Not what I used to be..

It was a Wednesday night miracle.

Supper was done early, the dishes were done and I was free to shop till I dropped. The Hubs sent me away promising to run the ship and tuck the kids into bed...ahhhh Bliss! (I had a twinge of guilt as I saw the kids pull out the farming board game, and that look of horror in his eyes, knowing what the next few hours would bring)

But for me the possibilities were endless, would it be home decor?or Christmas stocking stuffers?, or perhaps some new threads, I had a hop in my step and some Ramsey cash in my envelope wallet.

It wasn't long before I realized my shopping stamina is not what it used to be... I was out for a total of three hours and came back with nary a Christmas gift.  As a side note let me just say... I also came back home with a total drop in self esteem and a dent in my pride. There may have been some skinny jeans and knee high boots involved...I've come to the conclusion I shalt never don the gay apparel of the aforementioned. And that's all we'll say about that. Yes, I realize a photo would probably send my blog hits skyrocketing, but there are things better left unseen, those kinds of images can be hard to forget. 

Lucky for me I've got a man who wouldn't be caught dead in skinny jeans nor any of the latest 'metro' fashion and he loves me just as I am in my yoga pants :) 

'You'll shoot yer eye out!"

I'm a ready.

The holly jolly season is at the doorstep and I'm ready to fling the door open and let in all the madness. ... well almost all of it.
Gift giving on the fifty, in times past, was to buy presents..as many as needed to cover all the grounds of underthings, readable things, play things, and wearable things .. AND to try to find that fine balance of making sure each child has as much as the next.
That tradition is now dead to me.
This year, it's one gift each and a stocking. Can I just say I'm already breathing more joy from Jesus as I put the King first and the 'stuff' behind.
Deep breath in ......deep breath out......see?? that's pure joy right there.
The kids all have an idea of what they'd like their special gift to be, and I can see already it's going to be an internet Christmas. Love you, free shipping.

You wanna know what I asked for? 
A daisy BB Red Ryder Rifle. 

The thought of blowing a pop can off a stump in the distance brings me such glee, I can hardly explain it. Call it a country thing, or a farm girl thing, or maybe even a self-protection thing. Yes, I said self-protection... perhaps the BB gun won't protect me from much ... not even a wayward raccoon from what I hear, but it's a start. And yes, there's a proven need to protect myself and my kids from wayward coons here on the fifty...I don't believe I've told that story yet, but I will. It deserves a post all it's own.

Anyway, soon it'll be time to dust off the holiday totes from the basement and put on the Christmas music, and come December 26th, I sure hope it's time to raid the recycling bin for some shootin' practice ;)

Rubi-licious...

 There's a new fluff ball in town. Ruby. Part persian, part himalayan and all ploofy.

(Sorry about the photo quality, these are off my phone.)