Lessons I Learned While Christmas Shopping

1) Beware of the Target toy aisles... Marching flourescent frogs and harried shopping carts will trample you!

2) By far, the most entertaining experience at Borders is waiting in line. Afterall, the "line aisle" (for lack of a better term) is the only location in the store where you can find the little boxes of magnetic structures that repel eachother. The fun here? You can bounce and flip them off each other, of course! Sure to cure any and all line boredom (shhh!). :)

3) In the hustle and bustle of holiday traffic, one should not follow a County Connection bus too closely, especially when its lights begin flashing. You may never get home...

4) Even if your merry, Santa hat clad cashier acknowledges your coupon, do not count on them actually using it. In the holiday rush, they may forget--and it's not fun getting back into a line 40 people long!

2010 Gift Rankings

Most Unusual: a large, unmarked Christmas bag with only a disposable fork inside (What does this mean??)

Most Unexpected: a spray of "diamonds and saphires" (brooch)

Most Priceless: One of my pre-k boys was SO excited about giving me one of his very own toy cars (it winds up and drives all by itself!). He was insistent that it not be left at school because he wanted me to have fun playing with it at home. :) He wrapped it all by himself and even made his own bow. So stinkin' cute!!! We had much fun playing together...

Most Fun: There were so many, but here are a couple: movie tickets and a Barnes and Noble gift card!

Most valuable: a watercolor from one of my students who is going to be a famous artist someday and an email address from my dear 5th grader who is moving back to South Korea in a couple of weeks :( :(

Best Smell: Mmmmm... Sweet pea bath and body set

Best Homemade: It's really a tie: moist pumpkin bread, candied walnuts, and old-fashioned caramel

Most Hillarious Quote: "It's a BUTT WASHER!!" -one of my pre-k girls upon seeing a pink lufa I received as a present. She then proceeded to demonstrate ...

How much to Starbucks this year? : $40

This has been a wonderful year; there were even those who went out of their way to make sure they gifted me with something I could eat ... I am soooo blessed!! :D

Coming in First

I needed You today. From the moment I opened my eyes and flew out of bed I needed You. The moment I began racing out the door without breakfast, my mind was spinning around a million other tasks and situations that lay before me. I needed You then, and I need You now. Can I just stop this hurried pace, stop for even just a second, and listen? No matter how fast I move my arms, my legs, my mind, nothing will truly be accomplished without looking to You first. My soul's arms are open wide. I am stopping. I am taking a breath...