Christmas Decorating

I don't know if I feel more silly or relieved. You see, I'm having a Relief Society(Relief Gang for BooBoo) Christmas dinner at my house. I have about 16 flip-top storage containers of decorations to get "up", assorted boxes of nativities, sleighs, sleds etc. and a 10' tree to decorate. Of course I want the lights on the house too. With all 6 of you kiddos moved out and not here to help with this self-imposed assignment it becomes rather BIG. So last night we had the one in-state family over for breakfast-dinner (that wonderful dinner when you serve breakfast foods), watched the Christmas special from the Conference Center in SLC, had dessert and then I rounded them up to help decorate the tree. What a great help and I am giving you all a shout out of THANKS!! Now, having said that, I'm weird. There are certain ornaments that are little treasures and memories...places traveled, vacations, your childhood creations, my mom's gifts etc. Well, today I didn't know where some of those "special" ornaments ended up on the tree yesterday and I had to hunt for them. Yes, I did move a very few to more prominent positions so I could see them better. Now, it's Monday morning and with the R.S. dinner tomorrow I was thinking there sure is a lot of work to get done and I better get busy. Or, I was thinking, oh poor me I'll be exhausted and have to slave for a day or two to decorate and clean. How well do you know me? I was actually thinking a little of both but the bottom line is I am feeling very grateful for Christmas, a home to decorate and to open it up to my dear, dear sisters for a dinner. Now the best part....drum roll....I'm totally off on my date/week. The dinner is Tuesday of next week. Remember the old Alkaseltzer commercial, "plop, plop, fizz, fizz oh what a relief it is"! Silly, relieved, grateful, happy and busy. Yes, still wish you were all here to help decorate, listen to Christmas music and ooh and aah over the little treasures and drink Annette's Wassail. Yes, I know I don't have to do all of this. Yes, I still want to do it. Yes, when I die you get to divide up the decos and ornaments . . . now be nice about it and don't trash too many. And in case you want more Christmas eye-candy, here are some decorating ideas to watch. 3