Hello

I'm here!

Apparently I am not going to get to blogging about Better Than Before until after Christmas. Or even after that!  (But I will get to it because I have multiple habits that I need to reinforce and/or add to my life). January is such a fun time of year for me---new goals, habits, and plans.

I have finished all my shopping and wrapping. Leah and I watched four Hallmark Christmas movies on DVD while wrapping the presents!  Yesterday Julie, Leah, and I baked, baked, and baked all day long. We prepared multiple good bags, tins, and boxes for our friends, family, various loved ones, and the people who provide services for us throughout the year. (If you want pleasant service from your mail carrier--for instance, when my package is too large for my mailbox, instead of placing a yellow slip in my mailbox telling me to drive to the post office in town to pick up my package the next day, she drives down my long driveway and delivers the package to my front door!--giving him or her a tin of homemade goodies in December is a great idea.)

Julie arrived home from college Thursday night. Yay!

Olivia and Brian will be here Tuesday night. Yay!

Big Sam is flying in from Romania December 27. Yay!

And all they all will be here through January 9. Fun times!

Later today we are celebrating Christmas with my parents, grandmother, my brothers and their families. After that, my mama, Julie, and I are going to shop for fabric and supplies for them to sew Julie's wedding dress. That project is on our itinerary for after Christmas Day, but before Julie goes back to school.

Tomorrow we are joining other families from our church for an afternoon of visiting the widows and elderly people of our congregation to sing to them and share a basket of goodies with them.

On January 7, Jimmy, Julie, and Big Sam are running a marathon. Clay will be running the half marathon at the same time. This is Julie's first marathon. The rest of us and my parents will be cheering them on!

During this busy time of year, make sure you pause and just take it all in. Smile at your family. Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells of the holiday season. Watch a Christmas movie with your family. Do something nice for someone who could use a little happiness.