Well, this is a busy time of year for everyone with all the hustle and bustle going on. I am surprised that anyone gets anything done at all and I’m sure with all the parties being planned for family and friends from now till after the New Year that life will indeed be hectic and stressful for many and I hope everyone takes a little time out for themselves to replenish energies. You don’t want to get sick on top of everything else that is going on this time of year.

Bill already bought next years calendar, which of course has beautiful pictures of American Eskimos. One gift that Jodie always has made for us is a special calendar of the past years events of all the grandkids pictures at different parties and events depicting each month and has everyones picture on their birthday. That would be an excellent Christmas present idea for all those grandparents out there and it’s something they would adore.

I have managed to put up my tree and add a few decorations here and there. Nothing elaborate this year. We have most of the Christmas shopping done now also, so that makes me feel better. I still have to clean and bake some cookies, but things seem to be in hand so I don’t feel so stressed. Now I can spend some time just being grateful that my life has been so great these past 5 years and really appreciate all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

We usually make dinner for Bills’ kids and family on Christmas Eve and exchange gifts, that way they have Christmas day to spend at home and also have dinner with the other side of their respective families if they choose to do so. Then Bill and I have Christmas together with our pets and don’t have to travel on Christmas day. Later in the week we go over and check out all the neat gifts that they got from Santa Claus. It seems to work out well for us this way and makes everyone happy.

After New Years I need to start cleaning out all the stuff I have managed to accumulate this past year that we don’t even use and donate it where it can be used by someone that really needs it. I’m sure everyone goes through a similar process, I sometimes watch those shows where they have a professional organizer come in and help with those processes and I am always totally amazed at some of those peoples homes. I too tend to have a pack rat mentality, but I have been getting better over the years and have learned to purge and let things go.

I mentioned before that I have started my New Years resolutions and they are small goals that I know I can keep. I have made some resolutions in the past that I knew I couldn’t keep and I always felt like such a failure so I have learned to set smaller goals so I don’t feel horrible the rest of the year. 2008 hopefully will see a lot of great changes in our life, both personal and professional and I really am counting my blessings.