Been home for 3 days with a nasty cold, nasty, nasty. I decided yesterday that I should hang a bucket around my neck to keep my runny nose from running down my upper lip into my mouth like a little kid. Did your kids ever do that? And then just suck it on into their mouth? GAG. Mine did. I've gone through a box of Kleenex with lotion and my nose is still chapped. I've coated myself in Vicks and dragged my vaporizer around the house with me. I've coughed until my ribs and back and stomach are sore! I haven't washed my hair in 4 days and where it's not sticking to my head it's hanging in tangled dreadlocks - even worse than bedhead! What a bad time to be sick. I've got Christmas stuff to do! Parties and shopping! Decorating the tree! It's been sitting in the living room for a week with nothing on it!
Actually, I think my Nashville boy brought it home with him. DH and I both have it. Yuck.
It's been kinda nice being off work, but I really haven't felt like doing anything. I've been reading lots of blogs, but really had nothing to talk about. I've really enjoyed reading your blogs and seeing all your neat Christmas stuff - the trees, the decorations, the things you're making, the FOOD, traditions - it's been really interesting.
Ok, now back to Dec. 13. DH and I went to the farm today - he started painting the new pipe fence in front of the house. Boy does it make me feel a little more secure! I know people could still break in, but they'll have alot harder time doing it. I put up some Christmas lights and garland on the porch rails and did a little decorating. We're going to have Christmas at our home-home instead of the farm this year. I've done a little shopping now, and Princess is home from college and I'm looking foward to us going shopping together next week.
I think I'm more in the mood for Christmas than I was last year. I've had to learn this past year to say 'no', and just do what I can do and not OVER-do. If I can do all the things that make me happy and keep me unstressed then that's what I do. I will not feel guilty or stress out over things that don't get done. I may just hit the high spots and get the bare minimum done but this is what I have to do for me to keep me sane. Perhaps things will improve over time and I can get back to my rat-race life and trying to please everybody and keep everybody around me happy. But for now, I've got to keep myself happy - not selfish happy- just keep me calm.
A couple of years ago for my 50th birthday/30th annniversary, my sweet dear husband bought me a new wedding ring set - it's gorgeous!!! Anyway, I've been wanting to do something with the diamonds in my first wedding rings. I was too sentimental about it for a long time, but DH wants me to wear them. So, I went to several jewelers in our town and I found a setting that I liked. I wanted an antique-ish white gold setting and that's exactly what I got. It's rather renaissance-looking. I'll try to show you a close-up picture of it when I get it back! I'm so excited I can hardly wait and DH wants me to wrap it up and put it under the tree! Can you imagine that! Once it goes on my finger, it probably won't come off!
My job is about to change after the first of the year. When I first started working for Charles' construction company, we also managed 2 self storage facilities. This past year Charles' company has grown by leaps and bounds - we went from 5 fulltime employees to 20+, and we hired a new officer manager. He's taking a big load off of me, which is good. The lady I hired 2 years ago to manage the storage places has decided to get married and move to Waxahachie. So I'm going to be moving over to the self-storage place to do that. I was real upset and disappointed when I first said I would do it, but the more I think about it, the better I feel. I already knew the job, but I felt like it was a demotion. I was getting overwhelmed at the construction office. They may have to hire another person to just answer the phone and file and do light stuff. But the new office manager is going to take over most of my job - insurance, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, you-name-it-I-do-it.
I think I can see God's hand working here. He knows I don't need the stress right now. I am trying to seek His guidance in this and be open to His leading. Charles would've let me stay in the construction office and hired someone else to work the storage, but I told him I would do whatever he felt was best for the company and I'm going to be a team player. I truly think the Lord is leading me there, and opened up this opportunity for me. It's a low-stress job and I will have some free time at my office to read or do handwork or even do little watercolors. I hope I can work myself out of a job completely. As my kids get out of college in a year or two or three, I'm going to quit working outside the home. I long to get back to my home and painting and all the things I enjoy so much but can't do right now.
Speaking of jobs, my DH is trying to decide about his job. He was going to change in the summer, then in the fall, then after the first of the year. He thinks he needs to let the market settle for awhile. So we're still in a holding pattern for the time being. You know, "a bird in the hand..."
Well, let's see if I have any photos to show you. I need a Christmas header, don't I? well, let's see what I can do about that...
Here's some sillly pics of me, my mom and my sister in the car. They were yelling at me to stop taking pictures. Mom didn't want her wrinkles to show, and Lisa was being her usual obnoxious self for the camera. Dont' know what I was doing. We 3 always have a good time!
