BELOVED'S MI-5

Beloved says: "Since it is the week before New Year's Day I thought we could do some reflecting on the past year."

1. What one unexpected joy did you discover?

That it is so liberating to go into McDonald's and order a side salad, a small fry, a 4-piece chicken mcnugget, and a diet soda. I cut up the mcnuggets to place on the salad, and it's really, really delicious. It's so nice to walk out of McDonalds feeling satisfied and with 500 less calories than I would have consumed 6 months ago. Hurray for small victories!

2. What two things would you have done differently? Why?

I really wish we could have found a way to use the camper this year. We have such an awesome camper, and it's a shame to not use it. I also wish that I had monitored Eben's homework better.

3. What were the three most significant events?

Let's see...the birth of my first counsin once removed, Sean Brian. The adoption of our dog, Benji. And hmmm...what else?? Oh, I know! I lost 30 pounds! That's pretty significant to me! (My lack of a mention here does not mean that something or someone was not significant or important to me.)

4. What four things did you do that were the most fun?

Going to Virginia on vacation (as always). Going to Women of Faith in Boston with the gals from church. All of the day trips with Mom. Oh, I know I'm forgetting something good here. I can't think. I really love all of the scrapbooking parties that I host, too.

5. What five things are you most grateful for?

My family (immediate and extended). My friends. My job, which allows me to stay at home to be with the kids, as well as work with my best friend, Mrs. Cheeseball. My home. And, most importantly, salvation through Jesus Christ.

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. I must SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST before I die.

2. You can't stop MY BOYS FROM FIGHTING.

3. I wish I never had to buy CAR PARTS again.

4. FIRST PLACE 4 HEALTH has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would CHANGE PROFESSIONS.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to PLAYING MY NEW DS GAMES (DINER DASH, ZENSES, AND COOKING MAMA 2) OR SCRAPBOOKING, tomorrow my plans include GOING TO MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S FOR CHRISTMAS and Sunday, I want to TAKE A NAP!

GINA'S CHRISTMAS MI-6

1. Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?

I did until I was seven or so. I remember being at the dining room table and realizing that the handwriting on the Christmas gifts matched my Mom's handwriting. I put two and two together and "got it". Mom confirmed it for me. I was not devastated.

2. Does your town get decorated at Christmas? Tell us about the sights!

I don't think our "town" as a whole does any formal decorating. Certainly, there are houses around town that put lights up, and the Berry household up the road does a good job every year.

3. How many Christmas cards have you receive this year? How many Christmas cards do you send?

I've received 20 so far. About half came from church family members at the Sunday School Christmas Party, and the other half came in the mail. I think that the cards in the mail have seemed to be much slower coming this year than normal. I don't know if that means everyone is busy, and hasn't had a chance to do them yet, or if the economy is making people cut back on expenses. I sent out about 80 cards.

4. What does your family traditionally eat for Christmas dinner?

We have a "Thanksgiving" dinner for Christmas: Turkey, potato, stuffing, squash, turnip, onions, pie. My Mom cooks it all, and she does an awesome job. We always go back to Mom's for New Year's Day (prime rib & pork roast), and Sue and I usually contribute to that meal in some way. I usually bring dessert.

5. What is the best Christmas present you have ever gotten?

Oh, goodness. That's a hard one. I remember getting a diamond chip bracelet from my grandfather one year, and that was special. I know my Dad made me a toybox when I was little, which I still treasure, but I don't remember if that was for Christmas or not. I'm sure I'm forgetting something special.

6. If you could change something about Christmas time, what would it be?

I love all of the Christmas activities surrounding the holiday (parties, programs, caroling, shopping, etc.) but I do wish that we could spread all of the activities out over two months, instead of just one. There's always so much going on, and there's never time to do everything you want to. And, I've been so exhausted from everything this week that I'm sleeping like a log and having a hard time waking up in the morning.

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, AND LISA RESPONDED, "IT'S TOO HARD TO PLAY".
3. GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, THAT GLORIOUS SONG OF OLD.
5. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing RAPPING ON THEIR DOOR???.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to EBEN'S BASKETBALL PRACTICE, FOLLOWED BY TAKING HIM TO A DANCE, tomorrow my plans include EBEN'S BASKETBALL GAME, FOLLOWED BY A TRIP TO BRUNSWICK TO BUY A ROCKING RECLINER WITH MY CHRISTMAS BONUS and Sunday, I want to PLAY CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON THE PIANO (HOPEFULLY NOT THE FIRST NOEL) WHILE OUR YOUTH GROUPS SINGS TO AN ELDERLY GROUP!

FORWARDED E-MAIL THINGIE

Place an X by all the things you've done:

(X)Gone on a blind date
( )Skipped school
( )Watched someone die
(X)Been to Canada
( )Been to Mexico
(X)Been to Florida
(X)Been on a plane
(X)Been lost...
( )Been on the opposite side of the country
(X)Traveled to Washington, DC
(X)Swam in the ocean
(X)Cried yourself to sleep
( )Played cops and robbers
( )Recently colored with crayons
(X)Sang Karaoke (not in public)
( )Paid for a meal with coins only?
(X)Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
( )Made prank phone calls
(X)Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X)Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X)Danced in the rain
(X)Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X)Been kissed under the mistletoe
( )Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(X)Blown bubbles
(X)gone ice skating
( )Been skinny dipping
(X)Gone to the movies
( )Hitch a ride

1. Any nickname? Leese, Lisa Marie Batty Wight.
2. Mother's name: Marylou
3. Favorite drink? Diet Cherry Pepsi; Crystal Light Peach Tea; Ghiradelli Chocolate Mocha
4. Tattoo's? no
5. Body piercings? ears
6. How much do you love your job? Depends
7. When do you wake? 5:00 AM, Up at 6:00 AM
8. Favorite vacation spot? South
9. Ever been to Africa? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Don't recall that I have
11. Been on TV? yes
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? no
13. Ever been in a car accident? If a deer running into me counts
14. Favorite Salad dressing? Newman's Own Lite Italian (at McDonalds); Lite Ranch
15. Favorite Pie? Chocolate Cream (easy on the cream)
16. Favorite movie? Cocktail, Dirty Dancing, 9 1/2 Weeks (but don't tell my Pastor that one!)
17. Favorite holiday? Christmas
18. Favorite dessert? Depends
19. Favorite Mexican food? Tacos
20. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
21. Favorite brand of body wash? Bath and Body Works (Flowering Herbs)
22. Favorite Song? It Is Well
23. Favorite toothpaste? The cinnamon one with the flavor strips
24. Favorite smell? My sons' freshly shampooed heads
25. What do you do to relax? Scrapbooking, computer games (time management and hidden pictures)
26. How do you see yourself in 10 years? 50 pounds lighter
27. How many siblings do you have? 2

CHRISTMAS MEME

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. A real tree is more "fun", and it certainly smells better, but they are expensive.
3. When do you put up the tree? Anytime from the day after Thanksgiving 'till December 7 or so.
4. When do you take the tree down? A couple of days after Christmas. I like to have the space back in my living room, and it's a depressing reminder that Christmas is over.
5. Do you like eggnog? I really only like the homemade stuff by Uncle Ade/Aunt Ginny.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think the teddy bear that my parents gave me that plays "Rock-A-Bye Baby", which to my Mom and I is really "Jesus Loves Children", which is the way Mom used to sing the lullaby.
7. Hardest person to buy for? This year it is Mom and Caleb. Last year, Caleb was the easiest.
8. Easiest person to buy for? This year it was Eben. Last year, he was the hardest.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but I don't put it up, simply because I don't have room.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can’t think of one. Oh wait. The pooping reindeer that Dwane gave me last year. (Inside joke.)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Santa Clause (I liked all 3)
13. When do you start shopping? I like to pick things up all year as I find a bargain.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's Chex Mix.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes -- all white/clear, and unblinking. Any color is fine, though, as long as they are all the same color.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Probably "Mary Did You Know?"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas Eve 3 miles away at my grandmother's, Christmas AM at home, Christmas Afternoon 3 miles away at my Mom's, and 2 days after Christmas at my father-in-law's. The furthest I have ever been over Christmas is Lewiston/Auburn area on Christmas Eve (about 1 3/4 hours away).
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Definitely an angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve? Christmas? Both.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Lack of Parking. Crowded stores.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I collect Hallmark Ornaments. Every year, I buy "Mom", "Dad", and 2 "Son"s. Dwane buys me "Our Christmas Together" as an anniversary gift. My Mom buys me "Mother/Daughter", and my grandmother buys me "Granddaughter".
24.Favorite Ornament on tree? Almost every ornament on the tree is special to me because they mean something.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Games for my DS. Cookbooks. Beth Moore stuff. I'd like to have an AeroGarden, but I didn't think of it early enough to put it on my Christmas list. Maybe my birthday?
26. What was your most memorable magical Christmas memory from your adulthood? The year when Eben was 2 or 3 (I can't remember exactly.) Everytime he opened a package, he'd be so excited and scream "It's a box! It's a box!" He was just thrilled to get just a box.
27. Have you ever been involved in a Christmas gift prank? I remember that "prank" involving my Mom, Beloved and Billy Rhythm, but I don't think I was actually part of that.
28. Favorite Christmas Cartoon? I'm not big into cartoons, so I'll just say A Charlie Brown Christmas. (I can recite a great portion of Luke 2 because of Linus's speech.)

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. Friends ROCK!

2. TAKE CARE OF YOUR health; it's IMPORTANT.

3. I'm ready for BED AND IT'S ONLY 10:00 AM.

4. ESTEE LAUDER WHITE LINEN is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells (AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SINCE ABOUT 1988).

5. The oldest ornament I have is FROM 1996 - "MOM TO BE". I PROBABLY HAVE OLDER ONES, BUT THEY'RE PROBABLY AT MY MOM'S.

6. Take some PAPER, PICTURES, AND EMBELLISHMENTS (FROM CLOSE TO MY HEART OF COURSE!), mix it all together and you have A SCRAPBOOK.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MAKING SOME CHRISTMAS GIFTS, tomorrow my plans include WRAPPING PRESENTS and Sunday, I want to GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, CHURCH, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY AND LUNCHEON, AND THE HARBOR LIGHTS CONCERT (WHEW! A BUSY DAY!)!

WHY YOUR PRINTER MAY NOT WORK

This made me laugh out loud!

FACEBOOK

Just in case any of you are missing my blogging posts, I've been spending a lot of time lately over on Facebook. I'm having so much fun with that! I'll still be posting here, but maybe not as often. Thought I'd let you know in case you want to check it out. It's really easy to join Facebook if you haven't already. And it's so addicting!!

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. Snow IS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY (AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT).

2. I'm looking forward to GETTING MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE.

3. LINDT MILK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES is the best CANDY ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE.

5. I'm done with VEHICLES WITH 100k+ MILES ON THEM. GET ME A NEW ONE!!

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is BEING TOGETHER WITH FAMILY.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES WITH CALEB, tomorrow my plans include A BASKETBALL GAME AT 9:00 AM and Sunday, I want to CELEBRATE BILLY RHYTHM'S BIRTHDAY (I LOVE YOU!)!