Halloween coming right up.... Thanksgiving around the corner.... Oh my gosh! Christmas!!

Time really does speed up as you get older. It is time for me to create a plan to avoid holiday panic and disappointment. I get a little freaked out by the pressure, schedule, shopping, etc. of the holidays.

We are going to Worlds of Fun with Anna for Halloween. She is very excited! Other than that, we have not yet visited a pumpkin patch this year. The pumpkins at Hy-Vee are looking really good to me!

Hopefully we will follow our usual Thanksgiving plan and go to someone else's house.

And then Christmas! I haven't even made my list, so need to get on that! Looking forward to a fire in the fireplace, and my twinkling Christmas tree.

As for now, about to take Anna to the Halloween store to avoid all of the hoochie costumes.

Thankful for fall, family and friends, and adult capri suns (with alcohol).

check in

I am thankful for hope and belief today. There are so many things that can be discouraging. I was really disappointed for the first time in a long time of Friday. I found out that someone I trusted was REALLY not who I thought they were. Their intentions towards me were not pure or kind. They are looking for me to fail and to be unhappy. So then I go through anger, thinking about revenge, and then just really sad and disappointed. I am not sure what to do to fix the issue, it is not something I can turn the other cheek on (I think?). I have to address it one way or the other. Today I am hopeful about the future, and thankful for today. I believe!

I feel so distant from my church, support, and fellowship of Christians. A lot of it is my fault. I have pulled away from others at times, am not involved in everything because I am busy. I am just really sad about the lack of connection, and pray for something to change. We have missed a lot of church this year. George and I have been married for 13 years and have NEVER missed this much church. I know we need to re-engage. I really believe that faith has kept us together and helped us to build the marriage and family that we have right now. Sigh. I'm praying.

Anna is still a sunshine, and KJ is still my favorite son. George is gorgeous. My job is challenging me and growing me. Life is good.