27. Noah’s report on his calendar from school wasn’t too bad yesterday. He was “very inattentive” but that’s better than, “Hit a child” or “refused to come when called.”

28. Steve took today off because we’re taking Noah to the doctor to see if there is a medical reason for his behavior problems.

29. Juliette was supposed to help a friend with a homework project tonight after bowling, but they switched it to tomorrow so she won’t be running around so much.

30. I got a pair of socks finished.

31. I had a wonderful experience at Adoration Friday night/Saturday morning. I went there very upset over Noah, but left with a sense of peace I haven’t gotten from there in a long time. Maybe my heart was finally open enough to listen and accept God’s grace.

32. I worked out several times last week, but my weight was up almost 5 pounds! I guess it’s time to get on the program in earnest again.

33. We went to the new Chik-fil-a that opened near us and had a nice time. I got to knit a lot while Noah played and Steve and Juliette walked over to the nearby Best Buy to get a gift card for his sister. (probably one of the reasons my weight was up!)

34. We also went to Pizza Hut Friday night.

35. Friday was a Holy Day and we went to Mass after picking Noah up from school. His teacher was there and she didn’t stop us and tell us again that she’s having problems with him, so maybe he’s improving.

36. We baked Christmas cookies, Noah and me, last week and probably will bake more this week!

37. I got up early this morning just to work on this list. You’d think I could think of more stuff than this!

38. Our Christmas cards are almost finished.

39. It’s raining now. At least, yesterday the temp got up into the 70s, which was nice.

40. I got my desk semi-cleaned off last night and took care of a couple of things that were just hanging around here.

41. Got my Rx filled over the weekend and it’s a gift to know that my medical problems (is a new, functioning kidney a problem?) can be dealt with so I can function NOT in a hospital.

42. I seem to have a new determination to get my life in order.

43. Hazelnut Decaf Coffee – I used to walk a mile in PA nearly every morning to buy a cup at a local Wawa, but I found some in our grocery store, so I can make it myself!

44. Steve brought me a free mug warmer from Supercomputing ’06 and I love it! It plugs into a USB port, so  it’s right next to me as I work.

45. Noah is so sweet when he’s not on a sugar high. I love it when he sings the songs they’re learning in school. It’s so heartwarming.

46. I love my crockpot, when I actually use it. I love smelling good food all day long.

47. The grocery store had amazing sales on meat this weekend and we happened to be there at the right time. We got 4 boneless rump roasts, a bunch of hamburgers and some pork chops. Our freezer is full and I love that!

48. Plus, we know now when we’ll have for Christmas dinner.

49. I love having neighbors you actually know and talk to. We didn’t have that in Pennsylvania, even after six years there.

50. The neighbor’s son told me he liked my Christmas/Winter vest on Sunday. It was strange to wear it without a coat, over a tee-shirt, but it was nice to hear someone mention it.

51. Juliette seems to be over the boy back home.

52. We’re going to do some Christmas shopping since Steve is home. We’ll go to Toys R Us and get The Boy some stuff, then I’ll do some shopping online, later.

53. Tonight is RCIA night which means Steve will take Noah with him and I’ll get some time to myself.

54. I got a new calendar and set up my personal organizer to help me with that whole getting my life in order thing.

55. Heartla’s Christmas lunch is Saturday so I’ll be able to see and hang out with some friends.

56. Looks like the cruise thing is really going to happen.

57. It doesn’t overlap with RWA National in Dallas, but I’m unsure whether I’d be able to do both.

58. I did weights on Sunday and I don’t seem to have messed up my back/ribs again.

59. The receptionist/nurse at the chiropractor’s office is a quilter and she may end up being a friend.

Time to get my day going. More gifts later.

11. Chocolate – I don’t know why God created something so wonderful, but it’s an amazing food. I think life is just a little better when chocolate is involved.

12. Roses – Same deal. The world could run quite nicely without roses, but aren’t you glad we have them?

13. Pineapple – One of my favorite things to eat. I just LOVE it. My daughter can’t stand it, go figure, but I love putting it in my salads and on my pizza!

14. Knitting – a craft I’ve done for years but have recently become reacquainted with it as I’ve started knitting socks. I love it.

15. And while we’re here – Socks. I love warm, cozy socks and I love funky socks to wear to the Y when I work out.

16. And the YMCA. I never belonged until we moved her, but I love working out and not worrying that I’m not model thin or trendy when I go. No one cares and you can get as sweaty as you want and work out as hard as you want and no one else is watching you. AND there is always someone there is worse shape than me!

17. Sweatshirts. I live in Baton Rouge now so my sweatshirt wearing oppourtunities are less than when I lived anywhere else, but I love the cozy, warm, snuggly feeling I get wearing one, especially my old Shippensburg one that is a little too big and quite bulky.

18. Fires in fireplaces. Can you tell it’s a chilly day here? Not like December up north, but it’s overcast and a little chilly. Makes me think of hot chocolate and cozy fires.

19. Scrapbook paper and cardstock. I don’t do a lot of paper scrapping anymore as I’ve gone digital, but I love making cards and other paper crafts.

20. Rubber stamps and stamp pads. It goes with above but it’s an addiction.

21. Cross stitch – another obsession and one I’ve set aside a bit, but I need to get back to it.

22. Christmas stockings. I have cross stitched one for all of us, but Noah’s isn’t finished. However, they are things I’ve made that my husband regards as sacred to our holiday traditions.

23. Speaking of traditions, I love them.

24. DVR – we just got it on our TV and I LOVE it. I can tape stuff no one else wants to watch and sit and watch it while I knit when people are in school and at work.

25. My sewing machine – I have sewn since I was about 11 and the first thing I bought myself when I got out of basic training and my schooling for the Army was a sewing machine. I’m now only on my second one, but I’ve created lots of things for people I love on those things.

25. Quilts – it goes along with the whole cozy warm thing going on here.

26. I just learned how to do freehand machine quilting, so I’m pretty excited about that. I might actually get some quilts finished now!

27. Weight watchers – I’ve lost 18+ pounds since I joined in May and the support is fabulous!

More later!

Okay, as always, I’m late to the party. I was busy doing NaNoWriMo in November and lost touch with a lot of my favorite blogs and bloggers, but I found this at Cami’s place and decided to see what I could do from now until Christmas.

1. My parents. Godly people, and now I pray that my father is in heaven, praying for me!

2. My mother. My hero, and the strongest person I know.

3. My sister. My first best friend and the only person with whom I share certain jokes and the only person I ever could play Trivial Pursuit, Silver Screen edition with. It’s not the same with anyone else. Phoebe Beats isn’t really funny unless she says it.

4. My sister, again. She, too, I pray, is in heaven praying for me and her neice, who she adored, and her nephew, who she never met.

5. My husband who supports and loves me no matter what. He was the first person outside my family to NOT laugh when I said I wanted to write romance novels.

6. My daughter who was born 9 weeks early and is beautiful and smart and truly her own kind of woman, not falling for peer pressure.

7. My son. We waited 10 years for God to send us a baby to adopt and now I know why. He is truly OUR son and meant to be with us.

8. My husband again for selflessly giving me his kidney almost 6 years ago. He is a hero.

9. Guinea pigs – a unhealthy addiction that I couldn’t live without now. We’re on number 8 & 9 and I love those cute, stupid furballs.

10. Fresh air and water. What else should I say about this?

More to come!

My newest craft obsession is knitting socks. Here is a pair I’ve made to be slipper socks for a Christmas gift for a relative.

I’m not sure they are exactly the same, but as they’re just to wear around the house, I’m pretty proud of them!