My first REAL Christmas tree!

I am a terrible wife, most of the time, but my husband is always giving me special blessings regardless. My first REAL Christmas tree is one of them. I LOVE it. And last night we had the teens over for their first J.P. Peterson Smith Seasonal Decorating Challenge, and we had them make ornaments, which look AWESOME! We'll do this every year and fill the tree with homemade keepsakes. I keep thinking that this is going to be so special when (Lord willing, should He give us that many years on this earth) 10, 20 and 30 years down the road all these kids are in college, and we can decorate the tree and remember them and think of how far they've come.

My life is so full of blessings.

Cussin'

Discussing the rules

I spent many days with the Youngs, including one extra day when the Digby ferry was canceled on account of weather. I did NOT manage my energy well and conked out in a chair early the last night. However, the other nights we stayed up quite late and did some of the things we do best: made a lot of noise, played Mao, sang in some incredible harmonies (I am learning how to sing the Pokemon theme song so that I can add my harmonies to that of the Youngs on my next visit), ate stuff Deb made, and laughed 'til we cried. My new favourite Mao rule is that every time you get a penalty, you have to thank Dave. Ex. "Penalty for playing out of turn" must be followed with the response "Thank you, Dave".

I played a lot of Wizard Chess also. And quoted Catface. "I must go to the shops, yes." And my new favourite board game is called "Caylus".

The kittens have returned to their home. The very next day I picked up Mattie, who has been living in an old car for at least a year. He needs a home. He's away today getting fixed, but we have another visitor in his place --- a tiny, tiny little kitten who is currenly acclimating herself to her surroundings and is fascinated by a plastic-encased clock laying on the spare bed (she keeps batting at the second-hand). She will be with us 'til Christmas; she already has a home to go to. My cats are not super-excited to have her here, but are reacting more with curiosity than animosity, despite their silly hissing. This cat hisses back, though --- good for her :)

I visited Saint John First Wesleyan this weekend, and it was a good thing. I think this is only the second time I've been back for a service, and so there was a lot of hugging.

Remiss

I don't like using the computer at home, because I'm on it all day at work. And I don't blog at work, because blogging is not work. And so here is yet another disjointed update:

I am on my first forever medication for my thyroid, and will soon be on my second, for my cholesterol, because after months of eating VERY well, my overall only dropped a point, and my doctor says it should have dropped back to normal long ago if it was just a diet issue. So it's hereditary. I'm adopted, as some of you would know, so my medical history is sketchy. I guess it's about time to have my adoption records opened.

There are cats EVERYWHERE at my house. We're fostering three fluffy kittens, and still have our two cats. This amounts to us having the same amount of cats as there are rooms in our house. That might be okay if the cats would spread out, but they are prone to all wanting to be wherever we are. One of the cats likes to try to cram her nose up my nose. That's my favourite. And last night Milo fell into the bathtub while I was in it. And sometimes I wake up and a cat is sleeping on my face. This is actually all more enjoyable than it sounds.

These cats will actually be returning home --- one of their humans is in the hospital, but will be home in two weeks and then the kittens will go back to their family.

My husband and I got the first season of 24 from the library - 6 hours to go. Lovely show.

Things I have not yet ceased to love: My job, my boss, my friends, my Person, my church, my neighbours.

A few weeks ago I travelled to Charlottetown, Halifax and Lower Sackville to represent Bethany at a College/University fair - VERY fun. It's great to have a job that provides so much flexibility.

Speaking of job flexibility, my boss has okayed another trek to Saint John for next weekend.

Looks like some more funding might be available for me, which means I'll be at my job until at least March. This is EXCELLENT news.

Sela Ward is my favourite actress. I wish she was in more stuff.

I miss Exalt. I wish it happened more than once a year.

My husband is in rough shape. He lost a filling a while ago, and in my attempt to teach him responsibility in baby steps, I told him that if he gave me some numbers for local dentists, I would call and find one that would take him. He did not, so I did not. Now he is in terrible, terrible pain. (Suffice it to say I called to make an appointment without him fulfilling his part of the bargain --- hopefully the consequences of his procrastination will effectively teach him the lesson.) I want to take him to outpatients to get an antibiotic to tide him over until his dentist appointment on Tuesday, but being the stubborn man that he is, he refuses.

My roommate has Typhus. (That roommate is obviously Selinda.) Only my boss seems to understand that this is cool. Everyone else looks at me like I have two heads when I tell them the news with excitement. Typhus is even cooler than malarya. She had that too, you know! (She's recovering, by the way. It wouldn't be cool if she wasn't --- I'm not a monster!)

My Person gave me the nicest pair of brown boots. Tomorrow she is giving me a coat that goes with them. I TOLD you she has the best hand-me-downs.

I have observed some of the coolest things about people in my church. I will share them the next time I blog. I'm done now. :)