A Merry Worley Christmas & a Proposal.....

Our 2008 Christmas Card

It's Saturday after Christmas and I am here in cold, icy, Iowa for the weekend. Orion and I spent Christmas Eve at home in Minnesota, due to the fact that he works the day after and has no time to take off. We decided to start our own holiday traditions at our house. Christmas Eve I worked, and Orion was home sick, still! Then later, I had a not so great run in with our espresso machine. I burned my hand really bad....so bad I spent Christmas eve in pain with my hand in pain. But, my Hubby was great as always. He took great care of me.

Christmas day, Orion and I spent a quiet evening at home. I was doped up on pain killers, and my hand was still hurting. He made the meal, and everything. I'm so proud of him, and really blessed to have such a great hubby. This year Christmas wasn't about gifts for us, it was about being together and making memories. It was fun just the two of us.

Friday, Orion and I worked. He worked the International finance world, while I battled off crazy shoppers at Crate & Barrel for the day after Christmas sale! One word: nuts!

Friday night we headed into a fog storm to Iowa. The closer we got to Iowa the thicker the fog got! But, we made it home safe.

This morning Orion and I spent Christmas with my family at my parents house playing games, listening to Christmas music and eating way to much! I love the holidays with my family, and even though this year wasn't quite how it usually goes despite it all it turned out pretty great!

Now...on to the proposal.....

My step brother Justin, got engaged to his gf on Christmas eve....so cute! Here's how he did it... His girlfriend Jenn is reading the Twlight series, and he bought her the 3rd installment of the book and gave it to her on Christmas eve....on the cover of the book was a note that said: "turn to the ending of the book." On the last page, was her ring dangling from the book...just like a book mark and he then asked her to marry him. Soooo cute! We're excited for them! A Christmas proposal...maybe it'll be a Christmas wedding! Congrats to them!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

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pics to come soon!

Hello, again!

I have been MIA for the last couple days, so I thought it best to re-connect and let you in on what's been going on the last couple days. Well, the weekend was crazy! It's been snowing here in MN like crazy, in case you missed it. They even canceled the last Hollidazzle parade due to the cold, it was to cold for the parade of lights! But that wasn't the hi light of my weekend. Everyday last week it took me an hour or more to drive home from Crate.

Thursday, Hubby started to get sick. We missed out on Jessie's grad party due to this. But it was better to stay home and take care of him.

Friday, he stayed home from work hoping to get better. This resulted in him getting worse. By Saturday night, he was running a fever of 101.6!!! Yikes!

Sunday, he stayed home from church. I braved the cold, and snow and icy roads to trip it to church to represent us Worleys! Sunday afternoon I headed to the drug store and got meds, chicken soup, and Kleenex! All in efforts to make hubby better. Sunday night his temp hit 102!!! I was starting to get worried, so I called my nurse friend and got the scoop on what we should do.

Today, Orion's temp was back to normal and he headed to work. By 11 am he was calling me saying he was coming home because he felt sick. That's when it hit 102.7! We had to wait for him to get into the doc till later night, but he went and found out he has a bacterial infection of sorts. He got some meds, and a note from the Doc excusing him from work for the next 24 hours!! Lucky!!

Anyway, his temps are down for now I am happy to report! This sickness, is serious stuff. I am just hoping to have him better for Christmas.

So that's pretty much it, I spent the whole weekend playing nurse to my sick hubby! Husbands are pretty helpless when they are sick. I was happy to take care of him though.

In the meantime, I did laundry, make Christmas cookies, and finished my Christmas cards!

It's 3 days till Christmas eve, and I am getting excited. Even though I wish that we could be with our families this year I am looking forward to spending the days with Orion making our own traditions.

PS- I am loving all the Christmas cards I am getting in the mail...and all the letters from families telling us what they have been up to.

Look for my "Year in Review" to come soon!!!

Andrea

The Graduate.

My wonderful friend Julie graduated from nursing school this past Saturday! She's super woman, and I'll tell you why! Not only has she been going to school for the last couple years full time, she's a Mommy of two beautiful boys, and a wife! I don't know how she did school full time, worked, and had time to be a Mommy & Wife! That's why she's Super Woman to me, I admire her so much for seeing her dream and going after it even though there might have been all these other things in life at the time that could have made her change her mind. She went for it, and now after all that hard work she's done! I'm so proud of her! She's going to make an amazing nurse. She starts her new job in January!Isn't she the hottest Nurse you've ever seen?!!?

I think so!

To do...

Even though I'm not working I still find a ton of stuff to do during my days...the list seems never endless. Here's what I'm working on today.....

emails, and gathering the last of the addresses for my Christmas cards.

grocery shopping for the holidays.

looking for flights to Vegas for Miss America...I've been checking them all week.

Job Hunting.

What are you up to today? What's on your to-do list?

Sweetness.

She's too cute for words...I just had to share.

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photo credit: *Pretty in Pink

A few things...

This is my favorite time of year! I love December 1st, and the whole Holiday season. Here's just a few reasons why I love this time of year:

Christmas cookies

Pretty white lights

Decorating my tree, house, and just about anything else for Christmas

The smells of cinnamon & vanilla

Wrapping presents

My family Christmas day

Spending the holidays with my hubby

Making, addressing, and sending out the perfect Christmas card to friends & family

Making home made holiday gifts

The 1st Snowfall

Christmas music playing through out my house

Watching Miracle on 34th Street

Downtown Minneapolis at Christmas time

Candy Canes

Taking pictures in the snow

Blogging about all things Christmas! :)

This Song....

This song is fast becoming my new favorite this season. "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill. I heard this song for the first time a week ago while I was watching her Christmas special on GAC. I feel in love with the powerful words to this song, and how true they are for my life. I want to sing this song at the top my lungs every time I hear it. It give me chills, it's that good!

Watch the video, but more importantly listen to the words of this wonderful song.

And, just in case you'd like the words:

Faith Hill – A Baby Changes Everythng

Teenage girl, much too young

Unprepared for what’s to come

A baby changes everything

Not a ringOn her hand

All her dreams and all her plans

A baby changes everything

The man she loves she’s never touched

How will she Keep his trust

A baby changes everything

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away

Heaven knows she can’t stay

A baby changes everything

She can feel it’s coming soon

There’s no place, there’s no room

A baby changes everything

And she cries and she cries

O she cries

Shepherds own they got their …

Star shines down…

Choir of Angels sayGlory to the newborn king

A baby changes everything

everything, everything, every day

Hallelujah

My whole life is turned around

I was lost and now I’m found

A baby changes everything

Hollidazzle

One of my favorite things to do in Minneapolis, (it's on my Top 10 list) every year around the holidays is to go see the Hollidazzle parade downtown. This past weekend Orion and I bundled up and met Jimmy and Jessie downtown for the parade. Afterwards, we ate dinner at the Newsroom. Yummy, and so much fun! Here's a few pics from the evening.

Good Friends. We love spending time with them.It's Love!

With out.

It's almost 8:30 am here in Minneapolis, and I am sitting in Caribou. I've already been up since 6 am! Most of you are thinking... what's the big deal I do this daily. And, it's not a big deal it's just not my normal routine, but today I am up and at it. I decided to get a jump start on my day, since yesterday I was lazy enough for both Hubby and I. However, I did do 3 loads of laundry!

Since I decided to be productive, in all my hurrying this morning to get Hubby to the train on time I forgot the 1 thing, I need to survive the day: my planner! Oh my goodness, my life revolves around that little pink book. Now, I am sitting here trying to remember all the things I put on my "to-do" list for the day. All the things I wanted to accomplish today, and phone calls to make. I can't recall it all, that' s why I have a planner in the first place...right?!?

I remember loosing my planner when I was in High School, and feeling pretty lost. How was my homework going to get done with out it? It'll teach me a lesson in putting it back in my purse when I'm done with it.

So today, I am without.

Things to Know!

25 Christmas Things About Me

I too borrowed this from Dana (Just Talk) because I thought it would be fun to do during this festive Holiday Season... Feel free to grab this and post it on your blog!! It was a lot fun and really got my brain
thinking about Christmas!!!

Welcome to the Holiday edition of 25 Things About Me.Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post. Then change all the answers so that they apply to you.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper for sure! I always buy the metallic paper, it's the best, I love wrapping in shiny paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I always grew up with a fake tree, I don't mind them. One year in my house we got a real one. But, now for myself Orion and I have a fake tree. Do the math people add up what you'd pay each year for a life time on a real tree. You save money by having a fake one.
3. When do you put up the tree? Um, hello..the day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? At the end of January usually.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Every year my Mom got my sister and I the Happy Holidays Barbie for our doll collections. I looked forward to getting her every year, and seeing what amazing dress this year's doll would wear.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom, hands down!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I really want the Willow Tree one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail mine, with a cute photo of coarse!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? when I was a junior in High School a boyfriend of mine gave me a really ugly Christmas sweater. I felt so bad, he really had never shopped for a girlfriend before, I kept it and never told him, and later gave it to my Mom.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, that ugly sweater. :)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I love pigging' out on the appetizers at Christmas parties...little smokies...shrimp cocktail.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, Only white lights! I hate colored lights!
17. Favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We usually travel to Iowa to spend it with my family. This year, we'll be at our home. And then the day after go to my parents house.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Not at the moment.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a silver snowflake on top.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? A tradition in my house is 1 present on Christmas eve, and then open the rest Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Snow storms, traffic, and crazy holiday shoppers!
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? I love going home and seeing all the ornaments my siblings and I made as kids on my Mom's tree.
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Mashed potatoes, and little smokies!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I would like to find a new job!

5 Things!

I've kept a journal every year since I was in 5th grade! Today, I have over 15 journals sitting in a box. Each year at Christmas, my Mother has gotten me a journal to continue this tradition. Journaling is where my love of writing sparked, and the idea of thoughts to paper became therapy for me. Over the years those journals have held my most private thoughts, dreams, goals, and prayers. They have given me an outlet to say whatever I wanted to. Sometimes I look back, and different years and read what was going on in life at the time. The trials and tribulations of a 5th grader are much different to what my life looks like now. But in every year, I look back and see growth, and change good and bad, and where I've come in that year.
Having Joy, is about a choice we make. Just like Love is a choice we make. It's not about circumstances, or where you are at in life, but it's about choosing to have Joy in your life beyond what's going on in your life, or around you. I am learning this one day at a time.
Now, in my journals daily beyond anything else that's going on in my day, or what happened that made me mad, sad, happy, or whatever I try to find 5 things in my daily life that bring me joy and make me happy. Before I write about anything else, I write 5 things that bring me joy or make me happy that day.
I feel like if I can't find at least 5 things each day worth living for and being happy about then I need to change my attitude and me and Jesus need to have a chat! It's been a refreshing change for me to sit, and reflect about the good that happened in the day, and the things in life that I have to be happy about and look forward to. It's then that you really start to live the life you were meant to live.

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My challenge for you, find 5 things each day that bring you joy, and make you happy!

{Christmas Playlist}

There's a few things I LOVE about Christmas, and Holiday music is one of them. I wait for the first of December so I can turn on the radio and hear Christmas music blasting all month long. I love everything about this time of year, the white lights, the trees, the smell of cookies, and cinnamon! Here's a few of my favorite Christmas songs:

{Christmas Playlist}

1. O Holy Night- by far my favorite Christmas Carol

2. Santa Baby- just a fun song, so cute!

3. Baby It's Cold Outside- Orion and I sing this together, it's cute!

4. All I want for Christmas Is You!- Mariah Carey.... also one of my all time favs!

5. My Grown Up Christmas List- I love this song, it's inspiring to me

And, if you want some recommendations on what albums to buy for your Christmas Party this year, here's a few of my favs!

1. These are the Special Times- Celine Dion

2. Merry Christmas- Mariah Carey

3. White Christmas- Martina McBride

4. Nsync* Christmas- you think I'm joking...but it's awesome.

5. Jessica Simpson's Christmas album...has some really cute songs on it.

Happy baking, hanging lights, wrapping presents and decorating your tree!

Holiday Traditions

Some of my favorite Holiday memories as a kid, was making Grandmas Christmas cookies with my Mom and siblings. Cookie making at my house was an all day affair, that took some prepping. Every year for as long as I can remember, we would all make cookies together, some great memories came from doing that.
Opening one present on Christmas Eve, is also another favorite of mine. Staying up all night long on Christmas Eve talking with my Sister, instead of sleeping also brings back fond memories and joy!
I remember one year we opened a few of our presents prior to Christmas while my Mom was out for the day. We taped them all back together and pretended that it never happened. Then felt so bad by the time my Mom got home, and told her how awful we'd been while she was away for the day.
There was one year when my Sister and I were little, probably 5 and 6 and we were being so mean to each other, and rotten kids that Christmas season. That my Mom told us if we didn't shape up she'd throw all of our presents in the trash. We didn't shape up, and she DID throw all of them in big garbage bags and they sat in those bags by the door ready to be thrown away if we didn't shape up by Christmas. Needless to say...this isn't a tradition in our house...but it is a memory of mine. And that was the first lesson my Sister and I received in what Christmas was truly about, that we understood at least.
Now, that I am married and Orion and I are starting our own Christmas traditions it brings back all these great memories. This year Orion and I are spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at our house here in Minnesota, before heading to Iowa to spend the Holiday weekend with family. It's a different year for us being at home, and not with one family or the other. But, I am excited to start our own traditions for the Christmas holiday.
I've been thinking for a couple days now about what we could do, what traditions we could start for our own family. I want to make them special and personal. Christmas has always been such a wonderful time in my family, Orion hasn't had the same experience growing up. Since we've been dating I've been determined to make Christmas time a blessing, and a wonderful memory for Orion. It's my favorite time of year!

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What are some of your favorite holiday/Christmas traditions?

Just some thoughts.....

What is the deal with going to a coffee shop, and then having the wonderful twenty somethings who work there make out with their boyfriends or girlfriends? Where's the work ethic here? I'm pretty sure it all goes against the customer service code!

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Why do people say, "I lost my job?" Such an oxy moron! I didn't loose it, I know right where it is. It's just not mine anymore, it's someone else's. So does that mean they found it? Maybe people should say, they took it away from me.

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What does it mean when your puppy is pooping like crazy around your house? What does it mean when you take them out and they do their business...all of their business. And still you come back in and minutes later they have an accident in the house. It's like, seriously could anymore possibly come out? And wait....it does. I'm up to my ears in doggy accidents in the house. Any advice? I've tried everything the Vets suggested to rid this problem.

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Does anyone have any good leads on jobs? Cause if you do, I'd love to speak with you.

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Coming to a Christmas Card for You!

A little Christmas card preview! Orion and I finished pictures for our Christmas cards over the Thanksgiving Holiday! One, of my favorite things about being married and the Holiday season is sending out the "annual" Christmas card! Now, granted this is my 2nd year doing this, so it's all the more exciting and I wanted to do something different this year than last. Last year we (and when I say "we" I mean, "I" and Hubby shows up for the picture and I do the rest) sent out our wedding photo. So this year it's fun to do something else.

Us, with Mr. Bentley! The newest addition to the Worley house! We had to get a picture, and include him in the fun! Just wait for yours in the mail!