It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

          The Christmas decorations are up in the neighborhood and Santa's at the mall.  I was in a local mall the other morning and Santa wasn't very busy and neither were the stores.  Granted it was midweek and somewhat early in the day--but hopefully that's not a bad sign. I don't plan to do any shopping this year. But the last few years I haven't shopped like I used to. It's not that I'm a scrooge or anything.  Well, maybe I am when it comes to shopping.

          It just doesn't feel very Christmasy yet to me.  We're not putting up a tree for the second year in a row.  My wife put up the wreaths on the door and the Christmas candle centerpiece on the table, but we still haven't gotten all of the dancing Santas out on display.  The snowman figure is out though, but he stays out all year like the angels on our fireplace mantle. So Christmas is gradually enveloping our home, but in a way it never totally leaves.

          Some of the blogs are starting to get in the Christmas spirit and mine has been no exception. This past week's debate topic was a hot one:  Christmas trees--real or fake?  I was surprised by the general consensus that fake was the way most of us go now.  I thought for sure I would be alone in that department but seems like we all have similar ideas about the fake trees. Idealistically speaking most of us probably dream of a white Christmas and a real tree, but in the real practical world it's fake trees and no precipitation.  Personally this year I'm dreaming of 70 degrees and sunny from December 16 until January 2.  After that I don't care too much.

       This Thursday I guess I'll stick to another holly jolly debate topic and keep it all light. Tomorrow I will be discussing the importance of spiritual community.  How important is it for believers to be a part of a church body?  On Monday I'll be pondering some final NaNo thoughts and looking at where the novels go from here.  Also for the sake of the non-NaNo'ers, I'll be looking at projects in life and how we follow through with them.  Then on Friday I'll have another mystery and like yesterday it won't necessarily be scary, just something to think about.

           Tuesday and Wednesday are days that I am particularly excited about this week.  On Tuesday I am going to be reviewing a novel that I just finished reading.  The book is LOST MISSION by acclaimed author Athol Dickson.  Then on Wednesday I'll be posting my interview with the author Athol Dickson.  So I hope you will definitely be here to see what Mr. Dickson has to say about his new book and writing in general.

           In the weeks to come I know some of the blogs may be taking time off or be sporadic in their postings and I can certainly understand why.  I hope that I can continue to post everyday, but if some days it doesn't happen I know you'll understand.  But this coming week I'll be here and it should be good.

           How about you?  Are the holidays going to be affecting your blog schedule?  Are you going to be reading the blog posts as much as you do now?  How are you celebrating the holidays this year?  How do you think the current economy is going to be affecting everyone's Christmas?

       I'm hoping for the best for us all.  I may be a scrooge about shopping, but I take seeing friends and family pretty darn serious.  That's what I like best about the Christmas season.