While Walking My Dogs

During a season that really celebrates family, my heart breaks and my prayers go out to the families of those lost at the elementary school in Connecticut today.  What a truly sad day.

• My December Daily journal entry will be about the events of today in Connecticut.  There won’t be many words because truly there aren’t any words.
• This picture is my entry for the iHeartFaces Photo Challenge.  Today’s topic was “b&w”.  You just knew I was going to take a picture of Woody, right?  He looks good in b&w and in color.
• For “Journal Your Christmas”, today’s journal prompt is about where we spend Christmas.  Mike and I were really fortunate with our families at Christmas – his family always celebrated on Christmas eve and mine always on Christmas day.  I’ve seen how hard it can be for new couples or young families to have to feel split between competing traditions.  Thankfully we were spared that.
• 25 Christmas movies.  Mike and I watched “The Hobbit”.  Okay, I realize this isn’t a Christmas movie, nor is it on my official Christmas movie list, but I only have so many hours in the day and seeing “The Hobbit” won!  But…. there are elves in Rivendell and Gandalf sort of looks like Santa????  A stretch????

Until tomorrow, 

“What’s black and white and read all over?  Me!  I know you were going to say newspaper, but it’s really me.”

Only 12 days until Christmas!  Don’t want to miss a thing.

• My December Daily journal entry will be about going to the used bookstore to buy Mike a book in the Jesse Stone series by Robert Parker.  He doesn’t read fiction a lot, but when he does he likes to finish all the books in a series — in one go.  Maybe I’ll get to go back to the store shortly?  That’s okay, I love bookstores!
• This picture is my entry for the iHeartFaces Photo Challenge.  Today’s topic was ” ’tis the season”.  I love Christmas – the festive atmosphere, the decorations, giving gifts, getting together with family and friends and good food.  However I am completely aware of the source of my blessings and joy.
• For “Journal Your Christmas”, today’s journal prompt is about the weather I’m experiencing this Christmas.  It’s actually been quite beautiful this winter; December in particular.  We’ve had rain a couple of days, but when the clouds clear and the sun comes out, it’s glorious.  It’s cold, mind you, but with a warm coat, a scarf and some gloves it’s very comfortable.  I’m not an extreme weather kind of gal, so this suits me just fine.
• 25 Christmas movies.  Mike and I watched “The Holiday”.  Has me longing for Christmas in England.  Obviously with my whole family and the dogs as well.  It would be an expensive endeavor — better just try to recreate some of the memories here at home :-).

Until tomorrow,

“This is what I like to do when it’s cold outside.  Of course, I do like a long, brisk walk, but when I’m done, I like a good nap with the best of them!”

Well I had a wonderful rest last night and I was a new person today.  Good thing too because I picked up my niece from school and had the best afternoon and evening with her.

• My December Daily journal entry will be about picking my niece, Emilie, up from school and having her over for dinner while her mom and dad go to a wedding.  One our way home from school this was a conversation we had:

  Emilie:  “Do you have Monopoly?”
  Me:  “I only have Dog Monopoly, but no one will play with me.”
  Emilie:  “I have Dog Monopoly and no one will play with me either.”
  Me:  “Well let’s have a game.”   And we did.

• This picture is my entry for the iHeartFaces Photo Challenge.  Today’s topic was “sweet”.  This is a two-fer.  The sweet lollipop and my sweet niece, Emilie Grace.
• For “Journal Your Christmas”, today’s journal prompt is about people who make Christmas special.  I immediately think of my mom and Mike’s mom.  Their special touches and care of everyone at Christmas is a consistent joy and blessing.
• 25 Christmas movies.  Mike and I watched “A Golden Christmas”.  Emilie, my niece, and I watched this movie.  Acting wasn’t great, but the dog, a golden retriever, was really cute and then she had a litter of puppies.  Made the bad acting bearable.  Emilie informed me that “A Golden Christmas 2” is a much better movie.

Until tomorrow,

“Dog Monopoly?  I will play with you, but I want the bone playing piece, okay?”

I hit a bit of a wall today.  After yesterday’s excitement with the Iphone and several days of burning the candle at both ends, I struggled to keep up today.  I’m going to go to bed early, though, get a good nights sleep and I should feel much better tomorrow.

• My December Daily journal entry will be about the Christmas movies we’ve been watching.
• This picture is my entry for the iHeartFaces Photo Challenge.  Today’s topic was “on the shelf”.  This shelf is right in our entry way and it holds all the dog’s leashes.  It’s decorated for Christmas right now with two angels on the right holding puppies.
• For “Journal Your Christmas”, today’s journal prompt is to “have a look around your house right now and see exactly what role paper plays in your surroundings come Christmastime. The most obvious answer is usually wrapping paper! And one of our Christmas journal traditions has been to cover a page in this year’s wrapping paper, dress it up with ribbons and a tag just like a gift under the tree, and call that done for documenting how the presents will be given this year. If you are the type to have a wrapping master plan – whether it’s the paper you stocked up on in last year’s sales, a set of papers where each gift recipient has their own design for all their gifts, or something you love to handcraft with a stamped design on plain brown paper perhaps – then read no more. This is your entry for today! Go, go, go and wrap a page of your Christmas journal with all those paper trimmings!”  This prompt came at the perfect time.
• 25 Christmas movies.  Mike and I watched “Heidi”.  Heidi helps an invalid girl, Clara, to walk again. Clara walks for her father on Christmas eve. Break out the Kleenex, people!!!!

Until tomorrow,

“It was great that you took a picture of the shelf with our leashes, but we actually thought you were going to put the leashes on us and take us for a walk.  Next time, can you go the extra step?”

Today a group of us along with a brass quartet went to 3 assisted living facilities and sang Christmas carols.  It felt so good to be part of a group that brought so much joy.  We will definitely do this next y ear.

• My December Daily journal entry will be about singing Christmas carols and the brass quartet.
• This picture is my entry for the iHeartFaces Photo Challenge.  Today’s topic was “decorations”.  This is my friend’s tree and although my picture doesn’t do it justice, it is really the most beautiful tree.  My favorite part is how the lights reflect off the ceiling.
• For “Journal Your Christmas”, today’s journal prompt is about the special treats we have only at Christmas.  For me, it’s my mom’s Christmas dinner.  I love how she prepares her turkey complete with stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, rutabagas, and her gravy.  It takes all day to prepare, but it is so worth the wait.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
• 25 Christmas movies.  Mike and I watched “I Remember Mama”.  Okay this is a non-Christmasy movie, but it’s a sentimental, wonderful story about family and the sacrificial love of a mom for her children – reminds me of how God loves us. You’ll need a box of Kleenex… it’s a doozy!

Until tomorrow,

“Hey our mouths are watering just thinking about that dinner too.  Any chance we could get a place at the dinner table this year?”