For a taste of Christmas in our family, take a look!
BTW--many thanks to my techno-geek Will and my hand-holder Steve. The video was a snap to make, but took literally days to upload, download, link, or whatever the heck needed to happen in order to click that colored text above and actually see the elusive little movie.
Happy New Year, my Friends!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
A Hunker Down Holiday
This Christmas is a hunker down holiday.
In some ways it's similar to Christmas 1967 when my brother Bill was serving as a Forward Artillery Observer in the US Marines in VietNam. My mother announced that year we would each receive one gift. Not that we were rich--by any stretch of the imagination--and were used to mounds of presents. No way. But that year, she needed to acknowledge in a visible way that our nuclear family was scattered and shattered. Norman Rockwell would not be painting our picture.
That year, our Christmas season involved gathering around the television for nightly national news coverage as much as gathering around the tree for multicolored wishing. That year, Christmas music and visons of sugarplums were replaced with square muddy images of soldiers, helicopters, and napalm attacks in tropical forests. How does a mother hold it together when her son is half a world away on the front lines . . .? Now that I'm a mother of sons too, I marvel at the way my Mom handled that holiday. In our house that year there was a solemnity and deep peace that surpassed the frivolity and glitter. We celebrated--not the advent of Santa Claus, but the birth of The Prince of Peace.
This Christmas is a hunker down holiday. Busy weeks spent with our precious grandson have caused much introspection. Sandy, what exactly do you want to teach this boy? Did Jesus leave His throne in Heaven so that I could get my knickers in a knot over not getting our Christmas tree up soon enough? Does finding time to shop for gifts trump slowing down to share the Gift? Are Peace and Joy tied in bright paper with shiny ribbon, or wrapped in an everday call to "small things with great love."
The phone rang at 1:30 PM on Monday, December 10th. "Travis has died," my friend said. I kept repeating, shouting "What?!" Thoughts raced. My brother in Christ? My 50 year-old friend? The son of my dear friends Ann and Ken--gone? What--my close friend Kelly's husband died?! Before the truth settled in, I grabbed my keys and was on the way to Chappell Hill to hug Ann and Kelly.
In the car I told God lots of things. I was certain Travis was in the presence of his Lord and Savior because I believe God's promises. God loved the world so much that He sent His One and Only Son into the world. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I told God the truth, and confessed I was jealous that Travis got to see Jesus face to face. I was so grateful for the time God gave us to be friends, volunteer co-workers, and siblings in the little church family in Chappell Hill. Remembering all the hours Travis and I had spent with others in meetings over the years--Future Planning, Education, Nomination--I threw my head back and smiled outloud. "There are no committee meetings in Heaven, are there?!
But mostly, when I think about Travis' sudden and unexpected death 15 days before Christmas, I thank God for Jesus' birth. After all, God's Son was born to die; the shadow of His Cross was cast across His Cradle. Jesus didn't come to rock around the Christmas tree. His mission, His life was to draw men and women to God. His death, burial, and resurrection brought victory over sin and death and hell. His sacrifice has bought eternal life to all who will believe.
Sometimes I need to be placed in the trenches before I stop long enough to remember who--and what-- we're celebrating. A hunker down holiday knocks me to my knees where I can see how small I am and how big and perfectly wonderful God is.
In some ways it's similar to Christmas 1967 when my brother Bill was serving as a Forward Artillery Observer in the US Marines in VietNam. My mother announced that year we would each receive one gift. Not that we were rich--by any stretch of the imagination--and were used to mounds of presents. No way. But that year, she needed to acknowledge in a visible way that our nuclear family was scattered and shattered. Norman Rockwell would not be painting our picture.
That year, our Christmas season involved gathering around the television for nightly national news coverage as much as gathering around the tree for multicolored wishing. That year, Christmas music and visons of sugarplums were replaced with square muddy images of soldiers, helicopters, and napalm attacks in tropical forests. How does a mother hold it together when her son is half a world away on the front lines . . .? Now that I'm a mother of sons too, I marvel at the way my Mom handled that holiday. In our house that year there was a solemnity and deep peace that surpassed the frivolity and glitter. We celebrated--not the advent of Santa Claus, but the birth of The Prince of Peace.
This Christmas is a hunker down holiday. Busy weeks spent with our precious grandson have caused much introspection. Sandy, what exactly do you want to teach this boy? Did Jesus leave His throne in Heaven so that I could get my knickers in a knot over not getting our Christmas tree up soon enough? Does finding time to shop for gifts trump slowing down to share the Gift? Are Peace and Joy tied in bright paper with shiny ribbon, or wrapped in an everday call to "small things with great love."
The phone rang at 1:30 PM on Monday, December 10th. "Travis has died," my friend said. I kept repeating, shouting "What?!" Thoughts raced. My brother in Christ? My 50 year-old friend? The son of my dear friends Ann and Ken--gone? What--my close friend Kelly's husband died?! Before the truth settled in, I grabbed my keys and was on the way to Chappell Hill to hug Ann and Kelly.
In the car I told God lots of things. I was certain Travis was in the presence of his Lord and Savior because I believe God's promises. God loved the world so much that He sent His One and Only Son into the world. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I told God the truth, and confessed I was jealous that Travis got to see Jesus face to face. I was so grateful for the time God gave us to be friends, volunteer co-workers, and siblings in the little church family in Chappell Hill. Remembering all the hours Travis and I had spent with others in meetings over the years--Future Planning, Education, Nomination--I threw my head back and smiled outloud. "There are no committee meetings in Heaven, are there?!
But mostly, when I think about Travis' sudden and unexpected death 15 days before Christmas, I thank God for Jesus' birth. After all, God's Son was born to die; the shadow of His Cross was cast across His Cradle. Jesus didn't come to rock around the Christmas tree. His mission, His life was to draw men and women to God. His death, burial, and resurrection brought victory over sin and death and hell. His sacrifice has bought eternal life to all who will believe.
 |
| Our tree this year has white lights, ribbon, and some of the names of Jesus. This is enough. |
Sometimes I need to be placed in the trenches before I stop long enough to remember who--and what-- we're celebrating. A hunker down holiday knocks me to my knees where I can see how small I am and how big and perfectly wonderful God is.
Sock Garland
I dreamed of this sock garland for a long time, but was stumped about its execution until I Googled sock garland images. Thanks to the pictures, I added tiny embellishments to the baby socks, and voila!, that's just what it needed.
In case you're interested in the details:
+wide polka dot ribbon--Hobby Lobby
+Elf Britches--HEB grocery store
+red boots--WalMart (maybe 5 years ago?)
+linen kitchen towels--discount stores like Ross & Marshalls
 |
| Our mantel is decorated with a Sock Garland this year. Merry Christmas 2012! |
 |
| In addition to more traditional stockings, there are infant socks and a pair of Elf Britches. |
 |
| Outgrown baby socks are embellished with tiny ornaments or big, bright jingle bells. Yes! That's one of Daniel's famous Magic Socks in the middle. |
 |
| The adult kids have stockings I made from decorative linen kitchen towels in 2010. Painted chipboard letters personalize each one. |
 |
| This started life as a decorative linen kitchen towel. With ribbon, rickrack, and star jingle bells, it's now a stocking. |
 |
| Christmas 2011, we were waiting for the February 2012 arrival of Daniel. This is the stocking we hung last year. |
 |
| Little red patent boots look like they belong to an elf. |
 |
| Daniel's stocking for this year is Elf Britches! Every grandbaby needs a double-wide stocking, don't you agree?! |
In case you're interested in the details:
+wide polka dot ribbon--Hobby Lobby
+Elf Britches--HEB grocery store
+red boots--WalMart (maybe 5 years ago?)
+linen kitchen towels--discount stores like Ross & Marshalls
Friday, December 14, 2012
Daniel @ 10 Months
Happy10-Month Birthday to Daniel on December 11, 2012.
 |
| Daniel's Official "Tensie" Onesie Photo |
 |
| Grand Dad may have a new name--"HeyHey" |
 |
| Gigi and Daniel |
 |
| Mamae and Papai with D |
 |
| Vovo Dora and Tia Flora joined in from Brazil for the cake, candles, and singing. |
 |
| Cecilia made a beautiful cake. |
 |
| Daniel was mesmerized by the candles. GiGi is teaching him how to blow. |
 |
| Daniel likes to read. |
 |
| "Some people think my hair is going to be red, but I'm not sure yet. How 'bout copper?" |
 |
| Daniel likes to shop in the pantry. (BTW--don't judge! All the healthy food is on the other 3 shelves . . . ) |
 |
| Daniel with his favorite toy-- the Busy Ball Popper. |
 |
| Waiting for the ball to POP . . . |
 |
| . . . Little Man stands on his own. |
 |
| He may have a seat, but |
 |
| he stands back up. Look Ma, no hands! |
 |
| In addition to working on his balance, and cruising around all the furniture and walls, Daniel has finally grown in his first top tooth. If you're lucky, he'll give you his crinkly nose/squinchy eyes smile. |
ma ma ma ma Mamae
or I want to nurse
or Things aren't right. Fix it!
gigi (usually in a whisper) GiGi :~D
ba ba ba the stuffed sheep in D's room
na na food
especially I want to eat. NOW!
banana BANANA!
 |
| "I love my Papai, and I'm working on his name too." |
Little Man pushes stools, chairs, and his stroller all around the house. Daniel is 19+ pounds and ~27 inches of BUSY. He's finally decided he'll go to sleep at night, and stay asleep for 9 or 10 hours. Hooray! Hallelujah!
Daniel's pediatrician asked if he likes to eat carrots, and said he is what she calls a "golden baby." His skin definitely glows from all the butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and other dark yellow veggies he loves. Will said he looks like he has a Jerseylicious spray tan.
I'm so grateful that this little miracle is healthy, challenging, quick, and strong. Happy Birthday, Daniel!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)