In Shock at the Moment

So...I just got "let go" from my job. Today. Yeah. It seems they have decided to fire the Broker, and the new one they want to hire won't come unless she can bring her secretary with her. So...I'm out. Huh.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

A BIG brown spider just fell into my pen-holder and I am FREAKED out! Where is my husband when I need him????????

Update on the Update

Luke and I are finally recovering from pretty severe colds. I did end up taking a day and a half of work off--but luckily right before Thanksgiving so it was slow in the office. We spent a day at the Lake House recovering...and playing Lord of the Rings Monopoly.

My sister-in-law lost her baby on Thanksgiving Day. He was a beautiful little baby that only needed a couple more weeks in her womb and he could have survived the birth. We are all sad about it, but thankful that God cares and that He has good plans in store.

Things are a little slower in the office right now, due to the holidays, so that means less pressure on me. I'm also getting more comfortable with my skills at home (my husband keeps reassuring me that I don't have to be a Martha Stuart at home while I'm working full-time: an unnessessary pressure I tend to put on myself).

I have all my Christmas shopping done and all the decorating done. I've put up and decorated a tree at Grandma's house as well. So my next project that I want to do is make gingerbread cookies. I'm a little intimidated, though, after reading the recipe and instructions!

Christmas wishes for the next five years:
Make gingerbread cookies
See a live performance of The Nutcracker
Have homemade gifts for everyone
Start my own family traditions
Have a fireplace to cozy up at
Snow Snow Snow!
Hmmm...I'll have to think up some more later : )

Christmas Decor

Here are my decorations...not maybe the best...but still lots of fun. I'm sick sick sick, which sortof puts a bit of a damper on the holiday-but at least I'll have a long weekend to recover. Katie, the picture with the snowflake against the plant--that's the plant you sent me! (You are so sweet!) I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Are you ready...

to see pictures of my Christmas decorating? (I know it's so silly to post things like that--but I consider it my own form of art!)

Update

I'm going to give in and give an update, because it seems like the creativity will not come back until all the "life" stuff is off my mind.

It's been a long couple of weeks for me. Work has been putting a lot of pressure on me...fairly unsurprising for a Real Estate company in the middle of a bad market year. I've worked hard the last few weeks...even harder than before, and I think I have proved my worth-but the pressure is still there. This is probably the biggest reason I haven't blogged much...my mind is taken up with my job.

Luke has been very sick--and I have been doing all I can to take care of him just the way I would want if it were me (I find that I'm better at taking care of my husband when I imagine it's me in his place). I truly love taking care of him (it is, in fact, a lot of fun!)...but I must say I'm feeling sortof drained.

Luke's grandpa died this week. Yesterday was the funeral and the day before was the visitation. I had a harder time with it than I ever thought I would. Emotionally, I just feel so tired and thin. I wanted to be steadfast, peaceful, and strong for my husband...in order to comfort him rather than be a burden. I think for the most part, I did okay...but inside I just wanted to cry for hours...and still could with just a little something to push me over the edge. I'm not sure why it was so hard for me, except that I hate to see people hurting. I have such a vivid imagination...and when things happen...I cannot help connecting them to so many other things. I cannot help thinking of Grandma Strahan all alone after 60 years with a loving man at her side. I think of my father-in-law without a father. I think of my husband and sister-in-law and brother-in-law without their dear grandpa. And what makes it hardest...is that I can't help thinking that sooner or later I will lose my own grandpa. And then I will lose my dad. And then I will lose my husband. I know it's terribly pessimistic...terribly cynicle and gloomy. I keep telling myself that God gives us the strength to face those things only when we have to face them...and it does help me to let it go. I'm certainly doing better now that the funeral and everything is over. But I'm tired. I'm tired emotionally and I'm tired physically. And all the while my poor husband is at home sick in bed.

My sister-in-law is in the hospital...may possibly lose a baby. She has three sweet little boys (my nephews!). So now I have offered to make some meals to help them out. I'm very glad to help--really want to show them my love. I'm going to need God's strength to do it, though. I'm not a great or efficient cook. I also am so tired and can't possibly hope for my husband to help (he would--he is just too sick). Thinking about all that cooking is making me want to cry again. Silly me...sometimes I wish I were a man so that I would not get so weepy so easily.

Anyway, if you read this, I'd love for you to pray for me. I plan to be cheerful, smiley, a good wife, and good aunt and sister-in-law, a good office manager, and spirit-filled through it all. And no weepiness!

On the bright side...I decorated for Christmas!!! I know, you are probably all shocked that I didn't follow the traditional rule of decorating after Thanksgiving...but I couldn't help it. I just absolutely love this time of year and want it to last as long as possible. I went to Hobby Lobby with Grandma and got some beautiful trimmings for the apartment...but it was sortof pricey. I went home so guilty and afraid that my husband would be frustrated with my spending the money. Of course...he didn't think twice about telling me it was all wonderful and to not even think of returning it. (How I love him!)

I went to the store last week and got free weights, a yoga mat, and an excercise movie. I'm determined to get back in shape (sitting in an office has made me kindof wimpy). So now I just have to hope that life slows down enough for me to start in on it...it seems like every time I plan to do something, everything gets busy.

Okay, now you know all the details of my life for the day. I can't imagine there is another thing I can tell you about...except maybe the flat tire, but I'll leave that alone.

Things I want to do...

I've kindof been in a blogger-brain-freeze lately. I just haven't felt inspired to write anything. I'm sure the knack will hit me again...and my writers-block will disappear. Right now, this is probably the best I can do (unless you actually want one of those long updates on life...but I always feel guilty for writing them because 1. they aren't creative, and 2. nobody wants to read that boring stuff)...

Autumn Fest Dress Up

About an hour before the party began, Luke and I were clueless as to what we should wear. With no time to go shopping, we scavenged the apartment for what we could find, and came up with: a travelling salesman and his schoolteacher wife...travelling out west. I have a large collection of antique hats-this one was my great-grandma's, as well as the brooch and the gloves. I happen to be wearing a tablecloth for a shawl, and the suitcases are part of my apartment decor. I borrowed the old glasses from my mother-in-law (they were her great-grandma's). We were a hit, because Luke not only dressed like a salesman, he acted like one!

My Cozy Little Home

These pictures are mostly for my sister, who has been wanting to see pictures of my apartment. I'm hoping she'll return the favor and post pictures of hers on her blog. By the way...can I just say that I can hardly wait to decorate for Christmas?

Tea and Popovers

Mom and Grandma came over for a nice evening of tea and popovers. It was a wonderful time!

I am still alive!!!!

Dear Friends and Readers,

I really do intend to write some new posts. I just have been busy and keep forgetting to bring my camera to work so I can upload pictures that I want to share with you. Wait 'till you see my halloween gettup (for an Autumn Festival...I promise I did not go trick-or-treating!).