I did it again.........

I have ordered way too much 'stuff'! I go online at one store and go... 'oh, so and so will like that'.... and I order it. Then I go to another store and .... 'oh, so and so will like that'.... and order it.... and now, I have over-ordered and may need to send some things back. Well, I think I have anyway. I'll know more when I finish taking everything out of the boxes and lay out by person and see what is there.

The other day I wrapped all I had received and it was a lot. I've gotten several more packages and boxes in the past few days so I have all that wrapping yet to do. I'm afraid some will be disappointed, but I don't know what else to do. At least I do buy things with specific people in mind.... they just may not need or even may not want whatever I get them.

Some things I know... my daughter does not like long sleeve items or sweaters. Definitely not sweaters. On the other hand, when it is cool, I like sweaters! I've bought several Christmas themed sweaters this year and now I'm wondering if I should have. Just because I didn't have any Christmas sweaters didn't mean that no one else did...... or even that they would want. Oh well. I'll have to think on that one. My boys are even harder to buy for... neither will give me any ideas. Which means they may get things they don't want nor need, but hopefully, they will appreciate.

Some of the grandsons are harder to even buy for. I honestly don't know what to do for some of them. My son told me what his youngest had said he wanted... and Grandma got the M&Ms and something else that he said he wanted. If his parents get it for him too, he will just have to share.

I know I will do my usual baking of cranberry pumpkin nut bread for some and making salsa too. I wonder if they ever get tired of it all. Some ask for it, some don't usually mention it. I think I will just make up several pints and tell each group that 'if you want a jar, grab it. If you don't, no worries'. That's the weekend before fixings cause I want it to last awhile.

Hubby and I put our tree up last weekend. He grumbled the entire time, wanting to wait 'another day' but I insisted I wanted to get it up on Saturday. So he got even with me and didn't pull out all the boxes. Some things just aren't worth fighting over. He did help hang ornaments on the tree. I do have dreams of bigger and better Christmases.....

Work has been busy and I'm still learning new things. I am glad I have my job. I can't explain to anyone why... most would not understand. Besides the fact it does pay the bills. And lets me shop.

I need to figure out when to have the grandchildren over - it's going to be a busy month!

Blessings!

the day after Thanksgiving.....

It's been a busy morning thus far. I got up early and once hubby left for his Bible study at Fast Eddies, and after my quiet time, I got up and got busy. I cleaned out one of the closets in our bedroom. It's full of quilts, and everything else that has gotten thrown in there. I've bagged up some things and am sending them to Savers. I had hoped that hubby would take this afternoon, but looks more like I will be taking when I go out tomorrow. I was going out this afternoon, but time schedules got messed up so need to work on some thing here anyway.

Yep, I don't do that "black Friday" thing. I am not comfortable around crowds of people and am quite content with being nearly alone in the store. I found last year that if I go late in the afternoon, most people have gotten their sales completed and have spent all their money.

I've done most of my shopping already online. Of course even with writing things down, I am afraid that I have ordered too much and not enough. Figure that one out. I don't know if any packages will arrive today, but starting tomorrow, I will have a bunch of boxes arriving here. Then I start going through the "will anyone like what we get them" and "what if someone is disappointed". Oh well. I've definitely got to start cutting back. I know, I say it every year.

The tough part is most don't need anything. Just like us. But I always look for that one thing that is unique so that they will at least find enjoyment with it. I can go on smile.amazon.com but I don't even know where to start looking. So, with that being said, some will be happy, and some will unfortunately be disappointed.

Thanksgiving was nice yesterday. We went to the youngest son's house and had a nice lunch with everyone. Lots of food. I took the turkey, dressing, and giblet gravy - can't believe I brought nearly all the turkey back home with me. The only thing that had a minute amount was the dressing. 3 Pieces were left so I left them. Had about 2 cups of giblet gravy left. Brought it home cause we can put it on mashed potatoes. :) My son cooked two hams and we got to bring some home with us. Had some for lunch today and it was still good. Yum.

Well, I reckon I need to get busy on my message - I speak at an RV park in another week and I need to have it completed soon so that I can practice with it. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Blessings!

Grateful for changes

Changes are sometimes good, right? Of course I'm referring to a change in my work locations/jobs from the past couple months. Actually it is exactly two months today that was my last day at my "old" company. I was able to have lunch with three of my former co-workers yesterday. Yes, I actually DROVE to a location about 5 miles away to meet with them. I only panicked a couple times while making sure I was going the right direction!

Being directionally challenged is tough! BUT! I also want you to know that this morning I had to go get some labs done. Normally I would drive all the way back to my side of town and take my usual route to work. But I didn't. I chose to be brave.

I asked Siri to take me to work. She took me a totally different direction - then north to pick up another freeway, then 21 miles on this freeway got me to another one, and then I knew where I was and made my way into work. It took only about 50 minutes this way - but I was on the 'other side' of town so it would not be an option unless my usual road what totally shut down. It would take me 30 minutes to get to where it would take 50 - and it was 8AM in the morning! I love Siri.

But, back to changes.... in meeting with my friends yesterday I heard lots of stuff that was going on at the "other place". And it made me glad I was gone. I do miss my friends, but, even with all my stress here in this new position, I am grateful God provided this new job.

Sometimes we just need to pause and say 'Thank you, God' because of the changes in our lives. Some change hurts. Some change is good.

We are going to be changing churches too, with all that is going on. For right now, it is our speaking times from November to March so most people will not even realize that we are gone - gone. We do plan to go back a time or two before making the final end. We have a lot of friends there too, but with the church moving to a new location, and not being able to trust Leadership on what they have done in the past and being left out of all the planning, we feel they are wanting us to leave. They are closing the door - not that 'they' had ever opened it. Relationships is not on their agenda. We've always gone back because we have been there for so long, but God removed his hand from the church and it is floundering. Not sure what the pastors are thinking. They don't share with us.

So that will be more change. We went to a new church a couple weeks ago and we know the pastor and it was a very good service. Enjoyed feeling God's presence again, and love of the pastor and people. Worship was wonderful and the message left you thinking about it, instead of trying to figure out what had been said and what value it had in anything.

But enough of that. Change is good in most cases. And in ours, it is a good thing.

Blessings!

Things are quieting down....

The chaotic-ness of my job has finally settled down. I'd like to think I am just that efficient, but reality is that I just had to get to the point of getting things done. And, now that they are, my work life is not as chaotic or consuming as it was. I've learned a lot the past two months - well, I guess it actually hasn't been two months yet - until the 18th. But I have still learned a lot, and have a lot more to learn. But for now, things have settled down, all of the meetings have been created and sent out, and life moves on here.

Christmas gifts that I have ordered have already started to arrive at our house. Yeah, I know that if I would wait and order closer to Christmas I could probably get cheaper, but, I would also have the stress of getting what I want, it arriving on time, and all that stuff. Sometimes paying a little more is worth it. I want to spend December baking things, not shopping online - or at the store!

Since I have changed jobs I don't have much vacation time built up yet. AND, because the holidays are fast approaching, I have less. What I mean is, when they said we had 27 days at the beginning of the year - that sounds great. However, they built the 8 hours for each holiday in that time, so when we have a holiday, it comes out of our vacation time. For example, I have about 20 hours vacation time built up thus far. We are off work for Thanksgiving, and the day after if we want it. But, by taking both days, I lose 16 hours vacation time. Not that it is a big deal - between now and the first of the year - actually, until at least Spring, I generally do not take much time off work. I would like to take one day off in December to finish up any Christmas baking/shopping that I need to do. And I probably can, even though my vacation days earned this year all goes for Thanksgiving and Christmas days off. I'm salaried now, which means if I need to leave early, I'm not docked for my time. I put in more than my 8 hours a day so over the week they would still get my 40 hours. I'm not used to being able to 'come and go' as I want and I would never abuse it. But it is nice I can take 1 1/2 hours for lunch if I want to and not stress about making up my time on the clock because we're limited to 8 hours a day. I know that if I really need to leave early - or even if I just want to leave early, I don't have to make up my time.

It's about time to start planning our 4th (I think) Annual Turkey Trot Run/Walk for Thanksgiving morning. I really enjoy that time of connecting. I get the turkey on before we leave and for that hour or two that we're gone, it's a refreshing time. Since I don't have Thanksgiving at our house, it takes away some of the busyness. Some day I will have Thanksgiving at my house again. In fact, come to think about it, I think I did do a separate Thanksgiving for one son's family last year because they couldn't join us. I DO have a small turkey that I could fix for that family. I could do that on Friday after Thanksgiving.... what do you think, son? Would you and your family be interested?

Christmas. I love this time of year. I love more the part of having family around me. I don't care if we're playing games or just having a meal together, I love having the family around. Family completes me. Memories is what I want to leave behind, good memories of love and fun times.

Melancholy again! I think I better quit! Hope that your day today is a special....

Blessing!

It's almost Thanksgiving....

It's hard to believe how fast this year has gone by - and yet, isn't that what we generally say every year? I finally told myself to get on smile.amazon.com the other evening and started looking for Christmas gifts. I'm at a loss again this year as to what to get everyone. In the past 5 months or so I have probably seen children/grandchildren maybe two-three times - except for those that go to the church, but even then, don't see often. Not seen enough to get an idea of what they like or want. Of course the children usually say don't worry about us. Which is exactly what I say.

All the grandchildren have quilts. All the children have quilts. That leaves that out at least this year - although one granddaughter said she would take another quilt because she gets so cold (just like me!!). Not sure that will happen this year, but at least I can put it down for another year.

We have a new great-granddaughter... I KNOW she doesn't need clothes... but bigger sizes may be what she will get. Toys? Maybe. We were thrilled when we were surprised with a visit the other night.

I'd love to start baking - but it is really too early to fill my freezer with baked stuff. I will probably start the first of December. And hopefully can get the grandchildren over to do some baking. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do. I also hope that the memories of all these years of baking with Grandma is something they will treasure and share with their children and grandchildren. Distance keeps some away, but I love it when the others comment they can't wait to come over and bake cookies and make Christmas mice. I just love being with the grandchildren.

First, though, we have Thanksgiving. Somehow, in the "what do I bring category", I held back commenting until all the others stated what they would bring. We'll be going to our youngest son's house. Why is it I always get to bring the turkey, dressing, and giblet gravy? But I don't mind. I need to start looking around for a big turkey and gather the stuff I'll need. I wonder if the other two will want dressing and gravy saved for them.....

Reckon I need to get to work.... thinking about turkey and dressing and giblet gravy makes me hungry!

Blessings!