Viral Christmas

 Merry Christmas...

2020 is almost a vision in the rear view mirror of life.   I'm so grateful that we have survived this very odd year.  Christmas was very much in line with tone for the rest of the year...weird.  It was the first year I didn't get to celebrate with all of my kids together and a stranger thought than that...it was the last year I'll even have two of my kids with me.  Divorce is the gift that keeps on giving.  Not only do I have to share every other holiday with inlaws but an outlaw too.  It's complicated but we will make it work.  

Spencer and Ashtin came up on Monday with their new baby...Bernie.  He is the sweetest little Sheep-A-Doodle you have ever seen!  He is just 11 weeks old.  He's going to be a big boy!!  They have been working hard to train him and I was blown away by how obedient he is already! 

We enjoyed opening gifts with them on Tuesday night and playing games.  They left to be back in Utah to spend Christmas with Ashtin's family.   While they were here, we were able to get a long list of gifts that some Seniors in our local assisted living center had requested and whose requests still hadn't been filled.  We all went shopping and gathered the treasured items and delivered them to the Homestead.  It was really the highlight of our Christmas. 

Earlier this week, I was scrolling through social media and I saw myself on a news channel I didn't recognize!  It was the Secret Santa video from 4 years ago!  I couldn't believe it was making the rounds again with almost 100,000 views and 400 shares!   It was crazy to watch that again!  What a generous gift that was.  I'm still so surprised that it even happened, let alone now, it continues to gain so much attention.  It was odd to read the comments since people had no idea it was 4 years ago..."Why are they gathering in such a big group and no masks?", "Someone needs to tell this woman to get a mask." , "Come to the UK, the government will get you the medical help you need for your kids."  It was almost hilarious to read the comments but also disturbing at the same time.  How quick we are to judge a situation we know nothing about. 

Last week, in an attempt to feel a little festive, and before I got sick, we went to a local attraction called the Christmas River.   It was a beautiful stroll through this wooded area filled with Christmas lights and vignettes, along with Santa and The Grinch.  The Grinch was fun, he was very true to character and cranky like me!  We posed for a funny picture and the line of 50 people or more were laughing and cheering, egging us on.  But, it was a joke, quite obvious to me and anyone who really knows me.     I posted it on Facebook to continue the fun but to my total shock and awe, most of my friends thought I was seriously engaged...to the Grinch.  

My phone exploded with well wishes...'It's about time!', 'Can't wait!', 'You deserve all the happiness in the world.'  It was so funny.  Another little viral moment, but just to be sure I'm being very clear...I am not engaged.  I'm not even dating.  Don't expect any announcements of either, anytime soon.  2020 has been a year that anything can happen but that is not one of them.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of working with a marketing team on some advertising for my business.  The past 4 months, I had a team of marketing students from the University helping me get my business on track.  I'm at the point where I need to make a lot of changes and I was really struggling to know where to start.  They have been so helpful.   Just before the semester ended, we spent the day filming content for an advertisement.  It was nerve-wracking but fun as well.  They gave me so much great advice and things to start working on.  I'm hoping they help me get some more steady business.  Every other day, I threaten to quit.  I'm really tired of the self employed gig and worrying about when the next job will come.    I'm going to follow their advice and really try to make this work one more time but I'm also fully aware that I may be looking for a new job in the next few months.  

My awesome marketing team

Time will tell.  As we are well aware, anything can happen! 

So, that's another Christmas in the books.