Crazy Christmas Time!

I don't know about anyone else, but this year has been a super crazy one! We've had two engagements, two babies added to the family, lots of guests visiting, computer issues and somehow each of us managed to travel without each other at least twice this summer! So I started the season feeling like it kinda snuck up on me. Next three of my dear friends had super serious life issues and needed their friend (me) to spend hours on the phone with them. I was (and still am) happy to help them and honored that they think enough of me to want me to be the one they confide in. It has just been hard to manage my time because they obviously come before some silly Christmas cards! Then the weather got super cold and we had to convince our friends to come stay with us since they didn't have heat. It took them 24 hours to thaw out - literally! Then my poor DH got super sick with a cold. He's better now and somehow, some way I managed not to get it myself! YAY! It just seemed like every time I turned around something was taking me away from what I wanted or felt like I "should" be doing...
And then suddenly it was a week before Christmas! My cookie baking tradition went out the window when I tried a different kind and they were total disasters. My handmade cards went out the window when the Cricut cartridge I ordered to make life "SO MUCH EASIER HONEY" (as I explained to my dear husband) turned out to take up MORE time and be super complicated... (Or maybe it's just my non-logical brain just couldn't figure it out...) However, the Costco photo card turned out SUPER cute and everyone is raving about it! Thank GOD for Costco! And thankfully everyone's LOVING the two-page family letter I put in with the card which had at least 12 pictures included. Isn't it nice to feel rewarded for all your hard work?! Hehe!
Anyway, I know that whatever ends up getting done will be fine with my family and friends. But I wanted it to be SO much better! And I really, truly wish that I could have ENJOYED it more this year. I've been telling the "Time Thieves" to get away... Maybe I should start telling the "Joy Thieves" to leave too... Hmmmmmm.... Might just have something there!
Anyway, it's all keeping my mind off the pending Design Team call results for Imaginisce, the Echo Park guest blogger call and the Pink Paislee blogger of the month (one each month for 2011) that I applied for... There's usually a blessing in everything isn't there?
Meanwhile, I'm trying to remember the REAL reason for this season and to keep my focus on Him. Sometimes it isn't easy, but then that's why He's here helping me isn't it? Hehe!
Have a wonderfully blessed week before Christmas!!!