New Year

Well, the time of celebration is over.
 Thanksgiving is long past. Christmas toys have become old. The ball has dropped and confetti has been vacuumed.
Now it is time to get to the business of life and change and goals and . . . work. Doesn't it have the sound of drudgery--taking inventory of our shortcomings, making lists of the ways we would like to change, resolving.

After the first week of thinking over these things, perhaps it is time for a new inventory. Let's make a celebration list. Celebrating the gifts He has given us--talents, transformation, fun.

:: making stars on the ceiling ::

:: naked boys ::

:: snow ::

:: almost finished with the thumb of my first ever crocheted mitten ::

:: cats sleeping at my feet ::

:: finding a multiple alarm alarm clock for my computer ::

:: picking up ::

:: a day to finish the unfinished tasks from the week ::

Moments that Count

Moments that Count

I recently spoke to my cousin who lives in Illinois. We were exchanging stories about the kids. Our talk took us back to the days when we were the kids.

On all holidays we filled our grandparents house to celebrate the day. We meaning four children, their spouses, and at least 8 grandkids (plus guests!). The house was filled with joy, holiday spirit, and noise. Lots of chaos!

As our conversation continued, we realized we could not remember a gift that we received during those holidays. We know there were gifts but now thinking about it, they didn’t matter. It was the moments we shared with our family.

As I am planning our Christmas in our new home, I want my children to remember the family moments. Of course there will be favorite presents and surprises. Everyone loves presents! I don’t want the gifts to be a main focus though.

That is why this year, I have a new plan. I plan on sitting with my children and making cards for the family that can’t be here with us because of distance. I plan on celebrating those who we have lost over the past few years even when tears come to my eye and my heart misses them so much. I plan on sharing stories of the children in Peru that my sister and brother in law had the honor of ministering to. You see I want to take the focus from Santa, presents and ourselves to show my children a whole world that we take for granted. I am thankful that my family instilled that into me and want my children to know the chaos of a house full…..of love.

~Donna Galderisi

Anticipation...

There is so much anticipation in my home for Christmas.

As we read our Advent story each night (and a few other Christmas and wintery stories), the excitement continues to build.

Today I am thankful for:

~The Reason for the Season

~The challenge I face as a parent, to make sure my children understand and love that reason.

~The mistake we made of telling our children that Sunday marks the day that we are getting our Christmas tree. I am thankful for this error (however, you would think we would had learned by now that our children have NO CONCEPT of time and that you cannot tell children anything exciting until maybe 2 hours before said event) because had we not, then we wouldn't be hearing this Brenna composed song, at least 3 times a waking hour for the past 48 hours (and counting)... "We're getting our tree on Sunday! We're getting our tree on Sunday!" Yes, can you hear her little voice singing?

~Anticipation for Sunday!

~Siblings getting along and HUGGING!

~A weekend of fun ahead with family, good friends and tradition.

~Early Christmas gifts. A little coin that says "Mommy I love you!" and a precious gold ring with a red stone that was purchased in the Secret Santa Shop at school. She could not wait to give all of us her gifts. We let her. Seems I know someone else just like that? Hmmmm. Isn't it very cool to see good parts of you in your children.

~Cookies that fail because I am reminded that I am not called to be "super mom" (baking well would be in my definition of a super mom) and my kids are content with the no-bakes. I am also reminded that it's okay to try again...but pick a DIFFERENT recipe = -)

~Anticpation of GIFT GIVING!

~Giving my daugher a "I'm six years old and need to play for an entire day and eat, rest and relax at will" day off from school. It's legal.

~Enjoying that day home with my children by making gifts and spending time together.

~An entertaining kitty cat from another planet = - ) - One of our cats has to wear a cone.

~Anticipation of our traditional Christmas Prayer by my dad. That when we were little he made EXTRA long on purpose.

~OHHHH how I love this time of year and all of the joy that it brings!!!

As We Wait

 

Tis the season of Advent. Waiting expectantly in our house sometimes ends up looking like a frenzied last minute rush to add some merriment and tradition to the season. I could see it now.

Husband: So what were your Christmas traditions?

Abigail: Well, Mom spent the holiday's frustrated, grouchy, and in a hurry.

Husband: What did you do?

Abigail: Rushed around alot.

OK, so maybe that isn't quite how it would go, but I'm telling you I could picture it and I didn't like it. (The Christmas planner I tried and advertised at our meeting bit the dust in the two-weeks of Birthday and Thanksgiving.)

I did what is becoming habit: read some blogs. Then I came up with a plan. And advent calendar that marks the days not with candies but with activities--

• watch a holiday movie (or four), 
• sing and dance Christmas carols, 
• make ornaments, 
• address and send Christmas cards, 
• read special stories, 
• give, give, give.

That's what we have. Lest you think more of me than you should, I will confess that the envelops weren't filled till the 3rd and the tree wasn't on the wall till the 5th and it still isn't straight. But, hey, I wasn't looking for perfection, just for tradition.

Now I can hear it.

Wife: So what did you do for Christmas in your family?

Simon: Well, Mom stuck a crocheted sting on the wall in the shape of a wounded Christmas tree and hung decorated envelops from it with things to do as we waited for Christmas. I think we should do that too. 

Well, maybe my imagination may be getting a little ahead of itself there. But I have my aspirations.

As an aside, I just bought a magazine, whole living, and read an entire article on embracing the chaos. There now I don't have to feel bad about ditching the Christmas planner.

Just a List

Good Morning.
As we get closer to Christmas, could we all make a list of the gifts we've already been given.

:: raisins in oatmeal ::

:: getting out the Christmas music ::

:: advent calendars ::

:: cinnamon smells ::

:: cuddles in flannel sheets on cold mornings ::

:: snow and sleds and little people made big in snow clothes ::

:: thinking much about Jesus ::

:: red and green ::

:: time to make memories ::

:: fully charged cameras with plenty of room on memory cards ::

What's on your list?

Fun!

" 'round the world baseball!"

I have two children.

You can play almost any outside game with three people. What outside game can you play with only two? One of the two being four years old, full of energy and pure boy. The other being 32, out of shape = no energy, and maybe 3/8 tomboy.

I asked my pure boy this past Tuesday (MOPS Day!) what game he would like to play. "Baseball mommy!"

We go get some pieces of wood to make the bases, home plate, first base, second base and third. We begin to play. I soon realize this is not going to work well. He doesn't have a teammate and I don't have help in the outfield. He is going to have to hit a homerun each time for this to work. As good as my son is, he cannot do that.

We stop and think. We come up with a plan. We invent our own version of baseball. We call it " 'round the world baseball."

Here are the rules:

Set your bases up. Just as you do in regular basebal.
The youngest goes first, of course.

Since there are only two of you, you are on opposite teams. So one team is pitching and outfield, the other is hitting and running bases trying to score.

Two strikes = 1 out.
A foul ball = 1 out.
3 outs ends an inning.
There are six innings or a score to eleven (which ever comes first) to win/end the game.

The tricky part...
If you get a hit and are able to make it to a base, say 2nd, then the pitcher pitches to you at 2nd base. You get another hit but only make it to third, the pitcher pitches again to you at third, until the runner reaches home for a score.

That is why we called it " 'round the world baseball!" You are literally spending most of the game in rotation from base to base!

If there are no outs, but the current batter's score reaches 5 then it is the other persons turn to bat.

We had alot of fun playing this.
I have to tell you ladies that I was sweating by the end of our game.

So for those of you who may find yourself with only one child at home on a warm fall, summer, spring day...consider trying Ethan and his Mommy's " 'round the world baseball," or invent a game of your own!!!

If we can do it so can you!!!!

With Thanksgiving

I've prayed many desperate prayers this week. When I've felt at the end of my ability to rejoice over another picture for the fridge, or to soothe yet another bump from the pursuit of another interest. I wait for God to answer, to give me the desire or the joy, to make me a happy mother as Joy said earlier this week.

The verse I cling to, that I've memorized, that I've highlighted and made bold says,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

 The bold is my own doing. You see, so often I forget the with thanksgiving in my days. Then I wonder why I am less than happy in this motherhood adventure. Do you ever struggle with with thanksgiving in your days? If so, would you join me in making a list today?

::husband at work::

::ladies welcoming little girls::

::the way Operation Christmas Child turns her heart to compassion::

::squash in a pot::

::fried cabbage::

::sleeping late::

::pulling out fall quilts::

::white cats purring on laps::

::black dogs joining us for tag::

::hitting the two year mark with big black dogs::

Resolutions

So, I was reading yesterday about year naming at Holy Experience. (I really like her blog, really, really.) She talked about giving this new year a name, sort of a focus. A way of numbering our days, ordering the time before us. She is far more poetic than I am and I encourage you to read her words on the subject.

What name would I give this new year?

I have so many things I want to do, changes I want to see occur in my life. Is there one defining focus, a unifying point of reference in all the jumble? A name that if given to this year would beautifully package and enable all the questions and heart cries I have during this time of newness.

There are many words I have been mulling over in this middle ground of end and beginning:

order, routine, peace, discipline, present, rhythm.

I will name 2009 Rhythm. More than order and routine, rhythm implies presence and peace, discipline and joy. Rhythm is a word to be shared as this year is time to be shared. Rhythm hints at the sacred.

Do you have resolutions? Do you have a name for the year?

Happy New Year

Six days late. My resolutions still linger in my mind, scattered words scratched in notebooks and journal. Still marinating in the process of planned change. Really how much change can I plan. Maybe that is the point of marinating in the ideas--praying, writing, waiting for God's plans to come to words, to express themselves in ways a mortal can understand.

I have some ideas about relationship and including and new life and completed tasks and this week I choose to finish things and to find a routine and rhythm to our lives. Like the gift of sunrise and sunset, of breathing in and breathing out, routine holds the promise of newness in each new task.

What about you? Did you make any resolutions? How are you doing six days in?

I've been reading Holy Experience as I think and plan and process.

Happy Thanksgiving
( I know a turkey is traditional, but God made this and isn't He who we're thanking?)

Quit

Moving in a week (or two). Husband hasn't decided on the exact date. Packing--boxes, tape, paper, empty bookcases and walls.

Dishes piled, yes piled, in the sink. Food stuck on. Soiled panties strewn wherever daughter has an accident and strips. Recycling spills from the containers designed to hold it. Folded laundry lounges on the coffee table. Another load wrinkles in the dryer and the underwear wait in a basket.

Flash cards. Books. Toys. Create an obstacle course throughout the house.

Still in my pajamas and little one without underwear.

I want to quit! Send in my two week notice. Retire somewhere with books and time and no one to intrude. Where I can drink a cup of tea without witness to the mess awaiting me when I am finished.

Ahh, but God whispers. All this is witness to life. Sometimes messy. At times overwhelming. But look at the little girl dancing without panties--just joy.

Maybe the lows are less about low and more about my vision.

Those hard days when nothing seems to get done regardless of how I work can bring condemnation

or

those hard days when nothing seems to get done regardless of how I work can give witness to the lives that are lived here in this home.

And that is reason to celebrate!