Twenty years of parenting

Twenty years ago Andrew and I learned we were going to be parents.  I've purposely never written about it, but my kiddos are an adopted sibling group.  It was 20 years ago today that Andrew and I received the phone call that we were going to become parents.  It was, without a doubt, the greatest gift we ever received.  I can't believe that 20 years have gone by.  It has absolutely flown by.

Seventeen years of blogging

I started this blog 17 years ago!  I'm so grateful for each memory recorded here.  I especially love the December memories.  Eight more school days for me this calendar year.  I know that tomorrow is never promised, and I plan to soak up the holiday memories as much as I can this year...and hopefully I'll write about them here!

The first weekend of December

There is something so magical about this time of year.  It's hard to have a bad day when decorations are so festive.  Right now, I'm enjoying the coziness of our back room with the Christmas tree and our candle.  Back to work in ten hours, but only nine more school days until we are off for two+ weeks!

Last week continued to have challenges at work.  We received an deranged rant from a parent, specifically "calling out" certain people, including me.  It's really a whole new level of ridiculousness.

Our weekend started with a staff gathering for Andrew.  I always enjoy getting to see his co-workers who are my former co-workers as well!  The best part was being home by 8pm.  Yesterday was another day spent at my mom's.  We are making progress, but we are definitely starting to feel a bit of crunch time because she insists on hosting Christmas.  I was home in time to watch the Big Ten title game last night.  What a great game!  The Buckeyes lost to the Hoosiers, but I can live with it.  Leaving the Irish out of the playoffs?  Nope, not a bit okay with that.  Today, we had to be at church early as I was in charge of altar prep.  Then we hit the store and when we got home, I was home for the day.  the Steelers beat the Ravens, we had hot soup for dinner, and now we are ready to start another week.  But December weeks have just a little more magic than the rest of the year!

Enjoying the view of a winter wonderland from inside my cozy home

It is a gorgeous winter wonderland outside.  We were forecasted to receive 1-3" of snow overnight, but as someone stated, this was an "overachiever" and there is 3-5" throughout the area.  I would guess we are somewhere between 3-4" and it is absolutely gorgeous.  Because it was going to be snowing through the early morning hours, we were certain the public schools would be closed, although I had thought with the lower numbers that we might be in session, and I was planning to go in regardless.  However, we closed by 6am, and I just texted my coworkers and said that with the larger amount, I am going to just stay home. I'm currently in my front room, having finished my morning coffee, wrapped in a Christmas throw next to our lit Christmas tree, enjoying the view out our large bay window.  I'm so grateful for this morning of peace.