DEC 31st--Happy New Years!

Today is the end of December, and also the end of 2005.
Looking back, it was a great year for me. No surgeries, or health problems. For that I am grateful--it's hard enough doing everything I do each week (including this blog) and then trying to be sick.

I picked this graphic because we are still in war, if the Pres W wants to think so or not. I heard about a guy who keeps a sign in a storefront remembering how many die and get injured over there "in war" and people are mad that he's doing that. WHY? #1 he's a vet and has a right to care. #2 it is really happening if you bother to care or not.

I guess it's another boring New Year's Eve for us. Drunks have made it too dangerous to travel the roads at night, so going anywhere on NYE isn't worth it. I wish more people were responsible and stopped acting like infants. (helpless and needy!)

Talking about stupid people --my Aunt just found out that my nephew and his girlfriend are going to have a baby. They are both about 20. They live at my sis' house, neither of them have a car, or a job, or a plan for the future. I guess they expect my sis (or us--you and I) to pay for them laying around the house and making babies. My nephew can't even read--maybe if he is lucky he can read a 2nd grade book....so he's going to be a father? Stupid! Funny, I knew this was going to be coming about because his girlfriend hasn't worked all summer....she's probably been trying to get pregnant all along. Guess what nephew, she's screwed you good now......deadbeat dad laws could put you in jail. I guess maybe you should have learned a few more things in school before you dropped out.

So today we decided to chill out, make some punch, watch some tv, and watch the ball drop in NTC before we call it a night. Even Alexander is going to stay up until 12mid to see the ball drop. He's seen some of the commercials and says "ooooh ball!"

HAPPY NEW YEARS!
**s**

Resolutions

There's a buzz going on now about resolutions...or the anti-resolution people are voicing their opinions again. Don't make them, because you won't be able to keep them....what?

I think of Jan 1st as my restart, although this year it seems that I have dragover stuff to finish. I need to step back and figure out what works, what doesn't, make a list of things to change....and then go forward.

Resolutions are goals. So those against them must not make goals either. They are the flopping fish that never planned ahead before they jumped out of their fishbowls! Duh? No goals!

"So Sandra, are you going to share your resolutions or what?" I guess if you bother to read my blog you should get a glimpse of what I even need to plan ahead to do, right?
Okay--they are simple---but goals shouldn't be set so high that you can't do them:

2006 Resolutions
1) go to China and safely return w/Rachel Qin
2) Spend more time reading (I bought a new bible chroni. book at the local bookstore...now to find it)
3) Spend more time doing crafts and fun things. "me time"
4) Finish my Bachelor's degree (I have 2 classes to go)
5) Would be nice to loose 25-50 pounds this year.
6) get organized.....(declutter/clean bedroom, office, avon stuff)
7) write my cookbook

There they are, simple---but a good plan of action for 2006.
Now onward to 2006!

**s**

Loosing the Christmas Spirit

So, did you notice that as soon as Christmas is over, the Christmas Spirit dies? The stores rush to clearance out the old and now Valentine's stuff is up everywhere. Just cruising from one holiday to the next.

What's the deal? Christmas was on a Sunday but everyone except the kids get Monday off from school. Post Office holiday.

The last week of 2005 --make the best of it.

**s**

Santa or No Santa?

Since I am now an official parent, I hear people ask "Do you do Santa?" Well, I guess we do. Alexander has been Santa sighting since October. He finds a guy with a white beard in the store and he yells, "look it's Santa." Amazing for being under 2, what will happen when he's older?

We take Dolly and Alex every year to Petco (where the pets can go) and get their pictures taken with Santa. It costs $5 and there is no line. Petco also has the Easter Bunny too, and we go and see him too. What's the big deal?

We did the Christmas Eve service last night, and on Christmas Day---we do presents and Santa!
This year we found a flying Santa and 1 reindeer and he run on a cord across our big room, so you can see Santa flying and singing "Have a holly Jolly Christmas...." It's fun. Shouldn't it all be fun?

Yes, as he gets older he will be able to tell people the whole nativity story, but I think Christmas is more fun with presents. We've had some years where there were no presents, and we still put up the tree. Christmas came and went---and we still had a wonderful time.

Christmas is what you make of it---the true spirit lives inside of you.
**s**

Christmas Eve service

Dec 24th is one of my favorite nights to go to church, I love the candlelight service. I brought a glowstick for Alexander so he could have a candle too. Overall it was one of the worst church services we went too, it looked unplanned and thrown together at the last minute.

What ever happened to telling the Christmas story AS WRITTEN? It seems every program I attend is rewriting the best story ever told. To make it a creative twist on an old story, but why?

Why not tell the story as written and act it out? Why can't the angel appear to the shepherds and have an angel say "hark!" go to Bethleham and see a baby being born.

Why don't we use the work HARK in conversation?
Hark, I think you are boring :)

**s**

FIRST CORINTHIANS 13 CHRISTMAS VERSION

Someone sent me this and it was so wonderful I thought I would share it with my blog friends. Also I found this beautiful picture somewhere in my travels around the web and thought I would honor it as well by placing it here.







FIRST CORINTHIANS 13 CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen
carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties
and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return;
but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things
endures all things.

Love never fails.
Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust;
But giving the gift of love will endure.

~author unknown~

Merry Christmas
**s**

Happy Birthday Dolly

This isn't the best photo I have of my birthday girl, but it will work.

This is Dolly. She's my baby substitute, and she's now 4 years old. Dolly isn't ever too far from her Mama. I love her so much it's not possible to say.

Dolly was adopted into our home at a time when I had suffered our 2nd m/c and I needed a baby to hold. Dolly was thankful that that baby was her. She's fulfilled her every purpose in my life. She's always been there when I needed a hug and she's always nearby in case I need her.

In Chicago, they call this a "comfort dog" and they are allowed to attend everyday life with someone like me that needs her. Wisconsin doesn't have such a law, so Dolly has to wait for us in the car. We love Petco because we can all go shopping inside. She loves to look at all the animals.

She's even been to the fair, parades, and even fireworks. (She's decided she doesn't like fireworks)

I could talk all day about my faithful friend and first child.
Happy Birthday Dolly!

**s**

Stores saying Merry Christmas

You know all the Christmas hype about saying "Happy Holidays" in the local stores got me to thinking. So I went out shopping and purposely said MERRY CHRISTMAS to almost ever cashier I met. Most said "thanks same to you." Or some said it first to me.

I think maybe it's a regional thing.

Maybe more than a store policy, it's an individuals choice NOT to believe in/share the Christmas spirit. As one gal at Fashion Bug said, they put up the wreath and start playing Christmas music at Halloween. Now that's a long time to say Merry Christmas!

Sometime in November we finally put away our shorts and sandals and had to wear winter style clothes. It was a wonderful autumn. Now there is snow everywhere. Although it's been a mild winter for the most part.

So Merry Christmas--Happy Holidays or whatever to you.
Someone online said "Holy Holidays" -I thought that was unique!

**s**

Is that your final answer?

I am so tired of reading all the crap about people who are anti-Christmas. Also I'd think hearing Happy Holidays is better than nothing. Even the President is on the political correctness list this year. Seems he sent thousands of "Holiday" cards out instead of wishing all his Christian friends a Merry Christmas or a Blessed Holiday....he left out any Christian comments. Figures, play the Christian card only at elections?

It all makes me sick.

Another one that drives me insane is someone who wants to say "so-and-so isn't saved?" That's not up to me or you to decide. See someday, this person (or you and I) are going to have to stand before GOD and recount all the things we've done in this life.

Unlike what college thinks---THERE IS NO GROUP PROJECTS when you are talking to GOD! You can use 1 lifeline if you even know you HAVE a lifeline. That lifeline is called JESUS. But face it, if Jesus doesn't know you....you are in serious trouble.

I had a friend once tell me he only attended church twice a year. He went on Easter and Christmas. He thought the church was always decorated as I guess one year he went 3 times and that one time was just an average Sunday. No bells, whistles, tree, decorations....just a dull, boring sermon. Where were all the people? See, I HATE Christmas morning service because I have to fend for a seat that any other Sunday is empty. I have to sit next to someone who goes to church 2x a year and thinks God is all razzle/dazzle.

Okay, I sure hope heaven isn't one long sermon....but come on.....how do you know if what you are doing is enough for God?

I sent out a letter---to everyone on my mailing list. Practically begging them to help us bring Rachel Qin home from China. I got 1 reply (see the $2 story to read about it.) Only 1 person could help me. Yes, we all have bills....but isn't there some things that you could help out with? I'm sure you really need pie at a restaurant, or a super-sized drink, or to buy another scratch off ticket....or whatever your vice.

It's hard not to feel bitter when you ask for help---when you sound the alarm and no one comes. No, I'm not Chicken Little and don't ask for help very often. I think this was the first time EVER. It's almost as easy to erase all the names from my mailing list and close the book. Then I realize that God will remember, even after I forget....that they couldn't even help at all.

So, when you stand before GOD ---when it's finally your turn. Will your lifeline help you or burn you? Literally BURN you....or HELP you into the boat? If you are clueless of who Jesus is, or why you should even care....maybe you need to find a seat in a pew on Christmas Morning and hear the watered down message prepared just for you.

Oh, the churches expect you to GIVE money for sitting in that pew. Since you come 2x a year....you owe 5% of your gross now and 5% of your gross on Easter Morning. Oh--then you also owe 10% of your time for the whole year. (so that's about 2.4 hours a day times 365 days is 875 hours owed to God.)

So what's your final answer?

**s**

party party party

This week would be called "Party, Party, Party..."
It seems that everyone planned their Christmas parties in the first week of December and then the rest of the month is pretty dry.

3 parties in one week. So far 1 done....2 more to go. The first one was fun. There was a grab bag gift exchange with a $5 limit. We brought 2 of them to exchange --you can buy 2 boxes of chocolate covered cherries and 1 box of mints for $5....that's a lot of chocolate. Somehow we always end up with junkies gifts in return. John got a candle. I got 3 small snowmen figures. I'd rather had chocolates :)

I seem to have way more Christmas graphics than others. I guess I must like this holiday season.

**s**

holiday headaches

Well, Thanksgiving came and went --while I had a terrible headache. The week is a blurr. I must have done something worthy of reporting but I can't remember.

I guess I'll just make this one short and sweet then.

I think the holidays always move too quickly for me. One minute it's Thanksgiving and the next minute it's New Year's Eve. BOOM! That fast.

No word yet on going to China. No updated pictures to show, no log in date....nothing to report. All is quiet but busy working on getting ready for Christmas now.

**s**