It was wonderful to go to church again this morning. I didn't make it through the whole service, but I got through the whole sermon, anyway! It's very hard for me to stay comfortable right now, and in straight-backed chairs it was a challenge. Next week I'll take my recliner ;-)

I actually wore my fur coat this morning...it's CO-O-OLD here!

Bethany returns tomorrow! I know that the girls have enjoyed having her with them, but we miss her around here!

Our Thanksgiving was so nice. I did hardly anything, but you'd never have known it. The help we got was fantastic and made it seem like our normal feast, even if we did eat on plastic plates this year. I'm so grateful for the way all our kids pitched in to shop, cook, clean, and organize, and also for the scrumptious dishes brought by our guests...

Leftover Squash Casserole might as well be dessert.

Christmas shopping is nearly done! And I haven't been inside a store yet! This year I've had time to scour for the best online deals and it's really paid off. The bathtub is piled high with boxes waiting to be wrapped...my next task is getting the ones going to Virginia ready for mailing. By Christmas time, our family there will amount to a dozen people!

I can always tell when it's getting close to time for piano recital: Shelley is at the piano every thirty minutes or so. I love it!

This week I finished The Thirteenth Tale and Night on audio, made some more progress on Uncle Tungsten in hard copy, and started listening to Breathing Lessons. While the latter has some touching and funny moments, it's nowhere near as good as the other Anne Tyler books I've read. But then I don't suppose an author, or anyone for that matter, can be at the top of her game all the time...and then again it might surprise me and finish at the top of my list!

I'm already putting together my reading wish list for '08. It seems as if there are always about twenty times as many books catching my interest as I will ever be able to read. But at least I'm never bored. When I think about having been born BEFORE Gutenberg, I shudder.

To those of you who will be checking your mailbox for my usually early Christmas card, don't. I made the decision back in October not to do the Christmas card and letter thing this year...I know myself well enough to know that with surgery falling when it did, it would be one more project than I could handle and stay sane. It was not a mistake. These days between Thanksgiving and the first of December, usually filled with cards and copiers and envelopes and labels and stamps, are much quieter and more relaxed this year and it's been good for me. I'll miss it, and I'm sure that by next year I'll be chomping at the bit to buy my cards in August, but for this week, I'm enjoying the break.

Some of you have asked whether the procedure on my leg seems to have been successful. At this point I'd have to say that I'm still experiencing too much pain from the surgery itself to sort it all out, but I can also say that on balance I think it's looking good.

I look forward to the beginning of Advent next week. I dearly love the slow, steady approach of Christmas and the building anticipation of the season...don't you? I'm going to put on some Christmas music and then work on the week's lesson plans. Hope all of you are having a nice Sunday...

Labels: Books, Holidays, Kids, Sundays, Weather