Well, I didn't get a white Christmas. But it snowed beautifully the day after...and today as I left Indiana to return to Texas. I was just happy to see snow. There is something peaceful about it, despite all the havoc it can wreak. Perhaps there is a lesson in that, but sitting in the most stressful airport in the United States (Kansas City) isn't conducive to thinking deep thoughts.
It was a nice Christmas. Way too much food (as always), lots of noise and activity with the dogs (especially as Gus pesters the others), games and new movies to watch. As always, it went by too quickly.
It's hard to believe 2012 is almost over. I don't know what it is about 2013, but it seems like an odd year. Maybe it's the 13...unlucky or something. For me, it can only go up. At least I hope. 2012 has been a little hard. One of those years that will go in the record books along with 1998, 2004 and 2007. And yet where would I be in my life without 1998, 2004 and 2007? Truly, I shutter to think. In a few years, I'm sure I will say the same about 2012. Of course there is a lesson in that, too. But again, hours of travel and the Kansas City airport don't make for sound thinking.
But as I think of the year our Sovereign God just brought me through and the one that is to come (and only He knows what it will hold), I am beginning to think of the goals that will encourage me through the year...that will keep me going. For one, to read more books by godly men that will encourage me in my walk. Secondly, to get back to writing. I've hardly put pen to paper this past year (or fingers to keyboard), but when I do I remember how it calms me and gives me joy. Thirdly, to work on my dollhouse as I have things to put into it or do some scrapbooking in between that. Something that puts what little creativity I have in that direction to work. The color and imagination will help me recover from the endless paperwork I "enjoy" eight hours every day. And lastly, pray more specifically for the desires of my heart to the Father who delights in me.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Traditions: Decorations
In so many ways, the decorations we put up at Christmas are not entirely traditional. For one, this will be my 33rd Christmas....33 years and seven other siblings later there are some memorable decorations no longer around. For instance, the nativity scene I first remember has long been broken to pieces and thrown away...
I was thinking the other day that I don't even remember putting up lights on the house until I was well into my teens...or even twenties. Today I consider that a tradition, to put up lights before December arrives so you won't freeze to death and take them down after Easter when they're no longer frozen to the house. But, apparently, that fun is just over a decade old.
So is one of my favorite decorations to put up: my Christmas village. I always wanted a Christmas village. So, not quite ten years ago my sisters got together, purchased pieces to a ceramic village and painted each piece themselves. The next two years following, I got a few more pieces, lovingly painted by my sisters. Each is marked at the bottom with their name, and the whole thing is very special to me. These past several years I have put it up at Thanksgiving so I can enjoy it a few days then and again when I arrive home for Christmas. Just this year I was thinking I need to purchase a train to run around it...maybe next year. :)
Of course, there are my ornaments. Most of these are more than twenty years old, some more than thirty. And each became special in their own way. I love pulling them out of their boxes and hanging them up, remembering who gave them to me and the occasion. My Christmas ornaments are like a living picture book...
Every year, we put up a live tree. I can't imagine my family will ever put up a fake one. We hang our stockings....sometimes by a fire with care but that depends on the house we're living in. The one in Indiana does not have a fireplace, so they are placed on the staircase with care. Mom made each of our stockings (too large, she says, for they are hard to fill) and we all love the uniqueness of each of them. (I even have fabric in the attic for the stockings Mom will make my children.) When I was in elementary school, Mom had someone make ceramic stocking holders we used for years and years. Some are still around, but in the last few years she has purchased each of us our own, as unique as our stockings.
There is greenery, but Katey (the one who loves to decorate) started that about ten or less years ago, and while I think it is lovely and enjoy having it out have never put it out myself. And then Mom decorates her pineapple plant...another in-the-last-decade tradition...and a story I won't detail here. But I do look for it when I go home. :)
I was thinking the other day that I don't even remember putting up lights on the house until I was well into my teens...or even twenties. Today I consider that a tradition, to put up lights before December arrives so you won't freeze to death and take them down after Easter when they're no longer frozen to the house. But, apparently, that fun is just over a decade old.
So is one of my favorite decorations to put up: my Christmas village. I always wanted a Christmas village. So, not quite ten years ago my sisters got together, purchased pieces to a ceramic village and painted each piece themselves. The next two years following, I got a few more pieces, lovingly painted by my sisters. Each is marked at the bottom with their name, and the whole thing is very special to me. These past several years I have put it up at Thanksgiving so I can enjoy it a few days then and again when I arrive home for Christmas. Just this year I was thinking I need to purchase a train to run around it...maybe next year. :)
Of course, there are my ornaments. Most of these are more than twenty years old, some more than thirty. And each became special in their own way. I love pulling them out of their boxes and hanging them up, remembering who gave them to me and the occasion. My Christmas ornaments are like a living picture book...
Every year, we put up a live tree. I can't imagine my family will ever put up a fake one. We hang our stockings....sometimes by a fire with care but that depends on the house we're living in. The one in Indiana does not have a fireplace, so they are placed on the staircase with care. Mom made each of our stockings (too large, she says, for they are hard to fill) and we all love the uniqueness of each of them. (I even have fabric in the attic for the stockings Mom will make my children.) When I was in elementary school, Mom had someone make ceramic stocking holders we used for years and years. Some are still around, but in the last few years she has purchased each of us our own, as unique as our stockings.
There is greenery, but Katey (the one who loves to decorate) started that about ten or less years ago, and while I think it is lovely and enjoy having it out have never put it out myself. And then Mom decorates her pineapple plant...another in-the-last-decade tradition...and a story I won't detail here. But I do look for it when I go home. :)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Traditions: Food
I'm thinking by what I hear from others that the traditions we have surrounding food is...hmm, over the top? Maybe not, but we certainly have quite a few.
One is our cookies. We start with gingerbread, which we always make the day after Thanksgiving. It's a big deal - takes hours between mixing the dough, rolling it out and cutting them with cookie cutters, and then elaborate decor with sprinkles and icing. We have everything from traditional Christmas trees to "Walmart wreaths" (which are blue with yellow smiley faces).
After that, it's a first-come-first-bake as far as who makes the other cookies. In New Hampshire, our pastor's kids would come over to help us dip pretzels in almond bark (and make a mess). Now it's not quite so much fun. There are Surprise cookies, Sandies, Spritz (my favorite!), coconut ball, peanut butter balls and fudge. Enough cookies to feed an army...
Then is our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. This comes from dad's side of the family, but we're not quite so German, thanks to Mom's Scottish side, so we leave out the pickled herring and raw meats of every kind. But we do have cold cuts of bologna, salami, ham, turkey and roast beef. Cheeses if all sorts: cheddar, pepperjack, horseradish cheddar, provolone and swiss. A relish tray, assorted crackers, cheese balls, sausage balls, little wieners, a couple of breads/rolls and deviled eggs. As you can imagine, for all it's simplicity, this is our most expensive meal of the year.
Then comes Christmas dinner. Some years we have turkey and some years we have ham. (I think mom would have Country Ham if she could get it - just have a jug of water handy.) Depending on what meat is served, the side dishes follow suit. So we could have stuffing and sweat potatoes, or we could could have a potato casserole and rolls. We almost always have cranberry sauce and green bean casserole.
Jesus's birthday cake is always dessert. When we were kids, this was a simple cake (vanilla or chocolate), iced and saying "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" Now it is quite elaborate, depending on who makes it (which tends to be either Sally or Abby). Last year was gingerbread/chocolate which was three layers with spiced icing - straight from Southern Living. Not sure what it will be this year. However, there is one tradition we always follow: each of us gets a candle on their slice to blow out after we sing "Happy Birthday". And don't ask me how this tradition got started, but we try to light all the candles with one match: passing it from person to person all the way around the table.
Of course there is also eggnog to be found in the refrigerator. And Dad is always cracking nuts. There are candy canes...and there tends to be assorted cookies and baked goods (especially the latter now that all 5 siblings that live in IN work in a bakery) all over the kitchen cabinets. So, there's a lot of nibbling throughout the season...and a lot of running afterwards.
One is our cookies. We start with gingerbread, which we always make the day after Thanksgiving. It's a big deal - takes hours between mixing the dough, rolling it out and cutting them with cookie cutters, and then elaborate decor with sprinkles and icing. We have everything from traditional Christmas trees to "Walmart wreaths" (which are blue with yellow smiley faces).
After that, it's a first-come-first-bake as far as who makes the other cookies. In New Hampshire, our pastor's kids would come over to help us dip pretzels in almond bark (and make a mess). Now it's not quite so much fun. There are Surprise cookies, Sandies, Spritz (my favorite!), coconut ball, peanut butter balls and fudge. Enough cookies to feed an army...
Then is our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. This comes from dad's side of the family, but we're not quite so German, thanks to Mom's Scottish side, so we leave out the pickled herring and raw meats of every kind. But we do have cold cuts of bologna, salami, ham, turkey and roast beef. Cheeses if all sorts: cheddar, pepperjack, horseradish cheddar, provolone and swiss. A relish tray, assorted crackers, cheese balls, sausage balls, little wieners, a couple of breads/rolls and deviled eggs. As you can imagine, for all it's simplicity, this is our most expensive meal of the year.
Then comes Christmas dinner. Some years we have turkey and some years we have ham. (I think mom would have Country Ham if she could get it - just have a jug of water handy.) Depending on what meat is served, the side dishes follow suit. So we could have stuffing and sweat potatoes, or we could could have a potato casserole and rolls. We almost always have cranberry sauce and green bean casserole.
Jesus's birthday cake is always dessert. When we were kids, this was a simple cake (vanilla or chocolate), iced and saying "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" Now it is quite elaborate, depending on who makes it (which tends to be either Sally or Abby). Last year was gingerbread/chocolate which was three layers with spiced icing - straight from Southern Living. Not sure what it will be this year. However, there is one tradition we always follow: each of us gets a candle on their slice to blow out after we sing "Happy Birthday". And don't ask me how this tradition got started, but we try to light all the candles with one match: passing it from person to person all the way around the table.
Of course there is also eggnog to be found in the refrigerator. And Dad is always cracking nuts. There are candy canes...and there tends to be assorted cookies and baked goods (especially the latter now that all 5 siblings that live in IN work in a bakery) all over the kitchen cabinets. So, there's a lot of nibbling throughout the season...and a lot of running afterwards.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Traditions: The Quirky
I'm sure if your family has Christmas traditions, some of them you probably don't know how they really came about...or why they stuck. So it is in our family.
For instance, we put up our Christmas tree the second Saturday of December: the day Navy plays Army. Go Navy! Beat Army! Which they have for the past eleven years...so I'm guessing that's now a tradition, too. :)
Grace goes around and says to Abby almost every time she sees her, "It's almost Christmas, Charlie!" Not sure when Grace started this one, but it can be explained. "Charlie" is Abby's nickname. The line comes from The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever which we watch every Christmas Eve...I think still on VHS!
The whole point of making a Christmas list is not really to suggest to your many siblings and parents what you really want. It's more of a "if you have a million dollars to spend on me, I would like a _______". Some of us are much more creative than others. Caleb's list is just plain creative: this year he wanted a sister who would fill the soap dispenser (and probably one that would replace the toilet paper).
Although if you asked Abby, this is our last Christmas with "children" in the house. (Next year Caleb will be 18...but, of course, age does not qualify adulthood as I'm sure you know.) So what makes very little sense is that Grace (who will turn 23 two weeks after Christmas) still bounces around the house in abject excitement from Thanksgiving until Christmas and then until her birthday. Or why we still get up at six in the morning to open gifts!
And lastly, this tradition has now fallen to the wayside: we would all take one day to do all our Christmas shopping together. That does still occur for those at home, but...Daniel is no longer there to buy some random form of deodorant at Wal-mart or get dragged into Bath and Body because all we girls need a couple of extra arms to try out all the scents. (The latter he's probably quite grateful for.)
For instance, we put up our Christmas tree the second Saturday of December: the day Navy plays Army. Go Navy! Beat Army! Which they have for the past eleven years...so I'm guessing that's now a tradition, too. :)
Grace goes around and says to Abby almost every time she sees her, "It's almost Christmas, Charlie!" Not sure when Grace started this one, but it can be explained. "Charlie" is Abby's nickname. The line comes from The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever which we watch every Christmas Eve...I think still on VHS!
The whole point of making a Christmas list is not really to suggest to your many siblings and parents what you really want. It's more of a "if you have a million dollars to spend on me, I would like a _______". Some of us are much more creative than others. Caleb's list is just plain creative: this year he wanted a sister who would fill the soap dispenser (and probably one that would replace the toilet paper).
Although if you asked Abby, this is our last Christmas with "children" in the house. (Next year Caleb will be 18...but, of course, age does not qualify adulthood as I'm sure you know.) So what makes very little sense is that Grace (who will turn 23 two weeks after Christmas) still bounces around the house in abject excitement from Thanksgiving until Christmas and then until her birthday. Or why we still get up at six in the morning to open gifts!
And lastly, this tradition has now fallen to the wayside: we would all take one day to do all our Christmas shopping together. That does still occur for those at home, but...Daniel is no longer there to buy some random form of deodorant at Wal-mart or get dragged into Bath and Body because all we girls need a couple of extra arms to try out all the scents. (The latter he's probably quite grateful for.)
Friday, December 7, 2012
Traditions: The History
Last night I attended a Christmas party with Haley at her church. Before the main speaker got up, a few women shared the Christmas traditions their families enjoy. It got me to thinking about what I would say if I got up in front of 200 women to share my traditions (after I got over the shaking...which I probably wouldn't). Instead, I'll share them on my blog (and won't shake).
First of all, I think it would be appropriate to share a little bit of history. It's safe enough to say that traditions come from my dad's Catholic/German/Polish side of my family - not the Scot Presbyterians on my mom's side. In Dad's family Christmas means tradition. From the earliest age, if we spent Christmas with that side of the family, I remember the wafer Grandma brought out. She and Grandpa would break it in half, then share those halfs with my dad and his sisters, who would then share those parts with my mom and any uncles who had married into the family. When I got a bit older, I was included, then my siblings and cousins. I think the object was to represent sharing and unity, but all I remember as a kid was the wafers didn't taste like anything and after sharing pieces with everyone in the room all you got was a wad of sweaty wafer in your hand. I have to say that I think I missed the point.
I would almost say it was a tradition to open our presents at Grandma's house a different way every year. From everyone at once, to taking turns, to the adults first and kids after...I can't remember them all. But Grandma never seemed to find a way she liked it.
Grandma's decorations, the tier of cookies (I loved that tradition as a kid - I never had to ask for a cookie, just take one!), Grandma and Grandpa sending us a box full of tupperware containing cookies and nuts, Christmas Eve dinner (yuck on the pickled herring), a gingerbread house...everything they did was traditional. It had to be. My grandmother would die before giving up her traditions.
And what of my mom's side of the family? Umm...even my mom will say that aside from the oyster casserole (which she hates, so that didn't come into our family), they didn't really have any. Being Scot Presbyterian, I imagine my long distant ancestors didn't even celebrate Christmas. Too pagan.
I think the history of my family goes far in explaining a series I'll write during the next few weeks on my family's traditions at Christmas. And why, if God ever gives me a family, I'll have traditions. I guess they're a part of who I am.
First of all, I think it would be appropriate to share a little bit of history. It's safe enough to say that traditions come from my dad's Catholic/German/Polish side of my family - not the Scot Presbyterians on my mom's side. In Dad's family Christmas means tradition. From the earliest age, if we spent Christmas with that side of the family, I remember the wafer Grandma brought out. She and Grandpa would break it in half, then share those halfs with my dad and his sisters, who would then share those parts with my mom and any uncles who had married into the family. When I got a bit older, I was included, then my siblings and cousins. I think the object was to represent sharing and unity, but all I remember as a kid was the wafers didn't taste like anything and after sharing pieces with everyone in the room all you got was a wad of sweaty wafer in your hand. I have to say that I think I missed the point.
I would almost say it was a tradition to open our presents at Grandma's house a different way every year. From everyone at once, to taking turns, to the adults first and kids after...I can't remember them all. But Grandma never seemed to find a way she liked it.
Grandma's decorations, the tier of cookies (I loved that tradition as a kid - I never had to ask for a cookie, just take one!), Grandma and Grandpa sending us a box full of tupperware containing cookies and nuts, Christmas Eve dinner (yuck on the pickled herring), a gingerbread house...everything they did was traditional. It had to be. My grandmother would die before giving up her traditions.
And what of my mom's side of the family? Umm...even my mom will say that aside from the oyster casserole (which she hates, so that didn't come into our family), they didn't really have any. Being Scot Presbyterian, I imagine my long distant ancestors didn't even celebrate Christmas. Too pagan.
I think the history of my family goes far in explaining a series I'll write during the next few weeks on my family's traditions at Christmas. And why, if God ever gives me a family, I'll have traditions. I guess they're a part of who I am.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Merry Christmas to Me
I remember when I was a teenager one of my sisters, who was about three at time, discovered Christmas shopping and giving. Being generous by nature, she bought everyone little gifts...including herself. And she wrapped everyone's little gifts...including her own. And on Christmas morning, we all opened our gifts from her...as did she. :)
I guess I am a bit guilty of buying one or two gifts for myself over the last 33 Christmases of my life. Usually it was a new CD of Christmas music. But with Pandora and the huge CD library one of my sister's has, I don't even do that anymore. But this year I went all out. I bought myself a rather expensive gift...even though it is quite small.
The story begins with I love carousels. In 2004, Hallmark produced a carousel and one of the animals for it: a lion. Over the next several years, they would produce one animal to add to it. In 2004 they produced so many lions they were selling them off half price after Christmas. So, my sister Katey (who bought me the carousel) fell back to her Scottish roots and decided she would wait till after Christmas to purchase 2005's animal, a giraffe. However, Hallmark decided (because they're a corporation and it's sound business) not to produce as many giraffes. Which meant they were all sold out by Christmas and could not be begged, borrowed or stolen afterwards. Within a few years the only place to find them was eBay...for anywhere between $125 to $200. Way too much this Scots-blooded person wanted to chunk out.
But I decided this Christmas as I was putting my carousel up (minus the giraffe) that I wanted to see if I could complete it. So I started watching eBay and bidding on the one's that were less than $100. On Monday I became quite the eBay guru. The bid wasn't going to end until 10 minutes after I left work...so I followed it on my phone. And won!
So this year my carousel will be complete...and my Christmas money spent in advanced.
I guess I am a bit guilty of buying one or two gifts for myself over the last 33 Christmases of my life. Usually it was a new CD of Christmas music. But with Pandora and the huge CD library one of my sister's has, I don't even do that anymore. But this year I went all out. I bought myself a rather expensive gift...even though it is quite small.
The story begins with I love carousels. In 2004, Hallmark produced a carousel and one of the animals for it: a lion. Over the next several years, they would produce one animal to add to it. In 2004 they produced so many lions they were selling them off half price after Christmas. So, my sister Katey (who bought me the carousel) fell back to her Scottish roots and decided she would wait till after Christmas to purchase 2005's animal, a giraffe. However, Hallmark decided (because they're a corporation and it's sound business) not to produce as many giraffes. Which meant they were all sold out by Christmas and could not be begged, borrowed or stolen afterwards. Within a few years the only place to find them was eBay...for anywhere between $125 to $200. Way too much this Scots-blooded person wanted to chunk out.
But I decided this Christmas as I was putting my carousel up (minus the giraffe) that I wanted to see if I could complete it. So I started watching eBay and bidding on the one's that were less than $100. On Monday I became quite the eBay guru. The bid wasn't going to end until 10 minutes after I left work...so I followed it on my phone. And won!
So this year my carousel will be complete...and my Christmas money spent in advanced.
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