So, at this most joyful time of year, one of the many things we parents have to look forward to is the annual school Christmas program...

which serves as a reminder to me of how much large crowds stress me out and raise my blood pressure. I can't help it - it is a crappy part of my personality...tons of people freak me out.

There is nothing more that says "Season's Greetings" than people clawing and pushing their way to their seats, which have been saved by them for the last half-hour. Then, how about fighting the battle of the parking lot? Cars driving on by, not letting anyone or anything in front of them. Cars driving, bumper to bumper, because someone might have the audacity to nose out in front of them!

Rant concluded. This too shall pass. Bah Humbug.

Tonight is the last Full Moon of the year.

Tonight I reflect upon if I have fulfilled my goals of the previous months. It does not really matter what the answer is, but that I renew my commitment to forward progress. I set new goals, and strive to remember them every day.

Tonight I welcome the lengthening nights, because it reminds me of the darkness within myself. It reminds of that place where I close my eyes and contemplate the mysteries.

Tonight I acknowledge the advent of the return of the Sun God. With his rebirth on Yule, the world will grow and be sustained in his waxing light.

Our family's goals were as follows tonight (we write them down on slips of paper, place them in the cauldron, and burn them at next full moon):

1. Kirby: I want to try to not fight with Spencer.
2. Spencer: I want to find better friends to play with at school.
3. Brent: I want to not bring the stresses of work home.
4. Me: I want to be a more devoted wife to Brent.

Bright Blessings!

Brent and I were married in August of 1997. Poor, destitute college students we were, and could only afford a honeymoon to Kansas City.

Now...ten years later, we are finally taking our real honeymoon. The big one. The Child Left Behind trip. We finally just got it picked this weekend.

See the map here!

Brent and Heather's Anniversary Holiday

Master Bennet sent me these questions. All in fun and fact-finding you know.

Feel free to copy and paste and answer them yourself.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? They are wrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope...probably would be eaten by the kids or cat

5. When do you put your decorations up? Varies - sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? All of them

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Don't have one - they all run together

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Don't remember - whenever it occurred to me that we didn't have a chimney, so how the hell was Santa going to get inside my house?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Some years we do

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I don't - the kids hang the ornaments

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it...until the second snowfall

12. Can you ice skate? Very poorly

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Visiting friends and family

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Any

16. Any favorite holiday tradition? For the past five years, we've had the kids put their handprints on the Xmas tree skirt in fabric paint. It looks cool, and is a nice little memory.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both

19. What is your favorite xmas Song? 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

Sorry about that last off-the-wall post. I was updating another blog, and that's when I noticed the colored letter thing. It freaked me out a bit.

My word for the day should actually be Serendipitous, because that is how I feel today.

Serendipity means "good fortune or good luck." Serendipitous would then mean fortunate and lucky. And I think that's a good word for me right now.

Last night, Brent went hunting with his dad and brothers (Brent does not actually hunt, so he's just communing with nature, I guess), so it was just the kids and I. Then, my parents took all three kids home with them after we'd had supper out. So, I had the house to myself! I decided to go watch the high school boys/girls basketball teams play at home - having a nice chat in the stands with a teacher friend in the process. Then I came home, chatted with a friend online until about midnight.

The parents called a bit early this morning to go out for breakfast, but I got up and at 'em. The kids and I have just mostly hung about the house today; we did do our grocery shopping earlier this morning. Elliot is napping, Spencer is having a quick go on the video games, and Kirby is eating her late lunch (she fell asleep on the way home). Oh - and I did a substantial bit of grading/bookkeeping last night.

So...I am feeling a bit fortunate and lucky right now. I was able to have some time to myself last night. I have the money to be able to shop. The sun is shining. Some of my work is done. And I have the perspective to realize that I AM fortunate.

And...my husband will be coming home from his adventures this evening. I am looking forward to seeing him!

Goddess Bless You All This Weekend.