but I didn't put decorations on the one last night. The other doesn't need decorations. I was very hungry as I didn't get away from my desk yesterday, I was so busy. When I finally turned everything off at 4PM, I told hubby I wanted pizza. It was odd, but he made fun of me, stating that I don't usually come out of the room and say 'I'm hungry, I want pizza'. Well, that's true, I don't, as I usually head to the kitchen to figure out something to fix. But i was tired (I was awake at 2AM, remember?) and I was hungry. We went to Streets of New York as it isn't far away. I love their New York Combo thin crust pizza. And last night it was especially good, cause I was hungry and I ate three pieces!! Hubby had gone out to lunch with a friend so he wasn't as hungry as usual. I brought 3 pieces home and will have those for lunch - well, at least one of them. Hubby will probably eat the other two.
We came back home and I parked in the driveway so that I could unload the trees and decorations, etc. out of the cabinets. I didn't get everything out - hubby insisted on carrying inside as he wanted to be a part of the decorating. Sigh. All these years I have done it alone just fine. And this year he is pushing his way in to 'help'. After putting my car in the garage, I was hurried along to get the first tree up. It is the one in the front room and he could barely let me get it out of the box before telling me what to do. I kept my mouth shut. Then 'we' started to piece it together and I felt he was pushing down on the section and I couldn't move it into the hole and told him to quit pushing - and then we exchanged words. We finished getting the three pieces put together, plugged in to make sure the lights all worked, and he just stood there. Finally he went to sit down and was telling me what to do. In the midst of all this I turned to him and just said something like "I know you want to be included, but you ruin everything and take the joy out of doing things when you push your way in. Stop it!" He huffed and puffed but kept his mouth shut after that - except to tell me there was a 'hole' in the tree and I needed to move branches. Sigh. If he had waited about putting the next section on, I could have straightened out the branches first. Thank goodness the lights are already on both trees! That's one part of putting Christmas trees together that I don't miss. I do miss the tinsel though, although it got everywhere.
Long story short; both trees are up. One I do not need to decorate, the other can be - or not. I just didn't have it in me last night to put the decorations on. Boxes and bags are still sitting in the back room, waiting for something to be done with them. The Christmas bedspreads will come out this weekend; I have to clean the bed off in here to get it on it. The other I can swap out today. I love having Christmas quilts and everyone should have one, in my opinion. Have Christmas themed shower curtains too and will get those on this weekend.
In case you haven't figured it out, I Love Christmas. I love what it stands for (celebrating Jesus' birthday) and honoring that, but I love the buying and giving of gifts. Not for me, but for others. I love to find unique things and needed things and give to others. This gives me the opportunity to do so. Hubby isn't going to let me retire so I might as well keep spending the kids' inheritance, right? No, I haven't overdone it. In fact, I only have underwear coming in for a grandson up north. That's what he needs, so that's what I bought him. I will fix him up a snack box too. He always asks for my salsa. In fact, with his siblings and him, they make me laugh. They all always ask for salsa; that's all they want. Two other grandchildren used to ask for my salsa and cranberry pumpkin nut bread and a cheeseball. They don't ask anymore as they can make their own if they want.
I want my grandchildren small again and wanting to come to Grandma's house to bake cookies!! A couple of the granddaughters still come - we've tried to make it work the past couple of years - and bake cookies with their little ones. I so much miss my time with the grandchildren. I've always said they kept me young. Perhaps that is why I feel so 'old' now... everyone has gone to live their own lives. And that is ok. We all grow up and 'leave home'. At least I left them with some memories. And now I can get a few of the great-grandchildren to bake cookies and that is always a joy.
A thought just occurred to me. I wonder if my children would ever want to come and bake cookies with mom? Or make pickles with mom? Or make bread with mom? I never did that with them; life always got in the way. We didn't get to make those memories. So I have made them with their children. Ah... I'm getting too far into things... need to move on.... trying to remember - it wasn't pickle slices, was it pickle spears or long-ways pickle slices my son mentioned he wanted.... he will have to let me know as I plan to make pickles this weekend. Picking up three cases of mini cucumbers today.
Had to stop and jump on Amazon... got a thought for someone for Christmas. I think a couple gifts I've been able to get this year will be a surprise to a couple people. Not saying what nor who... will keep you guessing. Maybe that's why I'm excited about Christmas too - I can't wait to see their faces! There is a positive about all the shopping I've done this year on Amazon - I let the points build up - and had nearly $500 'saved' in Amazon points so everything that I order now has been 'free' because I'm using my prime points. See - I did something good and I'm saving spending a lot here at the end of the year. That justifies my spending, right? LOL Well, it's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
Hubby is getting ready to head out to breakfast with his bible study so I will have a couple hours alone. I'll need to run out and pick up my combo box with cucumbers and cranberries about 10AM if I can get away. I saw late last night (cause I have my company emails on my phone) that my male boss sent me an 'I'm sorry' email... he wants a critical meeting the first of next week with the higher ups - and he knows how difficult that is going to be. When that happens, he always prefaces it with 'I'm sorry'. I have that to do first thing this morning. And I still need to get minutes from the board meeting completed. I did get the expenses submitted so that is one major thing off my list. But I still have to extend numerous meetings into 2025. Who would have thought we would live to see 2025 back when we were 20?
Psalm 119:143 (NIV): Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
I don't know why that verse has struck a chord with me; I currently am not in trouble (that I know of) and I don't think I'm in distress. At least not at this time. Yes, I do go through a lot of anguish with situations and struggles, but I know that God always gets me through them, no matter if I feel He will or not. Every day I have to put that day in His hands and ask for help to get through it. Some days it is really tough; but He always helps me complete the tasks I have to, and deal with the issues as they come up. God is good; all the time God is good.
The scribes, or whoever it was that wrote Psalm 119 - actually, there were several contributions to Psalm 119... this specific section has TSADDE at the top. Not sure if that is a name or just identifying a section. If I recall correctly, the entire psalm is about the Torah, the Word of God. The Law of God. It is the longest psalm... and is always found in the center of the Bible. Isn't that interesting. Have you ever taken the time to read the entire psalm in one setting? It does take several minutes, but I do challenge you to read it. You might learn something you didn't know.
Following God's commands for us isn't always easy because 'we' get in the way. Our 'rights' as we define them, don't always agree with God's commands. But I have discovered after all these years, that I can not do life without His laws. I cannot be 'whole' without His Word directing my path. Whenever troubles and distress come upon me - and trust me, they have many times over these past years - I know that when I go back to God's Word, He brings comfort and peace to my soul. In every trial and hardship, with every tear I have cried, He has been there to hold me, and walk me through whatever it was I needed Him. You ever wonder why I am so dependent on God? It's because I can't do life without Him. I would not be here if I had not turned to God and allowed Him to direct my path.
It's in the darkest moments of the soul that you will still find Him. He never leaves; He is always there. Grateful, Thankful, for His love for me.
Blessings!
