Tick Tock

Top Ten Things Time Is Running Out On:

1. Christmas Shopping How are you doing? I'm almost done! I have a few things to get for the kids, but not much. But the days are ticking away...only 16 more days until Christmas Day! Our immediate family's Christmas morning is the 23rd...so time is REALLY running out for me!!!! Only 14 more days left for me!
2. Flipped DVD Giveaway entry deadline is TOMORROW!!!! So, if you haven't signed up to win a Flipped DVD (a wonderful PG movie by the director of Princess Bride and Stand By Me...sure to be a family hit!) go ahead to this post and leave a comment for an automatic entry. Tomorrow some time I'll be drawing two names. I was going to keep one of the DVD's for myself, but I'm going to offer my DVD to somebody after I watch it...which will be tonight. So, go ahead and put in your entry and you could be one of two people who win a Flipped DVD...it looks like a great flick! (And could make a great Christmas gift!)
3. Christmas Baking ... I have read your blog entries on all the cookies you're baking. They should be inspiring me, but I haven't gotten the baking bug yet. Help!
4. Wrapping Presents ...I invited Shelly over tomorrow to hang out and told her to bring her unwrapped gifts and wrapping supplies. I told her we're going to have a "wrapping party." It sounds more fun that way, doesn't it? We're going to fit lunch out at a coffee shop in there in the afternoon, and probably drawing for the giveaway. Maybe I'll take pictures and do a blog post about it.
5. Writing... Do you realize how much writing I have due this month for SAMmy's? Way too much! Do you know how much I've done? Nada! I have typed up an agenda for a board meeting...does that count????
6. Christmas Cards...I ordered them. I expect them to be delivered Monday, which means I cannot drag my feet on sending them out! Nothing like waiting until the last minute...
7. Sending Out Gifts...I just remembered....my sister lives out of state. I thought I had my Christmas shopping wrapped up...I better get hers bought and shipped out - across the country...oops!
8. Take a Deep Breath...I need to just breathe...there, that's better - I need to make time to do that more...maybe breathe over a latte and a good book. You know of any good books?
9. Count My Blessings...In the spirit of giving to those in need this holiday season, it's easy to see how much I've been given. I need to take time in these last moments before Christmas - amid all the rush and hustle and bustle - to be thankful for my beautiful family and the love that we have. I often look at my life and think of the verse in Psalm 16:5-6 that King David said to God when he was marveling at how blessed he felt in his life. He told God, "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places." When I measure where my boundary lines have fallen, compared to those I am purchasing gifts and food for through some of these charities...surely God has made my lot secure. The least I can do is take time to be grateful instead of harried, to share instead of partake in all the greed I see around me and choose to marvel in God's goodness and hope that others see it, too.
10. Do What I Can To Love Others ...It always seems like there's not enough time for this, or the opportunities fly by. This season I get to see both sides of our family - the Brockmans and the Bixlers and I'm praying that I can do my best to love every member of both families. My mom is spending her second year without a spouse. My mother-in-law has invited my mom to her house for Christmas evening meal...isn't that the sweetest thing? My MIL told me that she wanted to do that, so that my mom was taken care of - because my mom will be staying in a hotel near where my MIL and FIL live for Christmas weekend. I'm so blessed to have married into a family that's as much a family as the one I was born into.

So, what things are on your to-do list for December?...Time is running out!