I won, then it was stolen, but then I stole it back!

 I bet that title has you wondering!  LOL  I did the trek down to Mesa yesterday for the department Christmas party - and actually had a good time.  Food was great - salad and lasagna - and plentiful enough I was able to bring some of it home for our dinner last night.  After a game and a toast for the co-worker who passed away recently, we played the white elephant gift game.  Now, I'm not a big fan of the white elephant gift because I have been recipient of some pretty poor gifts, in my opinion.  In spite of usually a $20 value limit, in the few times I have played, I've gotten a dishtowel.  Yep. just one.  and my mind just went blank on what else, but I don't play this game often.  I always make sure I have a nice gift to take.

But let me back up a little bit.  As people started to arrive, there is this huge mountain of a man that I have known for about 20 years and I just love him to pieces.  He is huge but has a heart of a child.  Make that a wild child.  LOL  Anyway, he comes in carrying a somewhat wrapped gift for the white elephant exchange that looks in the shape of a ceramic baking dish.  I laughed and told him I was going for it, if I could.  When we finally got to play the game, I had number 18.  I watched people get interesting gifts - one got a foot massager, another a weighted blanket, another $20 cash, another hand soap (seriously?), and I forget some of the others, and then it was my turn.  I did debate in my mind, that gift was still on the table, I had told him I'd take it, but should I?  There were some really nice wrapped gifts still there.  I took the gift my friend brought - and I was over the top!  Best.gift.ever!!  It was a Lodge brand (the best) cast iron baking dish!!  I was ecstatic!  

And then the next person, #19, came and 'stole' it from me!!  Everyone was laughing and I was asking if I could steal it back as it was again my turn to get a gift.  I was told I couldn't take it back then, but if someone took my next gift, I could go get it back.  So I go to the table and get another bag.  Full of chocolate.  Any other time I would have laughed it off - but I wanted that cast iron gift back.  This new bag had two boxes of chocolate covered cherries (I have 10 boxes in a drawer to give to my girls), a bag of kisses, a bag of other candy, and three or four different bags of other chocolate.  Now I like chocolate, but I would have given all of this away.  I tried to play nice and sit down .... and then I hear another voice that said "Do you really want that cast iron pan?" And I said "yes I do!"  And this young man came over and since it was his turn, stole my bag of candy from me - which freed me to go steal my cast iron pan back!  I got my pan back - and because it was the second time it was stolen, no one could steal it from me again.  I am so thrilled to have gotten it back!

I only have a few cast iron pans now.  My large cast iron skillet with the lid I passed on to my oldest son when we moved.  My in-laws had given it to me - wow - probably 32-35 years ago - and I thought this son would like it.  (But if he isn't using it...... just saying.)   I haven't seen any that large in years.  Not even on the Lodge website.  It isn't a Lodge brand, I'm sure, but it was still a great skillet and I loved using it for fried potatoes and meats and yes, my spaghetti sauce.  Only it was big enough to hold it all.  I may need to hit some thrift stores and see if I can find another.  I've never seen them anywhere this size so probably never will find another.

I got a nice gift from that boss.... some homemade toffee with a bottle of liquid hand soap and lotion - bath and body, I think.   And then he passed out a tin of toffee to everyone - and gave me another.  Guess what is going to be setting out for everyone - if there is any left.  I'm having lunch with a friend today who is bringing me her homemade chocolate covered cherries so may take some to her.  It's good toffee, but too sweet for me.  I must be getting old.  I can't eat chocolate like I used to, and it doesn't interest me like it used to.  Imagine that!  Besides, it isn't DARK chocolate.

All in all it was a good day and the drive wasn't bad either.  30 miles each way.  I came home and got on the work computer to catch up and hubby comes in questioning why was I working.  I told him I didn't take the day off as a vacation day, it was still a work day, so I needed to finish out my day and work.  He seemed puzzled.  sigh.  I am taking Monday off to finish up my shopping and get it ALL done, and then a couple grandsons are hopefully going to make it over to bake cookies.  It's too early yet for me to bake some things I want to give away to others.  Don't want to freeze them but want them fresh.  About Thursday or Friday I will start doing my baking.  The 22nd I meet my favorite boss at our usual restaurant to take her gifts to her.  She always wants my salsa, pickles, cheeseball, and whatever else I make and want to give her.  I also give her a small gift besides all that.  I'm having trouble deciding what this year though.  I have a book I want to give her, a make-up bag, and a bracelet... but shouldn't give it all so need to decide which ONE.  Any she will be happy with; that is just the kind of person she is.  We know each other so well, even if we gave each other nothing, we ould be ok with it.  We just enjoy our friendship.

Hubby has his Bible study this morning so I will have a few hours to work, to get ready for my lunch, to finish fixing this friend her Christmas gift.  Need to confirm the time and location for us to meet as well.  This is her 2nd Christmas without her husband... she seems to be doing well.... but often posts about grief on Facebook.  She had a good man for a husband.   After she had 'found' me, her husband contacted me and invited hubby and I to dinner to surprise her for her birthday, which was a short time later.  We went, and when she walked into the restaurant, she knew me immediately and could not believe I was there.  It had been a long, long time since we had seen each other.

And with my thoughts running amuk this morning I am going to stop.  My mouse battery has decided to die and I need to replace it before I forget.  Plus, I do have to do some work this morning.  Then the weekend!  YAY!  Then off Monday, and a 4 day work week next week, and then the weekend, and then CHRISTMAS!  I am working the day after Christmas... sorta.  All four of my bosses have taken the day off.... so I'll just check the computer periodically and do my own thing during the day.  Save my vacation day for something I want to do.  Besides, if I took it off, there isn't anything I would be doing different.  Start packing up the Christmas things or sit and crochet/knit.  Life wouldn't be much different than any other day off.

Hope your day is amazing!

Blessings!

Minutes are done and turned in.

 That's my 'claim to fame' this morning.  It felt so good finishing up the minutes yesterday - and they really weren't that hard.  I just have to get past my 'I don't want to do these' mindset.  I finally completed them and sent them on to my boss to review.  Tried to work on the board retreat yesterday too - not much luck on that - one facility didn't even bother calling me back!  That is the heavy thing hanging on me right now.  Got to get things confirmed and then I can let it do it's thing.

I stayed home last night and wrapped Christmas gifts - and watched movies.  Hubby did meet up with his friend so I was alone.  And it was nice.  There is this one movie that when I saw it last year I fell in love with it.  Well, this one part.  I should check and see if I wrote about it last year.  I forget the name of it - something like 'The Christmas Wish' or 'The Christmas Wedding Wish'... I don't remember.  Anyway, it starts off with three children playing on a Christmas Tree Farm owned by a grandfather of the two girls.  They run to him and he has a big red bow on this Christmas tree and tells them it is the 'Wishing Tree' and one should whisper their wish into it.  

It hit a longing within me last year and I bought a small fir tree and suggested to different ones to whisper a wish in to it - and some did.  I tried to keep it alive, but with hubby's watering schedule on my plants... well, it didn't last long.  I'm going to see if I can't find another fir tree and put a red bow on it with the words 'Wishing Tree' on it and set it out.  Depends on how big it is on exactly what I can do with it.  Sigh.  Stupid HOA won't let us plant but in our courtyard... maybe I could put it just inside the gate after the first of the year?  Or maybe one of my sons would like to plant it in his backyard if I get a small one.  Anyway, it would be fun to have a 'Wishing Tree', don't you think?

I also watched another favorite movie called 'Finding Normal'.  It's a cute movie - about a doctor on her way to the Hamptons' for vacation.... and she 'flies' through a small town called 'Normal' at 90 miles an hour - and gets pulled over.  She is taken 'in' to see the judge because she has 23 unpaid parking tickets.... and he told her the $$ of the fine.... and she had no cash on her; no checks.  The little town didn't take credit cards and the one ATM in town was broken.  She was given 24 hours community service as her fine. And that's all I'll share about it.  But it is one of my favorite movies, along with 'The Coffee Shop'. :-)  

I have been real 'pleased' with this yucky stuff that I've been dealing with - sneezing, coughing, etc. - that it hasn't affected my sleep at all.  And yesterday, during the day, no sneezing, occasional coughing, and I thought I was about over it.  But then, last night.  Ever little bit that slime would tickle my throat and I would go in to a fit of coughing - and that is what is happening this morning as well.  Guess I'll take another Allegra with hopes it will completely dry this 'crap' up.  So I didn't sleep well last night and now I'm annoyed.  What a way to start a day, right?

I'll be heading down to Mesa again tomorrow morning for the department Christmas gathering.  They are having a meeting, but having lunch (sandwiches) brought in around 11:30AM and will be having a white elephant exchange and a cookie exchange.  I'm already thinking I will bypass the white elephant gift exchange.  I never faired well in those.  I'd always make sure I'd take something nice - and end up with a couple dishtowels.  I don't know the majority of these people so I really don't mind staying out of it.   Am thinking I may do the cookie exchange... which means I need to bake cookies today.  I was planning on making gingersnaps for my boss (thinking because he has kids, it would be nice)... but can also make oatmeal raisin too.  I'll see how busy my schedule is - I may just do a few of each.  I don't get crazy with baking 'Christmas' cookies like some people do.  But I do love the little Mexican wedding cakes, don't you?  I'm feeling really out of touch with my baking anymore.  With not being in the office, I don't do much of it at all.  No one to give it to.  My neighbors are diabetics so don't want to take to them, and we definitely don't need it here!

I got a big box from my big brother for Christmas yesterday.  Of course he tells me I am not allowed to open it until Christmas morning.  I tried to get him to let me open it.... "it rattles" I tell him.  "Too bad" he tells me.  I have a suspicion... well, let's just say the box is the same size of a box I have bought something in... could it possibly be the same thing?   Wouldn't that be a hoot!  Hopefully come Christmas morning I will be able to tell you if it is - or isn't!  I would be excited if it is... just saying.

I have nearly all the Christmas gifts wrapped - and you know what?  I didn't buy as much as I thought I did... and yet, I sure spent a lot more money!  I've 'lost' a couple things so need to see if they rolled under the bed.  Need to get these empty boxes out of here too; break them up and put in the recycle stack.  UGH - Recycle doesn't come until next week.  Surely I am 'done' by now!  And yet, looking at the list... I may need to get a couple more things.  Or not.  On my mind is what I need to do for tomorrow's luncheon at the office.  I also realize I haven't bought that much for hubby.  Oh his stocking is full... but there is nothing he needs.  I did get him some Notre Dame stuff.  But, I sure didn't buy much.  Maybe I'll get him a gift card to Barnes and Noble.  I know, just what either of us need - another book!   Neither of us need ANYthing.  Pretty sad, isn't it?  

I think that is why I like asking for 1:1 time with my kids.  I'm so glad I did that years ago.  Actually, has it been about 7 years ago?  I asked for one time a quarter, have 1:1 time with each child.  My middle child is the only one who has pretty much stuck to the 1:1 time... and I love it.  My daughter and I usually meet every Tuesday evening now (unless we have other plans, like last night) and crochet.... but that is where Jailbreak Getaway was brought about - only instead of just the two of us, her daughter wanted to join us, and now it's four of us that go someplace each year.  My youngest... well, sometimes it is hard to get him away from his wife.... I guess she is afraid she might miss something... like hubby gets at times.  He commented recently that if I died first, he probably would be left totally alone, for none of the kids really care about him.  (was that a 'woe is me' comment?)  Personally I think the comment is sad... but he has NEVER lived alone so the thought of it terrifies him.  Especially the thought of my not being at home if something happened to him.  Gruesome thinking this early in the morning!

John 11:25 (NKJV):  "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, shall live."

Do you remember where that scripture comes from?   Remember the story of Lazarus in the Bible?  The brother of Mary and Martha?  If you recall, Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very sick - and He stayed for two more days where He was!  THEN, He tells the disciples, "Let's go see Lazarus" for he's asleep... so the disciples think Lazarus is getting better if he's asleep, but Jesus had to explain to them, no, he died.  So Jesus gets almost there and Martha goes running to Him.  She cries out to Him "If only You had been here, my brother could be alive".  But Jesus tells her.... He is the resurrection and the life.  Just believe.... (yes, there is more to the story... go read John 11).  We all know how the story ended, Carmen made a song of it - remember?  

"Lazarus, come forth!"  And Lazarus came forth, completely bound in linen burial cloth.  And Jesus told them to loose him.  

And that is what Jesus tells us today.  "Son, Daughter, come forth!"  Step out of those dead linen cloths and step into the new resurrection of life!  Oh, so many times we allow 'things' to get in our way of following Jesus, and yet we know that we know that we know.... that following Jesus is the ONLY WAY to live.  It really isn't hard, if you think about it.  Would you give up something for your spouse, your child, if they asked you?  Jesus doesn't ask you to give up the things we enjoy.  He just asks us to believe in Him.  And by believing in Him, we CHOOSE how we will live for Him.  No one tells you how to live; it is between you and Jesus.  We all make wrong choices at times; trust me, I've been following Jesus since 1983, and I still make a lot of mistakes.  But I choose to continue believing and continue following Jesus.  Life is Him is the only way to live.  

Something to think about.

Blessings!