merry christmas!

just a note to say merry christmas to all!

this christmas season has had minimal stress for me and i've been able to really enjoy it. i had a budget and a plan for my shopping, stuck to it. i didn't buy a single thing until after thanksgiving, but i've been finished with all my shopping for a while. being home during they day has afforded me the luxury of shopping during off-peak hours, giving me a taste of the hustle and bustle without the anxiety-filled craziness.

during this season, we've had some car issues, some appliance issues and one night lost to a vomiting 2 year old. but life is good. we've been blessed. our home is warm, any issues were easily fixed. my husband comes home to me every night and there's no person on earth i'd rather spend all my free time with. we've grown toward each other and toward God together in so many ways that i can actually name and count.

we have a few fun trips planned for this year (and you know i love to travel!) alena will continue to grow at a lightning fast pace and i'm excited to watch every moment of it. i'm always amazed that i'm able to stay home (for the most part) with her and still own a house, still eat out occasionally and travel to see family, friends and places we've never been.

on deck for this year is a trip to "our part" of FL, up to WV to see where my roots lie and on up to ohio strictly to see friends and my hometown (trips home are always rushed and filled with a holiday or specific event..) to st. louis with friends (i've been twice before, but this is more a tagging along with friends on their trip to have a trip with them...) and possibly a full throneberry family trip to savannah or charleston. it sure beats the annual pilgrimage to gatlinburg and i'm really excited to explore either of those cities.

our needs have been more than met, thanks for jared's good job, him working 2 nights a week delivering pizzas, a neighbor who pays me to do filing for her at-home business and working 2 days a week at mother's day out. i got a call last week asking me to watch a baby a couple days during the week. we're meeting tomorrow to go over the logistics, but this will allow me to put extra money toward savings and debt. something we had understood wouldn't happen until i went back to work full time. my cup overflows and i'm so humbled and grateful.

so, i hope everyone has a wonderful week of Christmas celebration and then week of excitement as we begin a new year and new decade. remember to count your blessings. even when it's hard, life is good. there have been people to help us along, we need to remember to help those behind us. we need to be generous of time, money, resources and kind words all throughout the year.

may 2010 be a year of living a life less ordinary.