For as long as I can remember I’ve mailed Christmas cards out on December 1st. I almost always have all my shopping done by the first week of December as well, although I’ll admit, I often pick up little things throughout the month just for fun (and to completely blow the budget).

For the past two years, however, I’ve been a little pre-occupied with NaNoWriMo in the month of November to focus any creative energy towards the ol’ Christmas card, and frankly, starting such a holiday task in October is just a little too much for me.

Similar to last year, I started to panic during the last week of November. How on earth was I not only going to write the last 10,000 words for NaNo, but also complete a somewhat witty, fairly informative Christmas letter, too?

The solution: write the letter while stuck in the car going back and forth to Ohio!

LM took notes while I spewed clever ideas and phrases and helped me to work it into an organized format. I actually wish you could see his version of the letter, it’s really cute in its own right.

As of Thursday, November 29th, when my NaNo novel was complete I had only LM’s notes on the letter and nothing more. Friday evening after a church event, I spent about an hour formatting and getting the cover design ready (by ready I mean downloaded). Saturday morning I put it all together, addressed and stamped envelopes and with LM’s help, printed out the cards and a photo to go inside.

Once again, my cards are out on time. Even more shocking to me, however, was that after being placed in the mail Saturday at noon, cards have already arrived in Eastern PA today (Tuesday).

Happy Holidays!

“…You know you’ve spent too much time playing on your new laptop adjusting settings and controls when you enter your pin number into the microwave.”

Dinner out with the family

The kids were on their best behavior

There were presents to be opened.
(My sister looks beautiful in red, so we got her this gorgeous sweater from Coldwater Creek)

There were wishes to be made, candles to be blown out and cakes* to be eaten.

There was even a little time for horsing around with the kids.

Happy Birthday Dear Sis!! As you pointed out, for two years in a row now we’ve had the chance to celebrate your birthday together! Thanks for letting us share in your day!

*A note about the cake(s). I offered to bring the birthday cake and coordinated with Bear about the details. Ms. Birthday Girl stepped in to tell us exactly what kind of a cake to provide (as if growing up with her all those years ago didn’t leave me with a lasting memory of her disgusting peference for German Chocolate Cake). In her defense, she suggested I bring something everyone would like, not just her. As one who loves surprises, I decided to make neither, but instead paid a visit to Coldstone Creamery in hopes of ordering a special birthday cake. I was overwhelmed by the options, however, and decided to order a selection of their mini-cakes instead. Thinking there would be 10 of us there to celebrate, I ordered 7 cakes. There only ended up being 6 of us there with more cake than we knew what to do with. But, oh, what a sweet problem to have!

Snickers, Peppermint, Peanut Butter, Cookie Dough, Butterfinger,
Mint Chip, and Red Velvet Cakes

Today is my sister’s birthday. It usually means a card went in the mail a week ago and today I made a phone call to wish her a great one and to hear about her day.

Not today.

Today I spoke with her around one, when she called to talk about various things, none of which were really her birthday. We didn’t have to talk about her birthday, we were going to be a part of it.

LM and I went over to Jules’ house around 3:30 after picking up the cake(s) (more on that later). I helped Jules work on her Christmas cards and we laughed and enjoyed a call from Dad. The whole gang of us went out to dinner together and then back home for cake and present opening. Knowing my sister was onto the plan that I was making her birthday cake, and after she took the time to tell me exactly what kind to make, I decided to shake up the plans a bit. I had gone to Cold Stone Creamery to order her a cake, but was overwhelmed with options. I ended up ordering seven MINI-cakes, all different flavors. Seven? Yes, seven. I thought there were four other people joining the six of us, but there weren’t. So we had a lot. I’ll post pictures at some point so you can see how amazing these little cakes were.

I had so much fun sharing part of the day with my sister and sharing cake and presents with her. It’s how a birthday should be: full of laughter and family. Happy Birthday, Jules!! Thanks for letting us share in your special day!

Dear NaNoWriMo 2007 Participant:

So it’s official.

Our word-counting robots have analyzed your November novel, and they’ve delivered their final, binding assessment: Winner.

You did it! You did it! You did it!

This was, without a doubt, one of the hardest years on record for NaNoWriMo participants. At some point in the literary marathon, most of your fellow writers fell by the wayside. They lost their books to work, to family, to school, and to the hundreds of other distractions and interruptions that tend to shutter creative undertakings like NaNoWriMo.

But not you. Not this year.

This November, you set out with the ridiculously ambitious goal of bringing an entire world into existence in just 30 days. When the going got tough, you got writing. Now you’re one of the few souls who can look back on 2007 as the year you were brave enough to enter the world’s largest writing contest, and disciplined enough to emerge a winner.

We salute your imagination and perseverance. The question we ask you now is this: If you were able to write a not-horrible novel in 30 days, what else can you do? The book you wrote this month is just the beginning.

From here on out, the sky’s the limit.

We wish you well on your many upcoming adventures, and hope to see you for Script Frenzy in April, and again for NaNoWriMo next November.

I know, my blog is so boring lately. First, I don’t post for days on end under some guise that I’m actually writing a novel. HA HA HA, boy, you people are suckers aren’t you? (I’m within 5,000 words, I promise, the end is in sight!) Then, when you think I’m actually posting, you realize I’m just sharing more highlights from our life right now and your eyes start to glaze over and you click on the back button and you pray that someone on your blog roll actually wrote something intelligent and funny and well, worth reading.

Yeah, you’re not going to find that here. Not yet anyway.

BUT, tonight’s Beth Moore lesson was on Joy and wow, can that woman make you feel JOY!!

My day might have felt like a real bummer to me in different times. I was subbing in a first grade (and have I mentioned how much I love subbing? I know you think I’m being sarcastic, but I’m being serious. I mean, SERIOUSLY I love being in the classroom!!) Anyway, to make a long story short, I cannot get the maternity leave position until the state of Michigan officially declares me certifiable. Wait, that didn’t come out right. I mean, TEACHER certified. Ahem. But she really wants to get me in and hopes that the state doesn’t take too long and she even told me that the teachers have really liked having me as a sub and other warm fuzzy thoughts that I will savor for weeks. Ahem. Right, where was I? Oh, yes, so I can’t sub more than four weeks in any given classroom (in a row) or they have to send a note home to all the parents saying I’m not certified in the state and no one wants to do that (including me) BUT, the principal has an emergency opening for a pregnant woman who was going on maternity leave in January but has been ordered by her doctor to bed rest and so they have asked ME to fill in for her for the next four weeks or until they find a replacement that will work all the way through her maternity leave as well.

Which is good news in a bad news sort of way. I mean, I really want full-time employment, and short of that, I really want long-term employment but this certification thing is the current hang up, but you know what? I was absolutely tickled today that she asked me. I was tickled that after subbing in the district for about a month they already like me that much. I was tickled, I tell ya. And so I accepted the position (which starts tomorrow) and I let myself feel joy. I mean, it’s four weeks, before the holidays, of steady, consistent work, in the district I might hope to one day have a full-time job in. JOY, I tell ya!

Until the panic set in.

‘Cause it’s Special Education.

And I’ve never taught that or had classes in that, or read a book on that, or even sat next to a teacher who sat next to a teacher who once had a job teaching special ed. The one GREAT thing I have going for me? My second mom taught it for years.

Yeah, Verizon? Could you just direct connect me with Judy for the next four weeks? Um, thanks!

And again, the plug for Beth Moore. I kid you not, go find her Fruit of the Spirit Bible study – at your church, at your cousin’s church, somewhere….and do it. Seriously. JOY COMETH!

Things I’m thankful for this holiday:

1. I had NOTHING to do with getting the innards out of the bird. Ew Yuck Ew Yuck.
2. I wasn’t the one who tried to carve a turkey that was upside down at first. (It fit better in the slow cooker that way apparently.)

3. That I didn’t have to be responsible for getting everything hot at the same time. I was in charge of appetizers and dinner rolls. Easy Peasey.

4. That my sister and Bear didn’t call the insane asylum or laugh out loud (in my presence) when I was out in the rain the day before picking up leaves with the intent of making place cards with them for the holiday dinner.

5. That Squirt decided he was in charge of cleaning up the table after dinner.

6. and 7. Pies.

Pumpkin and Apple. With whipped cream and ice cream to boot.

8. Knowing that LM was having a wonderful time with his dad and his family in Pittsburgh.

9. Spending the day with family.

10. Not having to drive 11 hours to get back home.

Today I am writing and wrapping.

11:35am:
I’ve written 2,000+ words this morning, bringing my word count up to 32,248. (17,752 left to go by next Friday at midnight.)

I have yet to wrap a single gift.

1:26pm:
Almost 1000 words more, bringing me to 33, 182. Still a whole mess to go, but I’m getting closer.

I have yet to wrap a single gift.

But I did talk to my dad. And I’m thinking it’s time for a nap. (I know, I’ve done nothing so far today, but I haven’t napped yet during this holiday break and I certainly can’t nap while driving to Ohio tomorrow!)

5:08pm:

Nap is complete. I’ve wrapped about six gifts and there’s no stopping me now.

As for writing? Well, nothing more since I last reported. But there’s still hope.

11:52pm:

I’m up to 34,000 words. Yipppee!! I’m getting there, slowly but surely. Still haven’t really gotten the main activity going in my book, but that’s okay, I think it’s developing along. I won’t be any where near the end of my novel at 50,000 words, I’ll just be getting rolling. Maybe in January I’ll have time to write again and finish it up, at least the first draft anyway.

All gifts are wrapped. At least all that I have. I’m still missing a couple, but they’ll be here soon enough.

Now, to catch some zzz’s. 9am departure to go get the boy.

I never would have guessed when I first became friends with C and K in college that I would ever share a day like today with them. For starters, they didn’t date in college. It wasn’t until after we all graduated that they took a more serious interest in each other. And when I was in college and knew them both, I was falling in love with J. But here we are, 14 years or so later, spending the day after Thanksgiving together in Michigan, them married for years now with three kids and me, now since divorced forging my life on my own.

All those years ago, I never would have said that K would be such a hands-on, willingly involved, active father. I never would have said he’d have so much fun with his two daughters or even his infant son. He’s Type A all the way (and then some) and to see him so relaxed, so dare I say, carefree, so focused on fun and people and family, it was such a beautiful thing.

And while C is everything I knew her to be from the first day I met her, to still be so beautiful inside and out, to still be filled with such joy, such love, it never ceases to amaze me. They have been through a lot in the nine years they have been married and it has all brought them closer together. There’s no bitterness, no pain, no anger in either of them, even though few could fault them for feeling any of it.

They have three children here, two in heaven, seven times pregnant all things considered. The three children I have the pleasure to know are beautiful, well mannered, sweet, precious children. I am sure they have their moments, all children do, but the care in parenting shows through with these kids. K and C both parent equally, they both support each other in their roles, they both work together and it shows.

I sat and talked with C for hours today. K, too, but he was also getting kids down for naps and entertaining while we had a chance to catch up. I could have sat there for days and not grown tired of talking with her.

And they brought me a gift. Not really for the holidays. Not really for any reason at all. Just because after reading my blog (particularly how I hand-peeled 145 pounds of apples) they saw this apple corer/slicer/peeler gizmo and just knew I needed to have it. And so they gave it to me today. That’s the perfect kind of a gift.

And they let me hold the baby. So amazingly precious. So beautiful. So sweet. He still smells just like a baby should smell and he still coos and wriggles and just looks at you like he could look at you for days.

And I got to giggle with the girls. I got to put in pony tails and help in the potty. I got to tie shoes and zip coats and see the twinkle in their eyes.

And they sent me home with homemade pie (made by grandma – God bless this woman, she’s so kind to me, lets me invade her home to see her kids and grandkids – ).

And while yes, I’d like to steal the baby, frankly, I’d like to steal all their kids, but I’d like more to know their secret to such happiness, their secret to such a beautiful relationship together and as parents. I’d like someday, for them to tell me so that I might have it, too. While J and I never fought, we never disliked each other, we also never had the spark, the chemistry that C and K do. It’s the whole package that I honestly envy.

I drove home in silence, in the dark, wishing once again I had someone in the passenger seat to talk to. If I had, I realized, all I could have said tonight was “wow.” Wow. C and K you two are such a blessing in my life. Your love for all those around you just shines through. I know, sometimes I struggle when we’re all together, but it’s just so hard for me to think of all that went wrong with J and how it really should be all four of us sitting there together laughing and reminiscing. It makes me miss all that I thought he and I had once.

But you give me such hope. Such joy. Such complete bliss. Just being around all of you does my heart such good.

Today, I give thanks to all of you, the Joyful Family. I hope you all love each other so completely and so beautifully for years and years to come. And I hope I get to be such a close part of it for years and years to come. Thank you, for a beautiful day. Thank you for being such beautiful people. And thank you, both, for being such wonderful friends.

1. LM. Without question, every single day. I love that kid more than I ever knew I could.
2. The personal relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.
3. Finally being near my family. (Trust me, visiting for a few hours instead of days – it’s AMAZING!)
4. That I didn’t have to stick my hands inside a bird and pull out all the gross parts today (Thanks, Jules! Love ya!)
5. All the Christmas presents I have hidden in my bedroom that are wrapped or ready to be wrapped this weekend.
6. My dog and cat. Every night they both curl up on my bed looking for love. I just adore my pets!
7. Substitute teaching. It not only pays the bills currently, it has been so much fun for me the past few months.
8. An understanding ex-husband who has worked with me to change our custody arrangement since our move and is willing to meet in the middle to see his son.
9. So far, only an inch of snowfall.
10. A car that works.
11. Finding a church home so quickly, and one that has been such a blessing.
12. Football. (What? You haven’t noticed the Pats are undefeated?)
13. Friends. Near, far, old, new. I am so grateful for each and every one of them.
14. Microwaves. I know it’s so materialistic and there are people with no food in this world, more or less no microwaves, but thanks, Dad and Judy, for this wonderful machine that reheats my leftovers, pops my corn and makes my boy his favorite oatmeal.
15. Books. For entertainment, for inspiration, to teach me how to write, to teach me how to teach, to help me challenge my boy, to make me laugh, to make me cry.
16. Beth Moore and her lessons on the Fruit of the Spirit – I’ve already learned so much and we’re not even halfway done!
17. for NaNoWriMo – which is forcing me to write, even when I JUST.DON’T.WANNA.
18. For laughter. George, Bird, LM and even little Squirt – their laughter does my heart good!
19. For music – especially beautiful Christmas carols that remind me further the reason for the upcoming season.
20. For all the fun of the holidays – even just playing games with my unwilling sister in WalMart – it’s fun to have fun