So much to do, so little time!  We wanted to go to the Christmas Eve service at church last night, but we were busy doing our last minute shopping and wrapping for each other after spending a day catching up on laundry and trying to get ready for Monday.  We wanted to go to the Christmas day service this morning, but we were getting dressed, having breakfast, and opening our presents before going over to my older sister’s house for Christmas dinner.  We had to leave her place early to continue getting ready for our big moves tomorrow.  Still, we read the Christmas story and listened to “real” Christmas carols about Christ’s birth.  It was a good day.

This morning, Mark got dressed but I stayed in my jammies for a while.  Here are some pictures from our gift opening on our bed:

We always buy $10-worth of gifts at the Dollar Tree so we have something to open without going into great debt. Most of our gifts fit in our stockings.

Mark got me a puzzle book I can play with my dad!

I mostly got him stuff for his trip and the 10-week course he’s going to be taking in Florida. This is a travel cup so he can have ice in his drinks on the trip.

My husband got me kisses. Aww!

Mark with his pile of presents

Me with my pile of presents

Our empty stockings hanging back up on our curtain rod

One last present for the cats, especially for fat little Kimba!

(Kimba has really ballooned this year.  She has always been fat, but now she’s obese.)

It’s a laser light to give the cats, especially Kimba, some exercise. She just sat on Mark’s lap and watched it.

Dobby had fun chasing it though.

We had a wonderful feast at my sister Sherill’s house, with Dad and Mom also in attendance.  We left around 4:30.

Tomorrow, Mark is going to get a trailer to put his motorcycle on and do some other last minute things, and then he’s going to pull out of here headed south to go to Florida for a 10-week training.  I will be moving into my mom’s house in a week, but my younger sister and her family will be coming up and staying with Mom this week, so I’m going to spend a few days with Dad and Elaine.  Next weekend, I’ll stay at my older sister’s house.  Then I’ll finally settle in with Mom for the winter, till Mark comes back for me.

Please pray for Mark’s safety on the trip and his success in school!