Light: December Reflections

Christmas arrives in my heart in a different way each year.  Last year Christmas came while we were shopping at our local market.   Sometimes Christmas comes at church.  Sometimes Christmas arrives before Thanksgiving, and at others, not till Christmas Eve.  This year, Christmas arrived via Facebook.  My friend, Dawn, posted a video that I cried all the way through.

And, as I cried, Christmas came.  That ever repeating miracle arrived, and I felt again the bone deep knowledge of light, of truth.  The real light, not only of Christmas, but of the world, came as a babe.  He lived a sinless life, and died an innocent man.  For me.  And, joy of joys, He rose again.

Merry Christmas, everyone.  May His light be yours.

Post by Carman Licciardello.

a Christmas wish for you

Mixed in with all the happy hustle and busy bustle, 

           among the shining tinsel and beautiful bows, 

Amid the delicious sweets and thoughtful treats,

I wish for you

Contentment, peace, and time.  

Contentment in the knowledge that you have already 

          accomplished enough, spent enough, given enough.

Peace in your hurry and worry; peace in your home and heart.

And time.

          My wish for you is the gift of time.  Time to slow down.

Time to savor.  Time to count each blessing.  Time to love and be loved.

Most of all, 

          May you know the King of Kings who came to Earth so long ago.

May His love fill your heart this day.

Merry Christmas, friends.  

Merry Christmas. 

that moment

I've written before about that moment each year when Christmas comes.  

For me, it has nothing to do with the calendar or the decorations.  

It's always a small moment that ignites Christmas in my own heart.  

That moment was tonight.  

Sloane and I swung into our local grocery store tonight on our way home.  We just needed cute candles for her birthday cupcakes tomorrow.  She'll be twelve, can you believe it?  Anyway, we were going to be quick because Jeffrey was cooking dinner.  As we walked up there was a lady playing Christmas music on a keyboard by the front door.  Every employee wearing a big smile and manning a booth of food to give away.  If they weren't happy to be working after sundown on a Friday night, you'd never know it.  

Sloane and I laughed and ate our way through the store.  We said hello to old and new friends; it's a small town, remember.  We took home a salsa verde kit full of fresh produce and the instructions to mince and add salt.  I gave in and bought every snack Sloane asked for as she and I kept on laughing and chatting.  

I was already feeling good; happy with life in general.  And then Christmas entered my heart. 

We were in line to buy our goodies - including 12 adorable star candles for the cupcakes Sloane is making for her party guests.  The pianist started playing one of my very favorite Christmas songs. You all know that I am a car-dancing-sing-in-public kind of a girl.  So.  There I was singing along quietly when I heard her.  

The woman two lines behind me was singing, too.  Only she wasn't quiet.  She was loud, proud, and unashamed.  "I wanna wish you a merry Christmas."  I started singing louder right along with her.  Sloane started singing along.  Our teller began to hum and grin.  The woman in line behind us looked flabbergasted.  I couldn't quit smiling.  

Till I teared up.  Because I always tear up when Christmas comes. 

God bless us, everyone. 

Numbers

Usually my Christmas break involves baking, family time, game playing, long walks, rest, catching up on home projects, an After-Christmas party, and a lot of quiet puttering.  This year?  Not quite.  Oh well, might as well laugh.  Here is my Christmas break, by the numbers.

13 days Relyn and Sloane have been sick

6 times I've been out of the house since December 18

2 days I've worked since getting sick

10 days Jeffrey has been sick

64 episodes of Numb3rs I've watched on Netflix (Oh. My. Gosh! That's embarassing.)

44 back issues of magazines I've finally caught up on
approximately 33 Advil gel caps I've taken
2 bags of cough drops I've consumed
3 more bags of cough drops my family has consumed
1 prescription filled
2 doctor visits we've made 

4 Harry Potter books I've listened to

5 other books I've read

42 items of clothing I've ironed

11 loads of laundry I've washed, folded and put away

117 blog comments I've left

3 blog posts I've written

1 shopping day with my Mom & Sloane

And you?  What have you been doing with your quiet week?  

Christmas views

I hope you are having a wonderful week, friends.

Merry Christmas!

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,^[a] who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold,^[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will bethe sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”^[c]

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely^[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. ~ Luke 2, King James version

Merry Christmas, friends.  

May you know how much He loves you. 

It's still Christmas.

It's been a hard Christmas season this year.  The hardest in my life, actually.  My brother and his family can't come home for Christmas.  It's been the first Christmas in twelve years I've spent in a new job with new colleagues.  I've been missing my friends and longing for the traditions we'd made together.  It's been sad thinking of Newtown, Connecticut and their sorrows. And, we've been sick.  All of us.  Really sick.

No last minute hustle and bustle.  No shopping and errands and exchanges of "Merry Christmas" wishes.  No Christmas cards addressed at the last minute.  No baking.  No classroom Christmas parties.  No Christmas puzzles or trips with friends to Silver Dollar City.  No midnight races to be the first to shout, "Christmas Eve gift!"  Not even any Christmas movies.  We've all been too sick for that.

It's been three people piled up on three separate sick beds trying desperately to concentrate on their books so they won't perish of boredom.  It's been a lot of cat napping and way too much coughing.  And, on my end at least, more than a little feeling sorry for myself.  One of the things I love most about Christmas is the energy and excitement. And I've been missing it.

And then.

And then I woke up just a little while ago.  Christmas Eve morning.  I woke up and began praying first thing, as I always do.  I began thanking God for the sunlight streaming in, turning the room to gold.  For the romping dogs playing outside the window.  For the sweetly sleeping child in the next room.  For the husband who let me sleep and was already up and out at the grocery store.  For the fact that I could breathe again without stabbing pain.  And for Christmas.

It's still Christmas, you see.

It's Christmas with or without the tree. It's Christmas with or without the excitement and energy.  It's Christmas with or without the baked goods, fudge, stocking stuffers, and the mall.  It's Christmas with or without the tree, traditions, excitement, and wrapping.  In fact, all those things are just add-ons.

It's Christmas because Christ came.  Emmanuel, God with us.

God with us.  God.  With. Us.

Think of it.  Just think of it!

Merry Christmas, friends.  Merry, merry Christmas!

Christmas time is here.

 

Amid the hustle and bustle of the season,

it is so easy to allow ourselves to become stressed

instead of joyful.

 

As the hectic quality of the holidays

begin to take over your heart and attitudes,

I'd like to share a few thoughts that help me.

 

People matter more than pretty.

Compassion is more important than cookies.

"Welcome to my home" is more important than wrappings.

 

Happy holidays, friends. 

 

Sunday Morning Poetry

Luke 2

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Merry Christmas, friends.

Bimbo

Our family was living in Indonesia when I knocked out my brother's front tooth.

I was five and Brett was two, and it really was an accident. We were playing on the sofa and Brett was bending over to get a ball. His behind was stuck up in the air. It was as though there was a target just on his backside. I just gave him a little nudge on the rump and he went flying. Right into the edge of the coffee table. I guess I'm lucky that all he lost was a front tooth.

Being Indonesia in 1976, there were no surgical dentists in the country. Mom, Brett, and I had to travel to the Philippines to get my brother taken care of. I took my favorite stuffed animal with me. Bimbo was a monkey doll (pictured above) and my treasure. As we were leaving the plane Brett asked to hold my stuffie. I wouldn't let him so his requests turned into a whine. Pretty soon Mom made me let him hold Bimbo. I specifically remember telling her that "Brett is a baby and too young to keep up with Bimbo. He's sure to loose it." Mom made me let him anyway - no doubt to stop the whining and because I was the one who got us in the pickle in the first place. We had our first cab ride with Brett gloating over Bimbo the whole way. When we arrived at the hotel and the cab was long gone, I looked around for my monkey friend. Bimbo was nowhere to be found.


Brett had left him in the taxi. WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

My poor mother. Can you imagine being alone in a strange country with a two year old son who needed medical care and a five year old crying daughter who just wanted her monkey back? Mom tried to console me that some poor child who didn't have a lot of other stuffed animals back at home was sure to discover Bimbo and treasure him and love him and give him a good home. I wasn't having any of it. I wanted my Bimbo back and I wanted him NOW!

I didn't get him back. Of course.

What I did do was hold that over my brother's head off and on for years. When we got into bickering matches, and I couldn't find anything else to say, I could always end it with, "And anyway - you lost my Bimbo." Conveniently forgetting that he had only been two.

Fast forward to the Christmas I was 15. My brother was now 12 and a notorious tightwad. He always had plenty of money because he never spent it. Gifts from Brett were really from Mom with his name signed on them. Until that year.

It was Christmas morning and Brett was wiggling with excitement. It wasn't about his own presents, either. It was for me to open my gift from him. As I started to open it, my Mom told me that Brett had spent his own money to buy this for me.

Bimbo!

Mom had spotted it at a church yard sale. Brett had insisted on spending his own money to buy it for me. Even though Mom was happy to pay for it, he wanted this one to be 100% from him.

My best surprise ever. My best Christmas present. My best brother.

Merry Christmas, Brett.

The Junior Mint Christmas

As adults, we all know that there is so much more to Christmas than just receiving presents. We know that the time we spend together and the love those presents represent are far more important. But, we also have to admit that the gifts are really, really great. To celebrate the spirit of love-filled giving, I thought I would spend this week before Christmas sharing stories of Christmas presents. I hope you'll join me each day to celebrate this season of gifts. I hope you'll share stories of your own in the comments. Merry Christmas, friends.


One of my favorite Christmas gifts of all time wasn't even a gift for me. It was a gift for my Mom, given over thirty years ago. To this day, whenever anyone in our family mentions The Junior Mint Christmas, we all smile. Let me tell you about it.

It was 1979 and we were living in the Azores, Portugal. My Dad was in the Army and we found ourselves in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on Terceira Island. This was long before the days of email, cable, and cell phones. There was one television station and that signed off the air each night with the national anthem. If you wanted something, you bought what was readily available at the base commissary or PX. There was no internet, no catalogs but Montgomery Ward, and no affordable international shipping. In short, no shopping. In spite of the difficulties, my Dad always managed to do something amazing for my Mom for Christmas.

It was a few weeks before Christmas when a big box appeared under the tree. It was about half the size of today's copy paper boxes and it was labeled to Jackie, love Carl. My Dad told her to feel free to shake, she'd never guess what was inside. She shook it. And, don't you know, that thing rattled. A lot. Like a box of broken china. Dad said, "No. Nothing is broken. It's supposed to sound that way." All Christmas long we took turns shaking and guessing while Dad grinned and his eyes twinkled. I'll never forget Mom's puzzlement, her guesses, her laughter. Or Dad's delight as the guesses got odder and odder as time went on.

Christmas morning came and we all listened with our breath held as Mom gave the box one last shake. I can still see the smile on her face when she finally peeked inside. You would have thought it was a box full of diamonds. Inside was a gross, yes, 12 dozen, boxes of Junior Mints. Dad had talked the commissary officer into ordering Mom's favorite candy for Christmas. Candy she hadn't tasted in years - her perfect Christmas present.

I'm not sure, but I think Mom might have eaten the last Junior Mint the day we left the Azores for good. And, my best gift that Christmas? A lesson in loving, a lesson in creativity and thoughtfulness, and the confidence that comes from knowing your parents are truly in love.

Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad.

The picture above is of Split Rock just off Terceira Island.

Celebrating...

Week47 of the Wednesday Lists.
This is a time of year for celebration. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, the winter solstice, or something else we all benefit from the extra warmth, cheer, and beauty of this season. Here are a few ways I like to celebrate. My list is heavy on Christmas, since that's what I celebrate. Won't you share some of your own?

Ways to celebrate...

• make cookies or peppermint bark and deliver them to your child's school to be placed in the teacher workroom along with a note of appreciation
• when you sing carols, try to have this much fun
  
• give your teachers and coaches gift cards - they really don't want those cute ideas pictured in magazines
• give hugs, lots and lots of hugs
• be patient, we all need it just now
  
• listen to Danny Wright, Emile Pandolfi, and Tim Janis' Christmas music
• watch the original Miracle on 34th Street
• go caroling, really
• when you buy practicals to donate to your local food bank, add a huge bag of MnMs, too
• gather your family in front of the fire and read How The Grinch Stole Christmas to them - don't forget to do the voices
• keep change with you and donate to every Salvation Army bell ringer you pass
• remember what it is that makes you rich
  
• wish everyone you see a loud and joyful "Merry Christmas!"
  
• listen to this song a lot
• decorate a small tree for your kitchen: decorate it with red gingham ribbons, popcorn garlands, and cookie cutters
• throw an after-Christmas party: make it potluck and have everyone bring an ornament to exchange
  
• remember to listen to children
• send the seasons greetings - in the mail - on time
  

It's that time of year...

Week 46 of the Wednesday Lists.

A grown-up Advent Calendar

• December 1 - put out the Nativity scene & decorate the Katie tree in the Sparkle room
• December 2 - go to the December Art walk downtown
• December 3 - spend the day alternating between decorating the rest of the house and the big tree & reading, have Mom and Dad over for a chili supper that night
• December 4 - after church, order in really good pizza, snuggle up, and watch It's a Wonderful Life
• December 5 - string more popcorn garlands for Sloane's tree and have a carol sing-along
  
• December 6 - go to our small group dinner out and exchange names for the Christmas party
• December 7 - put lights in every window and on the roof-line and bushes this year
• December 8 - decorate the porch with more than a wreath
• December 9 - girlfriend date at Silver Dollar City
• December 10 - Christmas shopping with Sloane, choose our Angel Tree gifts
  
• December 11 - Christmas shopping without Sloane
  
• December 12 - write & address Christmas cards
• December 13 - finish Christmas cards
• December 14 - mail Christmas cards
• December 15 - wrap Christmas gifts and put under the tree
  
• December 16 - light a fire and read lots of Christmas books aloud
  
• December 17 - work on Sloane's Alaska album
  
• December 18 - go on a Christmas lights photowalk
  
• December 19 - family game night
  
• December 20 - bake Christmas cookies & wrap presents for students
  
• December 21 - class Christmas party day
• December 22 - wrap last minute presents
  
• December 23 - Persephone arrives!
  
• December 24 - attend Christmas Eve candlelight service
• December 25 - Merry Christmas!
• December 26 - after Christmas sales with Mom
• December 27 - small group after-Christmas party
• December 28 - annual ornament exchange and party
  

How do you plan to celebrate the season? Happy holidays, friends!

ahhh... the quiet

This week is one of my most favorite times of the year.
I call it my peaceful week.

The rush of Christmas, with it's wonderful excitement, has passed.
The tingle of anticipation for a new year is just beginning.

Just now there is quiet.
Everything is still lit, bedecked, and dazzling.
But, there is a quiet contentment to it.

This is my week.
No students, no shopping, no hustle, no bustle.

Just time.
Time to laugh with friends, time to play with family.
Time to read. Time to write. Time to reflect on the year just passed.

Oh. I do love this time of year.

May your week be as peaceful, my friends.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Christmas joy, it's elementary

Here's hoping you find child-like joys this Christmas.


Is it any wonder that I love my job? Photos taken at recent school activities.

Christmas Comes

If you are unfamiliar with SOOJ, what I mean is "straight out of the journal." From time to time I post, unedited, something that I wrote in the journal I carry with me everywhere. This is one such post.

Sunday, November 14, 2010
Ozark, MO

There comes a moment every holiday season when Christmas enters my heart. A moment when Christmas arrives. Some years, it doesn't arrive until as late as Christmas Eve. This year, it arrived before Thanksgiving. I sat and cried and cried as a as a "Give This Christmas Away" played and the aisle at church filled with people. The huge pile of nearly 300 Operation Christmas Child boxes grew and grew and grew as children and adults poured into the aisles to come and lay their gifts on the alter. I wish I could photograph the enormous pile of shoes boxes packed full to bursting with gifts for children around the world. I'm still crying 10 minutes later. I can't seem to stop. I am so moved to be a part of this. Christmas is unselfish giving. Christmas is love for family and love for strangers. Christmas is here. God bless us, every one.

Christmas Glipses

I can't believe we never did this before.
Sloane slept under the tree this Christmas Eve, and it was magical.
She bundled up and fell asleep to the quiet murmur of parents and grandparents reminiscing in front of the fireplace nearby.
She slept sweetly with a soft glow of Christmas lights illuminating her face.
She woke rubbing her sleepy eyes and blinking at all the magic.

And me? Well, I'm so glad that the magic never really ends.

Click here for more peeks at our Christmas. Listen.

Not Quite Over...

I like the European custom of Christmas extending past the 25th and lasting into the new year. I love the days after Christmas. All the hurry and scurry, hustle and bustle is over and our family has time to just settle in and enjoy. Enjoy time. Enjoy laughter. Enjoy each other. Enjoy games and baked treats and time together. It's the absolute only time of year that we plan nothing beyond pleasure and time with family and friends. Even vacations, as fun as they are, can leave us exhausted. But this glorious, quiet week is our best gift to ourselves. The gift of time to just be present. Be here. Be happy.


Wishing you quiet time with your family this week. Time to read, to blog, to laugh, to play games, to bake, to sit and talk for hours after a delicious dinner. Wishing you time to be present, be here. be happy. Merry After-Christmas, my friends.



Just a few glimpses around our little enchanted cottage this Christmas. More tomorrow. Listen.

Christmas Unphotographable

I saw something today that seemed to me to be a peek into heaven. Today was the Christmas pageant at church.

A placid, sweet-faced donkey named Bentley patiently carried a young Mary on his back.
You had to grin when you noticed Mary's gym socks peeking out below her hem.

A small choir of baby angels in white satin dresses, gold tinsel halos, and feathered wings;
all so excited, so beautiful.

A crowd of rowdy shepherds herding their single sheep; named Doug.
You had to grin when you noticed Doug nibbling on the toes of nearby little girl.

A choir of adults singing carols to tell the Christmas story.
You had to grin when the young guitar player and drummer began to rock Joy to the World.


And then the shepherds moved to the manger, in front of the angel choir.
Hmmm...
Tough to see around those big boys.
One little angel couldn't see at all. And that just wouldn't do.

So she stood on her tippy-tippy toes,
propped herself on two sets of shoulders and peeked around.
No way was she going to miss seeing what was in that manger.


And it hit me.
That's exactly what the angels did in heaven that night so long ago.
They were so excited they just couldn't wait to see for themselves.
They just had to sing about it.

They filled the very heavens with their song.
Picture that.

A multitude of the heavenly hosts.
Filling the sky.
Proclaiming

Glory to God in the highest.
And on Earth peace, good will toward men.