We made it!  It's been a busy but prayerful advent and here we are already at the end, putting finishing touches on gifts and wrapping up cookies. We've had our issues with "little foxes" here lately, which my friend Ella reminded me can sneak in and wreck up the most wonderful time of the year.  The best way to brighten your own mood is often to look for little ways to brighten others'.  The children have been SO fired about doing just that this week, they have been contagious and effective redirectors.  

We started with blessing the delivery drivers whom we procrastinating shoppers were ever so dependent upon and grateful for. My friends Ruth and Mary Ellen had shared the idea and it was something the kids could pull together easily.  Shortly after we stuck the bucket outside we had our first UPS visit.  We heard a knock and a "THANK YOU!" through the door.  When I went to get the boxes a few minutes later the driver was jogging back to the door.  "Did you forget something?" I asked.  "No," he said, " I've only had this happen to me one other time and I wanted to get a picture!"  So easy.  So much fun.  (Yes, it's December and yes it is cold here. The shorts never get put away.  Don't ask me why.)

We chose Grinch popcorn mix for the neighbor gifts.  It's messy.  Not gonna lie.  There's nothing like a solid Pinterest project to perk a girl up though and our Abbie is ALL about Pinterest.  Wonder where she gets this from? 

The elves packaged and went door to door tonight.  

I made a pie but then moved into present wrapping mode while Alannah did most of the rest of the treat baking.  

With some help.  

The gifts were wrapped and stockings stuffed before 9pm.  It might be a Christmas record for us.  

It's been prayers and stories and movies since, because this is the house that never sleeps and Christmas Eve does not look like it will be the exception.  

But I will be heading with or without them, as soon as I get some of the grain-free thumbprint cookies my girl made for me.