I was really, reeeeally excited.

Just an interesting bit of information....

Today is February 1st. I didn't set foot in my house for the entire month of January. I left my driveway at 3:30am 35 days ago.


But enough of that. I've been trying to get this blog post up for a couple of days to tell you about my happy little find earlier this week.

Oh my friends. The bargains, they were abundant.

Mom and I have discovered & decided that getting out and doing stuff is better for all three of us. It breaks up our day and we get to look at stuff other than the same 4 walls all day. Makes sense, huh?

A few days ago, this plan involved a trip to Target for essentials, and then a fun side trip to Michael's. You should know, that when we do our "getting out" this means that one us goes in the store to do the shopping and the other stays in the van with Alan. We're talking cold & flu season with a freshly transplanted baby. Wouldn't we feel foolish to have to bring him in to the hospital with a fever he caught while we were out shopping? Yeah.

Plus it just fills more time that way. And we have lots of time to fill. ;)

Anyway, Michael's...

I went in first, and as soon as I walked up to the front door I began to see the signs.

They were everywhere.

ALL CHRISTMAS 90% OFF

Fortunately, I was able to maintain my composure and play it cool. ;)

First thing inside the door were the remaining few of their pre-made arrangements. Ooooh.

Then down one of the main center aisles were all the Christmas craft and decor leftovers.

Now. I love Christmas. And I love decorating for Christmas. And I would never, ever, EVER buy a whole set of anything for full price. Or really even half price. I just can't do it.

So. Are you ready to see what I got?

Here is the whole lot of it, minus one arrangement. I got $220 worth of stuff for only $22! Wow!
Most of what I got is for doing a themed tree. I've always admired them, but #1 - as I already said, I wouldn't just go out and BUY the stuff to do one. #2 - I like all my other ornaments that aren't 'themed'. But, for 90% off, you can afford to get enough to do a tree, and figure out the rest later. ;)
In the upper right hand corner of the picture above are 8 of these:
They are pics to put in your Christmas tree. The ribbon is a soft minty-sage green. I wouldn't have thought of roses as Christmas-y, but I love the look. It's kind of Victorian, I guess. I also got these:
Soft green, dark red, and a soft dusty pink. I think by the time I add white lights, maybe few strings of pearls, my "crystal" icicles and maybe a couple of other things I should have a really pretty tree. Mom even suggested putting all of this on a smaller, table-top tree. I like that idea.

I also like that this proves I actually do have a little taste. Contrary to what the sadness of my tree 2007 may have led you to believe: Truthfully? My heart just wasn't in this past Christmas. I can honestly say I honored and appreciated the recognition of Jesus' birth.
But all of the "fun" and trappings that go with Christmas? I just didn't have the heart for it. The intensity of waiting for transplant, along with the imminent anniversary of Alan's diagnosis, and the mental reliving and looking back at Christmas '06 and how much life had changed since then just took out a lot of the "oomph" for being jolly. I did just enough to play along, and most of that was for Dale.

And I was sad that I didn't feel like doing more.

It may have just been a simple, silly little thing to spend not much more than a $20 bill on some leftover Christmas decorations. But it meant a lot to me. I imagine the term 'closure' is thrown around a little too much, but that is kind of what my purchases felt like.

I put Chrismtas 2007 to bed. It was all in the attic by December 27th.

And I found a little bubble of happiness in buying things and making plans for 2008. The joy of looking ahead to 11 months from now. The hope of what the coming year will bring.

My prayer is that Christmas 2008 will truly be a celebration of life. From the birth of Jesus, to the physical "re-birth" of Alan with his new liver. That once again we will look back and see how much life has changed in a year.

Besides, I really do like Christmas. :)

Here are a few more of the things I bought:
I love this! I could just eat up that sparkly fruit. I imagine I will use this on my table with a jumbo candle in the middle of it. Mmm... cinnamon? Apple spice? We'll just have to wait & see! ;) This was pretty to me as well. Not sure where I'll put it or anything, but I think it was 39 cents. 'Nuff said.
And finally, the arrangement I chose. It's kind of hard to see, but the basket is a reindeer. There really isn't a front or back to the arrangement, so it would be good just about anywhere.
So... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! :)