Anticipating, questioning, planning, and waiting. These are verbs that describe the month of December this year. Along with colder temperatures and unexpected winds and snow, it is now winter.

We anticipated the arrival of the new book way back in September. We cleaned out the Tough Shed and made space for our new edition in the literary world. Our baby needed shelter from the elements and would share housing with book #1 and book #2.

We questioned whether our Christmas book would arrive in time for the holidays. Printing was behind thirteen weeks and we were four weeks behind on our end.

We planned our holiday markets. With only so many days to schedule for, we set up dates and times that we thought would work best for us. We designed our displays and made our presentations bright and colorful to attract customers.

Then we waited. We were told shipping would be after Thanksgiving now instead of before. So, if we were lucky, our books would arrive the second week of December. We told ourselves, it is what it is and whatever happens, happens. If we had to cancel some dates we had planned, so be it.

When Signature Book Printing in Maryland called and said the shipment was ahead of schedule, we were elated! Books would be to us in four days! The champagne got chilled and we waited for the call to schedule delivery from XPO Logistics. The weather is so unpredictable here in Utah, all we could do was pray for the best conditions. The books got delivered Thursday December 2 at 4:30pm with clear sunny skies and no snow anywhere, cold, but no snow.

That Saturday the 4th, we took our new baby to places that already carried it’s older siblings and they were delighted to have this new edition in their stores. It was a joyful time for us. Christmas was just around the corner and things were falling into place. We didn’t have to cancel any of our scheduled markets.

The book launch at Varex Imaging on the 7th was a great success. They put up advertising inside the company on big screens letting people know when we were coming. I was really impressed that they would do that for Tim. He has a lot of great support there. We were so appreciative to them for allowing us to be there during work hours and letting Tim have the day off to do it. Everyone was happy and excited to come by and get their books signed. I enjoyed meeting all his co-workers and friends.

The Winter Market at Daybreak went ahead without a hitch both days, the 10th and 11th. Still no snow yet, just sub-degree temperatures. We got to see Santa and had a great time there.

Our online orders started to come in. Everything was more than we could have anticipated. I was up bright and very early for a full week, everyday mailing books so everyone could have them in time for Christmas. Was it exhausting? Oh, yeah. Was it rewarding? You betcha!

We finally got the bad weather and winter officially arrived on the 21st. Our first snow storm brought fifteen inches of snow! I baked my annual orange-cranberry holiday bread for the neighbors. Then Tim and I donned our NFL Santa hats, Tim’s Green Bay Packers and my New England Patriots Superbowl Champs, and sprinkled joy in the neighborhood.

With things under wraps, it’s now time to sit back and relax; Time to reflect on what Christmas is really all about, the birth of our Savoir Jesus. From our house to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We wish you good health, safe travels, and making happy memories with your loved ones.

Until next time,

God bless!

Skip’s mom, Cb