Christmas Tag

It's been a while since I posted and really have nothing exciting to say so I thought I would do a Christmas Tag since I get tagged all of the time and never do them.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?I love the convenience of gift bags, but at Christmas time you definetly have to wrap everything that you possibly can.
2. Real tree or Artificial?Artificial trees are very easy and last much longer, but I enjoy real ones so much more. They smell so wonderful. Dru and I had a real one last year and I think that will be a tradition that we hold on to.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the week after Thanksgiving, but sadly we have not put our tree up yet. We were out of town last weekend and will be again this weekend so I plan on getting it up soon. I am so excited to decorate it again.
4. When do you take the tree down? We take it down right after New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? I don't think so but it's one of those things I refuse to try so I guess I'll never know.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Any of my barbies. I loved when Santa brought me those.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad, my dad, my dad. What else can I say? You can only give one person so many books.
8. Easiest person to buy for?Dru and my brother. Dru always tells me exactly what he wants so all I have to do is go and get it. The hard part is surprising him.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a beautiful one that my mom gave us last year. She has about 500 and didn't need them all so I gladly took it from her.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?Mail them of course, all though I don't usually take the time I love to receive them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Maybe an ugly shirt or something I don't really remember receiving anything that I didn't really want.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love Miracle on 34th Street and of course the classic cartoons like Santa Claus is coming to town.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? usually around Thanksgiving but I'm really slacking this year. I think it's the lack of snow, it just really does not feel like Christmas time.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?Nope.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Turkey and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Ham is good too.
16. Lights on the tree?Of course! Ours are white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, without a doubt.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Staying home. Dru and I are so lucky that our families are so close.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?Of course! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph (my favorite Christmas Character of all time if you can't tell by the picture of my dog).
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I love a star, but we actually have a big Santa Claus.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up we always opened 2 on Christmas Eve these included one present from the sibling of choice and Christmas Pajamas!! The rest on Christmas Day. Last year Dru got his present 2 weeks before Christmas because it was his TV and he was WAY too excited to wait. Trust me, I tried.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?The stress.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?I just love red on a Christmas tree. I love my mom's Christmas Tree she has a candy cane theme going on and I think it's about the cutest thing in the whole world, but ours are Gold and White and I love those too (my mom's old ones I love hand me downs).
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?Turkey and Mashed potatoes and Gravy.
25. Favorite family Christmas tradition? Looking at the Lights and all of the Sweet Christmas stories we would read.
Happy Holidays!

Service

Dru and I teach a primary class and this week is was my turn to prepare and teach the lesson. The lesson was on Service. Each week I try to think of the topic as it relates to my life. I realized that this past week I was the recipient of such great service from friends and family members. I had a very bad week last week and was not feeling well at all. I received many sweet phone calls from friends and loved ones who were concerned. My mother also came over to my house and took care of me. She went to far as to do some of my laundry and my dishes. What a sweet mother! My husband took a day off of work to stay with me and take care of me. He has been very sweet about things this week and did not expect me to do anything around the house. He cooked dinner and made sure that we had something to eat every night. On Saturday Lindsie Curtis (my cousin and close friend) came over and took me out of my house for the first time all week (other than car rides and appointments). She took me to lunch at Johnny Carinos and then took me for a manicure. That meant the world to me. How lucky I am to have all of these people who love and care about me and are willing to serve without expecting anything in return. Thank you all for looking out for me! I love you!