Christmas Preview

True Confessions of a Christmas Shop a holic....

I absolutely love the idea of Christmas shopping, but when it comes down to it I hate the malls during the season. People are rude and pushy. It takes the real spirit of the holiday for me. Last year Mike and I went to Polaris during the bad ice storm and spent several hours looking for Hungry, Hungry, Hippos to finally find it at the last place we went.

The tradition. Libby gets three gifts from Santa because that is what baby Jesus got. I would love to take credit for this idea, but it is from a bulletin board I frequent. We started this on her second Christmas.

This year we are thinking (per her numbered list already on the fridge.)

The pink ipod shuffle. She really wants one of her own!

Legos: Some sort of larger set. She is really into legos right now.

Her last present from Santa will be something from American Girl. We are not sure yet. Grandpa and Grandma Garbrandt got her Samantha

She also would like to have Ivy (who is her Julie doll's best friend,) Nellie who is Samantha's best friend, and Julie's bed.

From Mommy and Daddy she is getting a new ornament, some clothes for her AG dolls, and an EYECLOPS.

I am trying to keep it small.

Happy Shopping!

Somewhere in between.

As I near the end of school, did I mention I have just ten classes left, I find myself stuck in the land near the middle.

I have spent the better portion of my working years with the preschool crowd. I have the patience and understanding to teach them. I have gained the knack to plan entire units that cover all areas of their education that meet several different learning styles. I am in the denim jumper female dominated world.

The transition to secondary education is not going to be an easy one for me. I love history and government. I have the passion to teach them. But, the world I am going to is testosterone dominated, crotch scratching, and every one's name is preceded by coach. In all seriousness I worry I will not get a job because I am not a man, and I am not the kind of girl who thinks that.

I wonder how it will all turn out?

The truth about being parents

Most people that I know are in the throws of raising small children. We hug and kiss, nurture and foster, all the things that good parents do. While in the midst of this it is easy to loose sight of the future. The truth. Our children are going to grow up and leave us someday.

We made it to church on time, for once, today. We sat in our usual pew towards the back, you know the one were we can make quick break for cover if our child is the one disrupting the service. In front of us sat a boy and his mother. Not just any boy and mother though. This was the grown son of mother, dressed in his Marine best, and his father is our pastor.

This boy, once their small child is now a man leaving for a war this week. He was blessed at the end of the service as was his armor. His father took off his robes at the end of the service to prepare to take his son to war. A powerful picture for a quaint Sunday morning in small town America.

I do not know Tristan Pursley, or his mother. We are acquainted with his father as our minister for nearly sixth months. What I do know is that these parents raised their son to be a good Christian, a kind person, and a brave man. All things as parents we can hope to do.

I cried silently through church this morning for the loss of these parents. All parents who raise good and just sons and daughters to serve our republic for what strong men see as the means to solve the worlds crisis. We do not question, but have faith. We believe and have faith. As parents this is all we can do.

Hold your children close. Raise them to see all the good things God has provided for us.

Pray for our minister, his wife, and their son as he leaves for Afghanistan.

Our babies will grow up. They do a little each day.