It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The countdown to Christmas here has begun.  I went to the grocery store this afternoon and got 90% of what was on my list.  I worked on my Christmas cards at church and mailed 90% of them.  And just ordered another box because I don't have enough. 

I have one more pile to wrap, I have a list of rooms to clean in order so that children aren't following behind me. I need to make a prep and oven schedule for Sunday morning. I need to recount chairs and refrigerator items. 

I am coming down with a cold. 

Perhaps planning an out of town Christmas weekend the week before was not the wisest choice. And we also have tickets to see Beauty and the Beast on Saturday afternoon.  Poor time management, Mimi. 

I am thinking our Christmas getaway will make a lovely post in January, LOL. 

In the midst of being overwhelmed, I did work today in our charity office.  I had one out of town client who is in her 70's and is leaving a domestic situation. We are assisting her with the security deposit to move into a senior apartment in our area, on her own, on January 5. I had another client in his 70's (I remember him in high school as a popular football player, he did not recognize me as a mousy freshman), who was getting his utilities shut off on Monday due to some medical situations with him and his wife, as well as some money management issues. I was able to call the utility company and pay the shut off as well as a month ahead so hopefully they can get it together.  And my last client was a young mother and father. They lost one apartment and have been staying on couches of friends. They have two small children.  They were able to move into  an apartment October 1. Her job has cut back her hours and she could pay everything this month (December) except rent.  We were able to pay her entire rent for December. She has a job interview tomorrow for a better paying job with more hours, she is applying for Metro housing in hopes of lowering her rent and really seems like they are trying.  

It made me feel good to be able to help all three clients. And it made me feel guilty that I have spent a lot of money on cards and stamps. And it made me feel guilty that after finishing phone calls to landlords and utility companies, I was able to go to the grocery store and buy whatever I wanted without worrying about the cost (okay, I was at Aldi and I was buying breakfast food). But I wasn't using my calculator to pay for it.  

Sometimes I get in my head with a real boo-hoo mood about life and stress and crap and who knows what else.  But the real truth is that I have it pretty darn good.  I was able to fool around with finances the past four years and make extra interest on investments which went toward the bathroom.  I had enough in my secret bank account (the envelope in my underwear drawer) to pay for my Christmas weekend.  And I have been able to stock up for the next four years so we can ride out whatever silly financial decisions our country makes (hopefully). 

And if I didn't spend enough at the grocery store (the total seemed lower than I was expecting), the pizza places open at noon and we can get delivery.  

Merry Christmas!  (luckily I just received a case of kleenex too).