Spread Christmas Cheer

Today I finished up my holiday shopping. I have to admit, I felt pretty stress free. BUT, almost everyone around me was grumpy and in a hurry. So, in my best holiday voice (which is not very good) I started singing whatever Christmas song was playing on the PA. I noticed a couple of people whistling along. I whistle worse than I sing! Sometimes I think the best way to spread some holiday cheer is to make sure you have some yourself. So, I wish you all more holiday cheer than you can hold inside. Share it!

Bragging Rights

I just want to take a moment to brag on my family! First, my children. Tyler and Ashley both passed their ISTEP's with flying colors and Tyler has been on honor roll twice. Way to go! Chad and I are planning to celebrate with them this weekend somehow. I think it is so important to focus on all the good things our kids do especially when people are more than willing to point out the bad. I am very proud of both of them!
Ok, now Chad. He has always been very supportive but I especially appreciate it this time of year. He did a mock graph of my stress level throughout the year the other day to point out when he sees me getting stressed. Good thing I was in a good mood or it may not have been well taken. Anyway, he has been taking care of the little things so that I don't have to and without me even asking! I really, really appreciate it. Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.
I have a wonderful family and just wanted you all to know it!

Mommy, she's with Jesus

Last week a girl in my daughter's class died. She had leukemia but that's not what finally took her. She got sick and just couldn't fight it off. She was my son's age, 11, but had only been able to reach the third grade due to being out so much sick, which put her in my daughter's class. We'd seen her around, talked to her mother at skating parties, etc. You know all the things you do when your kids go to school together. I felt the deepest sympathy for her mother when I found out that she had passed. I hurt like never before. I just couldn't imagine it. I cried on and off all weekend. Her funeral was yesterday. There was no way I could go. It just seems so much more sad when it's a child. Anyway, Ashley was talking about how all the teachers seemed "upset at everybody" yesterday. I told her that maybe they were thinking that you should all be greatful of the lives you have because Tiffney will never go to school again, never have Christmas again... At this time she cut me off and said, "Mommy, you need to let it go, she's with Jesus now." Ok.