Christmas Eve Almost

Last night BJ and I were on our way to his grandparents for Christmas Eve dinner with his dad. His mom wasn't feeling well and decided not to go. Well, about 2 and a half hours into a trip that normally takes about an hour and twenty minutes, we decided to turn around and come home. So instead of enjoying seeing family I haven't seen in a few years, we enjoyed about 4 hours in a car with the few of us talking about whatever happened to come up. The weather was crazy between the wind and the snow and 287 was basically a parking lot for over an hour. It didn't turn out as we all expected, but it was okay. Once we got home, we had to find some place open to eat dinner because we were starving. We ended up at Splendid China, one of our favorite local places. The food was yummy and then we opened our Christmas presents to each other. One of the things BJ got me was the new Super Mario game for the wii and I am so excited. I am not very good at games like that, but I still love them and spend way too much time trying to beat all the levels. He also got me Big Brain Academy which is right up my nerdy alley. Because of the weather, Bop and Marcy decided not to make the trek down to my house this morning, so Christmas ended up only being BJ's parents and us until about 1 when my dad showed up. Besides opening presents, we played on the wii for a bit and were highly entertained. Lets just say that my dad and BJ's are quite animated and it was fun watching them play. We ended the day with a game of Balderdash that Neal won. Tomorrow, I guess my mom is having dinner with some family (I didn't know anything about it until today so I guess I haven't been communicating with her well the past few weeks). BJ works so tomorrow evening will be Christmas with my family after he gets off. I haven't been feeling the best, but I am surviving. I have the crud, I guess, and my throat has been scratchy and I get to coughing every once in a while. I am still able to sleep, so that's good and I should be better soon.

Christmas Time is Here

I cannot believe tomorrow is Christmas. Where did this year go? Seriously! It was just January and here it comes again. I finished the last of my Christmas shopping and wrapping on Tuesday so now I just have to bake some desserts for tomorrow and clean my house since BJ's family is coming over for Christmas. Tonight we are going to the Fowler grandparents to eat dinner with the family after BJ gets off. I'm not sure I've seen them since we got married, so I guess this visit is long overdue. I made Italian Creme Cake to take with us as my contribution to the meal. After we get back tonight, I think me and Beej are opening our presents from each other. Then we will be up a little early in the morning to put some cinnamon rolls in the oven for breakfast. BJ's parents are supposed to be over at 9 and grandparents at 9:30 or so. Then my dad is coming over for lunch at about 1. My mom is working all day and my sister and brother-in-law are with his family, so my dad would otherwise be alone all day. Last year we started a tradition to have a fish fry on Christmas, so we are continuing that tradition this year as well. Christmas with my family will be on Saturday after BJ gets off. Our last Christmas will be Sunday evening with my aunt and uncle, cousins and second cousins. And then it will all be over and January will be here. Wow, you look forward and plan for this and before you know it, it is all over and time to start planning for next year. I pray that this Christmas, you take a moment to remember that Christmas is not all about the gifts and the frantic shopping and preparing for meals, but about the greatest gift of all. God sent love to us in the form of his Son Jesus and he loves us more than we can ever even express or imagine.

I've Neglected You for 11 Days

As I'm sure is the case for all of you, the past few weeks have been absolutely crazy! And I don't even have kids to throw into the mix. I cannot imagine how people do all the crazy Christmas things with kids. I am so very appreciative of every parent who handles all this and manages kid functions as well. So, what have I been up to for the past 11 days? A LOT. -painting backdrops -Christmas cards -buying presents (I am still not done with this, but I think I have everything I need to make it through the Christmas functions this weekend and Monday) -going to the gym 3 times a week -Ladies Christmas party at church and memorizing the lines for the little skit I did -children's church -Sunday School -Wednesday night girls class -Christmas caroling -planning Christmas lunch, which is at my house this year The "Challenge" is over and I am so over not having fried foods and sweets. It's the holidays and right now, I'm gonna eat whatever I want to. I didn't lose any weight to speak of during the challenge, but the one thing I did gain was that I learned that I really enjoy going to the gym, especially to attend group exercise classes. I plan to continue getting my water in every day and working out as I have time, but besides that I am so through with the challenge. I would probably feel better about missing so many good foods if I actually managed to lose weight. Since that didn't happen for me, I just decided that the size and weight I am now is fine. I'm really not that overweight, so just getting my exercise in will help me be healthier in the long run. This weekend is our Christmas program at church and tomorrow I have to go up to the church, help put up the backdrops I painted and get the lights situated. Our dress rehearsal is at 2. I also need to go get the groceries I need for my Sunday School "party" and our all church dinner after the play. I just remembered, I also need to write out the words and chords for a song I'm going to sing at the all church singing and that BJ is going to play guitar for. Maybe I should work on that tonight. Next week I am off all week and have something going on every day except Thursday when I will be making some things in advance for Christmas. I am hoping to get up early to finish my Christmas shopping before the crazy people get to the store. Monday I have my Cardio Dance class at the gym and our work Christmas party at 11:30. Tuesday I have a dentist appointment and then am meeting some ladies from work for lunch. Jackie, who used to work with us is coming to visit, so I am going to go to lunch with them, whether I am able to actually eat after the dentist or not. Wednesday I have a doctors appointment before lunch and maybe lunch with a friend and her boys. Wednesday night we are doing Christmas with my best friend and her family. The most exciting thing going on is that MY SISTER WILL BE HERE ON SATURDAY!!! I am a little excited, can you tell? I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I may update this week while I'm off, but you never know. Until then, the craziness continues...

Love is Not Easily Angered

Have you ever met someone that was always offended? It's like they walk around looking for something to take offense at. Well I decided over a year ago that was not going to be me. I was always the one who was oversensitive and was always getting my feelings hurt. I had to come to the realization that generally people are not out to get you and hurt your feelings. I had to make a decision that no matter what things looked like, I was not going to be offended, especially by what may or may not have actually been intended to hurt me. A lot of times people get offended because they read into what people say and assume their intentions are the worse. In all honesty, most people are too self centered to spend their time concocting some plan to hurt someone else. People are fragile and say things they don't mean and we should all decide to not be easily angered or offended by others. We all mess things up sometimes, but deciding to not be offended is the best decision I have ever made. Besides, if people have a problem with me, they should take it up with my Father, because it is Him they are really offending.

Running Around Like a Chicken With My Head Cut Off

Today has been just crazy busy. I got up bright and early to work on painting backdrops for the church Christmas Play. In case you are not in Texas, I wanted to inform you that it has been pretty cold (in the 30s and 40s) and painting a back drop in the garage is not much warmer. BRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! I got one of the two backdrops done, so I am feeling pretty good even though it was very cold and at moments I thought I was going to lose a finger or two to frostbite. After I finished that, I went grocery shopping, which really needed to be done. I guess we haven't been grocery shopping for a couple of weeks. We spent a lot of time at my parents over Thanksgiving, and since we weren't home to cook or in the evenings, we survived even though the food in our house was minimal. Tomorrow we are having our senior Christmas lunch, and since I do not know if our missionette director will be there or not, I have a lot on my mind that needs to be done tomorrow before church. I have to make sandwiches, get my soup ready to go in the crockpot, get lettuce and tomato cut, move tables in the fellowship hall, decorate the tables and the wall with our theme, and get everyone elses sandwiches on trays and in the fridge during church. I also have to make breakfast for my class and get my Sunday School lesson together. I don't tell you how busy I am so you will feel sorry for me or want to help. I tell you because I have this odd memory that if I tell someone anything or write it down, I remember everything and am able to plan my time to get everything done. You should ask BJ. I often tell him to remind me to do things and he knows he won't have to because I will remember if I tell him to remind me. Also, tomorrow, I have Christmas play practice and practice for the Ladies Christmas party skit. We are going to practice between services since we will all be there anyway. I have about half of my 4 page script memorized, so I am doing pretty good. Tonight is the Big 12 Championship and I am looking forward to watching my Huskers. I don't really expect them to beat Texas, but I do want them to show up for the game and I want the blackshirts to at least get Colt McCoy on the turf once and let Texas' offensive line feel some pressure. Winning would be icing on the cake, but I'm not expecting a miracle. I learned a long time ago in high school not to trash talk the other team unless I know that Nebraska will beat them. The sad thing is that my dad can't decide who he is supporting in this game. Can you believe that a lifelong Husker fan is indecisive? Hypocrisy I tell you. His years in Texas has jaded his viewpoint. I guess I am the only true Husker fan in our family. Dad, I am disappointed! How dare you deny your Huskers when they need you the most! It's a sad sad day in the Hutsell family.