Blessings

This is the fourth Christmas without my husband. It's also the first that I've been by myself on Christmas without him. My roommate is in El Paso with her daughter, mom, and sister staying with them while her sister goes through surgery. Teresa will be back after the new year. I'm filling in for her at her job until then, helping care for an elderly parishioner from our Church. I had today off for Christmas because his family was with him.

We lost my husband's favorite cat last Tues to Chronic Renal Failure. He had adopted Teresa after she moved in and it was really hard for both of us to let him go. Even though I'd had him for 18 years it didn't seem that long and he absolutely adored Teresa.

I didn't know how I'd do this year alone, but I've been remarkably at peace today. I got a chance to get some extra sleep, (always a bonus around here!), work on some jewelry, and play with the cats. It snowed all day and I didn't even have to go out to clean the car off!! I watched some lovely programs on the TV about Christmas, and just basically had a day of rest. With the schedules Teresa and I have had this past 6 months, that in itself is a luxury! I went to Mass last night since I knew I'd never get up in time today. It's been lovely to just take time for the cats and me for a change and not having to rush to meet a deadline.

My husband is where he belongs, even if it's lonely here without him. My roommate is a real blessing and we get along great and complement each other well. I'm learning Spanish better, she's doing the same with English, I get to vicariously share her family, and we both get to have someone to live with and depend on. She called tonight and I got to talk with her, her daughter, her sister, and her grandchildren. It's nice having a family, even if it's a second hand one.

My business has done a little better this year than last, and I think I'm finally starting to see that it's going to work. I got some great custom orders this year that I really enjoyed working on. I'm able to learn more skills as a jewelry designer and maker and I'm also looking to broaden my work into another medium as soon as I have more than 1 day at a time to work on it.

We have a great group of people in our RCIA class again this year, and the program that Jay and I worked on over the summer seems to be going well. Since Easter is early this year, I'm also up by my eye balls in making rosaries for Confirmation, First Communion, and RCIA for the Easter Vigil. Also coming up quickly is the silent auction for the Biblical School, St. Pius X parish school fund raiser, the silent auction for Colfax Community Network, and the Alley Cat Alliance fund raiser. All of these I donate to so I need to get that stuff made too. It's all planned out, I just need to make it.

The orders for the Graduation Remembrances for the Biblical school are slowly coming in. Not too many, but at least I'll have something to contribute to the senior class gift this year. I was hoping for more, but maybe this too needs to build a little at a time throughout the years.

I am very, very blessed! I have wonderful people in my life, I have a wonderful parish that has become my family, I have a great roommate who generously lets me share her family, and I have great kids, even if they all do have 4 legs each and talk in meow.

God has been very, very good to me. I hope you have been equally blessed, and that your Christmas was full of joy as mine was. It's hard to believe that it's almost 2008, isn't it?!?

Merry Christmas!

Time

The last part of this year has certainly caught me by surprise! I can't believe it's December already, let alone almost a new year! We've had a very eventful fall. Right after my roommate had oral surgery, someone slammed into the back of my car when I was stopped at a red light and totaled it, (the car, not the light). Teresa then started her classes for her CNA licence, which went from 3 days a week the first class to 7 days a week, by the third class. It seems they forgot that Thanksgiving comes about the same time every year. Since her school is about a 25 mile drive, and I'm not only her transportation, but also fill in for her with the elderly parishioner she takes care of, our schedule has been on the hectic side. We've had to stop occasionally just to figure out where we're supposed to be next!

We got the first really cold blast of winter today. It didn't snow a whole lot, but boy it sure is cold out there! I'm still trying to get used to the sun going down so early now we're not on Daylight Savings time anymore. It seems like the day just gets started and it's almost over. I don't think I'll ever get used to the change in the fall.

A wonderful lady is starting a new gift shop in Oregon that showcases artists. She wanted me to send her some of both my rosaries and jewelry to put in her shop. I feel really lucky to get in on the ground floor, and hope this is successful for both our sakes! If you are near Burns, Oregon anytime, stop by J and L Arts and Crafts Gift shop and see all the neat stuff she's got up. I'm looking forward to working with her for a long time.

Well, guess it's time for me to start getting ready for bed. I teach a class on the rosary tomorrow morning, and then I have some custom orders to finish so people can give them as Christmas gifts. That only gives me a little over 2 weeks to get everything done. It will be, I just get a little fidgety when I start to get close to a deadline. I'm having so much fun working with all the wonderful beads and wire, I just want to take my time and enjoy the process. (I may have to enjoy it a little faster!)

Hope all of you are having a wonderful and blessed Advent and Christmas season!