This is the extent of our big snow this morning.

Holding out hope that more will come later.

Christmas came early for me.

As of 5:00 pm today, I’m on vacation for 17 days.

That’s s-e-v-e-n-t-e-e-n days!

Zane, Eliana and Karys are out of school for 16 of those 17 days. So it might not all be a vacation.

Mmm… but we’ll manage.

Tonight, the Sunday School class Carmi and I attended (before starting work with the Youth) had a Christmas party. We had good food, lots of fellowship… and an ornament exchange.

All the adults were asked to bring a wrapped ornament and when it was time to start the exchange, everyone drew a slip of paper with a number on it.

The person who drew #1 picked the first present at random and opened it to show off the ornament inside. Person #2 could then either take the ornament from #1 or choose another present at random. Person #3 could then either take the ornament from #1 or #2 or choose another present at random. And on it went until all ornaments were distributed.

Karys was not the least bit interested in going upstairs to play with the other younger children. Oh no. She insisted on being downstairs where the real action was taking place and where she could be the center of attention.

And she had to play with a lady’s hair… who fortunately didn’t mind.

I use mousse in my hair. Most nights when I put Eliana and Karys to bed, they work and work to give me a mohawk by pushing my (slightly) stiff hair to the middle and make it stand straight up.

Karys tried her best to give this lady a mohawk but it wasn’t happening.

Later, the lady was even kind enough to let Karys pick her ornament.

I mentioned back in September that Carmi and I are now teaching the 7th & 8th grade Sunday morning Bible study in our church’s Youth ministry.

Tonight we participated in our first Youth event outside of Bible study - their annual Christmas progressive dinner.

The progressive dinner started at our house with appetizers. We had a taco dip with chips (yum), a spinach dip with crackers (not so yum) and Bagel Bites (which were the b-i-g hit). After 30 minutes, the whole crew boarded the church bus and cruised on over to another house for the main course which was spaghetti. An hour later, everyone went to a third and final house for dessert.

Before leaving our house, the Youth Pastor wanted to play a game. He passed out little slips of paper to all the kids and asked them to write down where Carmi and I first met. Two people actually got it right but the majority of them had absolutely no clue.

My top 5 favorite (but incorrect) answers were:

5. at a gas station

I saw her across the unleaded pumps.

4. at a Wal-Mart

You know you’re a redneck if…

3. at a Dollar Store

I said, “No. But that IS where I bought her engagement ring.”

2. at a Jimmy Buffet concert

I thought, “Gosh. Do they really suppose we’re THAT old?” And how would they know who Jimmy Buffet is anyway?

But my very favorite response was:

1. at a smoking lounge

Ooh yeah. There’s nothing like kissing an ashtray.

I had stepped outside for just a moment earlier tonight and was struck by the peacefulness - the temperature was frigid, the sky was perfectly clear and it was so very quiet. Seriously. There wasn’t a sound.

I immediately thought of that old Eagles song called “Peaceful Easy Feeling”.

Coming back inside, my mind wandered and I reflected on those times when I feel a sense of peace:

1. Staring into a crackling fire.
2. Sitting in a dark living room after the children have gone to bed and gazing at the lit Christmas tree.
3. Standing outside while snow is falling and a blanket of white already covers everything in sight.
4. Anytime I’m at my mom’s house.
5. Watching my children sleep.

When do you feel at peace?