i drove past four houses with beautiful christmas lights turned on tonite on my way back from working on the house. it seems early, too warm and a little scary that the holidays are almost here. we have so much going on with the house and hockey and work and all the stuff that goes with christmas. i pray that i can make time to ENJOY the season and make it special for my kids. all our decorations are in storage, we probably won't have lights or a tree this year since we will be moving right at christmas time (fingers crossed). i hope instead to do some baking with little j, who loves to cook with me. i will spend some time with big j reading about the first christmas. we're going to tone down the gift-giving and do some good stuff for others instead. i know things will be crazy and busy and hectic, but as i was driving past those houses tonite and thinking about the holidays, i could honestly hear God telling me to SLOW DOWN.

as i rounded the corner to a group of deer in the middle of the road, i had to smile.

God knows how much i love double meanings.