TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY

I apologize to my (few) faithful readers. I have really had no time to read blogs or post anything lately. So if you've wondered where I've gone, I've just been immersed in the craziness that is December. Here are some happenings~

* Performed with the Cobb Symphony twice in the annual Christmas concerts.
* Participated in the Christmas Festival at my church which consisted of three concerts.
* Got a bad cold that lasted about a week.
* Was a substitute judge for District/All-State auditions while having a cold. That took all morning and afternoon and was on the same day as the first of the Christmas Festival performances.
* Hosted a dinner party for friends. This happened at the tail end of my cold and so I was rushed to get the house ready including making new window treatments for my dining room so it would look more like a dining room and less like a mess (translated school room).
* Online shopping, late night shopping, last minute shopping. I made so many purchases online one day that my credit card company flagged my account!
* Attended two Christmas parties.
* Tried to get some school done.
* Tried to get some laundry done. That's neverending as you know.
* Hosted another get together last night. We got together with several neighbors for the 2nd annual caroling around the neighborhood. This is my husband's deal but I had to pull together some food at the last minute. For the last couple days we couldn't find the songbooks which had all the songs neatly paperclipped or the quaint battery operated candlesticks that make us look a little like real carolers. So last night my husband comes home after a 1 1/2 hour commute (!!) and it's about 15 minutes before people arrive to go caroling. We still haven't found the songbooks or candles even with a $10 reward promised to eldest son if he found them. My husband goes up to the attic with 10 minutes to spare while I am praying to God that He would help us find them. Guess what? He found them amidst the jumble of boxes of kids' clothes. Does that sound familiar? Anyway, praise God, we found the songbooks and candles just in time and went out and had a great time serenading every house in the neighborhood. It was cold for Georgia so we were thankful there are only 35 houses in the neighborhood. Most everyone was home and all were excited to see and hear us. By the way, have you ever sung the second or third verses of Jingle Bells? They are funny, especially when you try to sing them for the first time in front of people.

Day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side.
The horse was lean and lank,
Misfortune seem'd his lot,
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.

Now the ground is white,
Go it while you're young;
Take the girls tonight,
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed nag,
Two forty for his speed,
Then hitch him to an open sleigh,
And crack!you'll take the lead.

We came back to our house for food, hot cocoa and cider. It was a good time and something we'll do every year I think. My husband is going to label that box a lot more clearly this time I'm sure.

Today we won't be doing school because our oldest woke up with a fever and upset stomach. I'm actually thinking of cancelling tomorrow too since we were going to stop after that anyway. My parents are coming Friday which is also my mother's birthday so we'll try to make it special and not seem anything like Christmas. I need to wrap some more presents and do some more shopping but I think it's too late to do it online. Oh well, off to Wal-Mart I'll go.

Blessings to everyone who reads this humble little squib. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't end up posting until 2006!