Random, Holiday Musings...and Hurricane Relief Info

I suppose it's always appropriate to do a post mortem account of holiday cheer with extended family. However, I'm not inclined to do so today, for whatever reason. Or, I'm not in the least inclined to write an extensive recounting of yesterday's Thanksgiving activities. I will say that a good time was had by all, and that the food, as always, was excellent.

Holidays always seem to bring to the forefront of my mind that titillating notion of "what could be." What could be is perfect merriment, non-dysfunctional relations and spiced cider. Though the latter would really only seem fitting on a cold night. (What in the world is going on with 80 degree Thanksgivings?!) I had a wonderful time but left saddened by the state of my youngest cousins, whom I love dearly but worry greatly for their future. They're the most beautiful girls I've known and are not even given the opportunity to merely nibble on the morals and principles that I've been so fortunate to feast upon my entire life. I'm left to pray; and pray I will.

But no more holiday woe. We've now officially entered the season of crazed, maniacal, soccer mom shoppers. I've not left the house today for fear of confronting such wildebeests. I cannot brave the "after Thanksgiving sales." And what do you really save that you've lost in sanity? Fifty dollars? Thank you, I'll pass.

My trip to the ravished Waveland, Mississippi, has been moved by one day. I now leave on Thursday, December 1 (my parent's 26th anniversary) and return the 8th. I'm very excited. I will, at some point, have to exit the premises to buy a few items necessary for my trip, such as heavy duty, leather work gloves; bug spray with 25% DEET; and ear plugs. (When you're rooming with people from all over the country, there's no telling what might go bump in the night. It took only one missions trip for me to learn that blocked nasal passageways of fellow missionaries could keep me up all night.)

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, or a bearable one at the least. :) It's a fast track to Christmas now. Don't let time steal away too quickly. Enjoy these 30 days as much as possible.