Christmases of Yore

I have been inspired by Deb's post of Christmas memories, so I dug into the recesses of the closet to find the baby pictures that are awaiting permanent placement in a fully decked out scrapbook. Clearly that hasn't happened yet.

I tried to put these three in here in a very specific order and Blogger has very randomly mixed them up. So you know...imagine.

This was my third Christmas. If you scroll down two pictures, you'll see this same baby on the day I initially received her. That day she was clothed and had hair. You can see what a difference a year makes. I carried this doll around for years, naked and hairless. What did I do to the hair? DO YOU SEE NOW WHY THE PREDICTION OF TWO BABY GIRLS IN MY FUTURE SCARES ME???

This was my first Christmas - the year I was the baby. I've carefully cropped my sister out of the background...I know better than to tick people off with almost 30 year old pictures of themselves. Especially right before Christmas!!

Christmas #2. Such a little Mama. HA. Little did this baby know that one year later, she'd be naked and bald. (That would be the doll, not me.) Is anyone else enjoying the Polaroid camera in the background??

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Well, as I write this, American Idol Rewind is playing on WGN, and I’m hearing some frightening sounds coming from the living room. They’re showing the highlights (and lowlights) of season one, which unfortunately was not the season that Keith or William Hung made an appearance in the auditions, but there are some that are just as bad.

And speaking of bad auditions…this afternoon when I was home at Mom and Dad’s, having Christmas with my aunt, Dad unearthed several “takes” of me offering renditions of Away in a Manger. I was probably about three. It was no doubt done around the same time I recited Luke 2 that I told you about last week. Wow. Child prodigy I was not. I cried laughing at my own self. I will give myself credit for knowing the words. Tempo and tune seemed to have escaped me entirely that day, however.

So between the memory of my toddler-auditions and some caterwauling wannabes in Chicago singing in my ear, I move my thoughts to more pleasant Christmas music. Oh dear. Just as I wrote that, some guy on TV started singing “Si-ya-lent night.”

Well, away from the world of American Idol, I heard a song this week that I’d not heard yet this season. I’m not sure why my radio station hasn’t been playing it – because it’s a great song! The choir sang it at our Christmas chapel this week and refreshed my memory of its existence.

This is one of Chris Rice’s songs, and it’s called Welcome to Our World. (Julie C. – just so you’ll know, you are my pick to sing this song – even over Chris. Don’t tell him.)

You can go here to read the lyrics and hear a clip.

As I’ve been writing about Advent and studying the Bible to read more of those familiar passages in hopes of seeing something from a new angle, I’ve been caught up in just how real all those people were. All of them were special and chosen to have a part in that moment of history, but all of them were just the you and me of 2000 years ago.

They were people with dreams and worries too.

Mary was a mother who resourcefully found around her the things she needed to make a home for a baby. And she accepted everything that happened – from the change to her marriage plans to a bunch of smelly men barging in on her makeshift nursery when her baby was only hours old.

Joseph was a man who found himself filling the role of a father, even when he wasn’t sure exactly how to do it. He obeyed immediately and without question, even when the things he heard God asking him to do seemed to make no sense.

The shepherds were the least of the social ladder and had probably never been close to babies who were not born with a woolly covering. And yet suddenly they were the first on the visitor list for a baby they didn’t even know.

Simeon was an old man who held to what he believed God had said, even though everyone might have called him crazy. And maybe sometimes he felt crazy. But he still clung to what he knew he heard.

And Jesus – though an extraordinary Baby, was still a baby. Still had to breathe our air and walk our sod. Still had to feel what we feel and experience what we experience.

The Christmas story isn’t a “story.” It was real. And those people weren’t well-groomed, halo bearing, perfectly serene men and women. They were us. Just earlier in history. And He was as real as they were. And He still is.

Back to the Name Quandry

Back on October 22, I posted a Sunday blog about names. I would explain it to you - but you can very easily read it for yourself, so I'll just let you. But I ended it this way:

"Having said that, Braeya was one of my girl names. I had picked it out and had it on the famous 'layaway list' for my someday baby girl. But when I got my little Braeya, I had decided I wasn't having kids after all. So rather than waste a perfectly good name, I used it for her.

"Now I've decided it would be nice to have kids someday. But we're going to have to stick with boys - because those are the names I still have."

Guess what? It appears my boy names are up for sale.

No, I'm not having a baby. But tonight at a party (a Sunday School class party, no less) one of the ladies asked me if I'd ever seen her baby predicting trick. I'd heard about it but never seen it. So she got it all set up and demonstrated it to me on one of the other ladies from our class. The trick is supposed to tell you how many kids you'll have and what gender they will be. So I watched as the results came out for her...girl, boy, girl, boy. And then I swung my eyes across the room to view her girl, boy, girl, boy.

Scary.

And I've heard from others who have volunteered to have it done that it has been accurate on everyone so far.

Since I have absolutely no intentions of finding out the gender of my someday children until they pop out in the delivery room, I thought it might be kind of fun to see what the "trick" has in store for me.

So I sat down to watch and wait. The outcome?

Two girls.

I asked for a redo.

Two girls.

I said, "But I wanted three boys!!!! Those are the names I have."

Fortunately, just this week, I came up with a good girl name that I've never heard before. So I guess this next weeek I better come up with a second one.

And maybe, by the time I'm fifty and these kids exist, the names will still be good. :)

Just for You, Phats

Earlier today I was informed "Tag, you're it" by my friend Phats. Turns out it's my turn to answer this stuff...so here you go!

A - Available/Single? The single I will claim. The available depends on who asks.

B - Best Friend? Lynnette - we even had those Best/Friend half in half necklaces when we were younger! That makes it official!

C - Cake or Pie? Well unless my Mom is the pie baker, it's definitely cake - chocolate please. But Mom makes a mean cherry pie.

D - Drink Of Choice? Toss up between coke (none of that diet business) and a caramel frappe

E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? ALARM CLOCK. Since you know...work feels the need to start before 2 p.m.

F - Favorite Color? Purple - and the people at work know they had best leave purple ink to my use alone!

G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Worms - the sour kind

H - Home or Homesick? Not sure exactly what that means either, Phats, but I'll go with home.

I - Indulgence? Coffee or chocolate - or both together!

J - January Or February? Oh boy that's tough. January because I love new beginnings, but February because it's the same pay for 2-3 days less work! :) (I'm not lazy, though, I promise!)

K - Kids & Their Names? If cats count, I have Kaegan and Braeya. Otherwise, nada.

L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Gonna hafta go with God on this one - this week has made me extra aware of that!

M - Marriage date? Yes I've heard that dating leads to marriage.

N - Number Of Siblings? 2 sisters

O - Oranges Or Apples? Can't have oranges, so I'll go with apples. I do actually like them.

P - Phobias/Fears? Used to be deathly afraid of storms. I'm doing better with that now. I am not fond of the dark, and I'm really scared of driving on ice.

Q - Favorite Quote? I have lots - but the one I use a lot lately is "I hate that for you!" I didn't even know how much I said it until someone said to me the other day (when I was upset about something that happened to me at work) "Well, to quote you, 'I hate that for you!'"

R - Reason to Smile? Because I have great friends and an amazing God.

S - Season? I always like the current one the most. I get really into all of them.

T - Tag 3 or 4 people? Well, I never was very good at tag, so I might not actually tag anyone.

U - Unknown Fact About Me? I can sing a song in Japanese - I actually remember it from when a friend of mine taught it to me about 15 years ago.

V - Vegetable you don’t like? Can you think of a veggie? That one.

W - Worst Habit? Worrying incessently.

X - X-rays You’ve Had? My leg when I broke it. My mouth and jaw a million times. I'm a dental nightmare.

Y - Your Favorite Food? Whopper Juniors from Burger King.

Z - Zodiac Sign? I understand I'm a Taurus. This was news to me.

More Decking the Halls!

A couple of Sundays ago, Angela called to see if I would help her decorate her Christmas tree. So after evening church, I went over and learned all about trees that come in three pre-assembled pieces. How much easier was THAT!!!?? So much better than sorting branches by color and all the crazy stuff I did more than once. Anyway - so here are some pictures from the deck the halls extravaganza!

My job was to put the ornaments on the tree.

I think this look definitely needs to be left to Rudolph. What happened to my hair?

Angela was in charge of lights.

And because it was her tree - and because she's taller - she was also in charge of putting the star on top. :)

Thanks, Angela, for letting me come over and help you! I had a great time!!!

The Amazing Christmas Card Race

Dad and I have a contest every year to see who can get the most cards. The man never sends a single card - and yet there have been some years when he's come dangerously close to beating me. And that's after I labor over dozens of them!!!

Anyway, just thought I'd tell you that as of today my count is 17 cards (I think!) and Dad is at - what was it - four?? YES! This might be my year to win by a landslide!!!

Thanks, Laura, for boosting my count! Mom said it wasn't fair, but I say all is fair in Christmas cards!

Road Trip!!

I'm behind on pictures...how did this happen? This is from my trip to Frankenmuth right after Thanksgiving. It was my first time ever to go to Frankenmuth, and I've decided I must go back. With shorter shoes. I wore my however many inch heels and by the end of the day, I was ready to amputate both feet. I wanted to take off my shoes just for a minute, but I was afraid I might never get them back on.

So this was the official photo of the day - with Lynnette. She's stuck by me since I was a fifth grader. That is true friendship! I had a blast spending the weekend with her and her husband - just shopping the time away!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Well I have another great new Christmas song to share with you this week. Wanna know something? I don’t know it. I’ve searched the internet high and low for the lyrics and they’re either not there or I am an inept searcher. (Choice #2 probably wins there…I have the same problem using the stupid “helpful online handbook” at work.) Anyway, so this song is one I’ve only heard one time, and that was this morning at church. It was part of our Christmas cantata. And given that I was not in the cantata, I don’t even know the words. I had to call four people before I finally found someone still in possession of a book containing the words!!!

But first, let me fill you in on why it made my list of great songs for the Christmas season. You know…given that I don’t actually know the song.

Let me back up to this morning while I was getting ready for church. My Dad has a radio program – just in case you didn’t know that. One program airs at an hour far before my day of rest begins. So I listen to the second one while I get ready. I try never to miss it because as sure as I do…that will be the Sunday he talks about me. Or worse (given that it’s the Christmas season) the Sunday he plays that recording of me reciting Luke 2 from the King James Version when I was only 3 years old.

So this morning I was rushing about (typical start to the day of rest) applying the finishing touches and as I flew past the bathroom door on my way to get shoes, I heard him say something about “How is your faith level today?” I yelled to the radio, “I DON’T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!!!”

I knew right then that God was up to something. I had just been complaining to Him that the faith walk wasn’t going so well lately. Apparently He’s determined to work on it with me.

That brings me to the song. I settled back in the pew in church, ready to listen to the cantata while remembering days of yore when I used to be in cantatas. I think my last one was in the day of some extravagant bangs. It’s on video. Unfortunately. Today’s crowd looked much more normal – all in black rather than the baby blue maternity-esque robes we used to wear.

The cantata had a nice flow of nice songs – including one by my precious David Phelps. You can know I was lip-syncing to that one from my pew. And then came “the song.” I could just envision God peering over the side of the Throne watching to see if I’d notice it. I did.

Everything about the song was different from the rest. It was the “fun song” of the set. The upbeat one. The catchy one. Apparently for a reason. The song was sung by the Innkeeper, trying to defend his position as a businessman who needed to make money and clean up the bad rap he’s gotten throughout history for throwing the Son of God’s mother into a barn to give birth.

The chorus of the song said this:

We simply settle. We end up with so much less than the miracles God has in mind to do. Oh yes we settle. What we get is not the best – not the wonder that He planned for me and you. Instead of all He wants to give us, we end up with so little. And we miss out on so much more because we settle.

Gulp. Okay God, I got the point. God could see the wheels turning in my little brain, feverishly trying to gain a plan B and C in case the A He told me about fails to work. And I have a feeling that A is going to sit in a stalled position until I quit trying to form B and C.

These days of Advent that I’ve been studying and writing about – well, this song could be the theme song of each person’s life. If any of them…all of them…had settled for something else, they’d have missed out on God’s plan to involve them personally with Jesus’ life – somewhere from birth to the cross. And I’m learning that the same is true for me. And I have a feeling it’s the same for you.

So, Dad, to answer your question – today it’s not so great. But God hasn’t given up on making the answer a super!!! I know He is anti-settle and determined to get me there as well.

The Resident Thief

Last night I decided to wrap as many Christmas gifts as I could. I had a dilemma I was trying to fix in the cheapest possible way. Have you looked at the price of Christmas tree skirts lately? They are ridiculous!!! Especially when you have five trees in your house! Anyway, my two big trees do not have tree skirts yet, and both are prone to falling over (thanks to my less than level floors) so I have them propped up with outdated magazines. It's quite a picture...all the lights...all the ornaments...and then the magazines. So I decided that if I wrapped some gifts and put them under the tree, people could look at the gifts and not the magazines!!

So I hauled out of the closet the paper that I bought on clearance last year...found the scissors, tape, and bows, and dug the white tags and Christmas card stamps out of the craft room. I have to make my tags match the paper and cards...it's a bit of an OCD illness with me.

I wrapped the first gift, stamped the tag with the little star, wrote the to and from, and moved on to gift number two. But when I started to stamp the tag for that one, I couldn't find the little star. I had JUST had it two minutes before!! I ran my hand under the couch, lifted up store sacks filled with gifts, shook the wrapping paper roll, even dumped out all the bows and shook out my clothes. No stamp. You can well imagine that at this point, I figured I was absolutely losing my mind.

I was determined to not get behind because of one silly stamp. I mean I do own other star stamps. Just not others like THIS one. Sigh. So I finished about half the wrapping and decided to take a bathroom break. As I headed down the hall, Braeya went rip-tearing around me, so I said, "Hey, did you steal my stamp?" When I walked into the bathroom I saw her diving into the tub (one of her favorite places to play) and underneath her furry little belly was my star stamp. That little rascal had carried my stamp from the living room into the bathroom and hidden it in the tub!!!! I'm telling you....she's part dog!

So I went back and stamped all the tags and rewrapped the one gift I'd UNwrapped just to see if somehow I'd put the stamp IN the gift. I didn't get as much done as I wanted, but hey, at least I can't see those magazines anymore!!

Trees...Trees...There are More Trees!

I have been told I am a blog-a-holic. To this I say, true, but there are worse kinds of a "holic" that I could be, so if blog is as bad as it gets - I'm doing pretty well.

Anyway, I had a request for my tree pictures, so here they are...some of them.

Let me explain. I grew up in a normal home where the family had ONE tree in a central location. I am aware that life should still function that way. But along the path, I encountered Lynette. She is the secretary in our office and she LOVES Christmas trees. I think she has nine in her house this year. She wraps each branch of each tree with lights - it's not uncommon for her to have 1300 lights on one tree. And from her I've caught the tree fever.

Which is why I have five in my house.

Gulp.

I only have three pictures because one turned out really dark and the other one has a couple of finishing touches before it is picture-worthy. So for now, I present three trees.

This is the little tree in my office. It's just a little foot and a half Charlie Brown hodge podge tree. I have on it the ornaments I've collected over the years...Baby's First Christmas...Scrapbooking Pals...#1 Babysitter...Princess...one from the piano teacher...that sort of thing. I put the multi-colored lights on it because that's the way our tree always was when I grew up and I wanted to pay tribute to that!

This is the tree in my dining room. It's about four feet tall and it's my Americana tree. My dining room is decorated in Americana "stuff" and so I had make the tree match. White lights, red and blue ornaments, and very fun red and silver twisty rope garland.

And THIS is the living room tree. The seven foot tree that Braeya sent crashing to the floor when I wasn't looking. You can't really tell here because it's so "lit" but it's a Victorian tree - all kinds of old fashioned ornaments and gold trumpets and French Horns and little tufts of gold bows. (And about six really old magazines propping it up so that she doesn't get the best of it again!!)

I have more pictures to post - but to try to pacify everyone, I'll do them later.

Sunday, December 3, 2006

I’ve had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I went through all the motions. I picked my card design this summer and had all of them made by mid-November. I wrote my Christmas letter in October, and the whole card project was complete before Thanksgiving (including signing and addressing). I planned a few parties, signed up to attend a few more, made my shopping list, and even spent three days decorating the whole house, complete with five trees. I’ve listened to Christmas music at work and in the car, and I’ve begun taking in as many Hallmark and Lifetime made-for-TV-Christmas-movies as I can stomach.

And still…blah.

I thought maybe it was the single bug biting. Sending in an RSVP for one at parties and signing one little name on a card can eventually get the best of even the most spirited Christmas lover. Collapsing on the bed after lugging around an entire attic of Christmas boxes alone can give a rather painful reminder that no one is around to help. And while I do my best to not dwell on that (and usually succeed) – it can worm its way in now and then.

So last week as I did the same old same old at my desk sometime between 8 and 5, I heard a radio spot by one of the ladies on staff at Proverbs 31 Ministries. She talked about a woman who incorporated a daily advent reading into her first Christmas together with her husband. Aside from the memories of her first Christmas as a married woman, she always cherished that extra measure of worship she incorporated through that reading.

Hmmm…Advent. More than just an extra ten minutes in Sunday morning’s service while someone in a bathrobe and a towel tied around his head lights a candle? More than just a piece of chocolate hiding behind a cardboard number?

I decided that maybe Advent is just what I need. Not the bathrobe and towel version…not the chocolate version. A study version. I have committed to spending at least ½ hour – and much more than that if I can – in extra Bible study for these 25 days. I’m doing a little writing project that you might see more of later.

I’m only 3 days in, and I have to say that the Spirit has arrived. I’m thoroughly enjoying Christmas! In fact, I can’t wait to sit down each day and think over my designated Scripture and see what new things I can learn! And I am learning. God always points the spotlight on something new in even the most familiar story – if you’re willing to sit long enough to look for it.

Last weekend, on my way up north, I listened to a new CD, courtesy of my friend, Marie. She has introduced me to the music of Todd Agnew – and this year he released his first Christmas CD. One song in particular made me cry, because it put Joseph in a light I’ve not seen him in before. And this is what has allowed me to look at Advent the way I am this year.

The song is called "This is All I Have to Give" and it shares a list of things that perhaps Joseph had dreamed he could give his son - and then his Son ended up being a Child he couldn't even fully understand.

We’re all Josephs of sorts. We sit around and feel like we don’t have much to offer – but He’ll take whatever we do have to offer and count it a gift. We don’t have to understand it – we just have to be willing.

And if you haven't heard the Todd CD, it's called Do You See What I See? Definitely worth checking out!!!

Recovering!!

Watch out...Dad is on the road again. Friday he received his clearance to drive. I called their cell phone on my lunch hour to see if he'd gotten his keys back and Mom answered. I could hear Dad hollering at the drive through lady (I think he thinks she has to hear him from his window to hers...not through that nifty little intercom), so I knew he was back in the driver's seat!!

He continues to recover - and I'm quite sure he continues to do more than he should. It's the Freelan way. We had a festive little bout with wind here on Friday, so today he and Mom were headed outside to dig icicle lights out of the gutter. I'm so sure that was not on his list of doctor-approved activities. Come to think of it, I bet Mom stands around and points at the paper to Dad like I did with Braeya after her surgery. The two rebellious patients and the two follow-the-rules caretakers.

The picture is from Thanksgiving. I was trying to show him how to do a self-portrait, but it came out looking more like a bad still from a helmet-cam. Oh well.

Braeya Just Being a Blessing (eyeroll)

So I'm a little behind on the pictures...sorry!!!

Braeya decided to be quite the helper with the Christmas trees. The first tree I put up was the red white and blue one in the dining room. It's just a little 4 foot tree - not a huge one. Anyway, I think she thought it was done expressly for her...I've found a few of the ornaments in the scrapbook closet. I think she intends to relocate them one by one throughout the month of December and see how long it takes me to notice that they're gone!!!!!

The other picture is from the weekend when I tried to get her to like the cat carrier so she would not fight me on the return trip to the vet. Unfortunately Kaegan was the one who climbed in, and she just took advantage of an opportunity to torture him!! You can see how she amuses him so....

PS - Amy C, where are you??

Amy C - I had to recreate all my links because I lost them in the template change. When I tried to add you back in, I couldn't get to your page from your profile. Can you send me an email with your link?? I didn't want you to think I removed you out of spite!!

Tree Casualty #1

I'm definitely coming down with something. Cold, flu, I'm not sure. But something. So this morning I stayed in bed forever, debating whether or not I was even going to mess with working today. Then I remembered the meeting I couldn't miss. So that answered that question. I dragged myself out of bed and down to the bathroom where I discovered that the hair definitely had to be started over from scratch. Sometimes I can get away with a quick and dirty (literally) fix but not today. So I started over. By the time I got done washing my hair it was already 7:05. I'm supposed to leave home at 7:30.

Can you already see the problem?

On my way to the kitchen to make coffee, I noticed that the litter box was beyond problematic, so I stopped to clean it. Then when I got to the kitchen, I remembered I needed to finish loading the dishwasher and start it because I have major baking to do tonight.

By that time it was 7:15 and I was still in my robe and my hair was still in a towel. I found the end piece to my counter on top of the counter, and the bottle of super glue next to it. Mom and Dad are coming to town today and I know they're stopping by the house. If they found that end piece not glued back on yet, they'd do it for me. I decided to fix that before work.

That's when I saw it.

On my way to the office (at home, not the work office) to get tape to hold the glued piece in place until the glue dried, I saw the seven foot tree dead on its side in the middle of the living room. Two NOT so innocent felines sat next to it with completely expressionless faces.

I said (in my calmest voice), "I don't know which one of you is responsible for this, but it had better not happen again." They left. Wise choice.

So I had to put the tree back up and redecorate the side that had become suddenly naked. Time finished? 7:28. Guess what? I didn't leave on time.

HOWEVER, let the record show, I made it to work on time with hair and makeup in place. About that counter piece, though....I hid it on top of my desk amid some picture frames. I doubt they'll find it there.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Thanksgiving, Volume Two has arrived!! Before I get to it…I hope all of you had a great weekend filled with more than just turkey and pumpkin pie!! And not to make anyone panic or anything…but did you know Christmas is less than a month away??

I better get back to being thankful before someone shoots me. J

15. Christmas lights. One of my favorite things to do every year is drive around looking at all the Christmas light displays. Christmas lights are my favorite. This weekend I got an extra helping of them, because I spent the weekend in Frankenmuth, Michigan – a full fledged Christmas city. Lights EVERYWHERE!! And as I drove back home this evening, I fully enjoyed looking around at all the homes whose walls have been fully decked!

16. Reconnecting with old friends. Between my class reunion, randomness, and the amazing linking from My Space and Blogger, I’ve found all sorts of people from years gone by. It has been great to catch up with them and hear what is happening in their lives. One day I even came to work to find an email in my inbox from a foreign exchange student I knew back in 1990! Somehow she found me at work and wrote to me. I haven’t talked to her in a dozen years, I imagine. That was a great surprise!

17. Garages. My house only has a one car garage, so back in the day when I had a roommate, we had a week on/week off system so that both of us got equal time in the garage. I loved it during the weeks that I had the garage. Not such a fan in the weeks when I got to park on the street. Why did it always seem to snow the most those weeks? Anyway, as I drove past my neighbor’s defrosting car last week on my way to work, I realized how thankful I am now to have sole dibs on the garage. Every day. No matter the weather.

18. Ice cream. I’m an ice cream junkie. Dairy Queen and I are friends. Arby’s jamocha shake and I are friends. Ivanhoes and I are friends. In fact, I just had a bowl of ice cream (in a cone shaped bowl, no less) right before I sat down to write. You can believe there is an entire shelf in my freezer devoted to ice cream. My favorite flavor? Moose tracks. And I’ve found that it’s very affordable in Aldi-land. (See #1 on the list).

19. Color. It may seem like a dumb thing to be thankful for, but I just love color! As I shopped in Frankenmuth this weekend, I was just blown away by all the color in the Christmas decorations. Absolutely beautiful!! It’s one of those great little perks that God threw in for us. He so didn’t have to – but I’m so glad He did.

20. Food chopper. I feel like I’ve made 483 batches of broccoli salad this week. I love that salad, but chopping broccoli takes forever. Thankfully, food choppers were invented, and I’ve got a great one!! It’s also great when I have to tackle the onions. I still cry – but not as much as when I had to chop them by hand! If you don’t have one – RUN to the store and buy one!

21. Hugs. I’m a hug girl. Love them. Usually. I remember a guy that I went to church with MANY years ago…and he liked to hug. He was probably 10 years older than I was and I’m not sure he was entirely on the same page with the rest of the world…bless his heart. Anyway, I never got away from church without a hug from him, and when he hugged me, he’d smack my back like he was burping a baby. Not quite enjoyable, but I’m sure there are worse things in life. So that type of hug excluded, I love a good hug!!

22. Study Bibles. I think it’s Billy Graham that says you should get a new Bible every year so that you see things from a fresh perspective. Well, I can’t afford a new one quite that often, and I like to “live in” mine for a bit longer than that, but every now and then I like a new Bible. I just got one, in fact. With all this overtime we’ve had to work, I decided I would splurge and treat myself. If I have to stay, I might as well get something fun with the money, right? This one is an Archaeological study Bible, and it has all sorts of great pictures and notes about life in Bible times. I’m learning so much!

23. Electricity. Last week I came home form work to find that my garage door wouldn’t work. I figured I had a dead battery in the opener, so I parked in the driveway and went inside. Once inside, I found that many things were dead: my lights, my heat, my TV, my microwave. There went dinner plans, the TV shows I usually have on after work, the chance to do laundry…well the chance to do much of anything, given that it was mostly dark. I ran around lighting candles, and I realized how much I depend on my electricity! Fortunately, whatever was causing the issue was fixed in a couple of hours.

24. Candles. Speaking of candles…I love them. The four years of deprivation induced by life on the college campus has given me a whole new appreciation for them that has yet to go away. I love the smell of them, the glow of them, even the way they heat my house in the winter!! Yay for candles!!

25. Washers and dryers. I’m so thankful that God placed me in this era and not in Little House on the Prairie days. Though it’s one of my favorite shows, I don’t think I would have been cut out for the days of covered wagons, no air conditioning, and washing clothes by hand on a washboard!! I’m not only thankful that I have a washer and dryer in this house, but I’m thankful that they exist at all!

26. Cell phones. I know it seems absolutely shallow, but I am thankful for them. Driving home on the interstate in the dark, I felt much safer, knowing I could call for help if I needed to do so. And to be able to call my Mom from the middle of a store when I had a question – that was great! I love my cell phone!

27. Discipline. And by that, I mean the God-variety. This past year has been a huge year of discipline from God to me. I’ve gone through a lot of learning and much of it hasn’t been fun, but to look back at it from this side makes it absolutely worth the pain that happened during it. And what a relief to know that God still thinks there’s hope enough for the future to continue the discipline! If He were to stop, I’d be in big trouble!

28. God’s mercy. And finally, I’m just thankful for God and His love and His mercy. I visited a church this morning while I was out on the road, and one great thing about that was the ability to just focus on God. I didn’t know anyone at the church, so I couldn’t be distracted by people. While many churches were probably plunging into Christmas programs and music and sermons, this church was still all about Thanksgiving and it gave me a chance to tell God again just how thankful I am for all He’s done.

No More Stitches!!

This morning I tricked Braeya into climbing into her cat carrier for what I hope is the final time. When I woke up, she was sacked out at the foot of the bed and I found her favorite toy just inches away from my feet. I confiscated it and when I was ready to take her back to the vet for "suture removal," I said, "Hey, Braeya, wanna play a game??" She chased me through the house and straight into the carrier where I tossed the little piece of fuzz she loves so much.

She remembered the vet because she refused to come out of her carrier once we got there. The vet pulled her out and asked me to hold her down while she snipped. I'm sorry...what? I'm the fainter girl! Actually I've never fainted in my life, but the mere thought of those stitches sliding out in my presence made me want to consider it as a new activity.

The worst part (for me) was as I held her down, I completely lost sight of reality - I forgot there was a vet in the room and I started stupid talking like I do at home. See here's the thing. I hate baby talk. This whole "goochy goochy goo" business that parents do makes me want to barf. But I remember this one episode of Friends where Rachel was talking to Ben, I think, and her voice went up two octaves and she said, "You're so cute...yes you are...yes you are," and then she said in the same stupid voice, "Why am I talking like this? I don't know...No I don't!" So I started talking to Kaegan like that just to be silly, and now I talk to both of them that way. Typically I only do it when I'm alone or when my parents are around (because they think it's funny). But there I was at the vet's today, holding her down and avoiding any contact with scissors meeting stitches saying, "You're my good good girl, yes you are! Mommy loves you!" Oh good grief.

When I started talking about myself in the third person, I turned red and shut up. There's got to be therapy for this sort of thing.

Decking the Halls Has Begun

Typically I'm very against decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving has had its moment in the spotlight. But I'm not hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year, so no one will be here to know!! And I'm desperate to get the whole house decorated completely before the weekend is over.

So today, my attic threw up into my bedroom. Literally 90% of my attic has turned out to be boxes of Christmas stuff. Trees...decorations...wreaths...ornaments...lights...dishes...you name it. It's crazy! I locked the cats downstairs (because all I'd need is a cat lost in the recesses of the attic) and began to drag out boxes and bags. I'm not really sure where I'm going to sleep tonight, actually, because of all the stuff.

But the decorating madness has begun. So far I have one room mostly done. I do my rooms in themes, and my dining room is halfway through an Americana makeover anyway. So I decided to just carry it out by making that the Americana Christmas room. I have the tree up and decorated in red, gold, and silver. I can't officially finish that room until the rest of the house is done, since the dining room table becomes the common collection ground for most other Christmas decorating transition material. But at least I can go to bed with one tree completed.

Now if only I can learn to keep Braeya out of it. Kaegan remembers from years gone by. He pauses to sniff and occasionally chew on a branch, but he remembers that is his limit. Braeya...well...what she's going to come up with remains to be seen. It could be an intersting year.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

This morning in a sermon illustration, our pastor asked us when we were last grateful for plumbing and sewage systems. I leaned over to my friend Laura and said, “Probably the last time it stopped working.” I hate to say that, but it’s true. It’s like the only time I realize how effortlessly I breathe is when my nose is stopped up. I just don’t notice things until they’re gone. I forget to be thankful.

I looked back through the last three years’ worth of columns and realized I’ve never written about Thanksgiving. It gets lost in the Christmas shuffle. So this year…28 things that make me thankful. Some big, some little. All wonderful. One for each year of my life. I’ll give you half the list this week and half next week – just so you don’t have to take a nap in the middle.

1. Aldi’s. I’ve been told I have a pathetic grocery budget – which is probably true. I love to cook and bake, but I couldn’t make my tiny allowance stretch without Aldi’s – even if I do have to keep a quarter on reserve for my cart and ferret out my own boxes to hold my groceries.

2. Digital cameras. Being the picture lover that I am, I appreciate being able to immediately redo the shot until I get the perfect angle and lighting. It came in extra handy when trying to do a photo shoot alone while holding a sleeping baby the other day. The end result was worth every single redo.

3. Blankets and pillows. Whether I’m snuggling down on the couch to watch a movie on a Sunday afternoon or snuggling into the middle of the bed at night to read a magazine, I love being sandwiched between pillows and blankets. It probably takes me twice as long as it should to make my bed every day just because I have all the pillows and blankets to deal with. But nothing beats being toasty and comfy on cold nights!

4. Straightening products. If you don’t know me very well, let me just introduce you to a little known and mostly useless fact about myself: my hair has ATTITUDE. It has significant wave. Too straight to have the adorable curl that my “niece” Hannah has – and much too wavy to be the adorable straight that most people can achieve with a flat iron. And while I’ve learned to love my hair, I have learned to love it more in the last two weeks. My niece, Cassie, told me about Herbal Essences new “Dangerously Straight” line – shampoo, conditioner, mousse, hairspray – the whole nine yards. I don’t like forking out 3 bucks a bottle, particularly, but the 20 minute reduction in flat ironing each morning has made it more than worth it.

5. Kaegan and Braeya. I know – some of you think I really am becoming the crazy cat lady. And maybe I am. But hey…they’re the ones who greet me at the door when I come home. And alongside making me crazy (and this month, broke!) they make me laugh after a rough day at work. They don’t seem to mind when I cry over silly things. And though they can’t really hug, a big purr and a nose nuzzle can definitely make a sad moment glad.

6. Dad’s healthy recovery. He’s had more than his share of surgeries during these last couple of years – and I’m just really glad he’s still here. Who else would I pick on without getting into trouble? Who else would help me turn my house (and the neighborhood) upside down when Braeya came up missing? Who else would play me a song on the radio just because? I may be 28, but I think there’s some Daddy’s Little Girl still in me.

7. Stamps. One of my friends was over here this afternoon and while borrowing my computer, looked through the open closet door and said, “What’s all that?” I didn’t even think twice before answering, “Oh those are all my stamps for card making and scrapbooking.” I’ve never seen eyes get so wide so fast. I know – you don’t all understand the rubber stamp frenzy. But I love my stamps – and I’m thankful that I was able to use my years of selling them to build a great collection.

8. Books. I feel guilty even putting more on my Christmas list when there are so many on my shelves that I haven’t read yet. Books are great – and someday I’d love to have a library just like the one on Beauty and the Beast. Clear to the ceiling – with ladders and a fireplace and a big comfy chair.

9. Music. Savannah was in the car with me tonight when I went to church and the first thing she wanted was the music to be turned off. What a silent ride to church!! I mean it was nice to talk – usually there’s no one to talk to in the car. But there was nothing in the background. I love my music – when I get ready in the morning…when I work…when I drive around…how did people make it before the days of music at the press of a button?

10. Dollar bin fabric. I have a whole new sack of it just waiting in the upstairs closet. Time for new curtains and seat covers in the dining room. I love curtains and just would not be able to afford them if it weren’t for the great treasures I find in the dollar bin. And if I’m going to be entirely fair, I should be thankful for a Mom who can help me sew in a straight line – which sometimes proves challenging for me.

11. Hair dye. I am now a shade of mocha. It’s a lot better than the shade of white I was becoming right at the very front of my head. I’m too young to be gray!!! And while I aspire to never be the shade of neon orange that I accidentally was earlier this year, I’m so thankful that I at least have the option to not grow visibly old before my time!!

12. People who clean out their closets. It’s always good to get new clothes. It’s even better when you don’t have to pay full price for them!! I’m thankful that God has kept me well supplied with friends my size who love to shop – and can afford it! And then I’m thankful for their rummage sales that keep me well stocked with new-to-me things!

13. Roses. My favorite flower. And this week I got one! What a fun surprise to return to work and find a rose on my desk. Sarah (from my office) knew I was having a rough day and thought she would brighten it up for me. Thank you, Sarah!! You are a blessing…and the rose is right here, still smelling and looking great!

14. Surprise notes from friends. My friend, Julie Crandall, stopped by my house this afternoon and handed me a little scrap of paper she’d drawn on. A little “I’m glad you’re my friend” poem, complete with pictures. I put it right up on the entertainment center to remind me that I have the best friends – so many of them!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all – I hope this week is filled with moments where you’re aware of those things you take for granted. Be thankful for them…they are gifts.

Braeya and Bekah

The night that Braeya came home from the vet, I decided to take advantage of her lethargy and have a photo shoot with her. I tried to have one with Kaegan too, but I think I'm definitely going to have to catch him in the right mood. He was way too fidgety for the camera.