For the first time in... probably ever, I have all my Christmas shopping done before the 15th. I am very much so a deadline-driven individual, but this year, the "organized" bug bit me and I planned ahead. I wouldn't count on it being a pattern, but it is kind of nice for it to be done and out of the way. I may have a couple other things that pop up before Christmas, but as a whole I feel very prepared!

Saturday was a big contributor to this project completion. It was a Christmas shopping day for me-- started off with a big lunch at Chipotle, and then plowed through several stores in Peoria to get what I needed. Capped the day off with a celebratory peppermint mocha frappuccino (Starbucks, of course).

Also, decor has been up since the day after Thanksgiving, but that's nothing new. It has always been a family tradition to do so, and I followed suit once I moved out of my parents' house. I'll share some pictures of the finished product below...

I am really looking forward to the holidays this year, and am enjoying this (somewhat) mild weather. Compared to last winter, it's absolutely balmy. I'm sure the negative temperatures will find a way into our winter eventually, but for now, it has been great. And in case it does take a turn for the worse, I have two trips planned for this winter-- one immediately after Christmas, and one at the end of January-- both to warmer places.

We went Christmas caroling tonight with our church-- and I am excited about many upcoming "Christmas" celebrations over the next couple of weeks. It's such an exciting time. I am the biggest sucker for Christmas music, holiday cheer, twinkle lights, and peppermint sticks. I just love it all. Never mind the fact that I have had to get the ladder out TWICE and fix some stubborn lights that fell down from my house gutter, or that my cats feel the Christmas tree was brought into the house solely for their entertainment. It's all for good Reason... actually, the other day, I was thinking of "the Reason for the Season." Christmas is all about celebrating Jesus' birth. Then my mind went to Easter-- which we celebrate as Jesus' death on the Cross and rising again. While Easter is celebrated, it is not done up like Christmas with all the marketing. And I had to ask myself why. Jesus' death on the cross for our sins is the most important thing that happened in history-- without that, we would have no hope of Heaven. But then it hit me: without His birth, there wouldn't have been a death. That was the true sacrifice... God sending His only Son into this sinful, evil world-- a perfect baby, a bright miracle, a sinless human. He left a perfect place to come live in an imperfect world, and experienced pain, sorrow, temptation, and persecution on our behalf. Jesus' birth is an extraordinary event that changed the world, and while some of the holiday hype and Christmas chaos is overdone and unfocused, it should definitely be celebrated.

So I am looking forward to this Season... going in thankful for what I have, grateful for where I'm at, and even semi-wishing there would be a magical white snowfall by the time Christmas Day appears.

Outdoor lights. This took me longer than I expected and was harder than I remembered! But it sure does brighten up the place...




















Be back soon.........T