"Peace" On Earth {Says the Cookie!}

This morning I headed out of the house around 8:45 a.m., with Ilah in tow, to go to Costco for just ONE thing....steak. Last week I decided that I would make a big feast for Christmas and just last night I wrote out my grocery list of everything I needed to get at the store(s). I wanted to get to Costco right when they opened because I knew that place would be INSANITY in the days leading up to Christmas. I pulled into the parking lot about five minutes to 9:00 a.m and the parking lot was empty, with the exception of just a few cars. "Perfect!", I thought. And then I noticed the doors were closed. As it turns out, Costco doesn't open until 10:00 a.m. Lucky for me, Walmart is right across the street and I needed to get a few things from there. I was out by 10 a.m. and made my way back across the street to Costco right when they opened - to find the parking lot FULL. It looked like everyone in the entire world was there! I zipped in, got my steak, went to self check-out and said a hallelujah that I made it out before the thick mayhem started. Those lines can quickly turn into what seems like a security check point at the airport, and you find that you are waiting FOREVER for it to be your turn. Dele had a dentist appointment this morning and when he was done, he met me at Costco to swap cars and take Ilah home so that I could finish up the rest of my shopping quickly. Between Costco, Walmart, Aldi and Kroger {where I had to go for just one odd thing - tapiaco flour}, I was DONE with all the shopping that I needed for Christmas dinner : )

I'm surprised that I haven't been spastic this week with all that I've been doing to prepare for Christmas. This is a busy time of year for a lot of people, not just me - don't you think there should be a t-shirt for sale that says "I survived preparing for Christmas!"? I would totally rock one on December 26th after everything is "a wrap"!! But I love the joy and excitement that Christmas brings, and that it's a time of year to remember our Savior's birth, so I remain focused on the true meaning of the season while doing things to make this time of year really special for my family!

I shared in my last post that I was finishing up some cookies for a Christmas Party that our youth group is having tomorrow night. I decided to do something a bit funky for the teens and throw some zebra pattern in the mix!....

"Peace" on Earth : )

Our church is having a Christmas Eve Service this Saturday - I'm so excited for it!! I'm overseeing a hot cocoa/candy bar and have been buying things for the past week to make it fab! The night will entail a wonderful evening of worship, a great message, sweet treats, and so much more! I'm looking forward to gathering with my family and friends on this special holiday evening. If you would love to join us, email me! {marriagetomotherhood@yahoo.com}. I have met a few of my blog readers already, who have visited my church - so please don't be shy if you'd love to check us out : )

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but I can't help but to feel the absence of my dad {who passed away when I was 14} during the holidays. When I think back to Christmas as a child, I remember going with Dad to pick out a special gift for mom...he obviously didn't need my input as to what she might want, after-all I was just a child {and mom dropped her own hints!}, but he made it a special thing that just him and I would do - together. He always created moments that made me feel special. Christmas morning I have fond memories of him bringing in my new bike, putting together a toy that I wanted to immediately play with, and us all sharing in Christmas breakfast after going through our stockings. I wish that he would be in the room with us this Christmas to see Ilah open up her presents and for her to sit on his lap and get loved on by my dad. Christmas carols are so beautiful...when they are sung, I think of heaven...where my dad is...and I get a bittersweet feeling in my heart. He will always be the most amazing person that I have ever known. I miss him every day. So much of who he was, can be found in who I am. I am one blessed woman to have been his daughter. I carry him in my heart always.