I wish you each a year of blessings in 2008. *hugs*

 

Work has been SO busy. I think some of it is that my intern is way too productive and trying to keep up with her has been crazy. She's such a huge help and getting a lot of our code changes done - but I'm stressing out trying to keep things on her plate. *chuckle* Another reason is many co-workers are out on vacation so I'm trying to take up some of their slack in their absense. I'm taking Monday off so that'll be really nice to have a long holiday weekend.

 

In other news - we're still getting hammered with snow. More showed up this morning - enough to make it all pretty again as well as making the roads slick. Ew. Oh well, tis winter in Iowa.

 

Health wise I'm doing pretty well. My headaches are much better, but my acid-reflux stuff is still a daily battle. The tummy discomfort I can deal with, it's the feeling that someone has me by the throat that gets really old. The back is doing really well and I find myself doing much more then I have in the past. Picking up small boxes and moving things around don't even phase me anymore. I'll keep up the physical therapy for awhile yet and then also hope to get back into weight lifting and try to get it stronger so that I don't slide backwards down the healing trail. That would be bad.

 

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season and will have a happy, healthy and magical 2008.

 

 

It is Christmas Eve and we just returned home from visiting Dan's parents this past weekend in Eastern Iowa. The snow, ice and wind was really impressive and I haven't seen a blizzard like that in years. It was so bad that his brother's family were "snowed" in with us an extra day. It was great to have the extra time, however, as we don't get to see everyone very often. I hope their trip home was as uneventful as ours was.

 

Tomorrow we have the "in town" Christmas with my side of the family. I love the holidays as it's a time we can all get together for fun, food and festivities. I will try to get more photos up soon but for now you'll just have to check out the ornament gallery of all 24 days and then our full tree.

 

Merry Christmas Blessings to each of you. *hugs*

 

I saw this on Jill's blog today...
my top 25 favorite movies of all time (in random order)...

 

1) Star Wars (all of them)
2) Harry Potter (all of them)
3) Lord of the Rings (all of them)
4) Forrest Gump
5) Office Space
6) Walk the Line
7) Chronicles of Narnia
8) A Walk to Remember
9) When Harry Met Sally
10) Titanic
11) Gladiator
12) The Three Amigos
13) Polar Express
14) Moulin Rouge
15) Amadeous
16) Princess Bride
17) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
18) X-Men (all of them)
19) Grease
20) Hairspray
21) The Sixth Sense
22) Finding Nemo
23) A League of Their Own
24) The Green Mile
25) The Patriot

Ok. According to the box just above this they are saying snow on Thursday. Ok Momma Nature, I know you think that might be a great idea but.. sorry, we have enough. We're still digging out from the last one!

 

The sinus / cold thing has finally started to give in a bit. I can breath through one side after I blow... and that's a huge improvement. My throat isn't raw anymore but I will continue to drink my hot tea and suck on lemon drops. The saline up the nose helped a bit as did standing in the hot shower. Oh the fun!

Passage Luke 2:7-15:
7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

The Shepherds and the Angels 
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

... for head colds.

 

Argh! I've felt it coming on for almost a week and last Thursday it finally shut my head completely down. My eyes hurt, ears hurt, throat hurts and my nose and sinuses are as plugged as it gets. I should take out stock on Kleenex. If anyone has a great idea on how to empty out the sinus cavities do let me know. Bleh.

Wow, Iowa got hammered today with ice and snow. My back has been flaring up quite a bit and I'm looking forward to some time with the heating pad here in a moment before bed. I'm pretty sure it's due to the shuffle steps I'm taking when I walk as I don't want to slip and fall. I'm ready for dry pavement again.

 

I added day 10 and 11 to the Christmas Tree Ornaments Gallery. I still can't get over what a cool idea that is. *special High5 to Val*

 

Check out the awesome photos taken by fellow Iowans...

 

John 12:35-36 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

 

 35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

 

Amen. Second week of Advent, Prepare

It's so nice to have a weekend "off" to get a bunch of things done. We've loaded the dishwasher, done laundry, cleaned house, run to the bank, I went to aquatic therapy today and also got some shopping done. Tonight Dan started a fire AND cooked dinner tonight (Creamy Spinach and Ravioli). I think I'll keep him. *wink*

 

Tomorrow a couple more errends to run after breakfast with an old friend and it will have been a really wonderful, relaxing weekend.

I've stolen Poppy's idea and will post a new ornament from our tree every day and a photo of the tree near Christmas day. What a cool idea, Val!

 

Also I've posted a November 2007 gallery. It's amazing how much is going on! 

... and that means that time seems to get away from me quickly at this time of year. But here's a real blog to catch you all upon what's up in my world.

 

A week ago I was invited to an Advent by Candlelight event at a local church by a co-worker. I am so blessed to have had a chance to share that night with not only Kim but with 7 other ladies. There was beautiful music, singing, a wonderful speaker and each host had her table decorated in her own style. Kim's was all in snowflakes and peaceful sayings. The goodies were also very tasty. Being in fellowship with these ladies and having a chance remember the true reason for the season and re-focus on what is important in life was something I really needed.

 

This past weekend we were in Kansas City seeing family. Our little niece is growing up so quickly. She's now 2 1/2 and has the cutest smile ever. She's also big into hugs and is so well behaved. It was great to also have a chance to hang out with the "adults" and play hours worth of cards. Spades is always the game of choice. We really need to make more time to head back down sometime to see them this spring. In a perfect world all family members would all live in the same town. ;)

 

A good friend of mine is traveling to the land down under (Australia) with her new husband who is originally from there. I hadn't been able to get ahold of her in the past months and ran into her at Walgreens this past week out of the blue. It's amazing that I got a chance to stop and chat, catch up and wish her safe journeys. We swapped email addresses as well. What a blessing and I wish her well.

 

The house is decorated and will be posting November photos here in the next day or so. I also really love Poppy's way of going through her ornaments. What a clever idea! That Val, she's a smart one!

 

HOPE

 

More in the coming days....