"The Most Frantic Time of the Year!"

We received our first two Christmas cards in the mail today.  This makes me go into a small panic; "Ahh, I still have to do our Christmas cards!"

Bare with me as I turn that classic Christmas tune from, "The most wonderful time of the year..." into "The most frantic time of the year!"

My goal was to work on the cards over Thanksgiving break so that I could mail them out the first week of December (knowing I would be busy as the month progressed).  It seems I have overshot that goal.  I am still working on them.  It has been hard finding time to work on them when I have been occupied with studying for my final exam and final projects.  We did, however, get the Christmas Tree and decorations set up the day before Thanksgiving (I knew we would be too busy traveling over break to put it up any other time).  It was also important to me that Luke and I did this together.  He has yet to come home since Thanksgiving break; his finals are far more intense than mine and has been occupied in Findlay, OH since. 

I am [he is too] anticipating his homecoming on the 16th of this month (only 9 more days!)

In addition to the normal Christmas panic (yes, Christmas shopping - the little bit we have to do, wrapping, cards and baking still remains!), my grandmother fell last week and I spent the entire weekend at the hospital with her.  Talk about physically and emotionally draining!  Needless to say, nothing was achieved the past weekend, other than making sure my grandmother was taken good care of.  She has since then been transferred to a rehab center where my sister and cousin both work as CNAs.  We are praying she makes a speedy recovery.

In the midst of all the things I have yet to cross off my "To Do List" - I still managed to make time to blog.  Blog - Check! (at least I achieved one thing on this list today!)

I am preparing for my last two classes of the semester this week and then tying up loose ends next week. It is hard to believe that another semester has flown by!

 Despite all things; we're making it! One day at a time!

My desk - It seems to have been taken over by notes and papers!

The Butters' tradition of picking out a new ornament every year: This year we chose one that said "Celebrate 2011"  - as we have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year!

Our 2011 Christmas Tree

Before Luke left for Ohio, he surprised me with this beautiful Poinsettia.