Herman the Christmas Tree

Here is the story I promised...I hope you enjoy it.

Herman was green, beautifully green and tall too – okay not really tall like his dad, but tall. And he was full too, not because he had just eaten, but full as in broad and not sparse. Not as full as his mom, but full just the same.

What is Herman? Herman is a tree, an evergreen tree to be exact. A Frazier Fir to be really exact.

Herman lived in a forest with his dad and mom. His dad stood about 14 feet tall and his mom stood about 11 feet tall and she was beautiful, really full and wide. In trees it is good to be full and wide!! There was an older tree that stood near them called “Old Jake” Old Jake stood about 40 feet tall and no one knew how old he was exactly he’d been around as long as anyone could remember. For his part, Herman stood about 5 ½ to 6 feet tall.

Standing a few feet away from Herman was his good friend Jimbo. Jimbo was an Oak tree. No one knew how Jimbo wound up in a forest full of Frazier Firs but Herman was glad he was there. Herman and Jimbo spent their days enjoying the passing seasons and watching the forest animals. In the Spring the animals had their babies and often made nests in Herman’s and Jimbo’s branches. In the summer, the animals came to the trees for shelter from the heat of the day.

In the Fall, Jimbo’s leaves changed color and eventually fell off. Herman called him “baldy” and Jimbo didn’t like that much! He got revenge though when his leaves fell off and the wind took them, many of them would land on Herman making him look as if he were wearing an Oak tree disguise!!

Finally Winter. Winter used to be Herman’s favorite season. He loved the beauty of the snow and the feel of it on his branches. He enjoyed feeling the cold through his trunk and the chilly breezes as the wind kicked up during a storm. Trees don’t need scarves or hats, God made them equipped to deal with the seasons just as they are. That all changed when “they” came to the forest.

“They” came just after a light snow had fallen and the forest was coated with about 3 inches. Herman thought it looked beautiful. His mother was glowing with a light dusting of white and his father looked like a white tower. As for “Old Jake” well he was always just BIG!

Then, they heard this incredibly loud growling sound. “Was that a bear?” asked Herman. “No” said Old Jake. “That is man.” Man? What was man? Herman had never heard of an animal called man! Just then something very strange rolled in, that’s right! Rolled on four round feet. It’s sides opened and creatures emerged from it like they’d been hatched. The creatures approached his dad – were they looking for a place to build a nest? Thought Herman.

“This one will be perfect for the Governor’s mansion.” Said one of the creatures. “Perfect.” Said another. With that, the really loud growling noise started again and Herman noticed they put something up to his dad’s trunk. Then, his dad was falling!! Herman, said “Nooooo!” as his dad hit the forest floor. “I love you both!” his dad said as he was loaded onto the rolling creature and tied up with what Herman thought looked like snakes. “Ohhhh!” his mother was saying. Trees don’t cry but she was obviously very sad. But it wasn’t over yet.

“We still need one for inside the mansion.” Said one of the creatures, Herman assumed these must be the “men” Old Jake had talked about. “Yea and its getting cold so let’s decide quickly.” Said another. “How about this one?” said yet another. He was standing beside Herman’s mom! “It is nice and full and the perfect size.” Herman agreed she was full and perfect, but he didn’t like where this was heading. But it headed where he thought it would. The growling thing started up again and his mother fell and was tied with the snakes. “I love you son.” His mother said. “I love you too mom.” Said Herman. It was really a horrible day!! Herman and Jimbo were left to stare at the stumps that had been his parents just a few minutes before! “Why would they do this?” Herman said almost to himself.

“Christmas.” Old Jake said. “They will be Christmas trees.” “What is a Christmas tree?” We are Frazier Firs! Herman thought Old Jake must be going senile. But before Old Jake could answer another rolling animal smaller than the first approached. This time three “men” were hatched. One had long fir on it’s head and the other two were smaller. One of the smaller one’s had long fur too and the other looked like a smaller version of the “men” from earlier.

“Kids.” The tall furry one said, “we need to decide NOW. I’m cold and we need time to decorate it tonight too.” “Okay.” The short furry one said.

“How about this one?” said the mini man. He was standing next to Herman!! He is not too tall and he’d fit good in our house, I think.” “He?” tall furry responded. “Yeah,” said mini man “it seems like a boy tree.” “There are no boy and girl trees.” Short furry said in a superior tone. “Well, I think there are and THIS is a boy tree!” said the mini man. “Whatever.” Tall furry said. “Let’s get it home and get going!!” with that tall furry approached Herman with a growling thing and he felt a cold sensation go through his trunk and he was falling! He hit the forest floor with a thud. “Hermannnn!” He heard Jimbo yelling. “I guess I have to go be a Christmas tree now, Jimbo. Whatever that is.” Said Herman.

And sure enough, they loaded him on top of the rolling creature and trussed him down with what Herman could only determine were dead snakes as they didn’t move at all. As they headed out of the forest, Herman felt the air go through his branches like he normally did, but this time he was lying down and the wind was caused by the moving rolling thing. He was also feeling kind of dizzy as he needed water.

Once they arrived at their destination, they brought him into a building. Then they placed him into something that allowed him to stand up again and filled it with water. He gratefully soaked it up and felt better. “This tree is thirsty.” Tall furry said. “Yes we cut HIM down and took HIM away from his forest, so he is probably dehydrated.” “Robert, it is NOT a boy OR a girl!! IT is a TREE!” So the mini man’s name was Robert thought Herman. “Melissa, just because you are a teenager now, doesn’t mean you know everything!” Melissa was recently 13. So short furry was Melissa! “Well just because you are into the double digits, you don’t either!!” Robert just turned 10. “Kids! Let’s decorate the tree and STOP FIGHTING! For once!” said tall furry. “Sorry mom!” said Robert. “I know it isn’t easy for you without dad.” So tall furry was their mom, thought Herman.

“I’m fine.” Said mom, “But, we really need to get going.” With that, they hung a lot of things from Herman’s branches and placed something on top of him too. He felt kind of good all spiffed up!

The days passed quickly after that. Herman stood in the room while mom and Melissa and Robert went about their days. At night, Robert would sit up and talk to Herman. “Tree.” He would say. “I am sorry we had to take you out of your home. But, mom needed to have a nice Christmas this year. She misses dad so much. You see he is fighting the war in Iraq right now. He won’t be here for Christmas.” Again, this Christmas thing! Thought Herman, What was Christmas?

Finally, a day came when things were a bit more hectic than usual. “Robert, we need to get going! NOW!” said his mom. “I’m coming.” Said Robert. Quietly to Melissa Robert said, “I don’t understand why we need to go. I mean, God allowed dad to go to Iraq to fight during Christmas and that hurt mom. How could he do that?” Melissa responded equally as quietly, “Robert, God did not take dad, the army did. And Mom and I pray for him every night. God is helping us get through this. You should pray and and you’d see.” “Well, I’m leaving the TV on for HIM.” Robert said pointing to Herman. “He’ll be dead soon and should enjoy his last days on the earth.” “You are truly insane.” Said Melissa and headed out of the room toward her mother’s insistent calling. Robert followed after her saying to Herman “Girls!”.

Herman appreciated the “TV” which was a box showing moving pictures. However, he was caught up in the fact that he was going to be “dead soon” according to Robert. Herman had seen trees die before but not until they were old. Herman wasn’t old, he was young! All he needed was water and some nutrients and he could live just fine. Then he noticed something on the TV. A person was standing in front of a tree all decorated. “I am standing in front of the Governor’s mansion, where you can see behind me the tree all lit up beautifully! People are saying it is the most majestic tree they have had in years! It was his dad! Herman was certain. The “men” had said something about the Governor when they took him away. Then the person moved inside a building and he saw an absolutely amazing looking tree all decorated with soft lights. “This is the Governor’s family tree. The Governor’s wife said she had never seen a more full and beautiful tree.” His mom! Herman was so happy and sad too. He knew they were safe, but they were also far away from him.

The family returned. “That was such a beautiful service.” Said mom. “It was.” Said Melissa. “Yeah, it was nice.” Said Robert without much enthusiasm. Then, his mom got an object and sat down on the couch. She patted the seats next to her. “Mom, dad always read that.” Said Robert. “Well this year, we will have a new tradition.” His mother said with a catch in her voice. Melissa stared at him with a pointed glare. “Okay, yeah sure.” Said Robert and sat down.

His mother began speaking, “This is Luke, Chapter 2. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who he was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them at the Inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over there flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find the baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

“And who they found there changed the world, kids. As the minister said today, and John said so many years ago, John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

“That child saved the world and he will bring your father home safe too, I’m sure of it. Good night, we need to get up early because we have to get rid of the tree after we open presents we’ll be at Aunt Margaret’s for a week.” With that, Robert began to cry. “I’ll miss him mom! I talk to him and he seems to understand me! First Dad goes and now I lose the tree too!” “Talk to God son, he’ll understand you too and unlike this tree, God can help you.” His mother said. “I’m heading to bed now, I love you!” “Me too.” Said Melissa. “Presents tomorrow!!”

“I’m going to sit up a while and say good bye to the tree.” Well Herman was happy to know what Christmas was all about. It was incredible. This Jesus was a man above all men that was for sure!

“I’m just so sad right now.” Robert said. “Mom said I should pray, but how do I do that?” It sounded to Herman that praying was simply talking to God, but of course, Herman couldn’t communicate that. “Maybe it’s like talking to God.” Said Robert. Maybe he COULD communicate! Thought Herman. I’ll try it. “God, I miss my dad. I want him home and I want him to be safe. I know you can do that over anyone else. Oh, and Amen.” “That wasn’t so hard, I guess.” Robert said to Herman. “I wonder if God heard me? The minister said prayer is like incense to God, that he really likes it.”

“The minister also said that anyone who doesn’t have Jesus in their heart should pray to receive him. I didn’t do it at the time because I was pretty upset, but now I feel so peaceful I wish I’d have done it. Maybe, I could ask now?” Herman didn’t see why not. “Let me see if I can remember how to ask. Jesus, could you come into my heart and be with me? I need to live my life right and I need help to get through until my dad comes home and beyond.”

“Well, I don’t feel much different.” Said Robert “But the minister said once Jesus is in your life it starts to change and so do you.” Herman thought that must be true from what he’d heard Robert’s mom say about Jesus.

“Anyway,” yawned Robert “I need to get to bed.” “You know I bet I’m the only kid in my Sunday school class who will be able to say that their Christmas tree helped them into a relationship with Jesus!” Yeah, thought Herman and I didn’t even know who he was until a few days ago! “I wish I could tell my dad first, he will be so happy! Good night, tree.”

The next day the family exchanged gifts. To Herman, Robert seemed quieter, but he still hadn’t said anything to anyone about accepting Jesus. Then there was a ringing sound. “I’ll get it!” said Melissa “It’s probably Aunt Margaret! …DAD!” They heard her exclaim. “I need to talk to him!” said Robert “I have something VERY IMPORTANT to tell him.” Robert was so excited to be able to tell his dad first, it was as if God knew how much it meant to him! “Okay.” Said his mother, “But hurry! His time is usually short.”

“Dad,” Robert said as soon as he got on the line “I accepted Jesus into my heart last night and the Christmas tree helped!” “WHAT?!” his mother and Melissa said in unison. “That is great, Robert. I’m so excited for you, this is sure to change your life. The tree part will have to wait until I have more time, as I’m sure it’s a long story! I have news for you too, I’ll be home in less than a month!” “WOW! You are kidding! That is the best present ever, dad!” “Give me the phone!” said his mom. “Hi honey,” she said as she headed out of the room. “In less than a month…..”

“Dad is coming home in less than 1 month.” Said Robert to Melissa who was bursting to hear the news.

“Besides asking Jesus into my heart last night, I also prayed and God answered me!” Robert said “Just out of curiousity, is it always this fast?” Melissa laughed “No, Robert. “Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests to God.” And Peter says in 2Peter 3: 8-9 “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises as some understand slowness, but he is patient wanting everyone to come to repentance.”

“What that all means,” Melissa said “is that just because you pray it, doesn’t mean God will Fed-Ex it to you. It is according to God’s will.” Robert thought about that. “Okay, makes sense. But I’m sure glad God’s will is that Dad gets to come home.” Melissa gave Robert an uncharacteristic hug. “Me too, little brother, me too!”

With that, the family took all the decorations off of Herman and he was carried out to the curb and gently placed on the snow covered ground. “I will never forget you!” said Robert. Herman thought, “Me neither, my friend.” Herman’s last thought as he passed away was how glad he was he got to be a Christmas tree!

Christmas and after

Christmas was really nice! I was supposed to work Christmas Eve and due to the blizzard of 2009 I did not have to do that so I got to spend time with the family and that was nice! I got a very large nutcracker to add to my collection. This nutcracker is twice the size of my others and carries a ladder to boot! It is a firefighter nutcracker. I truthfully think it may scare the other nutcrackers so next year I may have to separate them!

Then, Christmas day we went to my mother-in-laws for brunch that lasted until 8pm. It was very pleasant and low key. The kids got a lot of nice gifts and spent time flying the "ufo's" my husband got them. They are little helicopter like things that glow and fly pretty much up and down but if you blow on them they vere off course. This is bad if there is an older person or toddler about. We had both and almost took them out several times. For some reason every Christmas season my husband feels at least one remote control vehicle is in order. My son was also given a very large car like thing, that goes up to 15 mph. My husband tried to play with it in my living room with the tree still present. That was quickly and loudly discouraged by me! Evidently this thing can go through snow, water and gosh knows what else!

Last night, I finally removed the very dead tree from my living room and I felt so liberated afterward I cannot tell you! I just love the feeling of having my room back to the way it was before the very large bush tree took over! Next year we are back to my subdued fake tree...yay!! That one, I will leave up until New Years! But having something turning my floor green with needles and forcing several pieces of furniture from the room does not allow for a long stay.

Today, is laundry putting away day and I will have 6 kids running about. 3 of my brothers, 2 of mine, and a friend of my daughters. The girls are wanting a mall trip this evening as my daughter got money for Christmas and she loves going from store to store to find the best bargains. I do too, so I understand and will take them. Gone are the days of just either dropping them off or being able to walk up to the mall and hang out on their own. I will be present the whole time although at a non-embarassing distance!

Thought you'd want to know.

Comfort and Joy!

I wrote a Christmas Story and I want to share it. It is rather long...but if you like long stories, you'll love it. If you have already heard me read it, you probably won't be interested. I will be posting it tomorrow for Christmas Eve.

I also have to work tomorrow night and had originally been going to call in sick but changed my mind after thinking and praying about it for a VERY long time. I decided God will handle it and if I'm meant to stay home for Christmas Eve, he will create a snow storm and they'll close the center. If I'm not, I'll drive there and hang out and talk to folks. Maybe I can touch someone's life that I wouldn't have been able to touch had I not been there. Christmas can be a rough time for some folks.

On a totally unrelated front, we have our THIRD hamster from the litter we created earlier this summer. Two of three have died. However, this is the first one who is actually acting like a hamster, i.e. making a nest out of paper towels, eating chewing, etc.. So I'm hopeful this one may have gotten the "normal" genes and will make it more than 2 months at a stretch. Evidently there is more to breeding hamsters than just putting them together!

Anyway, look for my story tomorrow.

Thought you'd want to know.

Need Gas because it is cold

Have you ever noticed when the wind kicks up and the cold gusts roll in you need gas? But if it is nice with a cloudless sky and beautiful soft breezes your tank is full?
I don't understand this quandry but it happens to me all the time.

Today is busy, I have work and then dropping an unwilling 13 year old off for girl scout camp which she will enjoy immensly but is determined to complain right up until she goes. I believe this is some sort of cosmic punishment to me for I don't know giving birth to her or something?

My son has a basketball game which I'll miss. I went last week and was almost done in while trying to figure out where to sit to watch. They don't have stands or anything so everyone crowds around the sides of the gym and then the referees whistle at you if you get to close to the court. It is kind of insane really. I'll need three games at least before I no longer get whistled at and these whistles are NOT flattering. Although flattering whistles haven't come my way much since I turned 35! :)

That is all I have for today as my time is rather short!!

Thought you'd want to know.

I'm rich (NOT!)

So today I rode around in a limo for 1/2 hour feeling like a rock star or a VIP of some sort. A couple things struck me as I was riding. Number one, the bench seats in this limo were very narrow and it made me think rich people must have small behinds! I guess they do since they can afford personal trainers and liposuction and stuff. I also found it funny that the car was so long and only had one door in the back, so you had to kind of waddle up to where you were sitting once you got in..you'd think they'd have more than one so people could easily find their seats.

I got to go because I co-chaired the Magazine fundraiser and some of the kids won the "limo lunch" so they got to eat lunch in the limo instead of in the cafeteria. They needed adult supervision and at over 40 I qualify! I brought along my 4 year old nephew and he took the whole thing in stride although he did wonder why "no one was driving!" he couldn't see the driver and therefore in his 4 year old mind, there wasn't one. I explained that the driver was behind the screen. He seemed satisfied with that.

I also finally managed to trap a Happenings book. Yes, Happenings books are inanimate objects and should not be hard to trap but if you are asking your 13 year old daughter to trap one for you, it takes a long time. Since it took me as long as it did to get one, however, the price dropped by $10. I know a lot of people tell me they don't use theirs but I really like them, particularly, the Happenings books as they have nicer coupons in them. Plus they have that card thing that gets you additional discounts and any discount these days is a good discount! I'm very fired up about being able to look through it and find deals, it's like a high with me. Sounds kind of crazy but we all have our crazy vices and this one saves money.

Anyway, I'm off to finish mass amounts of laundry..I'm almost done and I can see the finish line. Now if I could just convince my family to wear the same clothes for a week or so I'd stay caught up.

Thought you'd want to know.

Blogging more often

I'm trying to blog on a more regular basis for anyone who may want to read this that way when you log in you will actually see something new. The problem is as with anything if you increase one thing you must decrease another. Okay, I'm referring to exercise!! I'm slowing on that front still and feeling guilty about it. However, I'm hopeful that as of the 1st of the year when things slow down I can get back on my horse.

Yesterday I largely ran errands - got groceries, picked up prescriptions, returned library books, etc.. Also finished about half the laundry, today I need to finish the rest. It is amazing how much easier life is without a large amount of laundry looming over it! I also managed to get my husband to the dentist, yes that is also my job!

We don't know exactly why that is my job...he has a tooth ache and suddenly I have a problem! I think it is because I said that "sickness and health" line when we got married..I knew I'd regret that in the future. Okay, this is tongue and cheek, but still, it DOES seem amazing to me how much men rely on women to do for them. How do single guys without living mothers do it? Maybe they send out their laundry and hire a personal assistant or something?

I have to be somewhere as per usual, so need to go...another thing I'm trying to do.BE ON TIME! This whole late thing isn't working out well and so far I've been on time the majority of times this week and it feels pretty good, so I'm sticking with it.

Thought you'd want to know.

Getting crazier by the minute!

I was at church on Sunday AM when my phone rang (or vibrated actually!) and it was my son. He said the dog had taken off with the waffle mix and spread it around the living room. The dog was irritated because she hadn't had a walk that day and was not allowed to go sledding the night before so she was getting revenge.

My son's solution to the problem was to make waffles. If life throws you lemons make lemonade and if the dog throws waffle mix make waffles! Can't fault the kids attitude. So I told him that was fine but NOT to start the waffle iron without either me or his father present. NO of course he won't do that! Right. So, he called three more times for ingredient information and then finally to announce that he had successfully MADE A WAFFLE! How did you do that without turning on the waffle iron? I asked naively! Okay, so he turned it on "for a minute." he said. No burn no foul I guess!! However, I did not hear much of the message at church because I kept leaving to answer the phone! THIS is why I always sit on the end.

I am having trouble accepting the fact that my smallest child is growing up! They are having health class at school lately and when my husband asked my son what he has learned he explained about babies and that they are attached to the mother with an "extension cord". I guess you just plug and go!! :)

Next week should calm down a bit as the kids are off school. We should be able to just go sledding or skating and "put our feet up!".

Last night we had a cookie social at my bible study group and they had chocolate covered cherries. I ALWAYS think I want one of those and then I bite into it and think why did I want one of these? My dad got them every year and absolutely loved them or so I think. Maybe he thought the same thing but was embarrassed to say anything. My grandmother always bought the Whitman's Sampler and I'd inevitably pull either the coconut one or the creepy strawberry filled one that had mystery strawberry filling. I never seemed to remember to look at the "chocolate map" before grabbing one. My brother always got the good solid chocolate one or the gooey chocolate one. Unfair, but then he looked at the map! And we say men never ask directions!

Thought you'd want to know.

Late...again!

I am always late. I know most people say they are late but I have made a profession out of it. I was 2 weeks late at birth and it hasn't improved much since. No matter how early I seem to start out, I still wind up late.

I remember a few weeks ago, I was 10 minutes late for a meeting and I walked in and was irritated because no one else was there, HOW COULD THEY BE LATER THAN I AM? I thought! Well, in looking at my calendar I realized, I was a week early! So, I was early that time, but too early to wait!

Another time, my best friend threw a wedding shower for me. I had signed up to bike in the iron man bike ride that at that time started and ended in Buffalo, MN. So, I thought I'd do the short ride, 62 miles (I was in shape then) and then I'd make the shower on time. Well, it rained during the race and then hailed! That held me up a bit, plus even though I was in shape, I still was tired at the end and need a bit to rest before getting in my car and heading home. When I got home I looked in the mirror and discovered tire grease all over me. Well, then I had to shower. Long story short I was 45 minutes late for my own shower!

I have decided for my New Year's Resolution I am going to resolve to be on time. I know I need to start planning now on how I'll accomplish that. I also probably have to find a book on being on time and how to do it. There probably is one, there is one on every topic. Yes, I know what you are thinking, JUST LEAVE EARLIER. It is not that simple, it can't be...

Thought you'd want to know.

Quick Note

So I have good intentions and little else lately. This AM I awoke with the INTENTION of doing a good work out. The INTENTION turned into less than that when I discovered I was out of cereal and out of oatmeal so I had to improvise my son's breakfast into Cinnamon toast, but yes folks, we were out of Cinnamon too! So we went with jelly and peanut butter. This took longer than it would have because as I have mentioned before, my husband stole my toaster and replaced it with a toaster oven. I want my toaster back!! I also am wondering why the manufacturers create products like the squeezable jelly for instance and apparently never test it in reality first. The squeezable jelly as it moves on through its life, starts to get stickier and stickier and if you put it upside down it leaks all over the place creating a jelly mess in your refrigerator. Why don't they test these things? Someone should develop a business where they say they will open packages and use products in the real world and report back. Over half the products out there cannot be opened by normal means in my opinion. Maybe I'll open the business...stay tuned.

Anyway, I was going to work out at 9 and now it is 9:30 and I have yet to do it. However, I will do something, but not as much as I would have done had I started earlier. I am going to be one of those 1st of the year people who gets going "seriously" after new years. I don't think there is any way to avoid it because I can't see myself becoming productive until then. Sad fact of life number 12!!
I know what you are thinking..you were just bragging on this very blog about your ability to fit into "the" pants and now "the" pants are tight again. But, there is hope, I did it once you know!

I said this would be quick, largely because I NEED to get my metabolism going...so I'm going!!

Thought you'd want to know.

Taking time to blog

Okay, so I have had no time to blog or to do anything or maybe I just manage time badly. It seems like I am constantly running lately. This weekend was no exception, Friday night I came home from work and ran out the door to go to the Nutcracker with my daughter, another mom and two other girls. This was the first time I'd ever seen the Nutcracker. I'd seen portions of it but never actually experienced the entire performance. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled with it. The costumes were beautiful and the ballerinas and the male dancers were very talented. I just got tired of it after a while. Maybe I have a short attention span but I wanted to see something other than people doing impossible moves with their feet. HOW does anyone do that, it gave me toe cramps just watching it. I also noticed how thin they all were (or most of them) one girl looked larger than the rest and she was probably a 2 to their -0 frames! It was amazing! One guy had on an open shirt and his ribs were so prevalent you could have played them like a Xylophone!! The girl that played Clara was so small she turned and they only thing you saw was her hair and nose! She was a beautiful girl, but a cheeseburger wouldn't have hurt her!! :)

Then on Saturday I worked again and on Sunday had church and a meeting of the Fun Fair for school. Then, shopping for groceries and Christmas presents.

It seems so busy at this time of year!! I haven't really even had time to work out much although I walked the dog twice yesterday as she is impossible to live with if she doesn't go and she hadn't gone much lately because cold weather is unpleasant to walk in. In fact, cold weather is hard to get out of bed in! I pile on the blankets and hope the alarm doesn't go off! My husband is perpetually warm and it drives me crazy because he walks in and out twenty times and opens and shuts the door letting in the cold and I shiver! He doesn't get it because he is NEVER cold. I think it is a man thing because my dad never seemed to get cold either.

Anyway, I have Christmas cards to fill out and other activities to get done prior to my Bible Study tonight.

Thought you'd want to know.