Christmas and the days after....

Well Christmas has come and gone. We have all been on the edge of our seats with excitement because we got my brother the PRS he was wanting for Christmas. If you don't believe how much he wanted one, go to his blog..www.theonenutwonder.blogspot.com. Now it took all any of us had not to spoil the suprise (especially dad). We definitely (at least I think) got him on this one. We waited until all presents at all houses had been opened when I asked him if he got his guitar. He said no and went on to show me what he did get when dad came around the corner with the case. As you can see, it was a suprise.

This Christmas was in a different perspective than the past ones. We were happy to have everyone together, healthy, and just enjoying each others company. Mostly. Phoebe MIGHT have gotten banned from next years christmas, though I don't know why, she is so innocent. Dudley was good as usual, just watching the world go by and enjoying the christmas lights. We have all been through trials this year and to be able to spend the holiday appreciating the true meaning of christmas was all I could ask for. It was wonderful. I also got a smurf hat, true blood blanket, glee karaoke, a claddah necklace and a poop deck sign, so that helped too. Not to mention the previously purchased black friday sewing machine, dyson and shark mop. Yep, I am spoiled but it was no PRS. After approximately 100hours of driving, I made it home. I might exaggerate a little......

Did I get pics of my aunt decorated as a tree? Well she was asleep within 10minutes of arriving and it was just too easy, plus it is a family tradition and Tom and Julie went there yet. After that she was banned to her room because she was "sick." Christmas eve we awoke to snow on the ground and me being the only one with 4 wheel drive was nominated to do the last minute grocery shop. At this point I was a wee bit nervous to leave the dogs with my gma and uncle both of which are not proclaimed animal lovers and also my dogs are BIG momma's dogs. All I could think was "please don't let phoebe have diarrhea (she MIGHT have had a buttsplosion the night before in the basement....shhhh...) " She only peed, hence the banishment, but as I was chauffeuring everyone around we came across a snow plow which excited my aunt to no end. REALLY?? She grew up in the midwest but now resides in Phoenix. But still, REALLY? Anyhoo, everyone made it safe.

I arrive home to find everyone still alive and Tess is good shape considering the trauma of the kennel. Luckily everyone there was patient with her and she was happy to see me again. She probably won't be flying solo at the kennel next year.

Now it has been back at work. Not the best time, yesterday was rough, two euthanasias. I have always proclaimed myself to be an honest person and I am going to continue to try and stand by that. (The PRS was an exception though.) But as I return to my normal (at least for me) lifestyle, I am again plagued by what God has in store for me. I am struggling. To make ends meet, to stay healthy, to be honest, to get insured, to easy my dad's worries, to find something that I love. It eventually circles around to the fact that all of this, this whole years worth of issues, would help if I had someone, a special someone to lean on. I am thankful how my SIL stood by my brother through all the treatment and he for her. My grandparents have been married for 65 years. All of this would be easier with two incomes, joint health insurance, and just support. I fear that many don't understand how hard it is to be single and trying to support yourself. I fear that many just don't understand the stresses of everyday. I have friends, family, dogs, cats, and God of course. I do ask Him everyday to help me through this and I know he will, but sometimes I wish there was a heavenly eight ball to get me through the tough times. So if you are reading this, throw out a little prayer for me to whoever you believe in and if you don't believe in anyone, well then have a drink for me. As I was pondering all day (and crying) about the blog to write tonight, I came home to find a Christmas card to continue to show that there are still people out there rooting for me. Thanks God. You knew I needed it.

Christmas Traditions

Well Christmas is upon us. It is a time to remember all the Christmas traditions that we all take part in for the holiday spirit. There are plenty in every family. For instance, the nativity set (or the three or four I have) is a big part of mine. I remember as a child setting up the set with the three wise men farther away from the scene, then as Three Kings day arrived, the three kings would finally make their way to the manger. That was special to me. Also we would light the advent wreath every sunday, read the Upper Room and attend the Christmas eve service with my grandparents. I refrain from the advent wreath at my house because wreath + candles + cats = the christmas vacation sequel. Or the advent calendar. Do they even make those anymore? That was wonderful as a kid, to open a little window everyday for a cute picture, candy, or bible verse. Sometimes if we get to Missouri early enough we try to make it to the St. Louis zoo on Christmas eve. Not only is it free but it is usually pretty empty.

My grandparents always sit like this during opening presents, I have an exact picture from every year:

There are other Christmas traditions that are not so traditional in my family such as......

Grandad tormenting Dudley.....

The Six foot Bunny.....

Decorating my aunt as a christmas tree everytime she falls asleep in front of us...

Or the Christmas skull. Yep folks that is a human skull.

My brother use to think it was hilarious to somehow make me end up wrapping my own presents by either lying to me, telling me they are someone elses, or bribing me. There is also a house down from my grandparents that has a gazebo decorated with a nativity set in it. We either walk down there or drive by it. It is so simple and beautiful and is yet another tradition that I will always treasure. Christmas music? Well that is a giant variety from Aqua Teen Hunger Force christmas to the Muppets Christmas carol to chickens clucking christmas songs. So as we remember the true meaning of Christmas this season, let us all celebrate safely with our family and friends. What are your Christmas traditions?

Christmas parade # 2!

It snowed for the first time (and accumulated) this weekend. I was more than thrilled to not have to leave the house at all. I even woke up excited to see the fresh snow on the ground and be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of it all. It was amazing to see Tess enjoy the snow. Then on sunday was the Lafayette Christmas parade. Dudley had a friend Lulu join him this year (though Dudley still stole the show).Every year we look forward to it, every year Dudley worms his way into peoples pictures and photo albums, and every year we freeze our butts off. But we had fun and it was definitely a good way to get into the christmas spirit....though I don't think I have felt warm since sunday. It was worth it and by next year, we will all have forgotten how miserable it was and will be excited to do it again. I am proud to say that I am a volunteer for the Red Cross. What a great group of people!!!!

Sleep in heavenly peace....

After a rough couple of days including plenty of food and shopping and not enough sleep, I have finally gotten into the christmas spirit....or at least am well on my way there. I have the tree up....and so far it is still standing. But there did seem to be an extra part in my tree box...

I then decided to try to take pictures for my christmas cards. This one is my favorite but the hair on the carpet wouldn't exactly crop out of the picture the way I liked, so you get to enjoy it. One would think with my new vaccuum (thank you mom and dad! Best vaccuum EVER) that the carpet would be cleaner but I didn't exactly make it all the way through the living room on the test run. I was too tired to get all the rooms (but my hallway looks fantastic)! This is what inspired my blog title as well as the many wonderful naps I have experienced the last three days. The cats didn't make the card this year, but I think they were happy to escape the photo session. They did however enjoy the tree and the new tree skirt from big lots (I am not going to pay a lot of money on something that could very well be eaten).

Mom and dad came up for Thanksgiving and some early (very early and cold...and early) shopping. Dad got to spend some quality time with the cats. And even nap with Lola, his girlfriend. Lola LOVES my dad. Somewhere in her tiny little brain, I think she thinks they live here and just work a lot. They were around a lot when I moved which happened to be near the time I got her. Anyways she is always near when he is around. All in all, it was a good thanksgiving and some holiday shopping is done. The tree is up and some presents are wrapped. Now tomorrow maybe I will try out some of my new toys.

*sigh*

That is all I have to say or murmur is a big sigh. Do you ever feel like a fish out of water? Not the old asthma attack commercials but that you just don't know which way is up anymore? I seem to have just been scraping by since October 3rd. Funny how all I hear is how happy I look and how healthy I have been since leaving my old job but at the same time, it is still taking the emotional toll on me. Everyday is a reminder of what I lost....financial security, health insurance, and just the bitterness about the whole situation. Yes, I am living proof that my health concerns may have been directly related to the job I was in. I have had no large flare ups since October. But I am surprised that the stress of everything else isn't causing the same damage. This is a week to give thanks and I AM thankful for all that I have, family, friends, a job, but I can't help but have that thought in the back of my head about what is going to happen next....how I am going to make it through the next week, next month, next year. I am sure the right opportunity will come along, whether it be with fantabulous health insurance or winning the lottery. I know God has this all in his big master plan of his, but sometimes I struggle just to see that. Everyday seems to have some small disappointment that makes me wonder, What is next?

Christmas Parade #1 of the season

Well we unpacked our antlers and santa hats and hit the streets today for the annual Flora Christmas parade. Dudley did his duty representing the Red Cross mascot, but if you ask me, he steals the show. After this long week that included a swollen finger and craziness by the end of it, I was ready for the much needed fun with my Red Cross family. Of course the parade, or should I say the decorating at the beginning of the parade, always includes our own version of reindeer games. After as many parades as we have been in, we still manage to forget a step ladder for decorating those hard to reach places. This usually ends up in some form of DAT team pyramid, luckily with no fancy dismounts. I hope to acquire some pictures of this soon. I was a supporting member of said pyramid and therefore was unable to document danger time (Dudley helped too by licking the base person's face). I guess it is a good thing we all know first aid. One year when I still had Deli, she rode shotgun in the DOC with Joan. Joan told me today that she wished I had brought Phoebe for her to hold during the Christmas parade. I tried to explain the Deli was 15 and happy to be held whilst Phoebe, on the other hand, is an ongoing game in Bloomfield on who can hold onto her the longest. As you can see by the end, Joan got some much needed puppy loving on the way home from the parade. Anyway, enjoy the pictures! I am now starting to get into that holiday mood!

A lot to give thanks for...

I just returned today from an early Thanksgiving with the fam. We have a lot to give thanks for this year. Tom has successfully completed chemo and is hoping to get a clean bill of health today, grandma is home and driving everyone crazy, I found a new wonderful job, and the fact that we could be together near the holidays. This year has been rough for all of us. In the midst of this years madness, not only did I acquire the new rescue dog Tess but Tom and Julie also acquired a very scared basenji who I did not get to meet due to my banishment from the compound during chemo. Here is the story of her rescue: http://www.ottaray.com/PICDog/wimauma/index.html

I thought I had my hands full with Tess, I can definitely give them credit for their poor dog. She makes Tess look like Dudley. (Okay if you have met my dogs, you would totally understand that comparison.) My favorite thing about Daisy is her wonderful wrinkly forehead and her gorgeous eyes. She is also quite a bit, um, buffer than Benny. Benny is a handsome stream-lined boy and Daisy is like Benny on steroids. Her feet are huge, her booty is huge, her ears are huge. But Daisy has found a wonderful home with people who love her.

Our weekend was full of good times including harassing Phoebe by putting her in her new Halloween costume, which btw, best. halloween costume. EVER. For some reason when we put it on her at bloomfield, she felt the need to do Hippo 500 laps around the house which caused most of the other dogs to chase. I was actually able to get a photo of her in it here at my house, maybe because she was too pooped from the weekend. All in all I chalk it up to a wonderful weekend full of good food and family and LOTS O'Dogs. Tess even managed to stay calm on the car ride sans drugs. Whew, just another thing to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!