Day To Day

 Go over to Rebecca Jo's blog to read more things to be thankful for
 
I'm thankful for snow!
We've had a lot of it the last few days

I'm thankful for a good car that does well in the snow

I'm thankful for hot chocolate on a cold day

For marshmallows in that hot chocolate!

For a clean refrigerator (Finally got it done!)

For a soft blanket to curl up with on the couch
For the hope of new employees
I'm thankful for my boss and co-workers
I'm extremely thankful for the end of a very long day

I'm thankful for friends and family who check in to read about my day and what's going on in my life

I'm thankful for all of you!!

An Elf, A Scavenger Hunt and Traditions

(Thank you for your prayers and comments on my last post. I know the Lord hears our prayers because when I got to work the next day, I had an email from someone requiring about a job. I got another email today from someone else who is interested!)

Thank you Lord!

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We flew Diana out for Christmas and she was able to stay for 2 weeks. For the first time in 5 years we had a 'typical' Christmas at our house and Sharaya and Allie even spent the night with us! We all woke up together Christmas morning. I absolutely loved it!

Our Christmas Eve tradition is Allie opens one gift, pj's and a stuffed animal. Chuck's mom started doing that when our girls were little and Sharaya asked me to do it for Allie. I love shopping for her and trying to find just the right pj's. This year I shopped late and there wasn't a huge selection but we all loved the ones I found!

    

After Allie went to bed, Sharaya and Diana put together the bike Sharaya bought for her. Then Christmas morning Sharaya had her go on a scavenger hunt to find it!

 I know this summer they're going to ride all over Seattle!

The rest of the day was spent playing games and having chips and dip. Another Anderson tradition!

Draining

Today was my day off and I spent part of it, to be honest, on my knees crying over my job. I had no idea just how much it would change my life and how time consuming it would be. (For many years I was the Admin for our Facilities department but a little over a year ago I became the Custodial Supervisor.)

I went through my camera to see what recent pictures I had that I could post here and they're all from work! 

Chemicals
Beverage containers
Room set ups
A Maintenance code on one of our copiers

  

(So I know how many beverages to bring to this event each week.)

 

(Trying to see where on the floor the tables are to be placed.)

(You have to know the code when you call for maintenance.)

I won't post the pictures of the bathrooms that desperately needed attention. (I work at a large church and we serve a lot of homeless and people with addictions. During flu season you expect bathrooms to look... well you know, but let's just say these were bad enough it looks like they were sabotaged so I took photos just in case.)

I've had one custodian give notice, another is leaving on a two week missions trip and still another is going home (out of country) for two and a half months. I'm trying to hire more people but for now I'm working as Supervisor during the day and as a custodian a few nights a week. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. I spoke to my boss yesterday and he's helping me with the hiring process. But today I just broke down and cried out to the Lord. Honestly, I feel better. Tears for me are a way to relieve stress. What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? How do you relieve stress?

I promise I'll post some fun Christmas pictures soon. The whole family was together again!

We Tried So Hard To Be Prim and Proper!

A couple weeks before Christmas I took Allie to tea for her birthday and we had such a great time! I've gone before with friends but was always just invited, this time I chose the place and made the reservation... 

It was about 30 minutes from our house and if you know me, you know I don't venture far from home very often. Not by myself and when I'm driving! I'm so grateful for Google Maps and Street Scene. I've driven so many places on-line before I ever go there for real!  

We arrived in plenty of time and got to look around the little shop before we were seated. It was a cute little place and we oohed and aahed at all the tea sets.

Our table was decorated so cute. We loved how the napkins were rolled inside the cup to look like roses

After we placed our order we went into the Royal Gown Room which was filled with crowns and hats and boas... Allie tried a few on and found a beautiful tiara to wear while we had lunch.

 I wish I'd captured the look on her face when they brought out our lunch on the tiered trays. Her mouth dropped open, she was so surprised! It was priceless!

When I bit into my scone I expected it to be cool and a little bit hard but it was warm and so soft! My eyes got big, I looked at her and covered my mouth with my napkin so I could tell her how good it was when all of the sudden the background music began to play The Hallelujah Chorus! Oh my gosh we both laughed so hard!!

Have you ever had Tea in a Tea Room?

Twenty Twenty

A whole new year ahead of us.

Unwritten chapters of our lives.

I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store!

I pray the blessings of the Lord rest on you this year!

"Well ya comin?" ... "Why, to The North Pole of Course!"

Chuck and Beth got Allie tickets to the Polar Express for her birthday and we took her last week.

We picked Allie up from school and then started the two and a half hour drive down to Mount Rainier. It was dark by the time we got there and it was so cold outside! But we only had a wait a few minutes before it was time to board the train.

We got golden tickets that the attendants punched for us

They danced in the aisles with hot chocolate on their trays!

They read the book over the intercom while showing the pictures

We got cookies and yummy hot chocolate

And before we knew it, we were at the North Pole!

And you'll never guess who got on the train with us!!

He gave everyone a jingle bell from his sleigh!

It was a magical night!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 

I Have A Question For You

Lately I've noticed that when I get on my blog for the very first time each day, the background shows up. But every time after that it doesn't. It's just white. It doesn't matter if I click on the View Blog link (I have Blogger) on the Design page or if I close out of it and re-open it, it still always comes up with a white background.

When you click on my blog, do you see the background? Or is it white around the Header Photo? It shouldn't be just white... and I'm trying to figure out where my Background went! 😕

Tea, Chocolate and A Good Night's Sleep

 Reasons to be thankful:

A fun Christmas party at work

Christmas bonuses

Going to Tea with Allie

Getting the day after Christmas off from work

Diana arrives on Saturday!!

Shopping at the mall and it wasn't very crowded

Finding a great parking spot

Sleeping for 11 hours!

The Polar Express

Taking a day to just sit on the couch and watch TV

It's almost Winter Solstice!

Chocolate Truffles

I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand for Thankful Thursday

What are you thankful for today?

"Guess Where I Am?"

Diana sent us that text last weekend.

Peter had some work to do in Phoenix AZ and asked her if she wanted to tag along and stop at Disneyland on their way. 

That was an easy one to answer!

They flew over the Grand Canyon, wow!

Once they got to Disneyland they couldn't wait to see Galaxy's Edge!

 She said the Millennium Falcon ride was "unlike any ride I've been on. There were live controls by our stations though the action was on a screen through the windshield and we were buckled! Six people are in a spaceship and two people control the steering, two control the weapons and two are engineers. And if you mess up, you really mess up!" 

I'd love to go inside the Millennium Falcon but I'm not sure I'd enjoy the ride!

Cinderella's Castle

 

It's a Small World

Have you ever been to Disneyland?

Have you ever been there when it's decorated for Christmas?