family update...

It's been a whirlwind few days, and it was so much fun to have the family home. Amy was actually here for almost a week; we accomplished a lot of Christmas shopping and I'm happy to say I'm officially done! Laura & Ian spent Thanksgiving day with his family in Pueblo and then joined us for a couple of days...always a blessing to have them with us. Mom & I decided to do things the easy way this year and we made reservations at Mimi's...turkey and all the trimmings with no dishes afterward. We got more than we bargained for, however. A couple was seated directly in my line of vision who was rather well endowed but scantily dressed. Bethany and I had to stare at our food as we ate. If we looked up, we couldn't miss the entertainment! It was rather hilarious and gross at the same time. I have to say that I've never seen anything quite like it (and hope I never do again!) Beginning Thanksgiving evening the elves and I put up most of our Christmas decorations. They like to be a part of things before heading back to school, and it was wonderful to have so much help. Ian didn't even need a step stool to reach the tops of our trees to put the angel and star on them! All too soon it was time for Laura, Ian, and Amy to head back to school. It's quiet...almost too quiet. But no complaints. Anytime I get to have the kids even for a short time it's something to be thankful for. On a side note, I recently finished the friendship quilt I started back in Tennessee about 16 years ago. The blocks have been signed over the years by very special women who have impacted me over the years, and it was such a joy to think about how much they mean to me.
Time now to head into my favorite time of year...celebrating Christ's birth! I'm so thankful to be done with shopping so I can enjoy the season. My parents bought me a sweet sign that reads "Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence." I like that. I wish more people would remember that sentiment.

Happy birthday, Laura!

It's hard to believe Laura turned 21 today. I swear she was just off to kindergarten...wasn't she? Hope it was a blessed day. I love you, Laura.

Trans Siberian Orchestra

On Tuesday Brian and I headed to Denver to take Amy to the TSO concert at the Pepsi Center, and what an amazing night it was! We had fabulous seats within spitting distance of the stage. Amy was mesmerized, and it was such fun to see it thru her eyes. If you've never seen TSO you just can't begin to imagine what it's like. You just have to see it to believe it! What I can't understand is how I can sit with a silly grin thru their whole show...no earplugs at all. Yet I don't care for loud rock music under any other circumstance. There's just something about TSO. The talent and energy on their stage is pure poetry, and the lights and pyrotechnics are spectacular. I've seen them twice now and I hope to see them many more times in the future. The highlight of the evening was about 30 minutes after the show. Tables were set up for the performers and we were able to shake hands and get autographs for every single one of them. Amy offered to be their personal chef, and when we got to her favorite performer, the violin stringmaster, she actually proposed to him. My sweet, shy (*cough) little Amy actually proposed to someone! I asked her later what she would have done if he'd said "yes" and she replied, "I'd have married him on the spot!"