I managed to get in front of the camera a few times. We're all enjoying our third blizzard of 2006.

Six years ago today, my daughter, Christa, was born.
I spent the wee hours of Christmas Eve 2000 doing laps around the nurse's desk in the birthing center. The nurses plied my three older children with Christmas cookies and urged me to deliver before their shift ended.
Coming 12 years after my third child, I dubbed Christa my  "caboose baby." My dad called her "Twas"--as in 'Twas the night before Christmas. She's also known as "Sugarplum'" (visions of sugarplums danced in their heads) and "Boo" and "Loo Hoo."
Since Christa's birth, I've started supplementing our Christmas decorations with trains--ones with four cars: An engine, for her big brother Josh, two cars for her big sisters Katie Beth and Amy, and a caboose for Christa, of course.
This year we started a new family tradition. I found a pan that makes train shaped cakes. So, I baked some and the kiddos decorated them this morning. Josh decorated the engine and the girls decorated two train cars and Christa decorated the caboose.
Maybe as our family expands thanks to marriages and births of grandchildren, I'll add more cars to the train.

So, life's run past me lately. I'm trying desperately to keep up. Realizing I can't. So, crossing things of my To Do list--and telling myself that's okay. 'Tis the season.

Actually, I don't think the season is all about rushing and feeling too busy--but there it is. And there I am.

I think the season is about Grace.

So, I'm giving myself grace to not do it all. And that way I won't miss what it is important.

Family.

Friends.

Faith.

I've ignored my Minti time too--and I've missed it. My ranking is creeping up again too. But my involvement here isn't all about getting a better ranking--although I am a competitive person.

I enjoy the dialogue. I enjoy building relationships with other parents all over the world. Finding Minti has been a good, good thing.

And for that I am grateful.

 

One of the best things about my  "caboose kid" is the chance to see life through her young eyes.

Today her class led chapel and sang Christmas songs--all the ones I remember from my childhood and from my three oldest children's childhoods: Rudolph and Jingle Bells and Away in a Manger and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

There is something so whimsically sweet about children's voices singing--off-key, but with such enthusiasm. They wore handmade, construction paper reindeer antlers--and looked adorable.

I wouldn't be caught dead in handmade reindeer antlers. And too often I feel self-concious when I sing Silent Night or We Three Kings or Frosty the Snowman. Never can remember the words to that song!

I love how Christa embraces the season with abandon, enjoying the candy canes and the lights and the cookies and the music. I'm thankful I get to share it with her.

It's a good day when I manage to get up before Christa does.

Most days I think she lays awake in her bed, waiting for the first sound that I am awake too. I imagine her peeking out her door, watching for my bedroom door to open. As soon as I step outside my bedroom, I am fair game.

Mom's up--and I'm up too!

On the days I manage to rise and shine before Christa, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I've had some quiet time without my daughter wanting me to read to her. I've exercised without my daughter wanting breakfast. I've even cleaned out my e-mail boxes--yes, boxes, plural because I have three e-mail accounts--without my daughter standing beside my desk.

On days like today I am ready to greet Christa with a smile because I've managed a few minutes to myself. I've gotten a headstart on my day, so I'm ready to give her some focused attention when she peeks around the corner, smiles, and announces, "I'm up, Mom!"

 

So my quiet day is disrupted by my 18 year old telling me she can't register for the spring semester--some sort of hold on her application because of a question with her immunization records.

She's off to a dental appointment and I'm trying to figure out what she needs to do--but she's 18 and no longer a minor so they--the people at admin and the health center--aren't going to tell me much.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

I'll do the best I can to move the process along--praying for some help and praying her preferred classes don't get filled.

When I was thinking about blogging this entry, I thought of all the photos I've looked through this past week. Photos from Thanksgiving. Photos from Christa's birthday party. Friends. Family.

And I realized I have a lot of people in my life I am grateful for.

I am grateful for:

my three adult children and our relationships. We love each other and we like each other. And I still get to be Mom on occasion and help them.

my husband. We've been married for almost 27 years--and we have the marital battle scars to prove it.  We've learned there's a whole lot more to "Happily Ever After" then what those fairytales tell you.

my friends who are scattered all over the world, thanks to my being a military wife for 24 years--and now thanks to making new friends through Minti.

my "caboose kid" who allows me to be the mother of a young child again and enjoy all the handmade arts and crats she brings home from kindergarten.

my four siblings--two brothers and two sisters (including my twin sister)--and how we are reminiscing via e-mail about our favorite Christmas memories.

Katie Beth (20) Amy (18) Josh (23) and Christa, my caboose kid, (6 on Christmas Eve)

Life is good.

May your day be anchored in gratefulness.

I have a holiday-themed article over on InspiredMoms.com. It's called Holiday Tug of War.

You can check it out at:

http://www.inspiredmoms.com/

And then click on the title Holiday Tug of War by Beth Vogt.

Enjoy!

I can tell it's the holiday season.

My closet is now off-limits to my kiddos because that's where I stash gifts. My kiddos have learned that I inevitably lose one or two gifts each Christmas and that sometime in January I'll say, "Oh, I forgot to give this to you! Sorry!"

The Christmas tree is up and my Fall decorations--faux pumpkins and a wreath--are sitting around waiting to be put away. I hope I get it done before January!

I'm ordering gifts online for long-distant relatives and trying to keep my spending within the confines of my budget.

I'm sorting through various family photos trying to find a decent one for our Christmas card. Why is it someone's eyes are always closed or Christa is making a silly face?

My radio is tuned to the all-Christmas music station, and will be so until December 26th.

I'm eagerly looking forward to Christmas Eve service and the chance to sing "Silent Night" in a candlelit church. Along with watching It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas, that's one of my favorite holiday traditions!

"Tis the season--and I intend on enjoying it!

 

It's a work day for me today. That means I'm home and I'm ignoring the laundry and the dishes and the preparations for my daughter's birthday party tomorrow. Instead, I'm sitting at my desk and wading through all my writing To Do's.

Getting some things accomplished--and yes, I am grateful for that!

But for now I am going to back away from all I want to accomplish and look back at all the things--and people--I am grateful for this past week.

I am grateful for:

my son's visit during Thanksgiving. And how he loved on his little sister and let her hang on him and let her sit on him and climb on him and hug him. Over and over and over again. And how he read her bedtime stories and played Hi-Ho-Cherry-O with her (and his girlfriend). And how he welcomed an early-morning snuggle when she showed up beside his bed the day after Thanksgiving.

a snow day! I love snow! Well--I like the way Colorado does snow because it doesn't last all winter long--and is usually followed by bright, sunshiney days.

my husband's helpfulness around the house. He's always willing to vacuum and this week he even cleaned the bathroom. Quite honestly, I can't recall the last time he did that! Totally unexpected and totally appreciated!

baking cookies the old-fashioned way--meaning using real sugar and shortening, not Splenda (although I love Splenda) and applesauce. Some things just need to be fattening.

May your day be anchored in gratefulness.

A very happy Christa sandwiched between Josh and his girlfriend Jen.

A few last (tearful) minutes with Josh