being an elf is the best job in the world...

starting setting up this morning at the fire station...

we need to fill those tables full...

and they will fill up within the next 5 days so fast...

we went shopping this afternoon, just DH and I...

all the power carts were out, so had to use the wheel chair...

so we went to the service desk and asked for an associate to help us shop...

and we got one, and his name was Josh...

the sweetest 28 year old ever...

and he followed us around until we filled the cart full...

we came back home and stopped in and put those toys in with these but I didn't have my camera, so will go back up in the morning with Craig to show him what we found...

spent right under $400 this time...

our elf hats that we wear when meet the parents...

and there's Santa hats, too...

but I like the ears on the other ones, so that's what I wear...

so, if I am lacking on here or visiting this next week...

this is what I am doing...

and we distribute next weekend...

then it will be over...

hoping to get our tree up tomorrow and decorate a bit...

not really wanting to pull everything out that I own, so will pick through it and see what happens...

I really don't have a plan at all...

oh, yeah...

when you're an elf...

your hubby takes you out for lunch...

and buys you a whopper cuz you worked so hard...

LOL...

got him fooled...

this is more like play...

have a good weekend...

what there is left of it...

;)

cruising for lights...

got out just a bit tonight...

and there are a few lights up...

I think everyone went shopping instead of decorating...

so hopefully, they will get to it tomorrow...

these are on the square...

they line all four sides of it...

my batteries were going dead, so I will get more later...

but that's what we do here in the evenings....

got yours up yet?

ours is a work in progress...

Craig working is putting a cramp in things...

but we will get it done...

it was a good day...

my dinner yesterday...

and I could eat it all and I did...

and not one sick moment...

so different than the last dozen Thanksgivings...

then DH thought it was time to try out a new set of lights he picked up at Walmart...

so one strand is up...

no, we haven't even thought about getting the Christmas boxes out yet...

need to start setting up for the toy drive this weekend...

and then we will do our thing...

Craig worked last night and then goes in at 11 today...

DH has to work until noon...

we should get the truck back tomorrow...

Doug was here for dinner...

its strange that as old as the boys are...

that we get to sit down at the table with them just like when they were small and in school...

something I do not take for granted...

and at their age, most parents are having to share holidays with their spouses' families...

hope you had a good day and have a good weekend!

update on Carlisle...

got an email from her just a bit ago...

as soon as the ibuprofen wears off, his fever spikes again...

they are saying core infection and think it is liver related...

the drs are in contact with the children's hospital specialist for a treatment plan...

so they have not moved him...

she said at least 2-3 more days there...

they want him fever free for 24-48 hours...

then home with in home care...

Diana will take him home with her the first week...

so she can watch him closely, his parents have to go back to work...

so keep praying for baby Carlisle, NanaDiana's sweet grandson...

he has been so sick for days and in the hospital...

I will let you know as soon as I do of any word...

we are so thankful for so many things this year...

God's love is the most important one...

family and friends...

a good surgeon...

thank you, Dr Nadeau for taking out my gall bladder...

I had my first holiday dinner actually eating what I cooked!

and it was good...

and I didn't get sick!

Craig said the blessing today...

2 of the things he thanked God for were...

me being able to eat regular food...

and for their jobs...

hope you all had a swell time and enjoyed those around you...

doesn't matter if they are blood or not or how many...

love can fill any table, any room...

;)

keep praying...

Still got a very, very sick baby at NanaDiana's...

they can't get the fever down and his liver counts are still extremely high...

if he is not better by tomorrow, they are transporting to the children's hospital...

keep praying!

we need healing and a Father's touch now!

prayers needed this week...

http://thenanadiana.blogspot.com/

they need your prayers this week...

got a very sick grandbaby...

if you haven't been in to see NanaDiana this morning, be sure to check her post...

they are still running tests on him and pumping him full of antibiotics...

what we did today...

I have been wanting to do this for the last 3 years...

since my father in law passed away...

and we inherited the china cabinet...

so this morning...

it came into the dining area of the kitchen and the guys moved the mantle into the living room...

and these are the corner curio end tables from the living room...

love it all in here...

its where it should have been all along...

its just that when he died...

it was just a whirl wind of things to do...

and he died in the bitter cold of January...

it was just get it in and throw it somewhere...

so, we had this weekend planned for awhile...

then the truck happened...

but DH didn't have to go with the guy to tow it home this morning...

and we got it all done...

now we are ready for Thanksgiving and then the trees will come out...

thank you for your prayers and wonderful words on the last post...

I will make the call in the morning to see about getting the truck in...

cat scan and xrays in the morning, too...

so pray for those to be ok...

hope your weekend was wonderful...

we are colder than you can imagine here...

single digits and I am not happy at all about that...

at least now s&$%!

;)

praying...

for guidance this morning...

we have some major problems going on here...

and I am searching for answers on which way to go...

before things happened, DH and I got a small trip in to the state park 3 miles north of town...

and the wind was blowing so much the water was choppy...

Craig worked yesterday afternoon and was bringing home pizza for supper...

when he went to back out of the parking place, the truck wouldn't move...

so he called us and we went after him...

DH did get it moved to the park out of the way from the strip mall...

called a tow service and they couldn't get to it until this morning...

all the overtime money put back for winter will soon be gone...

but I need to know who and how to proceed...

and there's no time to waste...

with both guys working in different directions...

pray for DH...

we see things differently...

he sees losing ground and all the hard work going down the drain... 

he sees no Christmas...

I see being able to write a check for it and not having to finance it...

not going in the hole...

having it to do it...

that it was provided for...

ahead of time...

I see not walking...

Craig keeping his job...

pray for us...

its has to be done right the first time...

we don't have it to do over...

and we will get through this...

and it will be alright...

and there will be Christmas...

life is like a mud puddle...

you can either jump over it...

or fall in it...

I am jumping!

:)

while I was out the other day...

I found a few things for me...

love these little signs...

I wanted Merry Christmas, but this is all I found...

and a little spiral rusty tree...

a bag of rose hips...

and they smell so good...

I got these for someone else for Christmas...

hope she likes them...

and the big find!

elf shoes!

oh, I wanted these...

they just make me smile...

so, what have you hauled home lately?

;)

have a great weekend...

can you see it?

got a pm to pick up a box of stuffed animals for the toy drive...

can't you just see this sweet bear in the arms of a child on Christmas morning?

or this pillow?

propped up in a crib?

there are so many little huggables in this box...

and we never get to see the kids' faces on Christmas morning...

the first time they see what Santa has left for them...

but we do get to see the parents...

and share tears and hugs with them...

but the best thing, I think, that we get to see...

and what we are blessed most with...

is the chance to see the generosity of mankind... 

bears for babies...

a whole box full of the Christmas spirit...

the biggest blessing we see is the giving in Christmas...

with open hearts...

full of the true meaning of this time...

can you see it, too?

its called LOVE...

box after box...

bag after bag...

dollar after dollar...

it happens every year...

and it never ceases to amaze me...

with all the bad going on in the world...

there is one time of the year where it cannot be seen...

where LOVE outshines it all...

that's the power of God...

to open hearts so that joy leaks out at every seam...

the spirit of Christmas is LOVE...

do you have it?

then spread it around...

;)

be the change in the world...