We have had 6 parties in the last 5 days. Whew! The first two were holiday parties for Tony's and my workpaces, both on Thursday. Then Friday was our youth group Christmas party (we call it Jesus' birthday party). On Saturday, we hosted the Agape Christmas party at our place and stayed up until 2am playing Super Mario Bros. 3 -- yes, on the original 8-bit gray box Nintendo (the best one!). Sunday, we went to Auntie Rachel's house for dinner and it turned into a semi-birthday celebration when they found out my birthday was on Thursday. Yesterday was Janelle's 21st (golden!) birthday, so we went to go meet up with them for a while and bought her a drink. Then tonight, Tony and I are celebrating my birthday early (because of all the festivities to come) by going to a fancy dinner (thanks, Annie and Ben!).

Honestly, with all the decorating, celebrating, eating, wrapping, opening -- there's hardly a moment for me to have a "silent night" and reflect on Jesus! That's partly why I'm looking forward to the next two weeks off work. This is the first time that we're not going anywhere and no one is coming here. Well, family, anyway. I'm kind of sad about that, because I really miss my family (especially little 'Lip!). But I am seriously looking forward to doing nothing. I have absolutely no plans for Christmas break -- and I love that! Tony will be volunteering at Urbana, and we're hosting a bunch of college students for Urbana, but during most of the day, it will just be me and God, alone in the house... My favorite times. :) I suppose I am more of an "I" than an "E." :P

But unfortunately, there's no such thing as "having no plans" in this day and age, though... Because "having no plans" doesn't mean my mind isn't going a million miles an hour making lists and crossing things out and thinking about the next thing that needs to be done. I have to admit that I do have plans to work out, catch up on some reading, do some serious scrapbooking (of the past 6 years), and experiment in the kitchen. I guess it will be my little trial run at being a stay-at-home housewife. :) We'll see how it goes!