Hi folks, I hope you're having a good weekend. So far, so good for me. The craft show yesterday was great and I managed to pick up a few gifts for friends there. Mom and I had a great time, as usual. That's something we always enjoy.

Rick and I went out earlier today to do some more Christmas shopping. We've taken a Bizzaro approach to the shopping this year. Usually, we shop for family first, then friends and colleagues. This year we've done it completely backwards. We've put a good dent in the shopping for friends and colleagues (and even got little Zack's gifts), but we've bought nothing for family yet and we haven't shopped for each other either. Well, gifts are gifts. I suppose anything is progress, no matter what order you get it in.

I do enjoy Christmas shopping and getting things for others, but it seems to be more and more of a challenge every year. When you get gifts for the same people EVERY YEAR, you get to a point where the creativity starts to wane. We work it out every time and I guess this year will be no different.

I want to take the holidays easier this year. Last year we hosted everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING: Thanksgiving, Sunday School Party, and Christmas. While it was very special to celebrate the holidays in our home and to host everybody, it was also tiring. I want to eliminate as much stress as possible this holiday season. It's been a tough year and if there's anyway to close it out somewhat peacefully, I'd like to. It's still hard to believe the holiday season is back again, but I'm adjusting. I suppose you could say I'm easing into it. So far, so good.

On other fronts, I can't say I've made much progress. I pretty much got lazy yesterday after Mom and I had our shopping spree, and today I'm not doing much better. In fact, this is the first time I've been on a computer since I left work on Thursday. I haven't done any more work on my novel. I haven't worked on my cross stitch either. Oh well. It will happen.

That's all for today. I hope your weekend is going well. I'll see you later.

Bye!