Back to Work!

Today was my first day back with the kids. I have to admit that I was glad vacation was over for me, and it was time to go back to work. Vacation is so deceiving sometimes. In my mind, I think,"Wow! I have all of this extra time to just sit around and do nothing! I can watch movies, sleep late, be a bum, not shower, and it'll be amazing!" But really, that doesn't happen. Sleeping late makes me mad, because half the day is gone. Sitting around the house just causes me to look at all of the things that need to be done - dishes, dusting, laundry, etc.

Now let me just clarify here that I am NOT complaining about getting two weeks off for Christmas. I am NOT. I'm just saying that it's not always what it's cracked up to be.

Yesterday, we had a work day. It felt so good to see friends and coworkers, catch up, and feel like I was acually accomplishing something. I got more done in five hours than I probably did my whole vacation. It just makes me realize how thankful I am to have a job that I love and am proud to do. THANK YOU JESUS!

On another, very happy note, I met our new neighbor tonight. She was walking her dog when I went to get the mail, and she introduced herself (and her dog, whose names starts with an R...shoot!). Anyway, she is lovely, and we got to talking about arts and crafts (my fave!) and we chatted about how she is an artist, and how my cousin (who lives next door to HER) is an artist, and how we should all get together and make some art (FUN!). I am SUPER excited about this new opportunity. BUT WAIT....

THE BEST PART IS....

WAIT FOR IT....

SHE TOOK OUR TABLE!!!!! Remember the table that we got rid of so we could have a place for our Christmas tree? OUR NEW NEIGHBOR TOOK IT!!! It was the ONE piece of furniture that she didn't have when she moved in.

THIS IS THE KIND OF SITUATION I WAS HOPING FOR!!!!

I just had to share this exciting news, because it fills my heart.

HOLLA!

Martens Christmas Video

This is how the MARTENS put the dishes away. :-) After we opened presents and were cleaning up at my parents' house, we decided to kick it to some old school Lionel Ritchie. No wonder we freaking LOVE music.



HOLLA -

Blog for my Baby

Well, Christmas is officially over, and I have to say that I am thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to remember what the season is REALLY about, and to spend a little more time with my Heavenly Father. It is so good to know that He is always there, even when I am too busy to make time for Him. Sometimes I am so full of His love that I feel like I simply cannot hold it all. I have never known a love like His...thank you, God, for the gift of your Son.

I am also thankful that the shopping, errand-running, last-minute wrapping, etc. is OVER. Last week I was on "vacation", but it certainly didn't feel like a vacation. This week is begiiiiiiiiiiinning to feel like a vacation.

Apparently, I was supposed to be blogging today, because my lovely Ben came home and was asking why I hadn't blogged today. So, this one's for you, Babe.

What's on tap for my official "vacation"? Here's a list (one of my favorite things to do!):

Write thank-you's for school (DONE!)
Mail thank-you's (DONE!)
Go to Wal-Mart - buy toilet paper and deoderant (Yes, I am completely out of deoderant. For your sake, I hope you don't run into me before this errand is complete.)
Finalize New Year's plans
Book hotel for our winter getaway/grad school celebration
Fill out annoying paperwork
Have a girl's day with my mom
Spend some time helping out a friend who has a gaggle of kids (that's 5, in case you were wondering)
Work out (in order to look good on winter getaway)
Go see Up in the Air
Go see Nine
Redeem Barnes and Noble gift card by buying 2010 calendars at 50% off
Try to get rid of this obnoxious cold by getting rediculous amounts of sleep
Finish this blog entry (DONE.)

HOLLA -

Winter Anthem

Here's my song for the season. Appropriately, it's called "Winter Song". I LOOOVE this song so much, it makes my heart ache. To me, it isn't about missing those who are far away, but loving those who are close.

Is love alive in you? My Christmas wish is that it is.

Haskamp House of Christmas

Our newest ornament addition: The Leg Lamp! "FRA-GI-LE...Must be Italian."







Funny...can you spot Ben in this picture? (Completely unintentional.)




So when we got our tree, we were trying to figure out the easiest spot to put it up. After contemplating spots in the living room with no luck, Ben suggested taking our kitchen table out and putting the tree in its place. "We can get rid of the table, and get a new one after Christmas." "Great idea," I thought...I hate that freaking table. But what to do with it? Ask around? Donate it? Take it to the curb? We finally decided that we'd set it up at the end of the driveway and see how long it would take to disappear. Turns out, only a few hours. It helped, I'm sure, that Ben set it out so nicely complete with a "FREE" sign tied to one of the chairs. My hope is that it went to a needy family, but only God knows. Anyway, panic set in when we realized that we no longer owned a kitchen table. Thanks to Sears Grand (and their layaway program), we'll have a lovely new high-top table as soon as Christmas is over.

PERFECT!!!

Happy Holiday Holla -

Miss

Delay

Hello, World!

Today, because of bad weather, we have a two-hour delay of school. Instead of having to be there at 7:45 in the morning, I don't have to be there until 9:30, with the kids showing up at 10:00.

Because I was showered and ready at 7:00, this left me a little "home time" to get things done. However, there is STILL not enough time to blog like I WANT to.

Oh boy, do I have a lot to blog about.

So for now, I will just say, "Merry Christmas" and "Please be patient" as I struggle to find extra time and motivation.

Happy (Delayed) snow day, and BE SAFE!!!

HOLLA -

Rainy Day

Today, it is rainy. I am waiting for Ben to get ready so we can go eat lunch at Red Robin - my choice. Fried Chicken Sandwich and bottomless fries, here I come.

We had a big morning today. A BIG morning. I don't know what will happen, or how it will turn out, but I do know that God is good.

God is good.

God is good.

In the rain, in the doubting, in the depths of the unknown.....God is good.

HOLLA -