It's driving me crazy that I've been doing such a lousy job keeping up on this.  I'm just really having a hard time getting back in the habit-- thanks so much to all of you who are bearing with me.  I've been in a bit of a funk lately and I only like to write negative things if I think it will provide entertainment for my readers.  I hate whiners; if I want to be able to tolerate myself, I can't be one of them.  So let's focus on things from a perspective less woe-is-me and more well-look-at-that:
    E had to leave town this morning, which always bums me out.  But he'll be back tomorrow, and in the meantime I have a couple of books that were loaned to me weeks ago that I plan to put a dent in.  Also, since I don't have to concern myself with whether or not this will be E's "thing" I have randomly decided to head down to a block party in my old hometown to celebrate the opening of an old schoolmate's photography studio.  I'm kind of excited to be spontaneous and take my kids to go do something fun that's out of our usual routine.
    All the doomsday economy talk has finally started to make me nervous, which I don't like.  I worry about enough things; I don't need the cable news channels to chastise me for being upbeat once in a while by beating me over the head with new things to worry about.  
    Keeping up on your mortgage?  You are??  Well, no one else is, so you should be depressed and anxious with them.
    Doing fine with your credit?  Well, we're pretty sure all the credit companies are going to find a way to screw you so you face financial ruin.
    Do you believe in Santa Claus?  Because he's real and he's coming to eat your children.
    Seriously!  Is our media trying to turn our entire country into some disgusting train wreck to watch?  How about some rescued puppies or something?  They need to be sponsored by Prozac!!
    My intentions are to learn from our country's situation, whether this whole thing just grazes me or takes my whole head off.  I am going to rein in materialism and excess.  I have already begun to put that into practice for myself and the values I'm instilling in my four-year-old.  Rather than talking about whether or not we can afford something, I'm focusing on whether we need it or not.  I want her to learn that you don't have to buy something because it's shiny and well-marketed and you have money in your pocket.  Also, she is old enough to help me with my biggest project:  I'm taking Christmas back to it's roots this year.  I will no longer be roped into spending my holiday season frantically doing laps around the mall in search of present after present after present, thinking of our Savior and His miraculous birth only as an afterthought while trying not to flip off strangers who cut me off.  I will enjoy my holidays this year.  I will remember the reason for the season and spend lots of time with my family.  How am I going to manage that?  I'm going to stay out of the stores as much as possible and turn it into time with my kids by making heartfelt, homemade gifts with the receiver in mind.  After all, the people I love are people who are not looking for a money shower.  They are looking for expressions of love and gratitude.  The most valuable thing I can give any of them is my time that I devote to showing my kids how to be thoughtful and loving as well.
    So anyway, I guess my rant today is about a newfound realization that it really is the simple things in life after all.

CL