We spent most of this week Christmas shopping. We went shopping in Brunswick a week ago Thursday (the same night that the shooting took place at the Cumberland Farms--in fact, we were eating pizza in the same parking lot 20 minutes before it happened), we went to Bangor with my Mom on Monday, and on Friday, we went to Augusta, Lewiston/Auburn, and Brunswick. We got to 3 different Wal-Marts on that day. I love Wal-Mart! I think I am now done. I have almost all of the presents wrapped. There's one bad thing about being done early--I keep seeing more things I want to buy! I thought I was all done 2 weeks ago, but I've managed to spend about $100 more on both of my boys! Completely blew my budget! I guess I'm now going to just have to stay out of the stores.

I spent Saturday making Christmas cards. Because I am now an independent consultant with Close to My Heart(tm), I thought it would be appropriate to make my Christmas cards. I made 91 cards. It took me about 3 hours on Saturday, but I had also spent about 3 hours working on them a couple of weeks ago. It's definitely easier to just do those photo cards at Wal-Mart. (Did I say that I love Wal-Mart??) I just thought it would be "good business" to make them. We'll see if I get any business out of them. I really doubt it, as everyone I send a Christmas card to would already know about my "business", but I thought I should try.

Dwane has been home a lot more the last couple of weeks. I haven't minded a all. The house is a little more cluttered, but I'll take the extra clutter if it means I get to have my husband around. This week, he'll go in for about an hour each day, and then come home. This would have been a perfect week to be employed by Jim again. I could go in a little late each morning, and get in almost 40 hours. And, Dwane would be home for the boys. But--Jim needs me to be able to give him definite hours each week, not just "hit or miss", so I'll remain unemployed for now. I'm praying that something will open up for me somewhere before April, when the MBNA severance kicks in. I'm really going to need to make up some extra income. I guess it's too much to ask--to have a job that will let me work from home, or to have a job that would be so flexible that it wouldn't require me to work a strict schedule. If I had the luxury of picking any "work outside the home" job I wanted, I would love to work in a jewelry store. I just love gemstones. The money's probably not that good, though. I'd love to sell make-up, too. I always loved doing that at Senter-Cranes. I just wish that such a 'non-stress' job paid as much as a 'high-stress' job does. Anyway--until Caleb's in school, I guess I'm really looking for a miracle job. Doesn't hurt to pray for it, though!

Of course, I could always expand my CTMH business, but at the same time that I joined, 2 other gals from Knox County joined up, too. I'm really scared of "going all out" and trying to build my business, because I don't want to "step on their toes" or get into "their territory". (CTMH doesn't have territories--that's just how I feel about it.) Anyway, I'll keep praying, and God will show me what to do. I firmly feel that He wants me to be at home for my kids, and I firmly feel that He wants us to pay our bills. I'll just have to be patient and see what doors open.