I am so TIRED!!!!

But I am so happy!!! :)

I can't remember the last time I worked (almost) a whole week outside of the home. Not that housework is less work than work outside the house, but when I work at home, I can take a NAP!!!!! (hahahahaha)

So far so good with the subbing, by-the-way. The charm of Miss Hall hasn't worn off yet. In fact, one boy let me know, in confidence, that I was doing a really good job. That totally made my day.

The weather here in Winsted is not very December like. It is difficult to get in the Christmas mood when the weather swings from deep-February frigid to balmy April. The stores here are just starting to get decorated for the holidays. I think one store keeper said that their "big" weekend was next weekend, and that everything should be set for then. It is kind of nice seeing that the rest of the world has been going Christmas full swing since Halloween.

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. This is the season of the church where we are supposed to contemplate what life was like before Jesus. We wait, patiently, and expectantly for his arrival at Christmas. At home, we have a wreath of candles that we light. The girls have special devotionals they do each day. Every Sunday my mom has a small gift for us to open. It is fun, but hard to see that bag of gifts every day waiting until each week is over to open another one!

I like what our church here in Winsted is doing. The church had a few simple decorations: Two long, plain pieces of cloth hanging up front and twenty plain green wreaths hanging around the church. The minister asked that each week we bring a decoration or two to fill up the wreaths. That way we are taking our time thoughtfully preparing. By Christmas time the church will be fully decorated by a diverse number of decorations. I think that is a great idea.

When we get back from the game this weekend the girls and I will start getting all the Christmas stuff out of the attic. They need to update Sponge Bob for Christmas--he has a nice big Santa Hat!

I have a bunch of new pictures from Thanksgiving.... I will try and get them up there soon.

Go Pitt!!!!!!!!