Day 353, The countdown continues

The countdown continues, and I wonder how close I am to achieving my original goals. At some point, I will have to rummage through the archives and take another look at my original goals. Sadly, I only remember a couple of them---lose 20 pounds (only got half way there,) get my book published (check!!) and there might have been something about paying off bills or becoming a nicer person,,,,or something along those lines. Guess we know how I did on those goals. Arghr! Well, there's always next year, right?

Thought I'd throw in another shot of the Maui sunset. Sigh. The memories will last a lifetime.

Only a few more days of vacation. Man! It goes fast.

Day 134, Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus....right down Morgan Lane!

Well, look at our little granddaughter now . Doesn't she look happy? What a cutie! We are excited to celebrate Jane's first Christmas in a couple more days. She definitely brings a smile to everyone's face.

Ask me again if I'm done wrapping presents..... Go on,,,, ask. Nope. Sigh!!! BUT, only five more gifts to go, and then I am officially done with the wrapping. Then on to fudge and pies.... yum, yum. Once the baking is done, we deliver goodies to our neighbors and friends. I always look forward to the baking, even though it is time consuming. I really only get to bake a few times a year, and Christmas is one of those times. It's especially fun now that my daughters are there to help me.

Wow... only two more days to go ... it's coming fast! Christmas Eve is always a favorite day for me... Especially Christmas Eve night.... And really, Christmas night is a favorite of mine too. By then, all the work is done....The big meal is over, and the Christmas elf can retire for another year. I love Christmas!

Day 132, All wrapped up and no place to go

Well, the title may be  deceiving... I am far from having things wrapped up for Christmas, but I feel like I'm wrapped up in so many "things" that I don't know where to turn next. I'm certain I'm not alone. They write self-help books for people like me. Problem is, we are too busy to read them.

Thanks to some encouragement and help from Raechel, I finally started wrapping presents today. Hey,,, there is something under my tree! Yeah! I love having Raechel home. Christmas is always great with her here.

Speaking of Christmas....if you ever take a trip over to the rejection queen's blog, then you may have heard that she has been uncordially "un-invited" to her family's Christmas this year. I can't even begin to understand or relate to family dynamics of that type, but I suppose it takes all kinds. She has been invited to spend Christmas with our family.... dysfunctional as we may be at times. Funny how things happen sometimes. Hmm.

Enjoyed the Christmas program at church today...and enjoyed having Ron with me.

RAK? Can't think of anything. Sad, eh? And it's Christmas for Heaven's sake.... I should be RAKing every day!! Happy Holiday greetings, drop-by visits and goodies.... anything to put a smile on someone else's face. Well, I made cookies tonight, and shared them with Ron...He smiled. Truth is, the cookies will be for sharing with others... so in a round-about way, they count as an RAK.
After careful analysis, we've (Raechel,  Ron and I) decided there are no true RAKs without a reward attached. The simple act of doing something kind for someone else, no matter how seemingly insignificant or small, benefits the giver and makes them feel good inside. That's a reward, true, but it is also a high motivator, which makes RAK's seem almost selfish because we get so much out of them ourselves. Interesting, eh?

Five days till Christmas!