"Should auld acquaintance be forgot"

Ah...

That is me breathing a sigh of relief after one of my most stressful weeks of work yet. I'm over the hump and tomorrow should be smooth sailing. And I'm working from home tomorrow, so either way, I'll be pumping my new Black Lab CDs and thinking about going home.

I like Wilbe's post about Christmas. I, too, am a huge fan of this month and holiday. I can't wait until Saturday, which will commence a week long of friend and family-seeing.

And to kick off Christmas week, here's a picture post of recent weeks gone by starting with my Christmas-season highlight: Seeing "It's a Wonderful Life" on the big screen. It's one of my all time favorites and it was awesome to see it with a packed house at an 80-year-old theatre. Thanks to Rogers for getting the scoop on the showing!

This is me and my nephew, Preston at Thanksgiving. I like to gel his hair and in this instance, devil horns seemed appropriate.

This is Noel and me on a hayride during Ferndale's Winter Ice Festival.

"A pie in the sky"

There have been a lack of post due to a lack of thoughts. I suppose this occurs when one fails to take time to examine their life. So I will live unexamined for the time being.

After a quick visit from the Spires family this weekend, our house has returned to its usual state of messiness. Piles of Christmas presents here, a leaning tree there. But it is home, and I'm happy to have its warmth, comfort and other inhabitants every day when I come home from work.

I never imagined I would have a "desk job," yet I hear I am glued to my desk working for the 9th or 10th hour today. So am I doing what I'm called to do? Perhaps, for the time being.

Things I'm Looking Forward to this Christmas:

• Mint Brownies
• Once again gathering gift cards and dollars to put towards a Wii. (Last year's efforts were fruitless as car repairs were a higher priority -- but I've got a $100 start toward an 08 purchase.)
• Sleeping In
• Playing Games (Clue, Monopoly)
• Giving Rogers the present I bought today
• Going to see Its a Wonderful Life on the big screen.

Back to work for me. Read Rogers blog. She updated. And Phil, I owe you a call tomorrow.

"Welcome Christmas, come this way!"

Ten Things that Excite me about Christmas 2007

1. Dec. 22 - Jan. 1 spent in Central Indiana and wherever Brian Roberson tells us to meet him.
2. Seeing long-lost friends of today (Brian R., Nate P.) and friends of yesterday (Darren R., Drew W.).
3. It's a Wonderful Life on the big screen.
4. Spending time with family.
5. Sleeping-in and hanging out with Rogers all day.
6. Eating at Hacienda at least five times in a 10-day span.
7. Christmas Eve 11 p.m. Candlelight Service
8. Our new digs in the back room at the Rosenberg house.
9. Gift-giving.
10. Little to No Work -- Got to love those sandbagged vacation days.

Thirteen work days to go...this is going to be good.