Day 127.  Thanksgiving is over and now we look toward Christmas.  We put up our tree today, and it looks pretty good.  We don't put tinsil or garland on it anymore, just our ornaments.  Every year we each get to pick out a new ornament.  They are dated and our name is written on it.  That makes the ornaments to special to cover up.  We are at the point that if we put garland on the tree it will cover up ornaments and no one wants theirs covered.  So, we leave it off.  It makes the tree look bare until you notice how many ornaments are really there.  I used to make the family wait for a week or two after Thanksgiving to put the tree up.  Then we would leave it up until after New Years.  Now, because the kids do a lot of the work, we put it up sooner and it comes down before New Years.  I like it better this way.  I love Christmas and the lights and all, but I also love when the house gets back to normal, and we can get back to a routine.  Honestly I never thought I would say that, but I have grown accustomed to having a routine.  Not for me, but the kids do better on a routine.  When they do better, I do better.  Yep, it's all for the kids.

Day 126.  Before lunch yesterday, we were outside playing with the dogs.  Brody loves Dugan, and Dugan loves him, too.  We were commenting on how long Brody's tongue is, and there it was.  By the way, Brody is the dog.  I couldn't see if any of the pictures I took were in focus or not.  Today I got new glasses and I get to look at all the pictures I took.  I thought this picture was great.  So, here I am catching up on my blog, wearing my new glasses.  Merry Christmas to me.  Actually, that's all I want this year.  To be able to see my family up close and in focus.

Day 125.  What a gorgeous day.  Thanksgiving day and it's 74 degrees outside.  After a great lunch most every one needs a walk.  Usually I help Stacy with the dishes while the others take a walk.  This year Matthew agreed to help with the dishes and I went on the walk.  What a great bunch to walk with.  We had five dogs along with us too.  The best part is that after the walk we go back, the dishes are done, and we get to go home and take a nap.  Because, after the nap, the Christmas shopping begins.  Well, at least for some.

Day 124.  If you remember back at day 100 I lost my glasses.  I got out my old pair and have been using them sense.  Today as we were shopping my glasses weren't fitting right so I was adjusting them and they broke.  Now I can't see to read, or blog.  All of my life I haven't needed glasses at all, until about 4 years ago.  Now it seems that I depend on them everyday, and what may not seem like a big change in my eyesight really affects the way I see and feel.  I am writing this a few days late because I couldn't see to do it, but, I will catch up to that.  All my life I have heard that you don't know what you have until it's gone.  If you don't understand that, just wait.  There are some things I pray that I never have to find out what it's like to be without. 

Day 123.  I can't believe these trees are still changing.  When so many trees are already bare these are still holding on.  It won't be too long now until they are red and then finally they will lose their leaves also.  When every thing seems to be dormant and lifeless there is still life waiting to spring up.  It' like the resurrection.  Just when the world thought that Jesus was dead, God raised him up to life.  Hold on, spring is coming.

Day 122.  I can't believe it is almost Christmas.  It is not Thanksgiving yet but the city has already lighted/lit up the street decorations.  Tomorrow night is supposed to be the official time to light them up.  Most of the decorations are candy canes or bells or trees, but their are two toy soldiers.  One on the east end of town and one on the west end.  This one is at our street, the east side of town.  Last year the light crew messed up and put him on the other side of the street.  We were pretty upset, and Annie was afraid that we wouldn't know where our street was.  This year they got it right.  It's nice to know that he will be standing guard once again where we sill see him every night.  

Day 121.  We had our Thanksgiving lunch at church today, and it was good.  The food was good, and the fellowship was great.  Then, we went to the community service tonight.  It was a great day and I'm going to leave it at that.