A week From Wednesday is Christmas Eve! OH! MY! GOODNESS!

Advent is almost at an end.  There just isn't enough time!  I really want to catch my breath!  The good thing is I thought today was tomorrow, and it's not, so I have one extra day!
Whew!

Time to make lists, I guess. 

Does it matter?  I probably won't get everything finished. 

Prioritize. 

1)  Breathe

2) Pray

3) Laugh

4) Do Not Cry

5) Stop

Things will happen as they will.  There are so many things I cannot control like the passage of time.  The passage of time has caught me unprepared.  Will there be less fun?  I don't know.  For me the important things of Christmas will be::

1) Midnight Mass

2) Family

3) Weather permitting, lighting luminarios in the driveway to lead the Christ child to our home

4) Eating our traditional dinner

5) Gathering around the tree to open our presents

6) Making memories

7) Taking pictures

These are my priorities.  Let the rest fall where they may.  I look forward to the holidays, not the holidaze. 

I am part Grinch, but the time for Grinchiness is almost over.  I think I should have been more Grinchy this year.  Focus on the New Born Babe, and it's okay to be a Grinch.

How's that for a segue?

This is a link to my latest article for Catholic365.com  It's called::

It's okay to be a Grinch When it Comes to Christmas!

At least I think so! 

What's Up? The Sky is Up, but I really Think This Post Will be About Why I'm So Tired....

Listing Saturday::

Thanksgiving is over.

We have lots of leftovers.

The Hoffman Family Xmas Tree is up.

We had a great time at our Thanksgiving Celebration.

I thought we had been getting together for 25 years.  Turns out it was 22 years.  Oh, well, we near the quarter century mark.

I'm getting ready for a big show this weekend. 

I'm going in with a lot of polymer clay items.

I drove Nick to the airport and came home in freezing rain.

My wrist is aching.

I haven't been sleeping a lot. 

I need to do MORE dishes!

Now, I need to get organized for the show.

I'm worn out.

I'm dozing on the computer.

Good night!

Listing Saturday:: I Challenge YOU Today:: How many Blessings Have You Been Given Already?

A friend of mine (Deb Batten) once said to me::

"Not every day is a good day, but everyday has good in it."

The GOOD in each day are blessings you can see in the moment.   We'll talk about the other "blessings" another time--the not so good things that happen to us.  Believe me, they can be blessings in disguise.

So, here's my challenge to you.

Take 10 minutes and write down all of the obvious blessings you have been given before you read this post.

If you like, share your list in the comments section.

Here's mine::

1) My basil is still growing strong!  I'll have frozen basil to use this winter when I cook.
2) The day is almost over.
3) I had a delicious supper tonight.
4) I was able to get in and out of Target without overspending.
5) I have some wonderful friends.
6) The provolone cheese is delicious!
7) The dishes are being washed in the dishwasher.
8) I have two wonderful children.
9) I found some jeans that fit.
10) I was able to make some clay beads today.
11) I was able to arrange it so that I can participate in the Beads of Courage Event tomorrow.
12) I will be able to meet an "online" friend who has just moved to Minnesota at the event! 
13) She's a lovely lady.
14) It might rain tonight.
15) I bought some M & M's!  Shhhhhhh! Don't tell.
16) It will cool down tomorrow.
17) I can wear my new shoes.
18) I can make beads.
19) I'm downloading the new IOS8
20) Pixie might not sleep with me tonight.  She's comfortable on the couch.
21) I enjoy writing this blog.
22) Autumn is starting to look beautiful!
23) I ate some M & M's!  (Don't tell.)
24) I'm ready for bed as soon as the Ipad is finished.
25) I'm just plain happy tonight!

What are your blessings so far today?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Made Any Good Lists Lately?

Listing is an easy way to remember things.  Write it down, and you can always refer to your list to remind you of what you need to buy, what you need to do, who you need to meet and when.  That list can go on and on.  As a writer, the late Erma Bombeck used to say, "I list, therefore I am." 

Listing can be both fun and practical. Listing has it's benefits as a time saver.  However, if you are an art journaler, listing can become an outlet for your creativity and very therapeutic. A scrapbooker can also make lists look beautiful!

Remembering this, I'd love to hear about your lists!

Here's my newest list.

Spring

Green
Warm
Rain
Sweaters
Jeans
Sandals
Flowers
Buds
Cleaning out flower beds
Dried weeds
Bugs
Worms
Open Windows
Cool Nights
Warm days
Walks
Trees
Light Green
Leaves
Puddles
Lawn mower
Exercise
Fragrant
First Flowers
Violets
Sunshine
Dandelions
Nursery
Herbs
First Flowers
Bees

Improving your blog

I was reading an article on ways to improve your blog.
There were many wonderful suggestions in the article.
One of them that stuck with me was to, on occasion, post a list of things.
The article emphasized that people like to read lists.
All right.
I want to improve my blog.
Here is my first list.
The title is:


MY FAVORITE


10,000 COLORS!

Now, get ready for this!
Are you ready to read!

Here goes!

A picture is often worth 10,000 words.

Thanks, Deb.