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This post is not going to win me any popular votes.

This Christmas was .... in so many different ways. It saddens me to think that a time in my life has passed, never to be recaptured. I guess, if I were an optimist, I would be excited at all the new opportunities and things I can look forward to. But I'm not.

My youngest sister was unable to come home for Christmas. For many different reasons, some real and some imagined, her family stayed put. Now that the big day is over, I'm thinking she was probably the smart one for making this choice.

My other sister and I both went "home" to my mom's house. Excited to see my niece and nephews, off we went... Christmas Eve was fun... ask me sometime about the service I attended with my brother-in-law and sister...

Later that night however, I began to feel small and continue to feel this way. As I watched my sister unpack her children's Santa presents, I started to feel more and more uncomfortable. Sean and I made a decision that this was the year we WERE NOT going to go overboard. We WERE NOT going to buy buy buy just so our kids would get SO MANY PRESENTS THEY WOULD BE THE HAPPIEST CHILDREN ON THE PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, this year, we were very selective and gave them one big thing and a few small things that were well thought out and intentional.

Let's just say that my nephews and niece were THE HAPPIEST CHILDREN ON THE PLANET Christmas morning... at least for a few minutes. And my boys, well, judging by the looks on their faces, they were not among that happy group.

I could write about how our choice was the better one - our choice is helping them grow into appreciative, conscientious men. They don't need a lot of stuff. They won't play with a lot of stuff.

But, I still can't shake that "I'm small" feeling: I'm not as good of a mother/parent - I've made poor choices and that's why I can't afford to buy out the store for my kids - My kids deserve all that stuff too...

Next year, we're staying home.

In a Whisper...

i think i'm done... i think

Bliss & Cheers!

Christmas 09 013
Originally uploaded by murphymomx3

I am really ready for this break. I need time to re-charge and have some quiet time...

I started and finished a sweater yesterday... I think these might be my new favorite things to make! I wonder how many I can finish by Christmas morning?

Hey

Christmas presents bought: 5
Cookies baked: 9 dozen
Church members I would like to punt down the street: unknown at this time

If you don't like something or someone, unless they are doing harm, shut up.

Just shut up.

Hidden Agenda

Say what you mean and mean what you say. Seriously.

home

i'm home where it's warm and cozy. home with my boys. home with my dog who would be all alone if we had traveled. home with all the delicious smells. home with the anticipation of what's yet to come.

Fever

I asked Sean to buy a thermometer yesterday. We haven't had one for, oh, 6 years.

The verdict... 101. And that is with medicine.

If

you didn't show up somewhere, I would call you. I would call you just to make sure you were ok.

Mean people suck.

Don't Tell ME What I Want

I'll tell you what I want!

Wow

In the past 3 days, I have been shocked to read some really rude comments on facebook. Either people have a lot of nerve, or they are more stupid than they appear in real life.

Books

I love to read. I really love to re-read favorite books. Right now, I'm reading, again, the Mitford books. I find myself reaching for these books when my life is going too fast, when I need a quiet, comforting retreat. These books help me take a step back and look at what's important and what isn't.

Do you have books you love? Do you have books you re-read?

Only One

I oftentimes forget that I only get to do this once. When I do remember, I become much more selective of how I spend my time, and with whom.

Mostly, I don't remember.

So Frustrated

Are the problem and the solution mutually exclusive? What happened to process? What happened to growing? Is there anysuchthing as a different perspective? Different point of view?

ugh.

Being a grown up doesn't mean you don't get your feelings hurt.

Bad Habit

Gotta break the bad habit of making easy things difficult.

Act Two

Blocked! Now to work on dance numbers & costumes & lighting & sound & publicity & sound cues & .....

Act One

75% blocked! Woot!

New Project

Tonight is the first rehearsal for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". I had super talented people audition which made casting the show a breeze! I pray the rest of the process is as easy.

I am so fortunate that I get to spend my days and evenings doing things I so enjoy.

I am so very blessed.

Stitches

We had a great time up north on our vacation.

Started out in Iowa City for the 100 Year Party and a tennis tournament. It was fun getting together with old friends and celebrating the passage of time with them!

The tournament went well. We loved Iowa City and plan to go back.

On to Chicago where we met up with Aidan who had already been there for 2 weeks! He had a great time visiting with his cousins, going to Great America, Lake Michigan and just hanging out. It seemed like he had grown 6 inches while he was gone.

My nephews and niece are always such fun. This particular visit, my youngest nephew Reid(age 3) was into watching "Mama Mia". Lover of musical theater that I am, I joined right in. After about the 5th viewing, I was fading... He is so cute! Knows all the songs, some of the lines and is perfecting his dance moves.

We then headed up to Milwaukee for a visit with my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff. We had a nice time and they served us a delicious lunch!

Then into Milwaukee for a 2 day visit with my dad and his wife. One of the highlights of the trip was getting my grandmother's ring from my dad. On my last visit with her, my grandmother said I could have "her ring". Unfortunately during that visit, my grandmother passed away while out shopping with me. My Aunt Noel took the ring at that time promising me I would get it back. Years have passed and I figured the ring was no more.

Right before we left on our trip, my dad called and told me my aunt had mailed him the ring. I couldn't wait to get to his house to see it! It is even more beautiful than I remembered.

Except for a trip to the emergency room for stitches, it was a great trip and perfect way to end the summer.

Away

And we're off... more next week!