This is the first year EVER that I am late getting out my Christmas cards. I usually mail them right after Thanksgiving. It has been hard getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Between cleaning up after my nasty boarder, Auxiliary ceremonies, meetings and newsletters, and getting Christmas gifts in the mail, I am late getting my cards out. So little time, so much to do- and yet Christmas comes at the same time every year so I have no excuse for being so far behind!

Several people wrote messages in their cards to me this year. Some of them touched me very deeply.

"...I know you will always be doing something to encourage and inspire others."

"I just reread your poem from last year. So touching...thank you...."

"You are such a giving person... Christmas always makes me think of you."

Reading these words made me smile. Very nice feeling to know that I am appreciated.

I am thinking about how to spend Christmas. In past years, I spent Christmas with either my family or Susie's family. I have received several invites from friends to spend Christmas with them, but I don't know that I want to go anywhere. I think I would like to do something very different this year. How about a very special, scrumptious picnic lunch and a trip to the beach or a nearby park to paint plein aire? Oh, I'll probably end up accepting one of my friend's invitations, but the thought of spending Christmas Day with a paintbrush and a canvas sounds so... appealing. I've got time to figure it out.