I Must Ask . . . Are You Ready for the Holidays?

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year — and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority. –W.J. Cameron

I loved hearing about your holiday wish lists! Let me recap.

Shay wants a new car and quilting supplies. Me too! Me too! Make my car red and my quilting supplies plentiful.

Mommarock wants a day at the spa. Sounds heavenly. Can I come too?

Michelle wants a gift that is thoughtful. I know exactly what you mean. Those are the best kind.

P. wants a vacation Alice Cullen style. I'm right there with you!

Mr. Anonymous {a.k.a. my dad} wants his children to be happy, loved, employed and grateful. Thanks dad! I think that's a pretty good wish.

I think my favorite Christmas wish is from my good friend, Jenna, who said: No restraints on my Christmas wish? OK, you asked for it. I would like a check for $100,000 please : ). That would take care of our student debt and buy us the second car that we need! Is that asking too much? No? OK, I'll take a house of my very own to go with that. With a big red bow tied around it! And a wreath on the door? Furnished and decorated by someone who knows what they're doing? This is fun! Ha ha ha, I'm killing myself with an overdose of "dream-on, lady." Heh heh.

As for an ideal Christmas gift that I really could possibly ask for, I would probably love to get a Kindle or something of that sort. But the reason I DON'T want that is because I manage to read about 10 pages per week. Is there anyway to guarantee time to read with a gift like that? (Could I ask for a chef and a maid to move in with us in our new house?)

So what do I want that I could actually use? A gym membership so I could play racquetball again. That would be great! But I'd need that new car to go along with it . . . Doh! I guess I'm kind of hard to buy for this year!

Jenna, if I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a house! {And all those other things too.}

As you might have noticed, I've got Christmas on the brain. How could I not? I love Christmas. I love making and buying thoughtful gifts. I love sharing a bit of myself. But it is less than three days away and I've still got a ton of elfing to do before it gets here. I got a little sidetracked with putting together some ornaments for neighbors and trying to fit in photographing for a tutorial while I finish up one of my gifts. Plus, I work. Sleep has gone out the window, the adrenaline has kicked in and the ideas are flowing.

Early on, I decided to skip sending Christmas cards this year {because it worked so nicely for me last year}, but I very nearly bought some yesterday on clearance because I kind of miss it. I realized that I absolutely don't have time for it and have decided that henceforth I am sending Christmas cards in July. I have a fair amount of sewing still to do, odds and ends to finish up on the shopping and then the wrapping.

Christmas is coming, whether I'm ready or not. So why am I blogging? Because I must ask . . . are you ready for the Holidays?

There's not much space over in my sidebar, so I've given you the key here. Select the number that corresponds with your level of preparedness in the poll and if you're so inclined, leave me a comment telling me how you're doing.

1. Done for months, wrapped and ready to go.
2. Done for weeks, wrapped and ready to go.
3. Done in the last few days, wrapped and ready to go.
4. Mostly done, with a few odds and ends to tie up.
5. Still have a lot of things left and nothing wrapped yet.
6. Started, but going to be staying up for the next 72 hours to get everything together.
7. Got a tiny start, but most of the list to go. Wrapping? Put wrapping paper on the list.
8. Got a list together, but nothing checked off. And don't even talk to me about wrapping.
9. Haven't got a list. Haven't got a clue. I'll pick something up at the 7-Eleven on the way.
10. Bah humbug!

While you put your last minute preparations together, enjoy a little Christmas music. Please note, this is not a political statement. I just really like the song. Collin Raye is one of my favorites.