I need a Merry Christmas this year...

Merry Christmas!
The blue is not completely on purpose.  I feel totally in the mood and am looking forward to the holiday, but...
I miss my heavenly family - Dad, Jo & Steve - and since we didn't really feel like celebrating last year because Steve left us too soon, I really feel like I need to celebrate the hell out of Christmas this year.
Okay, this is the best green they have, apparently, with this new format (which I really don't like yet, but this is my first experience, so we will give it a whirl, eh?)
So many things have happened this year - I know, I say that every year! - that I don't know what all to put into this message.
We have been truly blessed in 2013, even though we have lost good friends and family.  I thank God every day for carrying us all through the first year of losing Steve, and I think he would be pleased at how well we have mustered through the pain.  Steve loved to laugh, and I find myself saying a prayer to him every time I laugh or hear laughter. I hope that some of our escapades this year have made him laugh with us.
Mom has been in very good health this year.  We had one scare with her blood sugar dropping dangerously low, but we changed her meds and she has had no problems with that again.  Her knees did not keep her from her annual Battle of the Weeds, and, actually, I was very surprised at how much she did!  At 91, now, she is still our Wonder Woman! She did lose her car this year, but only because it was too expensive to fix, so she volunteered to give it up.  She won't drive any other car - they are all too modern and technical for her, even though we promise that they are easier to drive.  She and I are adjusting into a routine now that I have to do the shopping with and without her, and run those many errands she always did for us - I didn't realize what a gadabout she was!!
Phil, Michele, and Joseph seem to be settled right into their new lives in Mesa. I was thrilled to be able to go visit them in November to see their new house!  It is beautiful and so comfortable!  I am so happy for them! Joseph received the Lumberjack scholarship to NAU!  I am a very proud Lumber Jill! Go Jacks!!! And WAY TO GO JOE!!!
Allison got married this summer - and I got to marry her...well officiate the wedding, I mean! She was the most beautiful bride, and the wedding they put together was a zillion times better than any wedding planner could have done. I am so proud of them both!

 I love the pictures that the pro took of them, but I haven't seen all of the pictures taken by the people who attended.

They are coming for Christmas - as is Mitchell and his GF Holly!  Can't wait!



I need to say more, but time flies...I will come back soon (I heard that "Yeah, right!")

and the hits just keep on coming...

Wow, I thought I was bored before!

Yes, I have work to do - busy work. I cleaned off my desk already. I worked on an ongoing project, but couldn't concentrate.

We are on our last day before the holiday (no, CHRISTMAS!) break, and all of us are feeling the need to be on vacation already. The first two hours of work this morning felt like 12 years, then we decided to play a video in one of the classrooms to pass the time. That lasted about 1/4 of the way through Notting Hill when I had to go to lunch and the phones actually started ringing a bit. I have a placement test and a meeting with an industrial maintenance program director this afternoon, so things are looking up!

Still, I think the rest of the day will last about another 10 or 12 years...

God, if I am this bored with a job to do (with things I need to be doing), how am I going to survive the CHRISTMAS break with nothing to do?
VERY WELL INDEED!!!