Time to Panic

It is offical close enough to Christmas for me to start to panic. I waited to late to start shopping and then I need to get my house ready for parties and Christmas morning. By the way Christmas morning is really early at our house. 3 am. Kevin seems to always get the short straw when it comes to working on Christmas and the girls still want to open present on Christmas morning instead of waiting. He has to leave at 4am so we have to start really early! After he leaves we all go back to bed. Then go to my parents for dinner and when Kevin gets off work we open presents.

So I could use some help with the Christmas Eve party. Each year who ever is home and can come we meet at Becky's (my sisters) or our house. We take turns. No presents are exchanged just have some fun on Christmas Eve. We started doing themes years ago and have gone through a lot of them So this year it is my turn and I was having a hard time coming up with a new theme. Past theme have been . . . dinner and a movie, the Grinch and green food; caroling; talent night; deal or no deal, Haley won $20 bucks and someone won a roll of toilet paper; who wants to be a millionaire; Mexican; Chinese; and mystery theater. Anyway after doing some search I found a 40's USO theme. So appropriate since it feels like we in the depression. Some ideas were swing dance. So since Britni is going to get married in the come month, years? hopefully soon, and will have dancing I thought it would be fun, and funny, to learn some basic dance steps. Kevin decided to make a dance floor in the basement and string lights, Mal's going to teach us some step. Now is where I get stuck. I need easy food ideas and anything else you can think of to make the evening fun. Let me know soon I'm running out of time.

I'm Dreaming of a White.. . . .

BOWL OF MASHED POTATOES

No Kidding! I dreamed I didn't feel well and all I wanted was a bowl of mashed potatoes and lots of butter. I woke up with a bad headache and craving mashed potatoes .

Oh tidings of comfort and joy!!!
(I also must have woke up with Christmas songs in my head)

Christmas Decorations

Last week I finally got around to putting up decorations. I don't have the basement done but the rest is. Every year I reuse most of the same stuff minus the things that some how get broken during the time it's in storage. I decided to take some pictures so next year I won't have to remember where I put stuff. This tree is fake and we always decorate it in red, white and silver is the fancy one. We also put a real one up in the basement. It's the fun tree with all the kids ornaments collected through out the years. Every year each one of us gets a new ornament. Something to do with things we're into, or places we've gone. If it doesn't have the date we try and write it one it. Each of the girls has a box for theirs. I always said they could take them when they get married but now I don't want to part with all the memories. I'll try and get a picture of it up when it's done.

The girls got me this last year from pottery barn. I have been getting a piece of the dish set each year. When you have the last name of Rudolph it just seem like it was made for me!

With a Grateful Heart

After I had time to get over my broken door I realized I should be very grateful the my family. No matter what I get myself into they are always there for me. It took no time on Sunday before they started showing up at the store to help patch the door and clean up. It really got done rather quickly. Besides physical help they also are always encouraging when I get down. Life doesn't always make sense and I often question what is going on but no matter what my family has been there for me. Thank you all, I love.

I'm Ticked!

My store got vandalized last night. First I was just mad I had to go into Danville at midnight, then I was mad when I got there and saw the hole in the door, then I was a little mad when the cops left me and Mal there and we didn't know what to do, then I was made because we had to clean up the mess!! I don't know what I'm suppose to learn from this lesson because for now it just seems to be costing me more money that the store does not have. What ever happen to retail making money in the fourth quarter. It just seems to be flying out the window or in my case the door!

Looking for the Light

I am often looking for the miracle or that special thing in my life or the quick fix. Maybe it's right in front of me and I don't even know it. It's stinging the little things together that's important. What ever life throws at me God has already given me the things I need to get thru them. I just need to use them.

One of my favorite passages in Isaiah : wait on the Lord ... they shall run and not be weary, . . . I am weary.

Sometimes we get what we wish for.

We all want things whether it's physical, emotional or spiritual. Have you ever wanted something so bad you were willing to give up other things for it. But then when you got it, you were disappointed or consequences came with it. I know I have.
I am afraid of some of the consequences America might have to pay for the choose we have made. We want change, better economy, low gas prices, better environment, better schools for our kids. But do we make good decisions or do we want someone else to fix the problems. Do we complain about companies taking their businesses over seas, but do we support local business. Do you know over 40% of local business tax stay local and only approximate 20% of big box companies do? Do we want a more resourceful government and better environment but we don't even give a thought about all the waste we create. Do we get involved in the schools or just like to complain about them. Try volunteering in a classroom. You might learn a thing or two.
Sometimes I get on a soapbox and sometimes I fall off.

Buy local first!! You might find some great things and also meet some great people.