Fun times:)

The last two weeks have been filled with wonderful Christmas parties, children's program practice (real show was this morning), ornament exchanges, shopping, and all the other crazy Holiday adventures. I will have to say the children's program went awesome this morning, and it was great to see the kids share the true meaning of Christmas!! I was nervous running the sound and communicating with the back stage crew for everything, so I can just about imagine how nervous the kids were. They did an amazing job on all their lines and songs, and everything went off without a glitch! Kelly, I bet you don't miss running the program--it's a ton of work keeping those creatures in line:) I think I got lucky with the easy job:)
The picture above is from our "Coffee night" that we had at Aaron and Lisa's last Saturday night (we're missing a few who graciously volunteered for photographer duty). We trialled all sorts of different types of coffee made in an assortment of ways. Needless to say we all walked into church a little frazzled from the lack of sleep the night before. I don't think we thought out the timing issue of consuming massive amounts of caffeine late at night. We decided that next time we do this we'll have to switch to Saturday morning instead:) You guys will be proud of me, because I actually enjoyed a few cups of black coffee--the trick is to have good coffee brewed well, and you don't need all the sugar and milk:) I did bust out my frother, so we could make some eggnog lattes. They turned out very yummy!
Anyway, that is all I know. Can't wait to see you all Friday:)

I'll be home for Christmas . . . You can count on me:)

Did you all think that I fell in?!? I have not felt well for about 2 weeks. Nothing like the horrendous flu that you all have experienced back in NE. Glad to hear that everyone is on the mend and through the worst. I have had a cold--ok, not bad I know:) It all started before Thanksgiving. I thought I had shaken it until I ran a 5 mile race on Thanksgiving in the cold rain--probably not one of my brighter moves, but the run was great. It all culminated last week when I woke up Monday running a temp and feeling lousy, so I stayed home from work (they frown on exposing patients to sickness:). By Thursday I had lost my voice completely and was downing spoonfuls of honey while gargling with salt water--do these things really work? Anyway, I muddled through Friday with half a voice and a very hard of hearing brain injured patient--charades anyone?!? I rested over the weekend and am feeling 95% better. A little cough and runny nose, but on the up-swing!
We had our first snow flurries today!! For some reason I am so much more into the Christmas spirit this year than usual. I think it is because I am so blessed and excited about all that God has done this past year, and I am getting so pumped to see everyone for Christmas. Not that I don't get excited every year, but in years past I would be stressing over work. I would put in longer than my usual long hours to get a million things settled at work, just so I could go away for a week, then get home to Nebraska for Christmas and drop from exhaustion. However, this year I feel so refreshed and energized (aside from being sick this last week:)!
2 weekends ago I went with some friends to see a Christmas Carol at one of the theaters in Providence. The pics are from our dining out adventure at Fire and Ice prior to the show. It's always a crazy time with these guys. We had 3 others join us, but they didn't make the picture for some reason. I was going to post a pic of the crazy group that I ran with on Thanksgiving morning, but am still waiting for the picture to come via email. I had my camera all ready and had asked someone to snap a shot of us, when my battery pooped out. Luckily he had a camera and offered to take a pic and email it, so when I get it I'll just have to post another blog:)
I am helping with our Christmas program at church, so we will be busy the next 2 Saturdays with dress rehearsals. The kids are doing great, but have a lot of work to do before the 17th!! Kelly we could use your help:)
Not much else going on this end of the United States. I am getting very anxious to be midwest bound in just a few short weeks, if you haven't picked up on that already!!! LOVE YOU ALL and can't wait to see you.