I feel as if the Christmas rush has just begun! I’m cleaning house, packing my bags and getting stuff ready to send to Scott. Tonight is our candlelight service and fellowship, so I’m preparing for that, plus I have to leave enough food for Russ while I’m gone. I’m still worn out from our trip to Houston Friday! I can’t believe I didn’t stay there and make other plans to get home. Sometimes you get too busy to think straight. So I’m headed back to Houston Monday! At least I won’t be going to the Bush Intercontinental Airport. Although it is not bigger than DFW, it is spread out all over the place. Unfortunately, we had to figure that out before Scott’s flight. In spite of the fact he was dumped at the airport at 45:00am and didn’t leave until 45:10pm, it ended up being a last minute rush. The people on the ground in Houston were very nice and did get things fixed, but it was all so unnecessary. The good news was he made the flight, and is safe in the arms of his loving family. Heather and the kids are going to have some sweet time together before he has to leave again.School is out, the animals were sheared and everyone is going to take a deep breath for a few days. The elementary kids put on the cutest little show on Tuesday and report cards are ready to go! Somehow we managed to get all the research papers in and almost all of the dioramas. I hate to handout bad grades to kids, but you can’t just give grades away. If I did that, everyone would quit working and just wait for me to hand out the grades. That would be quite a system wouldn’t it! Enjoy the break kids. We have stock show coming and then a long slog till the end of the next grading period. Don’t forget to take care of your animals while you’re on holidays.It was delightful to see the joy on the faces of the soldiers who were leaving Iraq. There will be many happy families this Christmas. I ask you to pray for our community, our sick and our precious soldiers. The Dorianne McGregor family needs our prayers. Katrina Draper will be undergoing more tests to find the cause of her abdominal pains. Pearl Cantrell is rapidly recovering from her broken leg. Look out world, Miss Pearl is almost ready to go dancing! Mary McKee called and asked that her soldier relative Aaron Lewis be put on the prayer list. He is headed, like so many others, into grave danger. Please God, make a way when there seems to be no way.Life is good here in America. We have a freedom that most other countries don’t have. Each person in America has value. Some may be richer, or smarter or more talented, but all have the opportunity to excel if they wish to try. I hope everyone has the best Christmas possible. Travel safe, eat well, love lavishly and praise God for this wonderful country. May God bless America and our precious troops.