Where have I been?

I have been trying to think of why I haven’t posted in so long and I can’t use the excuse that E was away from work because he has been back for almost 2 weeks now (although we still are busy!)

It certainly isn’t that I don’t have anything to say!

I took off on Tuesday and finished my Christmas shopping. I have two small things left to pick up and then all that I am left with is the unpleasant task of wrapping everything. It’s one of my least favorite things for sure, and you better believe that anything that fits in a gift bag winds up in one.

I am having the annual Open House on Christmas Eve. I am expected just a small crowd year, but that is OK with me—as the Lord wills! Whoever He wills to send is who is supposed to come this year. The nice thing about having a small family is that even when we just add a couple extra people it feels like a big crowd. Mom and Dad are well, praise God. They are as funny as ever. We have been having fun shopping for the holiday and deciding the menu for our dinner on Christmas Eve before everyone stops over. As proper Italians, of course we always have some fish on the menu!

This Advent has been a real time of joy for me this year—I have been trying to focus on the coming of Christ this year like a little child. I feel excited like a little kid, looking forward to Christmas for all the right reasons. I have been thinking a lot about my commitment to my job and how I sometimes feel like I am the only person who cares about quality as much as I do—it causes me some stress and some restless sleep some nights; that is often the plight of a perfectionist. I want to work on keeping my main focus on the more important things in life other than my job.

Thinking of all of you and the blessing you are to me. I hope to see some of you on Christmas Eve!