It's the most busy (and wonderful) time of the year!

I am uninspired for a blog post lately. I know, I know, I just came back from a blog hiatus, so I should be full of great things to blog about. Sadly, I am not. My mind is consumed with all things Christmas, but I don't really have anything in particular that would be of interest. Hopefully I'll come up with something soon! Until then, a recap of the weekend.

I took last Thursday and Friday off work because it was Columbia Junior League's annual Holiday Market. I worked for JTT on Thursday all day- 9:30 in the morning until 10:00 at night. What a long day that made! I stood for all but maybe 30 minutes of that on a concrete floor. Yikes my feet hurt afterwards! Then Friday I went shopping with my parents at the market. I got a few Christmas things scratched off the list (I'm 90% done now!), but felt a bit overwhelmed by all of the people shopping. That is why I prefer doing most of my shopping online. I hate lines and crowds of people just wandering. Anywho.

On Saturday we played Auburn for the SEC Championship. What.a.joke. It would have been nice if our football team had shown up for that one, as we got KILLED. No really. 56-17 is a massacre in my opinion. Because of it, we got the royal shaft and were selected for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (formerly the Peach Bowl) in Atlanta, GA. No New Year's Day Bowl for us now, and Florida and Alabama managed to get better bowls than us- so not fair since we beat them both head-to-head and had better season records (or just as good). But, it's all about the money, which makes bowl season not as appealing as it used to be.

Moving off my soapbox. We had friends over for the game and cooked fish stew (it's delicious, don't turn up your nose) and chili, so that was a good time, despite the loss. And on Sunday, I worked the market again from noon until we finished breaking down at 7. Hectic weekend to say the least!

This weekend we have a surprise party for a friend's birthday, but that's all that I know of, so I plan to get the rest of my present wrapping completed while WEG hunts and helps cook and get things ready for the party. I also have my Book Club Christmas get-together on Thursday night, but let's be honest, we're more interested in the wine and appetizers than the book.

Hope I have something more entertaining for you later in the week! Until then, bundle up and stay warm out there! (It's a high of 40 today in Columbia, which is downright frigid for us- and 18 for a low tonight...brr! I live in SC for a reason and this is not it!)

Wednesday Wisdom

Matthew 6:19 and 20

19. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Take a minute today, tomorrow, or even next week to stop and think about that. There is a Biblical significance of gift-giving at Christmas (the three wise men's gifts for Baby Jesus), but sometimes we go overboard (not excluding myself from this). It's really not about how much you spend or if you get someone the biggest and best present. What's important is the thought and the love that's put into the gift. After all, earthly treasures are just that- earthly. You can't take them with you in a U-haul when you enter Heaven. It's far more important to give someone a Heavenly gift this Christmas- perhaps one of the fruits of the spirit are appropriate. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control are always good gifts to give and store up for yourself long after the Christmas season is over.

Monday Miscellany

I'm back from a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. A break from work and the rat-race for a few days was just what I needed! My mind is a jumble of Christmas lists and holiday plans, but I'm trying to do as the preacher said yesterday, and remember the reason for the season, which is not parties and gifts!

Here are some random thoughts going through my head.

1. I finally conquered scheduled posts. Okay, I had help. Mrs. Potts walked me through it. Lo and behold, it worked! When I saw my post on Thanksgiving pop up in my Google Reader, I was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Thanks, Mrs. Potts!!

2. Is this next year? My Gamecocks have beaten Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and capped off the regular season with a win against Clemson. I've been hearing "wait 'til next year" my entire life, and I am starting to wonder if this might be next year. I know, I know- the teams I just mentioned are all "down" this year, but a girl can dream, right?

3. Why are tickets to the SEC Championship so darn hard to get? I'm not rich, people. I can't pay $300 a ticket for a nosebleed seat. Can't a girl catch a break and at least get a few at face value? Sheesh! Looks like I'll be watching us take on the Auburn Tigers from good ol' Columbia.

4. Speaking of Auburn- would someone like to tell me why Cam Newton has not been suspended? Innocent until proven guilty, I guess. (Don't shoot me, Auburn fans! You'd be just as aggravated if this was Bama's QB or LSU's QB or, heck, any QB but Cam)

5. Our neighbors have joined the tacky Christmas display club, and now WEG thinks it is our duty to outdo them, Griswold style. A ginormous Santa Claus on our roof? It just might happen! I know, I know- cringe away, but you have to admit, it would be funny!

6. It's the Junior League of Columbia's annual Holiday Market this weekend. I'll be working on Thursday and Sunday and shopping on Friday. Hopefully when Sunday rolls around I will be 95% done with my Christmas shopping.

7. Speaking of, those presents I've bought so far aren't going to wrap themselves and my tree is now up and looking lonely. Guess I'll have to get to work, but if you know of an elf (or two) to send my way, I'd appreciate it!

8. Christmas music has taken over the radio. I'm not a fan. I like Christmas music sung at church or right at Christmas, but not for weeks in advance. Bah humbug to you, too!

Alright, I'll conclude this rambling before I bore you any further. I should have titled this post Football and FaLaLa since those are the only two things I talked about. Oh well, until next time- keep on keepin' on.

It's Rivalry Day in South Carolina. My beloved Gamecocks are venturing up to the Upstate (north til you smell it, west til you step in it) to take on our most hated rival, the Clemson Tigers. On paper, we should win this game, but all bets are off when you play your rival. And any good Carolina fan knows we have the supreme ability to screw the pooch against Clemson- trust me, we're used to it. I hope this game will end up in our favor, putting the cap on a super season and propelling us into the SEC Championship.



GO GAMECOCKS!!

Happy Turkey Day to all of my blog friends! I hope this day finds you celebrating with your family, eating too much good food, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and football, and remembering why you are thankful!

**This is a scheduled post, so if it does not post on the correct date and time, that's why! (I am technologically challenged.)

Scheduled Post Help

Help! I am illiterate when it comes to blogger sometimes, I swear!
I am trying to schedule a few posts for over Thanksgiving, and nothing I do is working. I tried to schedule and save, as well as schedule and publish and neither of those made my post show up in the scheduled posts tab. In fact, I'm pretty sure my Happy Thanksgiving one may show up in your Google Reader if I didn't delete it in time.
Can somebody help me?

Giving thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'd like to do a post similar to many you have already seen. Things for which I am thankful.

First and foremost, above all else, I am thankful to have a Heavenly Father who is loving and forgiving- someone who sees my faults, forgives them, and loves me just the same. There are many people in the world who don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior, and I can't imagine how it must feel to get up everyday without that knowledge.

I grew up in a household where I was taught all about the Lord, which brings me to the next thing I am thankful for- my family. My mom and dad have always been there for me, through thick and thin. They provided for me, taught me right from wrong, supported me, punished me when I needed it, and loved me through it all. I couldn't ask for a better family.


I am also thankful for WEG and the relationship that we have grown into. It hasn't come without its hiccups along the way, but every step has led us to where we are today, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.


My friends are also a great source of thanks for me. I've heard that if you have one or two true friends in your life, then you're doing well. I've got 5 really great ones, and a handful of other ones that I know I can count on. I consider myself quite blessed.

I've even got one friend with a great little boy that I got to visit this weekend. I'm thankful for that, and also thankful that I get to visit and then come home because I am certainly not ready for any of my own! But, it's always nice to visit and see how much he has grown and what he's into currently.

I'm thankful for my health. Overall, I don't have any major problems health-wise. Good thing because I am scared to death of doctors!

I'm especially thankful for job security. So many people don't have that right now. In an economy that really doesn't seem to be getting much better (well, in South Carolina anyway), it's a blessing to be able to get up and go to work every day. And, that raise I just got doesn't hurt!

However, as much as I am thankful for my job, I am also thankful for the upcoming holiday and 5 day weekend...hey, I'm human! It will be so nice to spend Wednesday thru Sunday with my family taking Thanksgiving meals to those in need in the community, gathering with more family on Turkay Day, doing a little shopping, watching a little football (the Gamecocks better beat those Tigers!), sleeping late, and relaxing. I'll miss WEG while he celebrates with his family, though, but it's nice to have someone to miss like that.

Isn't it great to have a holiday to remind us of what we are thankful? I am thankful everyday, but it's always good to have a little reminder!