Tons going on!

I ordered Sam's class ring this week. I can't believe Josten's is still in the Class ring business but then again, rings cost so much that there must be a great profit in there somewhere! We are actually on the payment plan with coupons to send in and everything. Unbelievable. The ring arrives in either May or August so that he'll have it for his junior and senior year. Driving is going okay. He is kind of herky-jerky when he drives and neithe rMike nor I are comfortable with him at this point. We plan to let him drive some on our way to Florida but with the whole family in the car...I don't know.

We have an appointment for Grace to get started on braces. She is ready but also dreads having them. She and Mike and Jessie are in their last weekend of their play...thank God! We are all ready for this to be over as much fun as it has been as well. We had an early Christmas last night when they got home from their show. Since we leave in a week to go to Florida, we opened gifts last night so that they could play their new video games, use new things they needed, etc. It was very sweet and fun but we plan to save their stockings and one gift (per Mike's mom's instructions) to take with us so that they will have something to open Christmas day.

Jessie is setting up a "wedding" chapel in her bedroom for her mechanical stuffed pig and for her class' mechanical stuffed pig which she brought home from school-Essie and Choncho. She even created a wedding gown for Essie with a jeweled tiara for her head...too cute! Che is going through a growth spurt right now and is getting taller by the day. I don't think she'll be a "tall" girl per sey, but she is getting taller for HER.

As usual, toward the end of the month, I am busy getting the next month's schedule ready, getting classes covered for girls who will be out of town, updating bulletin boards, meetings, e-mails, and getting ready for the influx of new members who are making New Year's resolutions to get in shape. I am doing better with perspective at work. Truly, I love my job and the women I work with. It's just getting used to mixing the little bit of bad with a whole lot of good and keeping that balance in my head when the bad gets BAD on somedays.

Speaking of the gym, the kids and I are headed over there so that I can get some stuff done that I couldn't get done during the week. Grace plans to run and then she and Jessie will end up in the whirlpool. I am dog tired from teaching 4 classes in 24 hours so I won't be working out today. This girl needs some recovery time!!!

More later...

Jesus was laid in a manger?

Yes, yes, we know the story. Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger which is actually a feeding trough for the animals. With no immunities in his system, although He was the son of God, He was laid in a filthy bacteria ridden animal feeding trough. Even if Joseph was able to wipe the thing out, there was not way that it could be sanitized to meet ANY standard of cleanliness. The fact that the King of Kings was even born in a stable at all boggles the mind. That's no place for a King to be born and then reside. However, that was God's plan...and I like it. Here's why.

I love all the symbolism it holds. Jesus, the King of Kings, has come to "be born" in my filthy life and "rests" in my bacteria infested heart. The truly miraculous thing is that that's what HE CHOSE to do. As the scripture at the top of my blog says, "...I chose YOU...". He isn't offended or afraid of the dirt and muck. Since He is Omniscient, he knows all things so He knew what He was getting when He got me...and you.

Oh, I never tire of the Christmas story. This year it has brought another new insight to me about how great God's love is for humanity and for me personally. Thank you, Jesus, for choosing to come to me.