So busy

So I just realized I haven't blogged since Thanksgiving. A lot has happened since then, the major thing being that Andrew moved out of our home last week. It happened kind of suddenly but it basically boiled down to the fact that he really wanted the opportunity to live with his mom which he had not done in his memory. He lived with her shortly as a small child before my parents stepped in and he went to live with them. My sister is in the best position she has ever been in during her adult life. She is working and seems to be drug free and has a house to live in with her boyfriend. The situation is not ideal but I didn't feel like Andrew would be in danger going to live with her so I didn't try to stop him. He is of an age where he can call for help, and feed himself, and take care of himself to a large degree so it seemed like the right time for him to go be with his mom. If it doesn't work out he can come back. He is going to be going to continuation school out there. So I pray he will stay out of trouble and will focus on getting caught up in school. I am in the process of sending out Christmas cards. I am using a picture from the family pics we had done last month. I cropped Andrew out of the picture. This isn't because I am angry with him, it just seemed weird to send out Christmas cards to people making it seem like he is here and apart of our everyday life when he isn't. There are some people I don't have much contact with that I send Christmas cards to and they would see the 3rd kid and wonder how we got a teenager, then I would have to explain the whole situation and it just didn't seem worth it.

We are very much enjoying the Christmas season. I am only about half-way done with my shopping but am pleased to say that the shopping is going well and I think this will be one of the best Christmases we have had. Its not that I think we need to spend a lot of money to have a great Christmas its just that for the past several years we really didn't have money at Christmas time and we manged to get through it, but its nice this year not having to worry so much and to be able to give a decent present to our loved ones. I have really enjoyed the lights on people's homes this year and the music, and the spirit of Christmas that I have seen in so many people. We had a really nice Christmas party with our homeschool group this year, a fun Christmas party with our bible study group, and I enjoyed a fun Christmas party with my Yucaipa Moms group a few nights ago. We even got snow!! Later today we are going Christmas Caroling with the homeschool group at a nursing home. Fun! Fun!

I hope you all are well. Merry Christmas!!