It's beginning to look...

a lot like Christmas. They haven't fully decorated at church yet (they go all out!), but the platform in the auditorium looked very Christmasy today. We sang some Christmas carols in church, which is something I always enjoy, and six of the pastors plus two other male staff members and five of their wives (total of 13 people) sang a gorgeous acapella arrangement of "Mary Did you Know" (sounded like Pentatonix if you're familiar with them). A couple of days ago I had brought up our Christmas books and Christmas cds, and this afternoon we did our Christmas decorating. I was extremely grateful that Nadia and Ian were able to help more with that this year, and Paul assembled the tree and put up the lights. Hopefully in time decorating for Christmas will become pleasurable for me again, but last year and this year it just chokes me up. It's all I can do not to break down and sob. Putting the snowman plates in my kitchen cupboard just about did me in. My mom gave me those plates. She had some of the same kind. My mom loved snowmen. Of course there are

many times I think of her, like when I am working with Nadia and Ian on the piano because she was my piano teacher the first few years that I played the piano, but for whatever reason decorating for Christmas is something I really associate with her to the point that I just want to either skip it or burst into tears while doing it. I force myself to do it for the kids, and they do really enjoy it, which makes it all worthwhile.

Have I ever mentioned I regret the color I chose for the living room? Well I do. All the other colors I chose in 2016 I like, but not that one. It was a very spur of the moment choice. I mostly regret it when I take pictures in that room. At that point I was just *so* tired of having almost an entire house with white walls, I swung the pendulum too far. I wish I hadn't picked such a dark color. Live and learn. I don't dislike it enough to feel motivated to repaint it quite yet. The good news is that I used my camera two days in a row. It used to be the norm for me to use it almost every day, but the past three months about once a week has been the norm.

Today I'm giving thanks...

1. that Paul and I were able to go on a date on Saturday night. The kids really enjoyed the Christmas party at the Alliance church. They decorated Christmas cookies, made Christmas ornaments, etc.

2. that the kids could build an ornament at Home Depot with me yesterday morning. They enjoyed comparing the ones they made last year with the ones they made this year while we decorated the tree this afternoon. They also enjoyed turkey day at the Children's Museum.

3. I've really enjoyed the parenting class that the pastor's wife led. It ended today. The pastor's sermon was very thought provoking on the topic of showing mercy. As I mentioned earlier I've heard many sermons over the years about gratitude. I haven't heard too many on mercy. I'm not sure why that topic isn't as popular as it's certainly taught in the Scriptures. The ensemble was amazing. It was the first time those 13 sang together. They

said it won't be the last. I look forward to hearing them again in the future!

4. A couple in my Sunday School class shared today that their daughter's recent surgery went well. Their daughter Hannah is close in age to Nadia, and she recently had a 10cm tumor (size of a bagel) removed, and they think thus far that it's benign. Answer to prayer!

5. I have had a closer relationship with my Aunt Janet following the passing of my mom. I'm thankful for her.

6. Paul has been working on fixing our master bathroom floor. It will be wonderful when he completes that project and we can use our shower again!

7. Ian has been enjoying reading the Imagination Station chapter books.

8. I've been asked to interview on Tuesday for the spring position at BU.