A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS

The day after Christmas, there's generally a feeling of malaise and exhaustion, for some even disappointment. The only disappointment I feel is that it's over already! Christmas is my favorite time of year and the gifts are opened, the family gone off their separate ways, the tree is empty, and I'm tired, but I'm also sad it's over. I read this morning on Facebook, there's only 365 shopping days until Christmas! I don't even want to think about that today!!!
Christmas was good to me this year. I was able to visit with my entire family, either in person or by telephone, which is always a blessing. The grandchildren and nieces and nephew were all thrilled with their gifts and Santa was even good to me!
I think my favorite gift this year is a toss-up between my Sony Reader (like a Kindle) and my Kitchen-Aid Food Processor. Both of those were gifts from my precious husband.
Now it's on to the New Year. It's time to start working on my list of goals for next year. Check back in a few days...I'll post them.
Also, congratulations to Cheryl who won my giveaway and has now received her box filled with AVON products. Thanks to all who entered....watch in a few weeks I plan on doing another one around Valentine's Day.
For those who have asked, Andy is growing like a weed. He's so cute, everyone wants to take him home and keep him. When we called the puppy sitter yesterday to pick him up the told us, "we have some bad news...." I laughed and told them the lady still had two puppies, they asked for her phone number.
I hope your Christmas was wonderful! Be blessed!

THREE DAYS AND COUNTING!!!

Three more days until Christmas! The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, it's like being a child all over again. The excitement, the lights, the pagentry, the smells, the food (read cookies), and, of course, the gifts.

However, Christmas also has a deeply personal meaning for me. It is when the world celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He who became man, to be born of a virgin, to live a sinless life and die on the cross of Calvary, the perfect sacrificial lamb for my sins. Only by understanding and accepting that gift can we spend eternity in Heaven. Nothing else will do. No amount of goodness, or charity on our part will pay the price necessary. Only the pure, spotless blood of that Christ Child born in a cold, dark cave. Only that blood that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a stone manger on that wondrous night over 2000 years ago.

So, as the world prepares to be buried in wrapping paper and bows as children rip gifts open on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve if that's your family's tradition) take a moment and remember what was the first gift of Christmas so long ago...the babe, born in a manger in Bethlehem ...Jesus Christ the Lord.

May you and your family have a most wonderful Christmas. From our home to yours...Merry Christmas!!!

GIFT-WRAPPING DAY and other various news

Today is the day I dread most in the entire holiday season....gift -wrapping day. Don't ask me why I wait until everything is piled high to wrap all the gifts at once. It makes sense it would be easier to wrap as I buy, but that means a constant wrapping paper - tape - bow mess in my office for days on end. No, I prefer the "attack and conquer" method...an all-at-once marathon wrapping event.

On another front..I FINALLY made AVON unit leader! WOO HOO! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find FIVE people who will honestly commit to selling anything? But I did it....I can hear the Dora song in my head right now...I've GOT to stop listening while Katie watches her television shows

Also, thank you all for the lovely thoughts and comments on Andy. He is doing very well indeed! He has very few accidents in the house anymore and is even beginning to tell us when he needs to go out. Now we need to work on the pooping part, that seems to be a little more elusive.

If you have not yet entered my giveaway, there is still time. It's a $100 basket of AVON products. Spread the word, the more the merrier!

I guess I've procrastinated long enough...off to the gift pile. If you don't see me about dinner time, send out the rescue team, I'll be the one buried in wrapping paper and ribbon.

THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

Christmas arrived a little early at our house in the form of an 11-week-old puppy named Andy. He is so cute and weighs all of three pounds. Thought I'd share him with you all.

Don't forget to sign up for my give-away...if you post it on your blog and let me know I'll stick in an extra entry for you.

Decorated! A Give-away Celebration!

My house now looks and smells like Christmas! I have the Yankee Candle Christmas Wish candles burning, the tree is up and decorated, all the lovely snowmen I collect are out and about the house and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. I've been very busy the last few days cyber shopping. I haven't braved a store or mall for several years, I find it much simpler to shop online these days. Almost all offer free shipping and some even gift wrap.

To celebrate the season I am offering a wonderful give-away to one lucky winner. I don't craft...my talents lie in a musical direction rather than an artistic one...but I do sell AVON. So, the giveaway is a $100 gift basket of AVON products. Here's the rules:

1. ONE entry per person.

2. To enter you must leave a comment on my blog. Please include your email address. To avoid the wonderful scammers be sure you post your email address XDX@yahoo(dot)com

3. The drawing for the winner will be held on December 15th.

Simple. Yes? Good Luck to all!