12 Days: Wise Men

12 Days - I made it! Christmas Eve! Thank you for joining my blog journey this Holiday.

I have always been fascinated by the story of the 3 Kings. The three magi have been described not only as wise men, but also as kings, Persian priests, and astrologers. Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season, 12 days after Christmas. According to legend, the first magi was Melichior (or Melchior – 'king of light') the second was known as the King of Persia; Gathaspa (Gaspar or Caspar – 'the white one') the third; the King of India, and Bithisarea (or Balthazar or Baltasar – 'lord of the treasures') the King of Arabia. These Wise Men started the gift-giving custom of Christmas by bringing gold (significance - a king), frankincense (significance - a holy person), and myrrh (significance - death/burial oils) to the Christ child on Epiphany, the day on which the infant was presented. I read a story somewhere that told a tale of miraculous things happening to these kings once they returned to their homelands.

Often I will put on my Christmas letter "Wise Men Still Seek Him" because I think that saying is so clever - it isn't really referring to the kings, but to us -- as we search for happiness, it will be a lifelong journey to heaven.  I am a Christian that follows the Roman Catholic Tradition. I am aware of the other traditions related to the Winter Seasons - Solstice,  Hanukkah, Eid, and those that do not celebrate any holiday. I was surprised when my Muslim friend's daughter showed me the Christmas tree she drew - even though her family had none. In the drawing, her Dad was on a ladder hanging a star! I wanted to share with you today how much I love experiencing all of the kindness, excitement and joy that comes at this time of year. Whether that love and happiness comes from shopping, chocolates, advent, cookies,  angels, caroling, charity, business, snow, toys or ornaments...it is wise to continue searching and finding that special love that can fill our hearts at this time of year. May you capture that love, joy and peace and may it burn brightly within you all year long! I wish for you Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year, and no matter what form it comes to you, more than anything... I wish you love!

12 Days:Ornaments

On our tree there are years of special ornaments...this year Greg and I went to an 'ornament-exchange' party. I got a glass acorn! Cool! My frog with the strap-on candy nose and deer antlers broke this year! Mah! We have lots of ducks, nutcrackers, and baby's firsts...I also have gotten Veronica some special ornaments of whatever cartoon she was into that year, sponge bob, power puffs...this year she found our Christmas shopping list and started whinning when she saw the word 'ornament' next to her name! Ha Ha Ha (she's gonna love it!) You can see behind this deer is a bell from Teresa's wedding :-).
Our tree is rather aclecctic, but I love it! I found this poem online...enjoy!

Don't Put Those Ornaments Away!
by Patricia M Eichler

My putting away the Christmas ornaments inspired this poem.

!!!

Joy is

Innocence.

Free of judgments,

Relying not on opinions,

Lacking constant attention,

Avoiding fear of the unknown,

Knowing that God is in control,

Not worrying about what we lack,

Getting along with what you have,

Finding a pathway to eternal life,

Knowing Godly love is practiced,

Realizing opinions aren't truths,

Free of making Judgments,

And a life free of guilt.

A Spiritual life

Is joy

!

12 Days: Toys

There is a saying that "Christmas is for children"...well, I certainly can see how they are able to enjoy the holiday in a care-free-innocent way! TOYS! I remember the toys I hoped for when I was a kid...we would get the JCPenney or SEARS Christmas Wish catalogs. We would go through them and circle things we liked. No internet lists, no giftcards, we got TOYS! One year I got a barbie doll and within minutes my sister had broken her leg off! OH NO! Also I remember hoping for bouncing balls and jacks, and simple things to play with! One of the best toys ever I remember was the 'Mouse Trap' game! We played that for hours! I just love the commercials that are playing right now where the kids open the present and it is a trip to Disneyland...and they are leaving right then - how cool would that be? The nice thing about getting toys for elementary school kids is that they are on vacation and can play them for hours and hours. It would be so cool to go out into the street and compare toys, share toys or play together with all the neighborhood kids!
Every year Greg tried to buy at least one TOY for all of us, yes, even the adults! I got a bubble blowing kit last year, I can't wait to see what happens this year!

12 Days: Snow

Snow is such a perfect Christmas decoration! If you think about it religiously, you can identify rich symbolizm. White, it is pure. It covers, and once melts, washes the world. If you have ever stood in a snowfall you know how peaceful it feels. The snow itself dampens the sounds of the world. It creates peace. In our society today, we are over-stimulated. There is constant noise in our lives; on the TV on the radio, on our ipods, on the street, and in our very own thoughts--endlessly buzzing. 
Standing in snow can be a spiritual experience. You are made aware of your breath (like in yoga) because you can see it in the air. You feel the coldness come into your lungs. You are aware of your hands and toes because you are either bundled up in gloves and uggs or your hands and feet are being nipped at with a chill. This is a photo of me as a girl in the snow in Norfolk VA. We are enjoying the snow, building snowmen...just playing. I have only had the opportunity to be 'in the snow' a few times in my life, but when I have, it has been magical!

12 Days: Busy

I appreciate being a part of the youth ministry at Good Shepherd, as well as the Classified Senate at my work, and I love my new running hobby, oh and facebook, working on websites.... Last Tuesday the youth coordinator told us a story about how Satan can make you 'busy' to keep you from giving attention to the loving relationships in your life...that hit me kinda hard. My family has been all about 'busy'. My Dad was a captain in the Navy and always had a long list of projects. We were all taught to be 'defined' by how much we accomplished each day. So when I heard his message, it really made me think and pray about how 'busy' I am.

The Holidays are a busy time of year. There's so much to do, so many people you want to thank and so many gifts you want to share with people that make a difference for you all year long.

I hope to slow down enough to give my son and daughter and husband the very best of my love...They are what I am living for!

12 Days: Charity

At this time of year, people find it easier to help each other out. They have a few extra minutes if they see someone they can help - or if they don't know, they open thier wallets to give thier treasure to the charities that are dedicated to helping others. Last Christmas my nephew was helped by a handful of complete strangers when he lost his wedding ring in the snow...people helped him for a couple of hours scratch in the snow and ice, they went to purchase a metal detector and batteries...and in the end, not only was the ring found, but Aaron was impressed with the charity of the people in his neighborhood.

I remember the first time I introduced 'charity' to my 7 year old son, Ben. At the time, I explained as we entered the store, that the man standing in uniform outside was collecting toys for kids that had none. I asked Ben to pick something out that he really liked -- that way we could be sure the other kids would like it! After we finished shopping, Ben had selected the action figure of 'Earthworm Jim' and we went to give it to the soldier. Ben started to cry! It was very hard for him to give up that toy. In the end, he finally did...I convinced Ben that Santa knows about how he might be able to get Earthworm Jim for him at Christmas...especially knowing he was being nice to other kids. I'll never forget that toy or that day!

Last year my friend Kurt challenged me to find someone to give some food and $10 away to at Christmas. It wasn't hard. I had a conversation with a homeless man at outside the yogurt shop. He was a bit scary, but I did it! Kurt had a handful of $10 bills and blankets he took around town on his own. I was inspired by his generousity! The act of kindness is more important than how much we give. I believe change starts with small acts of kindness - especially at the holidays!

12 Days: Caroling

Last year at Christmas, I was fortunate enough to go Caroling with a few Red Robe Choir alumni at the retirement home where my former choir director, Bob Boucher, was a resident. His eyes lit up when we came to sing. He even directed one of our carols. He passed away on March 25, 2010, but I am so glad to have had the opportunity to be in the group of musicians to last sing for him. We delighted him and all the other residents, if I don't say myself.

The teachers in our CVT department put on Santa hats and carol through the campus each year. One does have to be brave to do that these days knowing that you are affiliating with a Christian tradition...I believe singing carols is a beautiful display of joy and cheer, no matter the religion. (Hey, anyone see this week's episode of "Glee"?)
When I was in girl scouts we went to our local High School (Indian River) and stood on the football field in the shape of a tree. Each of us were given a rubber band and a piece of colored cellophane. We were instructed to bring our flashlights. When we all got in place and put the cellophane on our flashlights, they turned off the football field lights and we stood and sang carols as a living tree with about 100 different colored lights...It was very cool and didn't feel 'religious' at all to me.
Christmas *is* a holy celebration of love, to me. I challenge anyone that doesn't know what to do or think about the 'Holidays': take inventory of the good things going on in your life (not the bad), notice the good in others, (try not to find faults) enjoy the beauty of the winter-time. I had a friend say to me recently, Christmas is for children to get gifts. I replied, 'open your heart', find the time to give,  reconnect with your family and friends. Even if it was nothing more than that...just like singing carols, we can all use more permission to share joy in our world!

12 Days: Angels

The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary told the children of Medjugorie that more souls enter heaven on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.

Home for the holidays...I am thinking of all my family members that are not any longer here on Earth, but are now heavenly creatures enjoying peace and eternal joy in heaven.

Missing family at the holidays...My heart breaks for all our family and friends who are having holidays without a loved one for the first time or the 20th time. We miss our family when we gather in celebration.

I like to imagine that the angel on the top of my Christmas tree represents the angels that are my family...My family angels ARE with me and see and hear all the joys and sorrows I am feeling. They share the songs, the wonderful cooking smells, the smiles the hugs, and they see our lonely eyes gleam with tears imagining the empty place at the table.

When the day turns into night,
And you’re way beyond my sight, I think of you, I think of you.
When the night turns into day, And you still are far away, I think of you, I think of you.
Even when you are not here, We still can be so very near.
I want you to know, my dear,
I think of you.
~ Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way

12 Days: Cookies

I know I am behind on my posts by a couple days. December is, I think, the busiest month of the year for me. Not only are you getting ready to attend celebrations, but you are atttending celebrations!
Tonight I made Christmas cut-out cookies for a cookie exchange at work. I remember my mom making these sugar cookies. As I recall them, I remember each being a work of art! My sister Kathy, a real artist, has made great works of Christmas art, including Gingerbread houses and ice-sculptures that would really dazzle.
I remember my first attempt at Christmas cut out cookies...My mother-in-law was so polite when she ate them. I used too much baking soda and they were really bitter!! She was so nice, and didn't say anything...of course the real problem was the mess I left in the kitchen! Christmas cookies are hard to make!

I am proud to say, that I did not buy the pre-made 'sugar-log' but made it all from scratch and the icing too! AND the best part is, they taste good! Uh-mazing. I guess I won't be too ashamed to share them!

12 Days: Advent

Advent:

"Make straight in the desert--a highway..for our God..." When I attended SDSU, I was fortunate enough to learn many of the songs from Handel's "Messiah". This music moves me still today.

In hearing the gospel at Mass today, I envision John the Baptist shouting his message to a group of eager people in a hot, and dry and 'road-less' desert.

  

In my musical training, I learned that one must understand the music in order to sing it correctly. Understand the words, not only in the meaning, but in the heart.

When I hear the words 'make straight, a highway...', I kinda think of the movie "Cars" and the song "Life is a Highway", and when I put the two images of John the Baptist and Lightning McQueen together, I see myself standing at the end of the road out in the desert, and God is driving towards me in the car and I have 'fixed' the road (like in the movie) for Him to drive on. What's exciting to me is to think the God WANTS to RACE into my life. 

He needs a highway - you can't speed on the curves, therefore - I need to create that 'straight-away" for him. 

That is what 'Advent' is all about for me. I'm fixing my roads - getting them ready for someone that is eager to see me.

12 Days: Chocolates

I love chocolate and coffee. My daughter will often hear me singing about both. Put them together and we have one of my favorite holiday drinks = MOCHA!
When I worked at a Mexican Restaurant, it was Cinnamon Coffee! The chef would just put 2 tablespoons of cinnamon in with the grinds in the coffeemaker.
Smelling coffee on Chrsitmas morning always meant that it was almost time to be allowed outside our rooms. We had to be sure the coffee was ready! Whenever I smell coffee brewing it takes me back through so many happy memories...church meetings, coffee houses, late night breakfast diners....
They say that your sense of smell is the most 'memory-connected' sense of all. I can remember so many images when I smell chocolate or coffee. I have helped out with our Sees Chocolate fundraisers over the years, and you wouldn't think that chocolate is a strong scent, but it really is! My car would smell so good for days after I delievered the Christmas chocolates. So, this holiday, if you are enjoying a Starbucks tall mocha frappicino with triple shots floating on top (my favorite) or enjoying a Hershey's "Kiss" I hope it brings you a wave of warmth and happy memories!

12 Days: Shopping

I started a little tradition of my own last year. I made 12 blog entries, in 12 days, for the first 12 days of December. Although I haven't posted since September, I still enjoy writing. I guess my schedule got a bit hectic? Where did November go?

I experienced Black Friday for the first time this year. Veronica and I got up at 4am and went to Starbucks, then to Target, then to Plato's Closet.

We didn't have any big savings plans, but it was sorta fun to call my sister-in-law at 5am and ask gift questions. Yes, she was also up at 4am...(really, 3am I think) and was at another Target location! My niece had been in the Best Buy line since 2am shopping too! I guess it was the Black Friday year.

We all have shopped for that perfect gift. It is usually one you find in the summer and special order and tuck away - just aching for the Holiday to come and give it! How many of you have tucked that gift away so well that you forgot you had it? Ha! Finding a thoughtful gift is a big Holiday Challenge to me. I have to find the right balance between budget and treasure and personal and thoughtful. Happy Shopping everyone!

12 Days: Crafts

Hand-made gifts and crafts at Christmas are part of what makes this holiday so special. My mom made these 'santa face' cups when I was little for us. They are clear plastic cups with felt and google eyes glued on and a pull string for the 'cap'. We made a bunch this year for our confirmation group.
Another craft I enjoy making, I learned about in girl scouts. It is simple and easy and is not food or candy (which for diabetics and the like, is not a good gift) but it smells wonderful and will last about a week. It is a clove apple. You use red 'tule' and cover an apple with whole cloves. You stick a large paper clip into the top of the apple and tie the 'tule' around the paperclip with a green ribbon. I like to tell my friends that it is okay to 'toss' the whole thing after a week. It will make your car, or kitchen or closet smell wonderful!!
I don't always have time for hand-made items, but I love doing it when possible and I love getting ideas from friends and family when they make Christmas crafts too!

Life's Been Good to Me....Commentary

I remember my first computer - my brother sold us his old computer, with only 2MBs of memory, it would actually crack Windows 3.0! We had 80MB hard disk. He gave me one very sage piece of advice when I first started learning: "Pat, you can't break it, so you might as well just play around and see what you can do with it..." Since then, I have certainly learned the term 'machine is hosed' a few times and am so much wiser for the times I have 'broken' my computers...I tell you this on the way to remembering a few other firsts: My first real own computer: 1994, with a 486x processor and multimedia speakers. I remember AOL for DOS and the words "WWW coming soon". Ah yes...and in 1996, my first .mp3 download from Napster was "Life's Been Good to Me". I still have the CD entitled: "First Downloads" I was really amazed! I used to carry a CD player around with me on walks! (Yes, Of course they skipped and didn't play!)  I have recently enjoyed listening to that song again and thought about the lyrics...here is my commentary below.  For those of you that don't know the song - I have entered the lyrics in black below and my comments in 'italic purple' underneath the phrases.

Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh
I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
I guess having possessions don't really matter, especially if you don't use them - but I suppose just being able to afford a mansion would make me feel pretty successful.

I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
In most situations in our lives, there is someone looking out for us, in this case the person is paid, but I bet if you reflected a moment you could think of someone that would bail you out of jail or babysit or help you out of a mess if you needed it.

They say I'm crazy, but I have a good time
I think that we must find things to laugh at - life is not something that we can always understand always - it's good to know when 'not to try to figure it out' and just let be what is going to be. I have a saying "We don't have to figure that out today"...

I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far
It's very important to look for the miracles in your life - it helps us keep prospective. It is good to learn from your past, to help you have a better future.

My Mazarati does one-eighty-five
I lost my license, now I don't drive
Knowing how far one can go in life sometimes helps us understand what we are capable of becoming. Also no matter how fast you can go, sometimes it is worthless if you are not able to utilize the gifts presented to you in life. Be careful, what you have today, may not be here tomorrow. Having a plan B is always a good thing.
Also, it doesn't matter how rich you are, how many nice things you have, how fast your car goes...etc, if you can't use them. It's kinda like knowing you have talent and deciding not to use it - not to use the gifts God has given you...Sometimes, this is a difficulty for me.

I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
I make hit records, my fans, they can't wait
They write me letters, tell me I'm great
I think we all daydream about being loved. Our youth pastor says: "We are made from Love, to be Loved" and all our problems are about whether or not we are loved or are loving in one way or another.

So I got me an office, gold records on the wall
Just leave a message, maybe I'll call
Again, no matter how much we succeed, we might not be happy. I like to think that friends and family would be priority-one no matter what happens, like in this song. It is fun to imagine a big star really taking the time to call fans. I have another friend who says: "Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck that says - Make Me Feel Important..." We can. It isn't hard. It really just takes awareness. Sometimes 'it’s all not about us...Hahhaa!!!'

Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
Everybody say I'm cool, he's cool
I would like to believe that people think I am cool. One thing I try to learn is: we can only go forward - backward is not possible....What can I do for you NOW? is one of my favorite things to ask. It helps people to think about how to "shake it off and step up" when we think....5 minutes from now or 5 years from now, will this all matter?

I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far
I fail. I recognize that I am not perfect. I seek forgiveness and healing. I am not God, and I am not applying for the job - BUT I really, really try to THANK GOD for all the blessings in my life.

I go to parties, sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
Boy -- do we all have stories about life changing situations...it is when times were the toughest, that I grew the most. ‘Nuff said.

It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different, I haven't changed
It is great to realize 'Life's been Good' and appreciate the present moment. It is wonderful to think that when we are stripped of all of our gold, status and power, we are all made of the same basic fabric - I love to recognize that in all people. I remember admiring a community leader and wondering "How does she do it?" I thought to myself...well, I have no fewer brains in my head than did Einstein, nor do I have more minutes in my day than the president of the United States....the trick is, how am I using both as oppose to them?

They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
Everybody say oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Back to enjoying the present moment....I think a lot about stimulus overload. Our society today is constantly bombarded with noise, music, advertisements, video games, computer applications, cell phone apps, and more talking than ever. Sometimes it is really, really good to just be S-I-L-E-N-T and enjoy the peace of a quiet moment. To me, this is PRAYER. Calming all the noises in my head competing for my attention long enough to just look around and hear the birdies singing. Now that is PEACE! I have to remind myself it is NOT LAZY to just 'do nothing' sometimes. Our family has always measured themselves by how many tasks they completed in a day. This is tremendously hard to change. It is a blessing and a cross. I used to tell my friend Darlene - If we do it all today...what will we do tomorrow?

I keep on going, guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far, yeah, yeah, yeah
Life's been good to me- YES. I love this song. It makes me feel happy to hear it. It is upbeat and bouncy and it reminds me of a warm summer afternoon cooled with a chocolate ice cream cone! I know life hasn't been good to some people. I want them to know - it is not the end. There are still lots of chances to let 'Life Be Good' - find some time to 'Keep on Going', to love and be loved, to pray, and to enjoy the peace we are all be a part of - Namaste!

Summer's Ending

I read the following note in another blog I follow, and it so profoundly brought back some of my childhood memories that I had to write some down...
"In recent years, people around the country have been rallying behind a no-child-left-inside campaign, according to Richard Louv, the ground-breaking author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. In his book, he quotes James Sallis of the Active Living Research Program for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation who says that "an indoor, sedentary childhood is linked to mental health problems."

When I was young, I remember venturing out one day and I had no idea what the day would hold. I had with me: a styrofoam cooler, and cellophane wrap and some baloney. It so happened that while walking along a woodsy path in my neighborhood, my girlfriend and I happened upon a garder snake and we captured it. We put him into the cooler with leaves and wrapped the top with the cellphane and tried to feed him balony.

Afternoons like that were common. I would spend 12 hours a day out-of-doors. We would climb up (inside) the "spill-pipes" of the local resovoir to catch fish by hand, we wood build tree houses, or claim abandoned ones, in the "woods", and I remember flowers...fields of them! I remember my sisters collecting a bundle of daffodils one spring that was at least 200 stem count, and I thought it was so beautiful.

In my youth, I would be 'required' to go outside. I remember Mom saying..."better run along now and play...the summer's going to end before you know it!!"

Now I had to blush a little when the blog also read: "When I think about what so many children are missing today because they are stuck inside playing video games, or endlessly texting their friends, it makes me wonder who they will be tomorrow. Maybe they will be the computer gurus of the future. Or perhaps the next software developers. Or maybe the text messaging will spark an interest in writing a book."

My son is a "Video Game Designer" major at UCSC, and yes, he is left inside....hours and hours, playing and designing and thinking about games, how they work, how they are made, concept...the list goes on....He really is doing what he loves. That young man had plenty of out doors adventures, but it really isn't his bag. Is he missing out? I don't know. Maybe.

I remember once going on a walk with my Mom. I was grown with children of my own, and she was living in a retirement community, but as we walked along the beach, she pointed out a silver dollar, a starfish, a flower... and with each, a delighted look on her face. I so appreciated that the simple things in nature had brought her so much joy...I try to model that in my own world. I even notice when the birds are chirping in the tree down our suburban street. We have a hummingbird feeder outside of our front window - that is the ultimate joy for me...to see and hear the buzz of those tiny birdies.

This summer is "in the books", for me. The faculty come back to the college Monday and the Fall semester begins. We have had a busy summer - moving at work and working 10 hour days, but then I have filled my Fridays and weekends with the zoo, the theater, music, balboa park, and I have to say - I am one lucky woman.
Stay healthy and take a minute to enjoy being outside...I know my family, especially my sisters and Mom, truly love being outdoors...and in gardens, stargazing, hiking... and delighting in  all the wonder of the world.

Virgina, Carole King and me

Recently, I downloaded the album "Tapestry" by Carole King. One of the songs I needed to hear was "Beautiful". I have such great memories of listening to an 8-track tape player and that album. The year is 1973 and we don't have any fences between our yard and the neighbors. The smell of freshly mowed grass wafts up to my window. I live in a stately 2-story redbrick house on the corner of perfect suburbia.

What is even more cool about this memory is the fireflies. Yes, in summertime we would have these awesome glowing bugs that would glow off and on in the dusk - magical! There are recent recording artists that hit these memories for me - Owl City who has recently recorded a hit called "Fireflies" and also the artist Norah Jones who really reminds me of Carole King. Listen to "Come Away with Me" and then "Way Over Yonder" and tell me if they don't both emulate a beautiful sultry sound that really makes you melt!

In Virgina circa 1970's the mosquito truck would come around and spray our streets. It is kinda phenominal that I used to come out of our house to watch that truck spray it's fog of pesticide all over our neighborhood. Still...Carole King is still the ruler of some of my most very favorite childhood memories. Don't forget: "You've got to get up every morning...with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart...and people gonna treat ya better - your gonna find - yes you will - that  you're beautiful, you're beatiful....as you feel!

Mother - Daughter Follies

Well...the day has finally come!

...but not without a series of grand FOLLIES!

Yesterday when I came home from work, my daughter calls to me down the hallway "there's people here"!

She wanted to notify me that 2 of her friends from school had come over to visit. I asked her if Dad knew and she said Yes!

Come to find out one of the friends became her boyfriend yesterday. My daughter let me know by changing her 'single' status on facebook. Wow. Its a new world, Golda...a new world. Anyway, I know the kid and I like him, so that's not all bad. I was a bit annoyed because she had not begun to pack for her big trip to Ohio - at all. Not the best day for having friends over!

I was planning to attend a yoga class later and had come home to get her started, which now, I could not do. Arg. So the Dad comes home and he is the responsible 'driver' to get these kids back to thier houses. They plan to stop by Target and get some make up and I get out the suitcase and start checking her packing list. While she was gone, I saw that she was missing one earring she is required to wear during her performance. I texted her. She replies - I am sure it's there, I'll look when I get home.

I leave for yoga. Right at the end of class I get a call from my hysteric daughter that can't find her wallet!! (She needs the ID to get on a plane.) I told her I would come home and help her look and to just start packing. I asked about the earring and she says she can't find it and I should try to buy a new pair. So I stop at Kohl's (soaking wet from Bikram Yoga in a sweat shirt and bike short with flip flops - nice.) I find a pair of screw on earrings. They aren't exactly the same, but hey, they are sorta close. When I go to buy them, my debit card is declined. Great. Guess I am going to have to make another trip out later.
I get home and my daughter is fretfully looking in the car for her wallet. I go to find an OLD ID in the hopes it will work in case she doesn't find the wallet. We now believe the wallet got sent on ahead in the equipment truck with her uniform. Still can't find the other earring. I'm still rushing around the house soaking wet trying to pack the suitcase....needless to say we fight and yell and argue. We finally decide (it's 9:30 now) that we should go to the store before it closes. We go back to the store with cash (since my debit card doesn't work) and try to find the earring that I put on hold at the cash register...no luck. (What? I was just there no more than an hour earlier!!) My daughter picks out pierced earrings (there are no more 'screw on' type) and agrees to let me push them onto her ears through the previously closed piercings. Ok, earring problem fixed. Dad calls. He wanted to check up on us to make sure we haven't killed each other yet. Go home. Finish packing. Veronica's friend comes over to spend the night. (She's getting a ride from us.) I am photocopying homework out of a heavy text book so she doesn't have to pack the book. I photocopy a birth certificate, SS card, and latest report card along with her learner's permit. 12 midnight. I'm still in wet yoga clothes. I don't care - I go to sleep in them. I get up at 3:30 am. Shower. Get everyone into the car and stop at one more person's house before heading to the airport. Great! We're on time. 4:55am. I circle the airport until 5:30. My daughter is still extremely anxious about not being able to get on the plane without a current ID. Stress.
Stress.
What a disaster it would be for her not to go - the whole team (a.k.a world) would hate her for life!
I'm texting.
Texting.
FINALLY AT 6:30 I get the text "I'm through!" (meaning through security.)
Yay!
Breathe.
I just checked. The flight has departed. (All the hours at Qualcomm are suddenly worth every minute...)
I know this team has talent galore - I hope they rock the world in Dayton and kill thier show!
Dream Big! No matter how things go for the competition, the team deserves great applause for all the sacrifices they have made and the hours of work they have put in over the last 12 months!

May the angels never leave your side my beautiful daughter.

The Phoenix – The Resurrection

March has been tough.

The month of March 2010 is almost over, and I know I will be celebrating Easter with a full heart on Sunday April 4th. Now, I know I can’t blame the month of March for the experiences I have had, but in the last 24 hours, I learned my high school choir teacher passed away, was in a meeting in which a board member resigned their position, and felt like everyone was angry with everyone else, was told by an instructor that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and minutes later was in a huge fight with a good friend. Later, got home, and received and e-mail that a family member had passed away. I am just feeling rather numb after the hours and hours I have been spending on a event that I am helping to coordinate for Monday.

In the middle of the month, I was helping with another big community event at the High School – the weekend of 3/13, I was at school from 6:30a-11:30p (and there the night before) then the very next weekend, was in Rancho Cuchamunga that weekend and was gone from 10a until 11pm after attending 2 different competitions with my daughter.

Was I gracious and grateful the whole month? Not even close. It is the season of "Lent" in the Catholic Church. For me, it has been the season of "Spent". I am exhausted. I think I failed the test of 40 days in the desert. This month I found myself apologizing too many times for losing my cool. One Sunday, I got into a fight with my daughter in the church!

There are angels and devils all around us. Halos and Horns. Why are we not able to be more patient and understanding? Why can’t we see into the hearts of men like God can? Why is it such a struggle?

Through all of this, there is love. I do feel it in my heart.
It is what gives the strength to ask for forgiveness, again.
Love. It is what gives me hope.
Love. It is what helps me to find the positive in very difficult situations.
Relationships will be strengthened, families will come together, tears will dry, anger will dissipate. The Phoenix rises from the ashes. The Lord will rise from the dead and we all will know, not of pain and heartache, but only of joy and love…one day.

Happy Birthday Diane

My sisters B-day is coming  up....I know she'd rather skip it. You see, she has always been that kinda "it's just another day" kinda gal, humble and unobtrusive. I wanted to write about some of the most wonderful 'days' in my memories about her, because the days she has given me have never been 'just another day'....

I wanted to learn Spanish because I was tired of listening to all my co-workers talking and wonder what they were saying. I called my sister and told her I needed to take a class at the college, but I was home with kids and couldn't register and the deadline was coming up fast. She told me, "don't worry...I'll take care of your registration." I have my Spanish Associate Degree today because my sister took the first step for me. Not 'just another day'. There was another time I remember...I had applied for a job that required a typing certificate. I was a horrible typ-er. My sis kept telling me - "you can do this - if I can get through chemo, you can do this!" Of course getting the certificate was a little shaky, and she went with me to pick it up and guess what, I got the job because she helped me do it!...not 'just another day'.

The photo is so perfect of my sister, smack in the middle of the runners for the 'Race for the Cure', my daughter will tell you just how loud of a cheerleader she is...she would shout: 'Come ON ! Let's move it!' You would think that the cancer patient would be the one NEEDING the cheerleading, but nooo, not my sister, she was the best cheerleader and coach for US! She even took my daughter on a Dr. Suess 'fun-run' one time, just the two of them, because I had to work. The day was saved by her...not, 'just another day'!

Diane has been through a bit of challenges, maybe that is why she is low-key. I am sure nothing in life would ever surprize her, or catch her 'off guard' because she has seen it ALL! I shared my room with Di when we were growing up. I was always glad for that because she was the oldest and had a job, we always had the nicest stuff in our room! Diane took me to a carnival for my 7th Birthday. I remember her trying all the midway games to win a toy for me. It was that same night our Pontiac got T-boned by a drunk driver...not 'just another day'. I remember her borrowing a friends car so she could get her hair done and the accelerator got stuck on the freeway - I saw evasive driving at its very best! Diane has always taken care of all of us, she has been the house-keeper, the cook, the keeper of secrets, the trail-blazer and definitely the SURVIVOR. I remember a moment at work, shortly after Randy died, she just broke down and balled. I felt so helpless. It was not 'just another day' I don't know how she survived, but she has. I'll never forget riding in the ambulance with her (I've never before done that) how she taught me everything about the lab and how she would 'just know' how to fix things, nor will I forget all the wonderful meals she made for us. My favorites are her LASAGNE, TACOS (two-fork method please) and of course, the now famous CHICKEN DIANE.

My dear sister, thanks for letting me be the little sister that you look out for still! Thanks for the honor of watching you not only survive, but WIN many many races, marathons, and other events (most recently all the Daliah prizes!). Thanks for helping me get this job. I can never repay you. Remember the day late in April when I came to work and I just started balling and cried "I don't want you to LEAVE!!?" I miss you so much...but I feel as close to you as ever. I wish you a wonderful birthday and if it's 'just another day'...well then, look out world, because you never know how wonderful and bright the day will be! All my love, big hugs and warmth to you on your birthday! Thank you for all the inspirational things that you continue to do everyday for our family!

12 Days of Christmas

If you add all the gifts of the carol "The 12 Days of Christmas" together, you end up with 364 gifts! I find that completely ironic...or is it? Is not every single day of the year, a gift to us? Add Christmas day to the total and you won't go without one day during the year without a gift of love.

I am looking forward to hearing all the other Christmas stories still to come this year! Alfred Shaddick Burt  wrote Christmas Carols instead of  Christmas cards - Check out his story! He gave those 'songs' to his family each year. Like his songs, these 12 blogs are happy reflections of Christmas for my family. I love and appreciate living in San Diego all year long and especially at Christmastime. Please have a magical 2009 Holiday Season and enjoy of my most favorite poems:

Christmas in Beautiful San Diego County
as read By 'Captain' Mike Ambrose (RIP 9/2008) KGTV each Christmas Eve

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through our town,
No noses were frozen, no snow fluttered down.
No children in flannels were tucked into bed,
They all wore their shorty pajamas instead.
To find wreaths of holly was not very hard,
For holly trees sprouted right in the back yard
In front of the houses were daddys and moms,
Admiring the bushes and beautiful palms.
The slumbering kiddies were dreaming in glee,
And hoped they’d find water skis under the tree.
They all knew that Santa was well on his way
In a Mercedes-Benz: instead of a sleigh.

And soon he arrived and started to work;
He hadn’t a second to linger or shirk.
He whizzed o’er the highways and zoomed up the road
In a shiny new sports car delivering his load.
The tropical moon gave the city a glow
And lighted the way for Santa below.

As he jumped in the auto he gave a wee chuckle;
He was dressed in Bermudas with an Ivy League buckle.
There weren’t many chimneys - but that caused no gloom,
For Santa came in through the patio room.
He stopped at each house, staying only a minute,
And lightened his sack of the gifts that were in it.

Before he parted he treated himself
To a glass of orange juice left on the shelf
Then he turned with a jerk and bounced back to the car,
Remembering he still had to go very far.
He stepped on the gas and put it in gear
And drove throughout town singing with cheer.

And I heard him exclaim as he went on his way.
“Merry Christmas San Diego County, I wish I could Stay!”

Fruitcake!

When I was in High School we sang a Christmas song called FRUITCAKE! Yes, we were dressed in the outfits above and 'acted out' parts of the song. My part was 'Cinnamon'. There were the flour guys (Basses) and then the nuts and so on...It was so much fun! Speaking of Fruitcake - I am so lucky because I have a hand-written recipe for Mary Farmer's Fruitcake. I was cooking recently, and noticed that I have used the same recipe cards over and over for so many years. I got most of them at my wedding shower. When I cook the recipe, I look at that handwriting- my grandmother's, my mom's, my sisters...and really enjoy the 'home made' component of a hand-written recipe. Anyway, in this day and age everything is on the computer - and a good thing too! I lose stuff. Once it is here, hopefully, I'll never lose it again....


Fruitcake:
1 lb of light raisins
1/2 lb pitted dates
1/2 lb walnut meats
1 lb unsalted pecans (on my paper it says unshelled? Hahahah)
1 tub of cherries and pineapple (candied and glazed)
1/4 c molasses
1/4 cup sherry wine
1 cup shortening, (Mom's note: use margarine)
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups flour
1/4 t soda
1/4 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
Mix fruits, nuts, wine and molasses. Cream butter (shortening/margarine) add sugar, beat in eggs, one at a time. (Mom's note: dice up the dates with a bit of flour to keep from sticking together.)
Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add fruit mixture and sift the dry ingredients in. (Mom's note: Mix the whole thing with your hands--it's too hard to use a spoon!) Transfer into 2 meatloaf pans. Bake at 275 degrees for 2 and 1/2 hours with a pan of water on the bottom rack in the oven. Prop open oven door when baking is completed with a wooden spoon and let cool. Once completely cooled, sprinkle with a bit more sherry and wrap in foil. Repeat sherry sprinkle 3 more times once a week. Mom's note: Save some red and green candied cherries to decorate the top of the loaf with!

Maranatha

I remember a story when I was young. I have searched for it through the years. It was about 2 poor children - brother and sister. Barely able to feed themselves, and even more rare, to have a morsel for a journey of several miles, still, the children were loving and humble. Their momma gave them a small loaf of bread to eat on their way to Midnight Mass. They were eager to go because their church had a great legend: The bells had stopped ringing years before and it was said that one Christmas they would ring again when a great gift was made at the nativity in honor of the child Jesus. The children knew a very wealthy king had come to town to attend the services there and they were anxious to see all of the majesty of his troupe. Dressed in rags and only sandals they made their way through the snow to the small village church. Once the procession began, the tradition of laying gifts at the manger would begin. Merchants would lay their finest wares on the straw, fine linens from the tailors, fine leather shoes from the cobbler and mighty weapons from the blacksmith. Each time a gift was presented everyone would pause and tip their head to listen to see if their gift might be the one. Finally at the end of the entrance procession was the royal king. As he approached his velvet robes rustled the floor. Even the organist and choir had gone silent. Surely his gift would be magnificent enough to break the silence of the bells. At the end of the aisle, the king knelt and bowed his head in prayer. After a long moment, he took from his head his very own crown. It was beautifully crafted; encrusted with dazzling gems and designed with an intricate crest of lions. The crown! It was ancient and priceless - Surely it would bring the music back to the chapel. The whole congregation held their breath and waited.

Silence came and nothing more.

Finally the pastor urged the king to take his place in the church and allow the service to proceed. It was a rather ordinary Christmas Mass with all the usual prayers, greetings and wishes. As it concluded everyone in the town was headed out the heavy wooden doors on their way back home when someone shouted - STOP! LISTEN! All the chatter died down and all the red nosed and rosy cheek towns people began to hear a beautiful sound...ding - ding--ding---Ding-Dong-Ding-DONG- DIN,DIN,DON,DON,DON and before long the whole valley was filled with a clamor and sweet chiming sound of those bells high up in the tower. Everyone was memorized for a few seconds listening when the pastor said "What sort of gift could have brought the bells to ring?" He could barely get inside of the warm church for all of the others pushing behind him including the king and all his servants. As they approached the nativity, their eyes wandered over all of the gifts, the shoes, the swords, linens, crown....but no one understood. Just then, the pastor saw and picked up a small loaf of bread and said, "Could this small gift of food, be the greatest of all the sacrifices made tonight?"
---

Well, that's sorta how I remember it! I hope you liked the story. I have many wonderful Christmas books filled with stories like this one. One of my favorite is "The Gift of the Magi" by O Henry

There are great legends associated with the 3 Wise Men, and with many others, like Good King Wenceslas and The Nutcracker. (I have collected nutcrakers each Christmas since 2004.)

This weekend is the first Sunday of Advent. Our church has entered into the season of waiting - filled with wonderful traditions. Simbang Gabi is a big one in our community as well as Posada Navidenas. I will be experiencing my first 'posada' this year in Mexico.

Maranatha is made of two Aramaic/Syrian words, maran'atah, meaning, "our Lord comes," or (treating the -a(h) ending as if for speed) "Lord, come quickly". ... December is almost here, and my 12 blog entries are almost finished - I hope you have enjoyed them!

Traditions

In this photo, G'ma Linda is talking to Ben on Christmas Eve about the nativity. She likes to place it under the tree. We have lots of special family traditions. For many years, each Christmas Eve, we always read T'was the Night Before Christmas as the last thing before bed for the kids. Mostly G'pa read, but sometimes Greg would read it, and always, we enjoyed the 'settling down for the night' part of that tradition. Another tradition I learned about was Christmas Stockings with the Murray family. WOW! Christmas socks where always filled with really great things from perfume to jewelry and candy and could be opened before everyone else awoke! Trying to remember Christ in Christmas, each year, I hang a 'Happy Birthday' banner on my tree on Christmas morning....it makes people who see it stop and ask..."whose Birthday is it?" and I get to tell them about the tradition. One of our family's best traditions...Breakfast Casserole! I grew up with that one and now it's second generation strong. YUM! You make it the night before and pop it in the oven on Christmas morning and by the time it is ready, the whole house has a wonderful aroma! Here's the recipe  - courtesy of my MOM:

1 pound of link sausage, cooked and cut in 3rds, 6 slices of white bread, cubed. 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese, 4 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 t dry mustard and 2 cups milk.  Layer, sausage, bread and cheese (end with a layer of cheese on top) in deep casserole. Mix wet ingredients and pour over top of the dry layers. Let stand overnight. Bake at 325 for 45 minutes.

Christmas Candy

About 2 years ago, I learned about the history of the Candy Cane. Did you know it was supposed to represent the shepherd's hook? When I was young, I remember my mom made the cooolest candy wreath! It was a plastic frame and it held 4 rows of christmas taffy. I think we ate the candy after the fourth year we had decorated with it. I wonder where that candy wreath 'frame' went? My mom used to put out the weirdest candy. I loved the peanut shaped hard candy with the peanut butter inside. Also in the dish were those layered licorice candy squares! Yum. It's so tough to watch calories at Christmas...eggnog is the best! My mother-in-law gave me the best recipe for the EASIEST Christmas bars. She calls them "Hello Dollies" Here it is:
In the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass dish melt 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick) and once melted, shaked over it 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs combined with 1/2 cup sugar and press it to the bottom of the dish. Then in layers, 1 bag of chocolate chips, and 1 bag of butterscotch chips and 1 bag of coconut flakes. Pour 1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk over the whole thing and bake for 20-30 min on 325 degrees. Let rest and cut into 1 inch squares. I swear it is the easiest, richest, bar you will ever make! Try it!

Politically Incorrect

I had a friend that celebrates 'Hannimas'. It was a made up holiday just for thier family. They didn't believe in Christmas but they loved the gifts and gatherings, so they decided to marry Hannukah with Christmas and celebrate the 12 days between Hannukah and Christmas by giving Hannimas presents to each other. Now, I liked the idea and I didn't. One 'Hannimas' I said (we were at my house) "We are celebrating Jesus' Birthday"!. I didn't know about thier Hannimas and I had just heard about the whole Birthday thing and I thought that was a fun way to look at our gatherings as more of a Birthday Party than a Holiday Party.

Well, I guess I offended them. She told me later. Hmmm. That reminds me of the time I was working in a restaurant and it was December something and I said to my clients, "So, how is your Christmas going?" They looked up at me and said, "We don't celebrate Christmas". Wow. I was stupid to think everyone was Christian and was in the same world that I was in. I was also so inexperienced and young to ask them, do you celebrate Hannukah or Kwannza...? Live and Learn. This year, Hannukah begins on December 12 and ends on December 19th (according to Dr. Barry Winn.) Each year at my work, we gather at 'the holidays' to share time and fun with each other, but NEVER, EVER do we call it a Christmas Party. It is always a 'Holiday Party'. We can't be politically incorrect or insensitive or anything! There is one girlfriend that I have that always lays it on the table by announcing she is Christian and Christmas is for Christ at work. While I respect her bravery and want to be more like her, I think this season when I declare my celebration purposes, I will also ask my colleagues to tell me what is in thier hearts and allow them to feel and share with me in the same excitement I always feel. I am not discounting my religion, but want to welcome all to see there's more to this whole 'Holiday Season' than just presents or religion....

(The image above was taken in Washington DC, and can be found at http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/enlarge/washington-menorah_pod_image.html )

Happy Birthday Brother

It's my brother's Birthday tomorrow! I want to tell him Happy Birthday and I love you.

Steve has always been like Albert Einstein to me. He is smart! I know that he loves knowledge and loves family. I have so much respect for him. Here are some fun memories I have of Steve:

1. I once found a journal of Steve's in his room that read:"Yum! Yum! Chocolate Milk, I love Chocolate Milk!" (I wonder if he still loves chocolate milk so much?) [Yes, Of course I read it!]

2. I remember Steve taking apart his "See and Say" Film toy to see what was inside.

3. I remember sneaking into his room and "borrowing" his 'Peanuts' Cartoon books.

4. I remember Steve squishing our dogs face into his food and saying "EEEEAAAT IT"!

5. I remember playing football with Steve and asking him what I was supposed to do and he would say "Just get the guy with the ball".

6. I remember using clothes pins and rubber bands to shoot at the birds in the sky in Virginia.

7. I remember my brother giving me away at my wedding!

8. I remember him helping me learn about computers and telling me that 'Don't worry about the computer, you can't break it"! (That made a difference for my learning about PCs).

9. I remember Steve being so excited about his photographs and the bathroom was our 'darkroom' at home.

10. I remember taking his hair brushes at home because I could never find my own hair brush.

I love you my dear brother - you inspire me in so many ways!

Happiest Birthday to you...Love you lots!

Bird's Eye Christmas

The Man and the Birds

Now the man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. "I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.
And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. "If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safety ... to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand."

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells - Adeste Fidelis - listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

-- Author Unknown --(Shared by Paul Harvey on his radio show)
---------
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God .... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us ....” (John 1:1, 14 KJV)

Pat's Personal Note: I sang with Jeff Jenkins' Church Choir (As did James Stanton) this Christmas Story in December of 1984. What a wonderful story I was introduced to. I hope you liked it.

Silent Night

Last December I went to visit my Junior High School Choir teacher. He is teaching at a different Middle School, but still working with young people as I remembered all those years back. I listened to him teach a guitar class. If you look very closely in this photo, you will see the chords to "Silent Night" on the whiteboard. Not only did he want them all to be able to play something for thier families during the school break, but he wanted them to know 'about' the song "Silent Night". He told them (us) about how the song was born from necesity--that a small village church in Austria needed a Christmas Hymn for the Mass, but the church organ had broken. In 1859 Joesf Mohr was asked to write a song that could be played on the guitar instead.
I watched as he taught his class the chords. Wonderful! What is even more amazing is that I have maintained my friendship with Jeff Jenkins since 1977. His daughter is fully grown and married now. I remember us singing a Christmas Carol called "Give me the Love of the 'Beth'lehem Child. That was always fun to sing, because we all smiled knowing he had just had a little baby daughter named Bethany. I got to sing my first solo with that group in "The Christmas Waltz".
Music is a big part of my favorite Holiday Memories - just last year we found mp3 recordings of organist Eddie Dunsteter online! Huge Music Memories there with his "Christmas Candy" album.
Top Christmas albums for me:
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (There is no other than the Vince Guaraldi Trio to top the chart!)
2. Nat King Cole 'The Christmas Song'
3. Eddie Dunsteter 'Christmas Candy'
My absolute favorite Carols of all time are:
1. Ed Ames - The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey
2. Barbra Streisand - Jingle Bells
3. Nat King Cole 'The Christmas Song'
4. Good King Wenceslaus - Narada
5. The Carol of the Bells - instrumental
6. Do You Hear What I hear - Johnny Mathis
7. The Marvelous Toy - (A Carol we sang in Jr. High School - Thanks Mr. Jenkins)
8. Still, Still, Still
9. T'was the Birthday of a King
10. Blue Christmas - Elvis

This Christmas....

About 10 years or so ago, my dear friend Louise gave me a Christmas card with the following words on the front:
This Christmas...Mend a quarrel, Seek out a forgotten friend, Share some treasure, Give a soft answer, Encourage youth, Keep a promise, Find the time,
Listen,
Apologize if you were wrong,
Be gentle, Laugh a little, Laugh a little more,
Express your gratitude, Welcome a stranger,
Gladden the heart of a child,
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth,
Speak your love,
Speak it again,
Speak it still once more.
----
I have saved that card all these years. You could tell it wasn't the kind of card you buy in a pack of 25 at the Sav-Ons. It was a Hallmark card she picked just for me. I loved the saying so much that I have copied it and used it in my own greetings. Christmas Cards are fun...and stressful. I remember when I was a newlywed, the tradition of sending Holiday Greeting cards began. Ah, the Christmas Card list!  I would tape the cards up on the wall and look at them as prizes! It was so cool when I could cover a large section of my apartment wall. I haven't hung up Christmas Cards on my wall in a long time. Now-a-days, they just get tossed in a box, then tossed at the end of the season (after checking for address corrections of course). Maybe this year I will read them more carefully and then hang them on the wall again, and enjoy them more than ever!

Hand-Made Ornaments

I remember my Mom's handmade ornaments when I was young. She had those old 'silk' balls. The kind you could press fancy pins with beads into on. They were beautiful...until they unraveled.
How come the sound of a glass ornament breaking or an outdoor Christmas string light bulb popping on the sidewalk as it breaks...are interesting sounds? How come I like to squeeze the corn starch box and imagine it is the snow under my boots as walk in the Virgina snow with my brother? I loved playing in the snow. We made lots of snowmen. I loved the absolute magic of watching snowflakes drift past my second story window and peacefully land on the frozen ground below. I love the silence of a snowfall.

I found this poem at Greg's grandma house after she passed away. She had it tucked away with her Christmas stationary. I think of it as a prayer she might have been saying as she was writing her cards.....

The door is on the latch tonight,

The hearth-fire is aglow
I seem to hear soft passing feet-
The Christchild in the snow.
My heart is open wide tonight For stranger, kith or kin;
I would not bar a single door Where love might enter in.

Little Cindy Lou Whoo

Some of my favorite holiday memories include watching Television specials when I was young. You know, the kind that came on only once a year? Yeah. No VHS or DVD then kids. We had a big 'stirring popcorn' popper with the glass dome that could be turned into a serving bowl. Yes! Popcorn! Yum. I remember once (after I moved out) stringing popcorn for my little rinky-dink apartment Christmas tree. I kept stabbing myself [OUCH] with the needle because of all the oil on my fingers and on the popcorn. Hmmm. Yeah, I figured out later that 'air-popped' and stale popcorn strings A LOT better!

A classic TV special is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. This story is special to me, not just because of the message, but because of a couple of things unique to our family. The little girl whoo that wakes up while the grinch is stealing her tree? Cindy Lou, right? Well my dear sister is like the little Cindy Lou Whoo in so many ways. I always think of her when I see that part of the show, and of course the refrain...Da-hoo Forest, Da-Hoo Doris, Welcome Welcome Christmas Day...I love you MOM! Your famous! Enjoy my favorite part of the show:

…And the Grinch with his Grinch feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled for three hours till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, doesn't come from a store. “Maybe Christmas. . . perhaps.... means a little bit more!”

Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to All 'Whoos' far and near! Christmas Day is in our Grasp- So long as we have hands to clasp!

Christmas day will always be -
just as long as we have we.

Welcome Christmas while we stand
Heart to Heart and Hand in Hand.

Exerts taken from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Ted Giezel a.ka Dr. Seuss

Kris Kringle

I have a friend at work that told me about their family putting up their Christmas tree this week. What gets me is the reason why...she's very sick and may not make it to Christmas. How awesome that the Christmas season is beautiful that one could dismiss even death from robbing the chance to feel the emotions, smell the smells, hear the sounds and feel the love of the Holiday Season!

The last week I have been cooking. Yes, it’s not too often that I cook full meals, after all, it’s only the three of us at home. One thing I cooked this weekend was some apples. They were good gala apples when I first bought them. Crisp, thin skin, fragrant. Well we ate quite a few of them but they had past their prime. I decided to just cut them up and put them into a sauce pan with lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Wow, our house smelled like the holidays! This morning, I cut up some cheep round roast and put it into the crock pot to simmer all day with some broth and tomato paste. When I got home, the whole house smelled like happiness and Greg was right there making a sauce from the drippings! Inspired! I definitely associate, pine, pumpkin and cinnamon with Christmas and I love the way those smells make me feel inside.

I was thinking about Christmas a lot this week. Have you ever heard of 'Kris Kringling'? We learned about it at Marriage Encounter. The idea is that you visit the houses of people you care about and leave them little gifts without telling them it’s from you. You get to become 'Kris Kringle'. Greg, the kids and I loved playing Kris Kringle. We would fill a gift bag with chocolate pretzels and a card with a Christmas Carol or scripture on it and drive by. Then in stealth mode we would send a kid up to the door with the gift. The idea was to ring the bell and run back to the car and drive away. (Most the time the kid wasn't even in the door and we would be driving away...hah haa!) Of course we would circle back and see if the gift had been received. How much heart-pounding fun that was! Even better, than that...we did it to a couple of houses in our neighborhood of people we didn't even know. For me, as a mother, doing that is the ultimate demonstration of unconditional love. I expect nothing in return (they can't return the favor) and I teach that to my kids and I hope their hearts are changed for it. We usually would spend part of our 'Kringling' night driving around a bit and looking at the lights on the houses in our part of town while listening to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. These memories are such treasures. I think I need to put on my Kris Kringle hat right now! Join me won't you?

Graditude List

The last 2 afternoons, right at dusk, I have enjoyed listening to the sweetest sound. It is a flock of tweedy birds just singing so beautifully I had to stop, listen and just enjoy the music of the night.

This afternoon there was another beautiful sunset, the sun was in the most gorgeous position as I was driving home;  brilliant orange, a large lazy globe of light casting a lovely glow across the terrain. It made my drive home a bit mystical.

Here's some more things I am thankful for:

• An understanding lab partner who is the 'yin' to my 'yang'.
• Watching "Dancing with the Stars" with my family
• Having a band tournament this weekend that is made possible because a lot of generous volunteers in our community that all love music
• For the day-light savings time change (I'm an early riser)
• For my cell phone
• for rice and raisins "Indian Style"
• For a family that is quick to forgive and forget

Have a wonderful 'dusk' and enjoy the harvest moon!