Do Not Be Afraid

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"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord." Luke2:10 Merry Christmas Dear Friends and Family! Enjoy and rejoice in the birth of our Saviour!"

 

I saw this today on Facebook from a dear friend of mine whom I'm missing this Christmas. I couldn't have said it better myself, Suzanne!

 

Merry Christmas to all of you

and may God bless your time with friends and family!

A Bookmark Gift Idea

Those of you who know me well know that I'm not gifted in the "crafty" department. Oh, sure, I can copy other people's ingenuity, but coming up with it on my own is, well, a challenge. I'm craft-challenged.

Anyway, my MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers) has a craft for us to do every meeting, and our last craft was so cute and functional (and cheap!) that I immediately thought of all the people in my life (and my daughters' lives) who needed one of these bookmarks for Christmas!!  (I only wish I had the time to make that many...)

Maybe you, too, are stumped about what to give your child's teacher or another friend or family member and maybe you could use a craft to copy like I could. So, here goes:

Step 1: Buy wax string and beads of your choice at your local craft store. Cut the string into strips about 18 inches long.

Step 2: Make a double/triple knot about 3-4 inches in from one edge of the string and then string an ornamental bead (like a silver charm or large bead) on the end, knotting it, so it will stay. Then add a bead or separator (small bead), doubling the end of the wax string back on itself, so that it will go into the beads and be concealed. 

Step 3: Add several beads (I did 5) in any pattern you like, knotting the string after the last bead to keep them from moving (it might take a double knot).

Step 4: Starting at the other end, make a knot 3-4 inches from the end (it might take a double knot). Add beads (I did three medium sized with small ones for spacers) to that end, then tie a double knot at the end. Snip off the remaining string and wa la! Homemade bookmark!

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer

Because I could use a good laugh right about now, as I'm knee deep in another Christmas "season" (see my previous post), I thought I'd share this with you.  I hope you are finding the cheer this month!

The Christmas "Season"

Christmas stresses me out.

I know I'm not the only one, and, honestly, I know that right now, from where I sit, things are pretty darn good and that isn't the case for everyone.  Too, I know all the reasons why this "season" causes me to focus so much on things instead of the real reason, the birth of Christ.

The problem is, knowing all of this doesn't keep me from falling into the stress trap this time of year.  There are a ton of things to get done.  Presents to buy, trees to decorate, lights to hang, cookies to bake, cards to address, carols to sing, etc, etc.


Don't get me wrong, I love our family traditions - that is why we continue them.  I'm an absolute fan of this Christian holiday during which we, as believers, publicly pronounce our faith (even though many work to mold it into a commercialized mess) and are tangibly reminded of the fact that our God came to earth to teach us, and serve us, and sacrifice all for us.  I just wish my personal experience of this "season" wasn't so busy that I often miss the most important parts.


I was listening to the radio today in the car, and _The Little Drummer Boy_ came on.  Shortly before that, a song by Amy Grant titled _Silent Night_ (not the one you're thinking of) was played, and the lyrics spoke of the busyness of the Christmas "season," and the singer's pleas for a truly silent night amidst the craziness of shopping for gifts and holiday parties.  Later, the disc jockey came on and invited the listeners to tell their friends about that radio station and how it played Christmas songs with "real meaning."

That got me thinking.  I thought about how wonderful it would be (and stress relieving) to not feel so obligated this time of year to buy and do.  How, that night, when our King was born, a little boy's gift of music was appropriate, and even valued.  How we create such a burden on our time and financial resources this time of year to show appreciation for those in our lives within a small window of time.

What would it be like if we all took time to truly appreciate those around us all year long and didn't need to do so just in this "season?"  What if we showed our appreciation in the currency of our choice - one that we could, beyond any doubt, afford?  Would we then be freed up to be still in the moment, reflecting upon the meaning of a God child and how that would forever change our world?

I don't know.  I'm very aware of just how much I, in my humanness and uncanny ability to get distracted by the tiniest of things, need an annual reminder of Christ's birth and all the relationships in my life that I appreciate.  Otherwise, I suspect that due to sheer distraction, years might go by before I would find myself reflecting upon all things Christmas that matter.

I suppose the trick, for me, is to avoid the common pitfalls that come with what is a worldly, highly commercialized and often exploited holiday, and express my faith and the overflowing love that it produces to those around me in a way that is uniquely mine.

I suppose that is really the challenge to all of us.

Just some thoughts I'm pondering this month.

Seriously?? The Things Parents Say... Part 2

So, I might have spoken too soon with the submission of my last post.  Believe it or not, I have been collecting these parental comments for some time now, waiting until I had most of them before writing my dissertation rant to the blogosphere.  Silly me, thinking I had said them all.

Alas, literally moments after posting part one, I emerged from my office to find that my youngest had some artistic inspiration of her own that she couldn't contain in her imagination alone.

Done in blue ink, here are Denali's artistic additions to our couch, bathroom sink, and ottoman. These are the three largest, thus they would show up best in a photo for the blog, but rest assured that there were other spots where our budding illustrator chose to leave her mark (my comforter, her walls, some random boxes that are still sitting around the house unpacked).

So, I add to my collection of parental comments one never thought they'd have to say outloud: "There is no drawing on the furniture!"  Which reminds me, I forgot to add "It's not OK to flush mommy's wedding ring down the toilet."

Seriously?? The Things Parents Say...

This is a shout out to the parents who read my blog (and an attempt to make myself feel better for the experiences I go through daily).  I just have one question for all of us.  What is up with the things we have to say to our kids that A) we never thought we'd hear coming out of our mouths until it flies out of our lips, and B) we never thought would be necessary to actually have to say???

You know how some things sound so ridiculous, like they should be common sense and no one should ever have to be told?  We have some laws like that, there are policies in every organization like that, and I'm beginning to think that the complete disregard for common sense must stem from when we're children.

Obviously, rules have to be made because somewhere, at some point in time, someone actually committed an act so shockingly ridiculous that the rest of us needed to be told it isn't allowed.  

Here's a sampling of "parental comments" that I've said at one time or another over the past 8 years (and counting...):

• Don't lick the table!
• Why is there poop on the wall?
• Don't chew your shirt.
  
• We are not taking a worm home for a pet.
• Leave the cat alone - it's not ok to pull her tail.
• There's no dancing in the wine dept. at the grocery store.
• Leave the cat alone - she does not like baths in the sink.
• It's not ok to suck water out of a wet towel because you're thirsty.
• Don't chew the pencil eraser, or the metal that connects it to the pencil, or the pencil, or the pen.
• Put the dishes in the dishwasher (no, that's not my job).
• Leave the cat alone - it's not ok to shut her in your room all day long.
• Take your hair out of your mouth.
• The couch is for sitting, not jumping.
• This is a restaurant, not a jungle gym.
• Don't chew on your toenails.
• Please shut the door when you use the bathroom (regardless of where we are).
• If it's not food, drink, or a toothbrush, it doesn't belong in your mouth.
• LEAVE THE CAT ALONE!!!!

Whew.  I know it must sound like I spend all day correcting my kids from their feral behaviors, and that's because I do.  It just seems like sometimes some of these things should go without saying.  Doesn't it??  I guess, I'll just keep saying them...

Lost In Translation

Here's part of yesterday's conversation coming from the backseat as we waited for her 

big sister to get out of school...

Denali: "Mom, what are the bumpy things behind your ears?  Your whackers? 

What did you say that was again?"
 

Me: "Denali, I'm not sure what you're talking about."
 

Denali (frustrated): "You know, the whackers!!!"
 

Me (after much confusion and deep thought) : "Do you mean wax?  Ear wax?"
 

Denali (laughing): "Oohhh!  Wax!"
 

...It must be tough trying to learn language and all about the world at the same time!! 

And, yes, I'm still confused about the"bumpy things behind your ears" 

- maybe she needs a bath...