Merry Christmas.

I know, I know. I'm a punk. But it's almost 2 in the morning and since I'm working on 3 hours of sleep, my brain is too tired to text and/or email all my friends individually.

So to all those here at home and abroad:

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Love you all!

Rae
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I'm exhausted.

Tonight I did something I haven't done in a long time. While listening to the sounds of family playing I curled up on a couch next to the Christmas tree with my book. I could hear the boys playing hero scape(??) And others watching a Christmas movie. My sister Gretchen was manning the stove as we continue to crank out Christmas cookies. It was a pleasant back drop to my reading. It didn't take long for the pages to blur and my eyes to close. 2 HOURS later I woke up at midnight and now I can't seem to fall back asleep. Lol!

*sigh* tomorrow is gonna be a big day so I have to get some sleep. Argh.
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Christmas in Utah

I wanted to get today written about so that in the years to come I don't forget about it.

I have now been home with the fam for 3 full days. Each day has been full of nostalgic moments and fun. It is so good to be able to see my siblings and to be surrounded with the familiar. As I missed Christmas here last year, I am enjoying the sights of the family Christmas tree and the many Christmas decorations that mom has collected over the years.

Today I had the chance to attend church with my "home ward". For those that aren't LDS that means I went to the congregation that I attended growing up. Of course there were many new faces. It has been 4 years since I was a regular here. But there were many that I remember from years passed. I think the funniest moment I had was when I was approached by a young woman while I was talking with my mother. She addressed us as "Sister Gifford" and it took me a minute to realize that she wasn't speaking to my mother. Lol! She is a girl that I had taught in primary 8 or so years ago. I hardly recognized her. But it was nice to be remembered, even if it made me feel old (Sister Gifford, indeed).

The meeting consisted of about 4 speakers and lots of Christmas hymns. My favorite being Silent Night, which has ended our Christmas Services for years. The organist always plays the bells for the last verse. It is very nice, and a small nostalgic moment for me. :)

There was a short Christmas Pageant during Primary with my youngest brother and one of my nephews participating and then we headed off to attend the ordination of my brother Cricket. He was made a priest today (Right now, I can't think of an easy way to explain this for the Non-LDS if you want email me and I can explain it later) and all but one brother and his wife was able to attend.

We then headed off to my parents house for dinner and dessert. There was fun and chaos and food galore.
After hours spent talking and eating and talking some more we decided to play a couple of games. I can't even begin to tell you how hilarious Do You Love Your Neighbor is when you have "big kids" (adults) involved. I think all of my siblings played, even my pregnant sister and the ones with babies in arms. My parents even joined in. You could probably hear the laughter down the block, as we tend to get a bit competitive when we gather as a family. Lucky we sustained only 2 injuries during the game. One being a chair that broke...hee hee hee....and one being a little one that got caught in a 3 way battle for a seat.

After every one had to leave me and Wog and Goose settled in with some of my fabulous popcorn for the movie The Night They Saved Christmas. Another wonderfully nostalgic movie. It is much different watching it as an adult.

And that is my day. There was lots of conversatin' and laughing and fun. I want to remember this.

P.S. The cat is out of the bag....I broke under pressure last night. I really wasn't prepared to lie....though if I wanted to keep y secret I guess I should have been.........but then again I am horrible at lying....so I don't think any preparation would have done me any good.

Any way, I told the family last night about my plans to move back to Utah. I broke the news to my mother tonight. She seemed pleased. ;)

Christmas in Killarney

Its that time of year again and I have been humming this song for a week or more now. So I am inflicting upon you poor souls. Lol!

As I mentioned last year. This is one of the Christmas songs that I remember from my childhood. We played it every year (though with out the alcohol....)

So enjoy!

Amy is the Greatest!

A while back......sometime last month. I blogged about my love of instrumental music. Amy introduced me to William Joseph.

Now I am 2 cd's in and loving it. Thanks Amy.

Enjoy Within (Performed live in Saskatoon)

Seated by a cop

You know, I guess it says something about the neighborhood when you go to IHOP for a late dinner and the gentleman who seats you is a cop who is there to keep the peace.

Moving when?
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A few more details....

This post is for all those that I have been too crazy busy to talk to yet you still read my blog. First...wow, Thanks!

Secondly, the reason for my busy-ness.........

On November 13th the company I have been working for merged with another company. What did this mean for me? A lot of crazy hours starting months ago. Hence the blogs from the back of a cab at midnight. As the other company already has a staffed HR department, my boss and I (along with quite a few others) will not be staying on with the new company. We have been asked to stay through a transition period and will be given a generous severance package to help us in our endeavors to find a new positions.

Third, as most of you know, I have decided to move out of the hood. One mugging is enough to scare this white girl back to the burbs.

Roll these together and what do we come up with? Rachel at loose ends for work and housing come January.

So, you ask, what is this plan that has got Rachel all excited?

The answer: SCHOOL

I've missed deadlines right now and I will have to re-apply and all of that rot, but here is what I figure. Once I get settled in, I can start work at a Temp agency or if needed I could even work at a bookstore (I know such a hardship for me.). Letting them know that I will only be available full time until what ever date classes start. Then I will move to part time and attend classes full time, using my severance to pay for tuition and my part time job to cover living expenses. If I play it right, my severance could get me though at least 2 if not 3 or 4 semesters of tuition and books.

So that is the plan.....I am really excited! And really really nervous. Lol!

I have a plan.

I can't tell you how excited I am.

I have a plan that would take me through the next couple of years.

Its a bit un-nerving to make this kind of decision. Ack!
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