I Survived!

It was one of those weekends that don't happen too frequently, that makes you take a deep breath, lead with your helment, and try not to get a foul.  All last week was packed with things to do, like painting the sets, taking care of a sick child, typical stuff like laundry, dishes, and dusting, Christmas shopping and wrapping, and many, many others.  Friday was my birthday and I looked forward to a slice of cake from Old Tyme Pastries and seeing Kristen on opening night at the Gaslight Theater.  So began the treadmill, a good pace, but there is an element of stress that comes when your youngest is on stage all by herself for a 12 minute monologue.  She did great.  It was my favorite birthday gift.

Saturday was full of more details, the bulletin, wrapping presents for the set, and gathering all the many items needed to make my part of Sunday happen.  My mom, brother, and sister-in-law stopped by with turkey soup and their Christmas gift. Then they went to see her perform.  I cleaned house and Greg helped make snacks for our Leadership Team White Elephant Christmas party. It was a blast.  After everyone left, we worked on church stuff for another hour or two until Kristen came home around 11:00.

Sunday, we loaded everything into the truck and car and headed to church by 7:30.  Mark helped Kristen with her car windows and she came and played the drums like a very exhausted trooper.  Still fighting her sinus infection, she did great, then left at 10:30 for the theater for her next 2 performances.   Church was great.  We had Mike do his Christmas Rap, Arline, his friend, came from Tracy and sang Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song), my favorite, we had a great and very original Christmas sermon that especially blessed one of the ladies who was visiting, and we handed out a gift to each family.  Tear down began, and it was something.  We must have broken 10 glass ornaments on the floor.  The tree was definately a learning experience, especially when you have to set it up and tear it down each week.

After church, we came home and waiting for Greg's mom to arrive from Escalon.  I went to buy some roses for Kristen and headed to the theater.  Greg and his mom soon followed.  She was turning around in a neighbor's driveway when she arrived at our house and her car died.  Greg had to push it to get it parked in front of our house.  We didn't know if he could fix it, if she had to spend the night, or just what was going to happen, but we enjoyed the performance and Greg got the car working when we got home. She arrived safely back in Escalon last night.  It was great seeing our Youth Pastor's family and another youth at the theater to see Kristen, as well as Kristen's dad and step-mom. 

Yesterday afternoon and evening, Mark was in Carol Fest at Stanislaus State.  We could have gone, but were too tired.  I'm glad I got to experience it 2 years ago when Mark was a music major.  We enjoyed a quiet evening watching Greg's team beat the Vikings and I dozed off and on during the game. 

Kristen is exhausted and not over her sinus infection, so she's home sleeping today.  We saw snow flurries outside this morning for a brief minute. Greg is home preparing for his next sermon.  He can't cut grass in the rain.  It's a blessing.

So today, it's catching up on details that didn't get done last week, like blogging, and trying to catch up on sleep.  The next blog will be on Floyd McClung's You See Bones, I See an Army.  Have a blessed rainy Monday.