I swear it was just Monday. I was gearing up for a productive week of finishing last minute projects, caught up on blog reads and compiling a list in my head of all the things I’d get done this week. Hmmm, it’s now Friday evening.

On the bright side, I did get a heck of lot of stuff done this week. It’s never as much as I think/hope it will be, but I’m coming to accept that as my expectations are always so high. The packages made it to the mail today and that was a big item to check off the list. The floors got cleaned and the dishes didn’t build for more than one night at a time. The laundry suffered, but there’s always tomorrow. The family calendars got designed, printed and bound as well as the third grade Christmas party letter. The kid’s Primary Activity Day was attended complete with mom helping at the baby Jesus ornament station. The DVD scrapbook of our year in pictures got done for 9 lucky recipients. The online Christmas card was sent and I even managed to catch up on some blogs today. Throw in at least two nights with a home-cooked meal and there’s reason to celebrate.

Yet here I sit, wondering how a whole week snuck by me. How can it be 9 days to Christmas? Tomorrow we’re on to Gingerbread houses and by Sunday night I’ll be ready for one long bubble bath! Here’s to holiday time off and catching up on blogging!

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Family Organizing Motherhood Housework Balance Holidays

Next year, don’t think you can take on the year’s scrapbook DVD in one or two days. Leave yourself and entire week. Further, don’t start the project on the week you want to mail it, do that the week before. Everything always takes longer than you think it will, but this dear will take many times longer than you remember.

Read this next year sometime in November and you’ll have one more thing to add to the list of things you’re grateful for. *wink*

Don’t you just love it when your memory and expecations are a little hazy? LOL

It’s been a few weeks since I got my PTT post submitted. As this week has started with a bang and me having serious blog withdrawals with no time to read or post, I’m putting it at the top of my list this morning (even if it is Wednesday now, let’s pretend it’s still Tuesday for just a minute!)

Last week we had a Christmas party at our church. I love that they do this because it saves me a trip to the mall so the kids can sit on Santa’s knee. This year’s Santa was truly amazing - both in look and in spirit. He talked with the kids for a few moments first about how Christmas isn’t about him, but about Jesus and how happy it makes him to make kids happy. If you wonder how this was received, check out my son:

He was completely enthralled, full of anticipation at every word Santa said! When it was finally his turn to sit on his knee (this being the first positive experience when he was just old enough to WANT to and not cry), I tried to get close enough to hear what he asked him for and get a few pictures. To my surprise I heard Santa say, “A dog? Oh dear, we’d better consult mom and dad on that one.”

On the way home, we asked him why he asked for a dog. He thought in silence for a moment and then one of us told him we thought he wanted a bike. The response was so sincere and immediate “Oh darn it.” My heart just melted. He thought he had one chance to ask Santa to bring something and now he wished he’d asked for a bike. We were quick to reassure him that we could let Santa know he really wants a bike to which his response was equally sincere and immediate. He got all excited crying out “Yay!”

To both of my kids, I send my love, thanks and appreciation that they only ever ask Santa for one thing. This year Santa didn’t ask the children what they wanted, but rather what the one thing they wanted most was. I thought it was kind of sad that it was necessary, but at the same time, was grateful he’d do it. Moreover, I’m grateful that it made no difference to my kids on their reply - to the point that my sweet 4 year old thought he had but one chance to get it right. I LOVE being a mom!

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Family Parenting Sharing Inspiration Perspectives Motherhood Holidays

[blenza_autolink ww]

Blogger is being weird about logins for me, accepting it on a few and saying try again later on most so although I’m visiting all your WW’s, I’ve only been able to leave comments on a few. Bugger! (Gattina shares that this is a Beta Blogger problem)

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Family Wordless Wednesday Holidays

Why is it that things always come this way? It seems that when things hit they hit in clumps. Monday is usually my day to catch up on blogs and share some weekend tidbits. But today has been off track for me, filled with outside demands on time and energies. Now that I’m sitting down at my computer I have only moments left before it’s time to pick up kids from school and head out to the soccer team’s party. *sigh*

My mom used to have a saying on her fridge that stuck with me. It read:

One crisis at a time please.

Today I’m having one of those “several days hitting me all at once” days and I hope very much to find some time to blog later tonight!

If this is the first Simple Balance tip you’ve read, make sure you click on the rainbow image as it will take you to the index and overview of the series. ;o)

So, it’s the holidays and most people are feeling the sense of the hustle and bustle that go with it. As I was sitting here thinking this morning, I realized how much of what I wanted to say fit so well with this series. So today you get a quadruple whammy as tips will cover: Organizing & Planning, Technology & Resources, Family & Entertainment as well as Cooking & Shopping!
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Okay, my 4 year old just came to me grabbing my hand and telling me to come. He took me around the corner to the bathroom to show me the toilet. At first glance I see nothing. Then I see the remains of unflushed toilet paper in the base. Sending a quick prayer of gratitude to heaven for the invention of smart toilets that don’t overflow, I ask my son if he used too much toilet paper and it didn’t flush. “Yes mom.”
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My Quiet Corner has a thoughtful post on shared Christmas memories going on. I’ve been most fortunate to have so many good memories of Christmas.

My earliest memories are from the years when it was just me and my older sister on the family scene. I can still hear the old Christmas songs playing on the reel to reel in my mind… (more…)

It’s hard to believe, but that’s me on the left when I was a few feet shorter. *wink*[blenza_autolink ww]

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Family Wordless Wednesday Holidays

Isn’t it amazing how simply believing something can bring proportionate results? I’m always amazed by this. It gives me reason to pause and contemplate the many influences around me which affect my thoughts and beliefs. What a wonderful and real power lies within each of us when we recognize it. A small adjustment at the hinge can bring about mighty changes on the swing of a gate. And so it is with our lives, the slightest adjustments can bring about vast results.
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