A few years ago, we started a habit of having our kids "count off" when we got in the car during a trip, to make sure everyone was there! 

"One... two... three...four...five!"

Well, we all climbed in the car on Sunday night to go for a drive and look at Christmas lights, and I got to say "Count off!"   And five voices answered back... "one... two....three...four...five!"  Ahhhhhh...okay, so little things make me happy.  It is so good having the two oldest home from college for a couple of weeks!  I am cherishing these times more and more, because I know that they are rapidly coming to an end.  This time next year, Alex will have graduated from college ( Lord willing!) and will be getting ready to leave for who knows where with the Army.  The predictable pattern of school vacations will come to an end, at least for him.

Well, I spent all day today out shopping.  NOT my favorite activity.   But I do make a deliberate effort to enjoy the preparations for Christmas ~ if we can't enjoy them, why do them???  At least the weather is mild and we haven't been buried by 2 feet of snow!  I pray that all the stranded travelers in Colorado can find a way to get to their destinations in time for Christmas!  As a parent of college students, I especially feel for students trying to get to their families, and families trying to figure out how to get to their children. 

We are officially on Christmas Break for 2 weeks.  I need to spend some time next week sitting down with the books and the calendar and getting ready for the 2nd semester.  First semester was one of the roughest I've had in many years, as far as sticking to a schedule and covering the material I had planned. My saving grace was the co-ops/ classes we are involved in this year. At least those subjects got regular attention! But each day is a new day ~ so come January, we'll take a deep breath and start anew.