And so it goes.  I went to church this morning and it's all decorated for the children's Christmas program this evening.  What is it about singing "Silent Night" that gives me goose bumps every time I sing it, especially when we do it a capella?  A couple of Christmases ago we sang the entire thing without music in a candlelit sanctuary...beautiful.

Hmmmmmmm.  As I was sitting alone in my pew this morning, a young woman approached and asked if it was ok to sit with me.  I told her certainly and moved over to make room for her.  We introduced ourselves and chitchatted for a few minutes until the service started, then spoke again at the end of it.  She'd told me she's come to our church a few times in the past so I told her any time she spots me -- I usually sit in the same general area -- to feel free to come sit by me.  She seemed very grateful for that offer and I told her there's nothing worse than coming into a place where you don't know anyone and then having to sit by yourself!  I've spent a lot of time sitting there by myself because Dear Hubby was always so busy with driving Sunday School vans or ushering or whatever.  It doesn't bother me to sit alone but I've been going there for over 31 years now and at least I know everyone around me for the most part...that makes a big difference.  I vowed a few weeks ago when I stepped out of my comfort zone and introduced myself to someone new that from now on I'm never ignoring another newcomer.  And here the Lord brought another person my way!  It'll be interesting to see how much of a One Woman Welcome Wagon I become!  And it feels great!!!

I got all of my Christmas shopping done yesterday.  That was a good feeling, too...no more pressure.  I was at the store the minute the door opened at 8 am and I was completely done and out of there at 8:52!  I know what I want and I get it...no quibbling around for me.  Yuck.  It's about the only time of year I do any retail shopping.  Beyond that, I'm a junk store junkie.  If truth be told, even a few Christmas gifts in the past have been bought at thrift stores but...shhhhhhhhhh!  That's our secret!

I've noticed this house in particular before, but I get a kick out of it every time I walk past it, which I did again yesterday when Chloe dog and I went for a longer walk than usual.  Posted all over the fence are signs:  "No Trespassing!"  "Beware of Dog!"  "Enter at Your Own Risk!"  And the decorative sign hung on the front door?  "Welcome, Friends!"  HA!

One gift I found for my grandson was a shirt inscribed: "I'm DEFINITELY up to something!"  How could I resist that one?!

I'm no longer buying a bazillion gifts for everyone.  My daughter is 31.  My son is 29.  My daughter-in-law is 26.  I said the days of child-like Christmases are over now...it's time to cut back and give them nice things, just not as many.  With Dylan at the age now where Christmas is going to be a major day for him and a new grandson coming into the picture, Christmas will focus on them and they will get a bazillion gifts.  Which is the way it should be.  Dear Hubby and I haven't given gifts to each other since our kids were born.  Instead, we'd have a get-away weekend, just the two of us, at the coast or wherever we decided upon going, in January.  My in-laws were always so good about watching the kids for us that particular weekend.  Instead of January, we're hoping to get away this time around in February.  There's a bow shoot then somewhere in eastern Oregon and Dear Hubby asked if I'd like to go to that.  He can freeze his fanny off out on the archery course...I'll stay in a motel room where it's nice and warm and read.  Sounds about perfect to me.

I'm taking care of Dylan a little later today.  Both my son and daughter-in-law are Sunday School teachers and are involved in the program tonite so Dylan will stay with us while all that's going on.  Next year he'll be old enough to participate in it himself, so it'll be back to going to the Children's program for us again!  I've got dishes to do, a dog to walk...always something, isn't there?