~Don'tGetStuck~

Had the privilege of going on an almost all day shopping excursion with some sweet gals today. 
My one friend picked me up and gracefully endured my incessant chatter that started before we were even out of my driveway.

I apologetically told her that apparently I hadn't reached my adult conversation quota for the last couple days…..well make that the last few weeks…. and I thanked her for listening so kindly. 
She heard my school woes, my anxiety about one kid who doesn't talk enough, and one who talks entirely too much, and a host of other things. 

Good friends who catch verbal vomit are priceless.

I got back home, promptly changed into my pajamas and got the recap of the day with the babysitter.
Come to find out, J and A went AT IT. 
Even enough to make my four year old notice. That's bad.
I decided the time has come to plan daily "team building" to encourage good sibling relationships between these two. They were sent outside alone, together to play for a half an hour and they also get the privilege of sleeping in the same room for two nights with a half an hour of interaction before bedtime that does not include electronics. (they just came downstairs with a lego creation they had built and said, "I think this is working")

It's a good plan, I think. 

Reminds me of the old Haley Mills movie The Parent Trap where the girls are at camp and the director forces them to share a cabin after the fighting was out of control. 

We've embraced Thanksgiving break to the fullest and we are only one day in. 

Put up two big trees and four little kid trees.

Watched Home Alone and The Grinch. 

Christmas cards ordered.

 Spent 7 hours picking up and placing out of place stuff. 

(what is UP with that?!!…the mess, I mean. man.)

Costco AND Publix run complete.

Looking forward to family coming in town Wednesday.

Lights, lights, and more lights,

tacky, sentimental ornaments,

broccoli casserole and cheese apples,

Bing Crosby, 

NO SCHOOL,

Holiday Inn,

The sweetest preschool Thanksgiving program 

you have EVER seen,

cozy, slower paced nights with family,

are some things that make my temporal Thanksgiving and Christmas SO much fun. 

Peace that passes all understanding,

A Savior who came to this earth, if only JUST for me,

Promise of eternal life, 

Grace extended when my plans don't go as planned,

The promise that God comforts the oppressed,

A friend who texts me at 5:45 in the morning to see if I'm up, spending a little time in God's Word and prayer……sweet accountability to do the things 

that keep me in the right frame of mind,

A celebration of a Holy Night 

that is not limited to a square on a calendar,

are the things that make my inner man so full of joy, 

my heart could burst.

~happy Thanksgiving
      ~happy no school
             ~happy start of Christmas
                     ~to all of you.

~stacey
p.s. refuse to get stuck in the regret of yesterday
or the fear of tomorrow. be in the present.