Christmas Spirit

It is almost here and I can hardly wait! Our plans involve no major modes of transportation this year and I am thrilled about it.

Tomorrow I will work a half of day (I had only enough vacation for the 25th through the 5th of January and my sister will be here all that time) and then M and I are off to Crisis Assistance Ministry for an afternoon of volunteering. This is the first Christmas eve we have done this sort of thing, but I would like to make it a tradition. I am excited to bring the cookies I made on Sunday night too (minus the ones that I messed up). I figure I surely do not need cookies and others may not have the luxury of baking them at home this season. Anyway, that is our Christmas Eve Day and then Christmas Eve night we will go to Midnight Mass with M's family. Our church had their Christmas service on Sunday that will also be on Christmas Eve, so we will not be going to our usual Church.
Christmas morning M and I will exchange gifts and then head to his parents to meet up with my mom and his sister. We will spend the afternoon there and Christmas Night M and I are going to see Marley and Me. I can't wait to see this movie. I read the book a few years ago and LOVED it. I hope the movie does not disappoint.

Merry Christmas to all!

still here

I have not had photos, so have in turn not blogged. Sorry to all of those out there who check in on me and have come to "expect" updates. In one word we are: Well. We have nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for. We are healthy and are blessed with having our family come to us this season.

I have one more week of work before a week of vacation. I can hardly wait. Since I don't have any new photos I am going to post a few older ones just for the sake of it. For no particular reason:

Everyone loves a rainbow and this photo does not do this one any justice. It was over the summer and a hot hot day- we had some quick rain and then this beautiful image appeared in the sky.

Who am I kidding- we do have BIG news. My sister is moving 5 miles away from me early next year into this beautiful home! EXCITED does not even begin to describe it.
This beautiful family will soon be close by - right where they belong.
And Romeo too! Of course my favorite nephew.
This is an Army vs. Eastern Michigan game photo from October. Army won!!!!

Enough randomness for one day. I will get some photos of our Christmas decorations and post those soon-- and of Mark's surprise birthday party!

Great thanksgiving

Could this years Thanksgiving have been the best ever? Absolutely! And there is one little reason why:

One word: LOVE!!!!

Do they get any cuter than this?

Hey all you Vets!

Check out this free offer in honor of your service!

Applebee's salute to the Military this Veterans Day

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants invite all active duty and veterans to one of 164 participating restaurants nationwide to pull up a chair for a delicious meal and heartfelt thanks this Veterans Day. With gratitude for their service and sacrifice, active duty and veterans will eat free at participating locations on Veterans Day (November 11, 2008) during regular business hours.

Veterans and active duty with proof of United States military service will be able to go to one of the participating Applebee's and select one complimentary entrée from a selection of delicious favorites: a savory House Sirloin, hearty Riblet Basket, zesty Fiesta Lime Chicken®, a juicy Quesadilla Burger or fresh Oriental Chicken Salad. All the traditional sides are included.

"It's an honor to host an event that helps the neighborhood come together and say thanks to our veterans and active servicemen and women," said Mike Archer, President, Applebee's Services, Inc..

Proof of military service includes:
* U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card
* U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card
* DD214
* LES
* Citation or Commendation
* Photograph in uniform
* Veterans Organization Card

So relieved... and tagged?

I am so relieved my week of training is over and I passed my test!
I am so relieved that the election is over and I don't have to hear anymore political ads on the radio and TV!

Aside from the above note not a whole lot is new with the exception of having been "tagged." I'll admit it took me a little while to figure out what that meant, but it appears I am to list 7 things that you may not know about me. Hmmmm.

1. I am registered as an independent and strongly believe that I am for the right person not the right party.
2. I am about to become Six Sigma Green Belt Certified! (Hence the training)
3. I remind myself daily that I am a Christian first. When people act inappropriate or anger me in the office my technique before reacting is to remind myself to act Christian like regardless of how the other person is acting. I find this very helpful and comforting and I am able to be kinder to people who don't necessarily deserve it, but the kindness is often returned with something positive and then I can feel good that I am leading by example.
4. I have always wanted to be a nurse and wonder why in college I did not go that route. I have still not ruled out the possibility of going to nursing school one day.
5. I can't stand clutter. I become slightly OCD around lots of "stuff." I can deal with messy or dirty, but clutter gets me!
6. My sister and I shared a room for our entire childhood.
7. I find this task much more difficult than I expected. I am relatively private.

How about seven things you probably know about me?
1. I love dogs
2. I like to decorate and sew
3. my sister is my best friend (next to Mark)
4. I cut off all of my hair to donate to locks of love
5. I love the beach! and dream of a beach house someday.
6. Sam and Bailey are our kids
7. I am from Massachusetts originally

Details

Our trip to the Bahamas was very relaxing and the beaches were absolutely gorgeous, BUT the hotel / TimeShare that we stayed at was a dive! We did not let it affect our trip and most days we enjoyed relaxing at the on-site beach. We did snorkel one day at a beautiful cove and it was incredible. I forgot how much I love to snorkel- but also forgot the MW does not so much love it. He was a good sport though.
Back to the hotel- the rooms were decent size and relatively clean- the dilemma we faced was that the furniture / appliances were old. Our shower actually screamed like an airplane taking off when we used it. It made for quick showers since the noise was barely tolerable. I overlooked it and continued enjoying my vacation until one day I was in the shower and water stopped coming out of the faucet! Soap in hair I began to pitch a fit. Our sinks were dry and the shower was too. So, this went on for TWO days before we were moved to a new room (our last night). Well our new room's shower did not scream at all and I had wished I pitched a fit days earlier. I just did not want to have to get worked up while on vacation.
All in all it was a great trip- and now we laugh about not having running water- and to top it off- the day the water ran out MW had been at Happy Hour and thought it was very funny we had no water- then he preceded to shower at the beach shower (shorts on) with shampoo and all. Meanwhile I made a point of speaking very loudly to hotel workers about not having ANY water in my room so other guests could hear.
The island itself has very little to see, but the beaches are great. It is not a place I would visit twice, but it was nice to get away!