I'm dreamin' of a wet Christmas,
Just like the one we've got outside,
Where the tree tops'r drippin'
And the blacktop's a glisten'n
Because, it's rainin' cats and dogs......

(Yes, I made that up, all by myself....It's okay, you can laugh, I did)

Well, it's still raining outside!! At least, for the moment, the wind has died down! I love the rain, but I really don't care for the wind. Our house is on top of a hill and we really get whipped around, when the wind kicks up. It puts a damper on the holiday spirit, when you have to worry about chasing your garbage can lids around the neighborhood and having to go out and stand your mailbox up, for the umpteenth time, in the driving rain, just plain stinks.....I guess it's a trade off, though! We have almost zero crime, we have decent neighbors and we're surrounded by the splendor of green grass, tall trees and wildlife.....though if the local wildlife doesn't leave my basil plant alone, I'm seriously thinking depredation.....Really, listening to the wind literally roar, for three days straight kinda gets on my nerves! Right now, I'm thankful for the quiet and the morning and the rain.
Mark got out and on his way early, this morning.....Today starts two weeks of day shifts. He's out at Travis AFB, in Fairfield, learning something new......I can't remember what he said he was learning. He'll be there from 8 am til 2 pm! He loves his new job so so much!! I praise God for that, daily. He was working so hard, with the other job, with little recognition and his pay was so not commensurate with his skill and ability! He's stated time and time again, this is his dream job!
Mariah is off for Christmas Vacation, this week and I'm happy about that! I don't have to be alone, all day! Keep Mariah in your prayers, though.....Next week, she goes back to her mother and step-father in Texas. Her step-father is very hard on her, he teases her about her body and is very sarcastic and childish in his behavior. Our job, as parents, here in our home, has been to foster only positive attitudes towards our daughter. To teach her to be a kind and thoughtful woman....Strong and God fearing!! We only build her up and never ever tease or poke fun.....She has a good home here and we love her for who and what she is! Her family life, there in Texas was totally unsupervised and reprehensible. Thankfully, though, she'll only be gone for the week.....She leaves out on Monday the 27th of December and we'll pick her up at the airport, on New Years Day!
As for me, I am looking forward to getting things ready for our Christmas holiday.....We are going down to the Bay Area, on Christmas Eve, to celebrate, as we usually do, with my family, at my Grandma's....Christmas Day, we're going to hang out, here at home in the morning and then, in the afternoon, we'll go and see a movie....Mariah really wants to see Tangled, the new Disney movie. I don't care what we do, as long as we are together! I haven't started thinking on our Christmas Dinner menu......I figured Mariah and I could do that tomorrow, before we head to the grocery store.....My Christmas Eve baking isn't cemented in stone, either.....I need to talk to my Auntie Michelle to see what the plan is, for the evening.....I'll probably make a huge lasagna and then my usual cookie and brownie tray......My cousin Ginny has to have her snickerdoodles and a death sentence will be handed down if I don't produce Mint Filled Brownies for my sister......I'd really love it if my Uncle David and my Auntie Kay are there, on Christmas Eve.....Out of all of my Aunts and Uncles, they are my favorites!! They are special to me, in so many ways and Christmas Eve isn't as memorable, without them there! There always seems to be something missing!
It's kinda hard to believe that the year is almost gone! Where did the time go? Things have been wonderful, for us, this past year! We've struggled, but the struggles gave way to rejoicing and I'm so thankful! To stand at the fount of God's blessings, is one of the most satisfying places to be. When I look around, I see that we live in a little tiny house (love grows best in little houses) in a little tiny community (Where everybody knows your naaaaaame...) far away from our families (over the highway and through the slums, to grandmother's house we go) and we are happy! We are raising our daughter in a safe place.....We have fresh air and good land. We have the love of God, in abundance and are forever in His care and we have each other. So yes, I am happy, in my little house, where love grows......I am happy in my little community and I am used to everybody knowing my name.....I am happy living on a hill, where the wind whips and the rain comes down and the locals chew on my sadly pathetic basil plant......This is my Beulah!
My thoughts have been kinda all over the place, today.....I'm going to go back to bed and remedy that! Sleep is the best thing for a fractured mind!! Please forgive my mindless wandering and have a wonderful day.....Remember to love as He loves and be kind to one another.....Smile much, laugh often and love like there's no tomorrow......
I love you all, my blessed friends....
In Him,
Lisa