Christmas shopping

Well I thought that I could quickly finish my Christmas shopping when I got off work today - but everyone else had the same idea! I wonder why we all wait until the last minute? Anyway I think next year I'm going to do all my shopping online....but there will always be those little things that you need for the stockings or the meals.
And last year I finally got things wrapped before Christmas eve - but this year?? I keep meaning to wrap things as I get them....but it's easier to hide them in the closet and not wrap them right away.
It will all get done somehow.
Hang in there and remember who we are celebrating!

Light up the darkness

Yesterday was a rather dark and gloomy day - the way so many are this time of year. As I was finishing the Christmas decorating, I was really struck by how the lights pierced through the gloom and made everything so much more hopeful. And that is exactly what Christ has done - He brought light to a dark and hopeless world - and has given us hope again. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined."
As you enjoy all the lights this Christmas season - think of our great light Christ!

Twas the week before Christmas

Is it just me, or has Christmas come quickly this year? We are trying to slow it down and enjoy each activity - even as our days and evenings are filling up. Andrew will be able to come home this weekend and will be here for his birthday next Sunday.
Thursday evening is our Women's Christmas party and I am doing the devotional...I am praying that God will show me what to share. Tomorrow is my day off work and I hope to finally get some Christmas cookies baked... it's supposed to snow in the morning, so it should be a fun day to bake!

Update for Wednesday

I hope all of you are enjoying this Advent season, taking time to reflect on the amazing truth of Christ's incarnation! I've been putting up decorations, slowly, and just really enjoying the season. We even have had a little snow in Cincinnati last weekend, which was delightful as we attended our first of the season Christmas party!

The snow is gone today, replaced with rain and cloudy weather....which makes the Christmas lights really stand out and reminds me of how we need to light up the darkness!

I now have two herniated discs in my neck and am getting cortisone injections by way of the fluroscope (that they use for angiograms) and the doctor uses an epidural procedure to put the steriod in the right spot, hopefully to reduce the inflammation. Of course the steriod makes my blood sugar go crazy - so I have to take special medicine to counteract that. The worst part is having to lay flat for 24 hours afterward, to avoid a spinal headache. The good part is that in 4-5 days I get some relief from the pain. So I'm off to the hospital this afternoon, I have sloppy joes in the crockpot for dinner and that's my Wednesday update!