Mad with the Christmas Spirit...

...of wasting money.

Really, the past few days, it's been like I can't stop myself.  Do you realize that I spent $140 on Christmas lights?  I got good deals on the new-style LED lights - the energy efficient ones that I told myself that I would buy this year.  Now, I have super buyers-remorse and they are going back to the stores that they came from for someone else to buy.

But, it's been like a binge, and I feel like I might if I had, say, eaten an entire dozen of bavarian creme donuts.  I have become fond of my frugality, and every time I whip out my debit card to pay for something, my head starts to spin.

But, here's the good news -- I filled up my car (I had less than 1/8th of a tank - please don't tell my husband) and the bill was $21.74.  I paid in cash.  I can't remember the last time that I did that!

Hey! I'm a Guest Blogger!

On Friday, I was the guest blogger on one of my favorite blogs -- the blog of Singer, Songwriter, Motivational Speaker, and all-around wise woman, Christine Kane.  Christine is doing a month of guests speaking on the power of setting a single-word intention for your New Year, rather than the more conventional New Year's Resolution.

My word was "Refine."  Please click over and have a read.  And you might, as I did, end up coming back to this great blog again and again.

7 Random Things

So, my best friend Cheri at "Keeping up with HIS Plans" participated in this fun game.  I'm sharing to help her out.  

1.  After a prolonged and valiant battle against the computer cancer euphemistically termed "planned obsolescence," my nine-year-old beloved Dell Latitude went up in a triumphant puff of electronic smoke after my son dumped a near-empty soda can into the back port yesterday afternoon.

2.  I finally found a really good website to assist me with all those ballot issues in Montgomery County, Maryland.  And it's written in language you can really understand. Now, I'm just trying to figure out the best time to arrive at the polls so as to avoid the crowds and the rain.

3.  I'm on the committee organizing my 20th High School Reunion (Class of 1989) for Roy J. Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, CO.  If you're wanting to attend, it's July 17-18, 2009.

4.  My entire family is sick, and as a result, my children have watched entirely too much TV in the past three days.

5.  Sunday is my 5-year wedding anniversary.

6.  My sink is full of dirty dishes.

7.  I talk to my mom on the phone almost every day.  I love that my long distance is (very nearly) free these days.  There were months when we lived overseas that the phone bills made me want to cry.

Thanks, Cheri, it's been fun!

St.Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.