Christmas Adam and other

Just wanted to let you know that it's cold here in Kentucky. My computer says it's 9* F, but feels like -5. Our house was 58* when we woke up this morning, and our pipes were frozen even though we left every faucet dripping. Thankfully one bathroom is OK, so we can get water and go to the bathroom. I am thankful for that. I really need to sew some insulated curtains for the windows to see if they keep us warmer. Thank God for our two kerosene heaters, and lots of warm quilts.

A friend is taking all the kids (minus Bethany) shopping for gifts today. Bless her heart. I pray for her sanity. She does this every year. I love it. It's rare for me to have the house to myself. I plan on working on our Christmas letter, unless my fingers freeze first.

We had a really nice weekend... did our traditional caroling party. This tradition started when I was in high school and some neighbors would get the list of shut ins from our church and we would drive all over creation in the attempts to visit them all and carol for them and drop off cookies. We have continued this tradition in my home every year. Some years we sang in the barracks, others just in the neighborhood we lived in. Here in Kentucky we have sung at the nursing home, hospital, and this year we went up a street.

We encountered something I never dreamed... NO ONE opened their doors! Well, two people did, and they enjoyed us. Other than that, one person shut the door as soon as he saw us, and the rest never opened it. How weird is that?

What are your favorite traditions and memories? One of my favorite memories was when I must have been about 5 or so. We went to my Grandparent's house. On Christmas Eve evening many of us went in the car to look at lights and see if we could see Santa's Sleigh. I looked and looked, but figured I must have missed him, because when we got home, HE HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE!!! Wow, that was cool.

Another memory which definitely molded me forever was the Christmas I was either 13 or 14. I wanted a stereo more than anything. One day while my parents were at work, I snooped in their closets. (Hey - I admitted my son didn't have clean laundry last week... this is nothing compared to that!) I saw a STEREO in my Dad's!! I was so excited Christmas morning to get my stereo. And... it was a present for my mom, not me. It served me right!!!

So now, everyone can bring in the bags, tell me where they are hiding my gifts, and I will NOT look. Oh no I will not.

So let us know your favorite Christmas memories and traditions! If you blog it, link to my blog in the comments. I love reading about other's traditions.

Oh yeah - the girls want me to let you know to be ready for Christmas Adam tomorrow. Since the 24th is Christmas Eve, they have declared the 23rd as Christmas Adam.