures that go inside each home.  My mom built a village every freakin year.  (Yes, she is giggling from the grave right now.)  She always joked that I would get the Snow Village after she was gone, because she knew I would take the time to put it up.  And I have to say, after all these years, I kinda miss it.  


My favorite part was going over there in the evening and viewing it all lit up.  All the houses looked cozy with the soft glow of lighting and always reminded me of hot chocolate and warm cookies.  


Today, because of the dreariness, I am reminded of that soft glow of lighting and it got me thinking.... can we cast a light ourselves on the people around us?  Can we light up today just by being "lighter" to the people around us?  I am going to try since today is Monday, and dreary, and simply because I know it will make a difference.  


Is your light on?  


Oh, and if you know anyone who collects Snow Village, I have a few pieces I could sell them :)