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I was trying to get this without a glare from the glass, but I had to miss some of the frame.  Maybe it would work outside with natural light?

It's something I cross stitched that I thought would be perfect for my office since I'm an accountant, love cross stitching, and have a fetish for good quotes. Although, if I cross stitched all my favorite quotes, it would be a bit much, so it's probably a good think I don't like to cross stitch letters.

It All Started with a Coupon

Coupons.  I don't think they really save me money, especially when I have a coupon for Crabtree and Evelyn.  I alway seem to find something else and have no coupon for it!  Then, Teavanna was right next door to Crabtree… and well, the rest is history.  I'm sipping Chocolate Peppermint tea smelling Noel and ready for my shower in the morning with Nantucket Brier shower gel and lotion.

Potter or the Pits?

 I hadn't watched all of Harry Potter movies, yet.  I just finished the last two tonight.

Considering Chiefs and Broncs were 17-27, I think I picked the right choice.  I did turn the TV on in time to see the final score.  Oh well.

Signs of the Times

The Christmas cactus is blooming.  At least it didn't start blooming before Halloween.  It seems the commercial world starts earlier every year.  There is just something not right when you can buy Trick or Treat candy and a Nativity set at Hobby Lobby in the same trip.  But, Thanksgiving is later this year, so maybe the Christmas cactus and Hobby Lobby aren't to be blamed for the rush.  And Christmas is a wonderful time of the year…a time for getting together with family and friends, sending each other greetings of joy and peace.  A time to think of a new year approaching, a new chapter in life about to be written.

And I am a little guilty of the rush, too.  I have a couple of gifts already purchased.  And I made a few Christmas cards at a friend's house today.  It was a warm 70 degrees out.  It didn't feel much like Christmas.   The cards did turn out kind of cute.  I still say my motto for MY homemade cards is "When I don't care enough to send the very best".  But when I receive a homemade card, I cherish it a little more.  The one sending it took the time to make it and then thought of me.  That's pretty special, anytime of the year.

I'm beginning to think life is too short to worry about when to start celebrating a holiday or decorating or preparing.  For me, celebrating Christmas is pretty important.  It's all about the greatest story on earth - the birth of my Savior.  God incarnate.  I'm not going to ignore Thanksgiving, but since the Christmas cactus is blooming, maybe that will be my excuse for humming some carols before Thanksgiving rolls around.

The Voice and a Cup of Coffee

This is how my mornings start.  Well, almost, I usually have a bowl of Peanut Butter Cheerios.  I ran out this morning, so I had to resort to a Special K breakfast sandwich.  But I have my Kindle out with Sarah Young's Jesus Calling:  Seeking Peace in His Presence and my new Bible, The Voice.  Love it.  And my notebook with things I'm praying about and thankful for is under my Bible.  My morning times go too fast!

Colors of Autumn

The colors of autumn and Thanksgiving are warm and inviting.  The dark reds, golden hues, and deep oranges remind me of fireplaces, warm apple pies, crisp frosty mornings with the crunch of leaves underfoot.  I drove past a yard full of leaves on my way to work this morning.  I almost wanted to stop, rake them up, and jump into the pile.  Piles of leaves just beg you to come and play!

I'm Thankful I'm not a Pilgrim

 Thanksgiving is coming.  Turkey, cranberries, stuffing, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  My mind goes to food when I think of Thanksgiving.  I rarely think about the Pilgrims.  But, they are the ones that started the tradition.  The pilgrims went through some hard times.  First, surviving the boat ride over the "pond" was no easy feat.  They landed in strange surroundings where the living wasn't easy.  It was hard work to even survive their first winter.   If it hadn't been for the Native Americans, they probably wouldn't have survived.  Yet, there is a comradery that comes from going through a difficult period and sharing the joy that remains. All that to say, I'm thankful I'm not a pilgrim!  I enjoy indoor plumbing and not actually having to kill a turkey before I have to fix it!  Not that I've ever had to fix a turkey.  I have been fortunate, as I am not only directionally challenged, I am culinary challenged as well.  I have made mashed potatoes that looked like glue, broiled brownies for a church dinner and made rhubarb cobbler that made us hurl.  Hmmm….maybe that's why some of my closest friends are the ones that have eaten my cooking…eaten probably isn't the right word.... gagged down would be more like it…but I digress.  If I had been a pilgrim, I would have either gotten lost in the woods or starved trying to boil water for soup.  I'm thankful for the Pilgrims and the tradition of sitting aside a day to be thankful.  But I'm even more so, I'm thankful I wasn't a Pilgrim!!