Well Thanksgiving is behind us with Christmas ahead of us. My main concern is that we don't lose focus here as to who's birthday this is~! Happy Birthday Jesus is what I say.  And if that offends anyone to hear that then just don't read it. I don't care about being politically correct~! This country was founded on God, and it really bugs me how little by little they are managing to get rid of any thing religous we have left.  Ok enough venting for me Lol. I just got home from my parents home; my mom is back home from the hospital and after two stents in her arteries, she is doing ok. Now I have to hurry and catch up with all my school work before it's too late. A little extra yoga will help my mind from stressing over it. Getting the Christmas decorations up is also important, however it's taking back seat at the moment. For me sometimes this time of year can get a little hectic with so many things needing to get done. For me I write a list every day of the things I need to accomplish and just try to go down the list and complete them. I don't always finish everything on my list, but I'm happy if I complete most of them. the leftovers go on tomorrows list or the next days list until I eventually get them done. Time management is also very important this time of year for me. As  long as I remember to do these things in a timely way; I find my stress level is in tact. I would also like to squeeze in some doctors appointments by the end of the year. From what my husband tells me, in January our health benefits are all going to change and it's not going to be as good as what we have now. Well this is all the time I have for now, see you all here next week.
Doreen

Well I'm sitting here thinking about all the work involved with getting all the Christmas decorations out and up. My 15 year old daughter is sitting here telling me to hurry up and get started so she can go out with her friends. I would much rather go shopping than put the decorations up. Of course you need money to do that, Ha ha. Of course when the tree is all up and the ornaments are all on and the rest of the decorations are up, our house is so pretty. We all love the Christmas spirit we feel this time of year. All the kids in our family and extended family are teenagers or above so the shopping this year will basically be gift cards for everyone, since they all seem to love that gift the the most. Kind of takes the fun out of shopping, and wrapping. We have a tradition in our family with Christmas ornaments. We all go to Grandma's house and each family has a child pick a ornament from grandmas tree and we get to keep it, the only requirement is we have to write their name and the year somewhere on the ornament. Grandma has all the coolest ornaments, like something you'd see in a big department store on display on her tree. In my family the girls take turns every year on who picks the ornament. The parents are not allowed to tell them which ones to pick. This has been a tradition that my mom started 30 years ago. Grandma has just informed all the families that this year she is not putting any Christmas tree or any decorations up due to her son ( my brother) dying in July. I know my daughters are already saddened by that, I suppose the other familes are too. My brother was 51 years old when he died of a heat stroke in July of this year. I suppose I can understand where my mom is coming from and all, however I wish there was something I could do to help her feel better. My older sister has already said they'll skip going to moms house this year, which I think is awful. My dead brothers family is also skipping the event this year, so who knows what it will be like for the rest of us, however I know no matter what-
 we will make the best of it and be as happy as we can that we still have my parents here with us to celebrate another Christmas! Merry Chrisrtmas to Everyone and a Happy New Year too~!
Doreen

      Ever since I decided to go back to school to get my degree, my self image I would say has improved the most. I really feel like I'm doing something of signficance now. I'm actually happy that my brain is being stimulated with academics. I can clearly see the light at the end of my tunnel with graduating down the road .
The goal I set up from the begining is achievable and on track still.
       I just feel so useful now even though as a stay at home mom your are very useful and needed and always working. Maybe because this is something I'm doing for myself, where as being a stay at home mom is always doing for your kids and hubby and seldom for yourself.
     I also feel like I'm more of an inspiration for my 15 year old daughter as well. She hopefully will be starting College in three more years as she graduates from High School.  I have been for years instilling in her the importance of a college degree now a days that hopefully there will be no option of not going. I tried doing the same with my 21 year old daughter , however she at the last minute decided she'll go to college later. It broke my heart, so this time I'm hoping my 15 year old will see the importance of going straight to college. I'm not taking an option of " later" for her; and so far she's not showing an option of putting it off.
     As I look back now at how I spent my free time before I started college, I wonder how I ever felt satisfied. I use to send the kids off to school, do whatever little house cleaning I needed to do or shopping that was needed, than spent a good four to six hours just playing stupid games on my computer. Lol. I think I had an addiction to on line gaming. After dinner was done and the kids put to bed, I would run back on my computer and play some more untill my eyes couldn't stay awake anymore. Day in and day out the same thing over and over. What a life ha? So it's not surprising to me as I look back at those times versus now why I feel so happy to be back in school doing something productive that is for me. And the on-line gaming? Yes I still play a game here and there, but very seldom, usually just when I'm fustrated with my studies and need a breif break.
   It feels great to feel like I'm important and I'm doing something of value per say, with my free time and my computer. I even feel a little younger being back in school. I'm happier all around and feel useful and blessed and thankful that I finally woke up and will be making myself a better person at the end of this goal. And if this also will be an inspiration to my daughter for her college, what more could I want or ask for??
Doreen

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday was Halloween and I had a great time handing out candy and seeing all the costumes. We always get a lot of kids at this neighborhood so this year I bought more candy and still ran out~! I love the idea of dressing up to be anything or anyone you want on this holiday, I just never have anywhere to go so I never get to get dressed up in a costume. I hope everyone remembered to set their clocks back an hour~!
Doreen