Looking to '09

It's been a crazy year. I keep thinking, "As soon as things slow down, I'm going to _______." But things never do slow down, do they? If I'm going to ever ______, I really just ought to jump in and do it. I so easily get overwhelmed. I seem to forget that I'm not really in control. I don't have to sweat this stuff so much. I can relax a little now and then. I'm from a long line of ADD folks, so it takes an effort to focus on one thing at a time. But I know I can. I am equipped to handle anything that comes my way, because God will get me through. I don't deserve His love and grace, yet there it is. My prayer for 2009 is that I remember all He's done and promises to do, and that I keep His Word ever in my mind and heart. I want my actions and reactions to be colored by His presence in my life. Happy New Year, everyone!

1 Peter 1:18 (NLT)

"For you know that God paid a ransom for you to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver."

The Tomboy's New Clothes

The Setting: Houston - bright sunny day; Mom - loves to find a good deal; Extra jingle - I didn't get that second job for nothing; Talbot's Outlet - heaven.

I can't remember the last time I went shopping with any intent to buy myself clothes. I've been existing for years on hand-me-downs and presents from Mom. So this was exciting, but scary - what will I find? what do I need? what if I choose wrong? where do I stop? :)

Oh, but I love Talbot's clothes! So - I got two pairs of pants and one pair of capri's (my first) for a grand total of $50 (regularly priced at $144). I was looking for a top to go with the capri's, but I didn't find just the right thing, so I stopped. It's silly, but there's just something about having clothes that are for me that were never anyone else's first. Am I giddy? Just a little...

The Christmas Crunch

Wow! Once again, I'm caught off guard as Christmas is just around the corner (like, Thursday!). It's hard to think Christmas when it's 80 degrees outside (even though it did snow here about a week ago. Is that a pre-cursor to the end of days - snow in Houston?!). But there's a cold front coming tonight, so the week should feel a little bit more wintry, and I hope to get those last minute Christmas things done a little sooner than the last minute.

We discovered water on the bathroom floor last week, which turned into having a hole cut in the bedroom ceiling downstairs, another one in the upstairs closet, the bathroom tile pulled up, the bedroom carpet removed and a whole bunch of fans and dehumidifiers running as I type. It ain't fun, but I never liked that tile anyway, and I have such big plans for what I'm going to do to that bathroom next. Granted, we'll have to do it in about 50 phases to afford it, but I'm hoping maybe by next Christmas?

I've got three more shows to work at Theater Under the Stars (helping in the gift shop), and then I can focus on cleaning up some of this mess and getting ready for my folks being in town. I love being so close to my family! Of course, I still have day job at X-ISS which is going very well. But I'm taking off from Christmas day through New Year's. Mike is learning the "other" show at the Space Center so has extra training days on his schedule right now. And being the new guy, he's getting some of the yucky days (i.e weekend after Christmas), but he's hanging in there, and really does enjoy it.

Not much time for anything else! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Survey

Here's the survey, my answers follow. If you want - copy it to the comments and fill in your own answers. Just for fun!

1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree?
2. Favorite Ornament?
3. Favorite Christmas Song?
4.. Favorite Tradition?
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received?
6. Favorite Christmas Meal?
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie?
8. Favorite Place to be?
9. Favorite Memory?
10. Favorite Christmas Movie?


My Answers -
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh!
2. Favorite Ornament- One my husband made for our first Christmas. It's our wedding picture in a little frame and he painted it and put glitter on it and everything!
3. Favorite Christmas Song- Immanuel sung by Amy Grant
4. Favorite Tradition- Wrapping the presents my Dad gets for my Mom. He's a great gift selector and I love to see what he gets her before everyone else does!
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- One Christmas I got a "My Friend Mandy" doll. I loved her until her head popped off (I was devastated). Apparently, though, she was under warranty or something, because unbeknownst to me, Mom sent her back for repair. When she came back, Mom wrapped her up and put her under the next Christmas tree. Receiving that doll the second time was the greatest gift ever!
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- Dad's fajitas, with Mom's pintos, "sticky rice", tortillas and guacamole.
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Those silly iced sugar cookies.
8. Favorite Place to be- With the family, wherever that happens to be
9. Favorite Memory- One year my husband and I opened all of our presents about a week early. It was great! I loved it, even though I didn't have anything to open Christmas Day, I'll always remember how much fun it was to be so naughty!
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- The Santa Clause