The new year is what we make of it. I can say that 2010 sucked for me. We lost our mom and mom-in-law. But what do I know? Everything happens for a purpose. Had my mom lived, she would be suffering from the cancer. Had my mom-in-law lived, she would still be carrying all her childrens' problems.

This coming year is so unknown it's scary. Look at it another way: it's a clean slate, a fresh start, and whatever is in store, God will be there by our side. That's all I cling to.

I'm looking forward to more knitting, more yarn, more quilting, more sewing, more homeschooling. The worrisome and scary stuff, I will leave in God's hands.

Happy New year, one and all. Here's to prosperity!

Christina and Emily taken at the Christmas tree in Disneyland. We got a chance to pick up Christina from her dorm and take her around with us in LA/Anaheim. Poor girl hasn't eaten "real" food since she moved to LA. She's been living on Ramen and junk food. With no car to use, she walks everywhere.



Sunset view at Huntington Beach, the snobbiest and most unfriendly beach in CA. With nowhere to park, we had to park in between apartment houses near the beach. One guy stared us down as we trekked towards the water. Hey man, it's a public beach, ya know? I'll take the San Francisco beaches anytime.


Obligatory family picture in front of Disneyland. It was packed that day. We got to ride a whopping total of 6 rides. Spent most of the time lining up.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone. May God bless you with His abundant blessing this coming year.

Tomorrow, I start knitting for next Christmas. I love to procrastinate and believe me, starting Christmas knitting in October never works. I never make it.

I will start with Christmas ornaments. woo hooo!

I realized that these past Christmases, I spent the few days before Christmas stressing out. Shopping for presents and stressing out over gift wrapping, cooking, baking, and running from one gathering to the next.

This is our first Christmas without my mom and it seems that I stopped caring about all the stress. I bought gifts only for the important people in my life. And this Christmas, I'm spending the day with my family and my dad. We don't have to rush off to go to the in-laws' party. My mother-in-law is gone too. Some of in in-laws will understand why we're not there. Others won't and will probably talk about it but... I simply don't care anymore.

I will spend time with the people I love.

4 days before Christmas and I still haven't gone shopping. I live on the edge.

I am completely addicted to Angry Birds. On the other hand, I quit playing Facebook games. I now have more time to knit. That is, if I'm not playing Angry Birds.

I've finished several shawls, scarves, and cowls (the new rage) but no pictures to show. Some of the cowls were given away as gifts, as soon as they're finished and off the needle.

must. upload. pictures.

It's Christmastime, my favorite time of the year. I wish you a Merry Christmas. It's Christmas-- not Happy Holidays. Of course, Christmas is a holiday, and if you don't celebrate Christmas, that's too bad. It's my holiday, a Christian holiday and I will greet you a Merry Christmas. I refuse to be politically correct and if my Christmas offends you, there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Like I said, it's my holiday. 'nuff said.

If you celebrate Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah to you. If you celebrate Kwanzaa, Happy Kwanzaa!

Sorry but those are the only other holidays I know.

Back to knitting.

$278 darn dollars for my allegedly speeding ticket and I never got a courtesy notice in the mail either. I had to go online and research it myself. What if I didn't research it? Then I'd have to pay the fine plus an added on penalty. And the State makes money off of me.

15 more days 'til Christmas! Usually, I have the chance of enjoying the few months, weeks, before Christmas but not this year. It's coming too fast and I'm not ready for it.

Today, 16 years ago, Joel and I got married. I woke up this morning to a dozen roses, a box of 2 dozen See's chocolates, and 3 potted indoor plants. He knows me really well even though I keep telling him not to waste money on roses that will wilt in a few days. But man, I love roses, and plants. I still have the plants he's given me through the years. I have a green thumb just like my mom. And Joel? I love him.

Dec 12th would have been my mom and dad's 51st wedding anniversary. We will celebrate too.

Dec 13th is my oldest daughter's 21st birthday. We're celebrating Danielle's bday with a party tomorrow, combined with the anniversaries.

On the knitting front, I'm knitting Stefanie Japel's Alexandra ballet sweater from the book Fitted Knits. There were some errors and I was able to dodge them. But, I'm making adjustments and some changes. Just like a knitter.