Bloggers Delight!

Wow!

I am amazed, overwhelmed even. I had some time a few days ago to sit in front of my computer for a long time (I'm not gonna say how long cause that would just be embarrassing).

While visiting Have a Cup with Me I clicked on one of the blogs that she follows called We Are That Family. On that day Kristen had posted links to over 200 other blogs!

I was so inspired by all the creativity! So touched by all the stories. So awed by how many wonderful women there are on here (the blogging world). I know we can't all be PW (I love her!) but each and every one of these blogs is unique, special & wonderful!

I had decided this year that due to lack of preparation last year (no after Christmas sale shopping) I would not be able to give a gift to every teacher and teachers aid I work with. 

But then I read a post on September the March called "Christmas Crack" and thought, "PERFECT!" And so today all of the teachers and staff here at our little Christian school will be on crack! Christmas Crack that is :)

Pretty is . . . a blogger and her blog.

Grounded

Who would have ever thought I would be "grounded" at the age of 40 and yet that's exactly what I am, "grounded"!

I began working for Sky west airlines as a customer service agent (part-time) last winter with the thought that I might possibly want to become a flight attendant and travel the world.

I have decided that I like my own bed too much to fly ALL the time so customer service is a good fit for now. The real reason I took the position is the same reason that the other 90% of the people who work for airlines do, free flying for myself and my family!

I had such grand ideas of the places I would go, the people I would see. New adventures just a flight away.

I ran into a small glitch, I was working ALL the time! Between being an elementary secretary and working the few hours at the airport I had no time to travel.

Then came summer :) and seasonal leave of absence and Hawaii, San Francisco, Georgia and Colorado (3x's)!

Praise the Lord!

I returned to work in August, a little earlier than expected but then was put on leave again at the end of the month. This was perfect as it extended my travel time. You only get to travel for 90 days after you have taken a leave of absence.

 I got a call from the station manager yesterday letting me know that they won't be needing me til January or February. My response was "Great! No problem, don't worry about me, I'm so glad not to work two jobs and still be able to travel for free!"

Then came the bomb. My last day of work had been August 29th therefore the end of my 90 days was November 29th :( yesterday.

Grounded.

Now mind you I haven't gone anywhere since we went to Colorado in September. But now all I can think of is that I CAN'T go anywhere! Now all of a sudden I'm ready to fly to New York for Christmas, 

to Paris for the winter break

, to Abu dhabi like the "Sex in the City" girls. 

I'm sure if I had my benefits back I would be on my way to great adventures!

But for now I will be content, even thankful, to stay home with my wonderful family. Decorate my home. Be with my wonderful friends. Enjoy the Christmas season right here at home.

Pretty is . . . being grounded.

Pilgrims, Indians and Feasts!

Today was our Annual Pilgrim Chapel at Desert Chapel Elementary School where I am the secretary. This is absolutely one of my favorite days here at school.

The kids are allowed to dress up as Pilgrims and Indians (Native Americans to be PC) and most of them LOVE it. Our Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Vasquez always wears a beautiful headdress and the principal, Mrs. Conner wears a traditional Pilgrim dress that was handed down from one principal to the next for the last 15 years or so.

It's such a fun day, the kids first have chapel where each class does something different from Mrs. Grimm playing her accordion and the kids singing to the fifth graders reading the Thanksgiving poems they wrote themselves. The poems were so cute, here is one:

Gather round the table
as we say a Thanksgiving fable.
On this special Day
there's no need for cable!

Next the kids are off to their classes making all kinds of thinks, turkeys out of apples, turkeys out of pumpkins, turkeys out of paper bags etc.

Then comes the piece de resistance! The feasts!!! Each class has a potluck feast with parents bringing everything you would find at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and some things you might not :) This is a day I am sure to be found visiting every class, my excuse, to take pictures of the darlings but the real reason is to sample each and every feast!

Such a wonderful tradition.
Pretty is a feast!