Life’s a game. I’m making it up as I go.

I heard this song the other day and fell in love with it.

When I first heard about Sudoku I thought it was ridiculous. I couldn’t see the point in it and wanted no part of it whatsoever. Then I rented Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! and in it was Sudoku.

I thought I’d try it. Why not? Why not indeed. I am now totally hooked. So much so that I went out and bought a Sudoku book so I could take it around with me. I love the simplicity and challenge of it. I even have my nine year old interested in it.

Photo Credit: Tim Psych

For some unknown reason I don’t enjoy decorating Christmas trees. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I don’t. As a matter of fact I always said that when I was on my own I wouldn’t mess with a tree. I’d draw a tree on paper and tape it to the wall. So I did.

Oh yes I did. My first year married I didn’t put up a Christmas tree. I drew chalk pictures of trees, ornaments, stockings, and Santa and taped them to our walls. I loved those pictures and put them up every year after that first Christmas. Don’t worry, we still had a tree. My mother-in-law had a key to the apartment and put up a small tree because you just have to have a tree.

Now that I have children I put up a tree. It’s a wonderful artificial tree that has brought me much delight and despair. You see, when I decorate the tree I want it to look just right. When my kids decorate the tree they could care less, they are having fun.

So which do I choose? Beautiful tree decorated just the way I want or beautiful tree decorated the ways the kiddos want it? As hard as it to control my perfectionist tendencies I let the kiddos decorate the tree. Oh my. Let me tell you that my tree has looked quite funky over the years.

There was the year that all the decorations were in one spot and I couldn’t move them because it hurt my son’s feelings. I tried while he was asleep. He woke up looked at tree and knew what I had done. Needless to say, I put the decorations back to where he had them.

There were the years where we had hot wheels, transformers and Bionicles decorating the tree because our tree was the perfect spot for battles.

Then there have been the times when I find some of my most precious decorations broken because the kiddos can’t keep their hands off of them. That’s one of the hardest things to get over. Seeing a decoration that someone special gave me broken. I found one the other day and it was hard to not start crying. I had to remind myself that it was just a decoration. A thing.

This year is the year that the nativity scene is breaking. My daughter loves to play with them like they are Barbies not understanding that they break. It isn’t really a big deal because my nativity scene is a combination of several nativity scenes. Of course it looks odd with two baby Jesus in manger figurines in front of the stable and I’m not sure if we have a Joseph anymore or if it’s a shepherd or wise man sitting next to Mary.

What’s really important? Me having a perfect tree and nativity scene or my kiddos having fun decorating the tree and playing with the nativity scene? I choose the kiddos happiness.

Your turn. Do you enjoy decorating your tree? Do you let the kids help?

My all time favorite Christmas song. Christmas just isn’t Christmas if I don’t get to rock out to this song at least once!

You’ve heard it said over and over again….always save your work. It’s true. You really should listen to that piece of advice.

I should listen to that advice. I’ve gotten so used to wordpress saving as I go that I haven’t bothered saving my work. Then at some point in between auto saves I lost my work. My precious paragraphs that were full of wit and wisdom (not) disappeared. I tried to recover them but alas they were gone.

So, instead of a witty post full of wisdom, you get this…a post full of nothing important.

On a side note, the lost post was about the importance of small talk. It was about how I’m an introvert and have a hard time talking to others. It was also about how a good friend of mine told me at a Leadership meeting I (and the others in attendance) needed to start practicing small talk.

That single piece of advice was probably the most important thing I learned while working in the ministry. (I just took the time to save my work.) I also learned how to work with other people so maybe it’s a toss up on which bit was more important.

I was forced to get out of my shell so I could learn how to talk to other people. Am I great at it? Nope. Not at all but some of my best friendships have come from initiating conversation with others. I also built up wonderful relationships with others by learning and practicing small talk.

These relationships came in handy when during the time my husband was working in another town and our plumbing wasn’t working in the house or my car wasn’t working properly. Relationships that wouldn’t have happened had I not taken the time to talk to someone else even though it was difficult for me.

What’s the point of all of this? I don’t know. I don’t think I have a point. I’ve been thankful for Pastor D for believing in me and making me get out of myself. That has come in handy especially since we have moved to another town and everything and everyone is new.

What about you? Introvert or Extrovert? Also, what useless bit of information do you have to share with me?

I realized it had been quiet for too long. I jumped up from whatever it was that I was doing and found her in the hallway reading a book. Too cute.

I got this video in an email yesterday.

I’m on a knitting kick right now so I’m showing you the patterns I would like to knit at some time.

Muse Hat - This is my favorite of the two hats listed here. I love the way it looks and was what I was looking for when I started looking at hat patterns.

Lace Beanie - This hat still has the open, airiness to it but in a more practical way.

Airy Waves Shawl - I’ve always wanted to knit a shawl and liked this pattern. I probably won’t do the stripes but I like the simpleness of it and how it can double as a scarf.

Garter Ridge Baby Cardigan - This is what I am knitting for my future niece. I don’t really knit for others but had to knit something for my new niece. This cardigan was the perfect pattern for the yarn I wanted to use.

I’m not a big t.v. person. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the kids and hubby I would go days without turning the t.v. on. However, I have become hooked on Total Drama Island. The last episode will play tonight (Thursday) at 8 pm (CST). It is on my calendar and you can bet that I will be parked in front of my t.v. watching it.

I have know idea what it is about this show that I love so much but I love it. I will watch it any time it is on even if I have already seen an episode.

Here’s a quick version to bring you up to what’s been going on.

What’s your t.v. fixation? What show(s) do you absolutely have to watch and no one had better disturb while it’s on?