Merry Christmas!

Combine a shortened time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, two annoying illnesses (which means they weren't serious but still kept me down), one ice storm after another, six days of work... and what do you get? Seriously out of touch with the reality of Christmas timing.

Christmas Eve begins in a matter of hours and I am not ready. There was more I was going to do this season of Advent... sigh. I suppose the sugar cookie cutouts can be of January snowmen or February Valentine's Day hearts.

We were out early for an appointment and then drove to Cracker Barrel for breakfast... a rare treat. I love breakfast "out". Then we stopped by another store so I could use a gift card to purchase a few more jars... similar to those I keep my flour in (only smaller). Tradition mixed in with necessary appointments...

At first we were in the midst of a beautiful snowfall and the world looked quite like a Christmas shakeup globe. Unfortunately before we were able to drive home, it had turned to sleet and freezing rain. I don't remember the last time we had so much ice in December.

I'm finally feeling human, as if my head is once again a part of the rest of the body. I am coughing and sniffing, sneezing and wheezing... but I feel better. There was no sofa time today, although the thought of my flannel sheets is already tempting this evening. I can see cold medicine and turning in early a definite possibility.

With all the hits on my immune system recently, I've decided not to work at the beginning of the next semester. As a friend told me on the phone yesterday, what I'd make those two weeks is not worth her having to visit me in the hospital. Since she is a nurse, I had to agree...

I'm having to play "catch up" here at home, so I wish you now a very Blessed Christmas. May the knowledge of Him who entered this world as a baby at Christmas to become the Lamb of God at Easter... fill us all with adoration.

Thank you all for your friendship... when you sit down with a cup of tea and finally get to rest a bit and ponder... or read a book... or sip Pumpkin Spice Lattee's this week... think of me joining you and chatting. :)

I'll be back on Friday, God willing and the creek don't rise (or freeze over).

Picture: Christmas Glow; allposters.com