O Christmas Tree!

Usually we have a $20 rule for trees. It's almost a challenge - the best tree for $20. It started the year we were married, and since we get it the first week of December and aren't even here for Christmas day, it works. Other than the needles all over the house for a few weeks seeing that the tree is dying a slow death, it's great. This year we really splurged -- $29 (i know... crazy!) and Grant went to get it by himself (blasphemy!). We realized we couldn't lower the back seat on one side with Abby's carseat in the middle. Drat. So, off he went and here we wait, with lots of cheer to greet him with. I gotta go make the Cocoa! Thankfully, it's not hot here today so it actually feels like winter (I know, you east coasters... it's only 60) but it definitely helps get us in the mood.

I also had time to go through a few things today seeing that Abby slept for an HOUR today... and I ran across this quote from EM Bounds. I really resonated with me when we were trying to get pregnant with Abby and seems appropriate looking back on her surgery, too.

"Trouble is God's servant. No trouble is ever turned loose in this world and comes in to the life of a saint or a sinner but that it comes with divine permission and is allowed to exist and do it's painful work with God's hand involved, carrying out His gracious designs of redemption."

When things are tough, doesn't that make you wanna take a big sigh of relief that someone, other than you, is in control? Thankfully that "someone" can be trusted with everything -- even our very lives.

We're off to decorate -- bad hair day and all.