A Christmas Story

Ah, the memories that surround me at this time of year. I have so many. Sometimes they just envelop me and take over in a "Ralphie" moment until I startle back to reality...

Ralphie Gets an A++++

I am a Christmas junkie and a hoarder of Christmas memories. I draw upon that spirit during the holidays and throughout the year more times than I can count. Sometimes they are my security. Not just because they are Christmas memories, but because they are often family related and always warm. Even the memories of my dad trying to get a tree with an 8 inch diameter into a 6 inch tree stand somehow brings warmth to my soul. I guess I must block out the image of my dad hurling the stand across the street while sputtering *#@% words and bring the image of the majestic, decorated tree in the stand to mind instead. I must admit, though, that some of the memories that were not so cute make for great things to recall around the family table at Christmastime. Some of these scenes could have originated in my own childhood home. They tickle me because they hit so close to home.

You used all the glue 

 

 The Pink Bunny Suit

Chinese Turkey (Watch the mom-it's the best part!)

The best part of all these memories are that I grew up with a father who wanted to be "The Real Santa" for his job, and parents who taught us that Christ and giving are what Christmas is about. So, I have parents who created magic in the forms of memories, storytelling of babes in swaddling clothes and a man in a red suit whose mission is to give and love. I grew up experiencing wonderful food, icicle strewn Christmas trees, Nativity enactments, plates of cookies to run to neighbors, and the peace that comes from Christmas. And for that I am grateful.

Circa 1988

 

 Last Christmas Eve (2012)

It's Just Emotion that's Taking Me Over...

I LOVE this time of year. I absolutely love it! But I am just about the most emotional person on the planet from the first Christmas commercial until about the 3rd of January. It's joyful emotion, but emotion nonetheless. I cry at church. I cry at school. I cry watching TV and while listening to Christmas music. I cry when children sing Jingle Bells. I cry when I think of the Christ-child and His family. Like I said~joyful crying. But also choked up with emotion.

This time of year is all for one reason. Whether you're Christian, Jew, Catholic, non-denominational, white, colored, boy or girl, the Christmas season began because of Christ. It has become much more and some of those things enhance the season and all it's joys, and those joys are the things that get to my heart. Oh, I hear cries of "commercialism" and "skipping Thanksgiving" often, but here's the kicker...it's all in how you choose to view it. You can find joy or you can be upset. And we all know how I'm a connoisseur of  joy!

So I have found much joy in the season already. I gave praises of gratitude and thanks with my family in Washington for Thanksgiving. I began playing -and singing Christmas music early.

 I spent time watching fun Christmas movies with my family.

I gained inspiration and renewed strength in my job and calling in life by remembering I'm a guardian of children. I decorated my house with love. I watched Savior of the World with my Young Women. I marveled at the sacrifices made by so many to bring about His birth-and then to sing praises of joy because of it. I know I was in Heaven singing too.

Sydnee, Meghan and Shelby after Savior of the World
@Conference Center

Again I choose to find joy, and at this time of year you don't have to look far. I find a lot of it at home with my family and in the simple acts of preparation. Though there are events I would never miss I like to keep it simple so the rush and stress doesn't get too taxing. I count my blessings. I know I have many. And I'm emotional about it. In a joyful way.



Inspired

Almost exactly 2 years ago, I was at Disneyland with my family. We love this time of year, and being at Disney only enhances the magic. We love it! I remember looking at Chad and then at my girls and thinking, "Wow! Life is good right now." And then that nagging little voice in the far reaches of my mind said, "I wonder how long we can keep this going. What's next?" I find that every time I notice that life is going well and that the bumps are relatively small, I feel I jinx myself! I find myself wondering if I could keep the trials at bay if that little voice would just shut up, or if the natural order of things demands that the next trial presents itself whether the voice speaks up or not. I tend to believe that life IS a trial and the quiet, peaceful joyful and even uneventful times in life are just a bonus that we can acknowledge as blessings... or not. I think the way we choose to look at joy will carry us over the bumpy times.

Well, within a week of that magical trip I found out I was dealing with an Ovarian Cancer issue. Just the C word is daunting, but many issues in life are just as seemingly insurmountable to us frail humans. I was blessed to come through this ordeal relatively healthy and only somewhat physically altered (less one ovary) but significantly changed in mind and spirit. For the better.

I found myself thinking along the same Disney-ish, happy-go-lucky lines just a couple of weeks ago and shortly thereafter found myself in a whirlwind of physical, emotional, and stressful situations that have weighed pretty heavily since then, but seem to be (dare I say it?)  getting better. As I've trudged through the last weeks, I've thought a lot about how I get through them and come out the other side feeling blessed. I've come to accept that during these times, many people and situations are put in place to make me be inspired. The inspiration I've experienced has ranged from personal to spiritual to situational, and has arrived in the forms of sisters, parents, friends and co-workers. Some were just thoughts uttered while others have been in the form of entire experiences. Everything I read, heard, watched and participated seemed to inexplicably be tied to something I needed to be inspired about. Heaven sent things can be inexplicable, I know.

So again, I'm grateful. I'm blessed, and inspired. I love that!

Me, Sarah Jane, my mom, and Amy (our amazing hostess)
getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner.

A **CUTE** Little Update

My heart is full. People are good. There is happiness out there to find and to share. There is love to receive if we open our hearts for it.

Last week was a doozie! Hard. Stressful. Busy. Sad. And so full of good things. For every hard thing I got to see 10 good things. Good deeds. Kindnesses. Miracles. Great performances.

I had a little bit of interest in my project for veterans and soldiers last week. Not much, but people asked questions and wanted details, so I was happy to supply these things. I hoped there would be more interest displayed but was grateful at the response nonetheless. This morning when I walked into work, the basket I had set on the faculty room table was full of the most darling cards you've ever seen. They grabbed at my heart and just about choked me to tears. Most of them were made by first graders. Take a look and see what you feel...

The ultimate tear-jerker for me:
"Dear Veteran, I want you so bad to come back and live in the world."

Translation: "Dear Veteran, Thank you for fighting in the war because you save our world."

I love the reindeer teetering right on the point of the roof  :)

Along with these gems I had cards from church groups, families, and scout groups to send. What a wonderful heart-lifting moment that gave me. Again, I'm amazed at the timing. I found out before work this morning that someone my family loves left this world to be an angel in Heaven. I was prepared to face the day with a set smile, knowing that throughout the day I would be reduced to tears because of loss. I had no idea my tears would also include ones of joy in them. I'm grateful for goodness and silver linings and the kindness around me. And cute little updates like these.

Adding Up the Gratitude

I love this time of year when people make an extra effort to acknowledge the things they are grateful for. I love to see the things we notice in our lives that there are reasons to give thanks for. Facebook is full of "gratitude posts". Posted there are the small and simple things in life that can be taken for granted or the big miracles that are bestowed, and many more gifts in between, but the variety is endless and adds up quickly.

Though I have not participated in the one thing each day of November trend, I try to make sure I show gratitude as often as possible. I KNOW I am blessed. I enjoy concentrating on my blessings and finding the things that might otherwise be counted as coincidence or karma.

As yesterday was Veterans Day, I gave alot of thought to the men and women who so selflessly leave their families and life as they know it to go serve our country and protect our freedoms. I am so very grateful for their sacrifice! I have so much because of those willing to put their lives on the line in the name of freedom and goodness. Thank you Veterans as well as all those currently serving. I owe a debt I cannot repay except to pray for your safety and for your families, and continue to love this country I'm so blessed to live in. You're my heroes! Here is a great link to a site that is all about heroes and Veterans Day: http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

Speaking of heroes,
I am trying to do a little something for some of our heroes. I invite you to act if you feel the need to do so. When you are sending your Christmas cards out this year, take a minute to write an extra one with a note of thanks to a soldier who may not be receiving one this year. Or just send one because you are grateful for the service provided by our armed forces. I am collecting them for a service project at my school but am also adding several extras to my own personal list at home. And thank you in advance. Hopefully the dividend will be JOY for you as well as those you are sending a greeting to.

Some of the info:

Anyone who wants to send a greeting card to a Holiday Hero can do so with my greeting card system. We print it, We stuff it, We stamp it and We mail it for you. AND WE PAY FOR IT! www.321send.com  CLICK SEND A CARD

-OR-

 - Mail Cards to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 | Cards and Stamps are FREE!

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRedCrossHolidayMailForHeroes

http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes

Some of my homemade cards we are sending to soldiers

Catch Up

I have a few odds, ends, and details to add to the things I've already written, so this time there will be a potpourri of mish-mashed statements and photos. I will play catch up~ and hope you can KEEP up!

So for all those who have been asking, here is a picture of me in my massive belt (see October Humor Me post).
I promised my soul~sister, Kim, that I would take a picture of myself in it. I'm sure it will be used in some kind of blackmail scheme in the future, but I would do pretty much anything for her, so here goes.



I realized after it was taken that the angle of this makes me look massive in this room. I guess it makes my massive belt all the more appealing!

Me in my massive belt

Another picture I need to add is of a gift I received. I had one of my little first graders hop out of the car as soon as her mom hit the curb this morning. She came running up to me, threw her arms around me and said, 'Heather, I have a present for you! I made it myself!" She pulled out the most beautiful piece of toilet paper I've ever seen! She had traced the flower pattern on it in magenta marker. I told her it was beautiful and she said, "Well, it was so beautiful I thought of you!" It kind of melted my heart. I think I am going to get that toilet paper laminated and put it in my special box!

The most beautiful toilet paper ever

My little kids at school certainly have a direct line to my heart~as well as my funny bone, but no more so than my own family does. I am delighted by the things my family does on a constant basis. Not only do they make me laugh, but they make me think and touch my heart. So in no particular order here goes...

I dropped this fortune on my bathroom floor when I was sneaking a fortune cookie one night. I walked into my bathroom the next afternoon to find that my Meghan had once again told me she never wants to move! I laughed so hard!!

I guess we are NOT moving any time soon!

Then today I was reading a blog of a wonderful family member of mine. She artfully stated what I have ALWAYS believed (and I hope it's okay if I use her words exactly): "As human beings, we are given the capacity to love endlessly and tirelessly." I love that. It's so true. I know the world would be a much happier place if we would all realize~and then remember it!

Sometimes when Cassie is working, she will be so delighted with the children she takes care of that she fires texts off to our whole family to tell us the latest cute thing the kids are doing. I love it that she loves her job and loves those kids. She'll be a wonderful little mother~SOMEDAY. Someday being the key word here. I've got to get through the wedding first!

Lastly, I'm always grateful for the sense of fun and adventure that my family keeps alive in me. My Meghan has been literally counting the days until THOR 2 comes out and it is this Friday. Chad, being the wonderful man he is, got the 3 of us tickets to it and he got them in 3~D! I will most certainly come out of the theater with a raging headache and slight dizziness, but watching Meghan get starry-eyed over such a studly hero will be worth it. As my friend Jay says (and he gets quoted a lot) "LIFE: Bring it!"

Sweet Relief



My absolute favorite moment of the entire year is the minute I lock the front door after the trick-or-treaters are gone on Halloween. The second that job is done, Halloween comes down, the turkeys and cornucopias come out, and as far as I'm concerned, the most wonderful time of the year with friends and family and love begins.

 

I don't love Halloween. I don't hate it, but it is not my favorite time of year. I do love decorating for it...and I'll admit I love the cutesy and clever side of Halloween much more that I like any of the ghoulish, macabre sides of it. As I work at an elementary school, I get a kick out of the children dressing up for our parade, and how excited they get to show me their costumes. I'm amazed at the creativity and resourcefulness that some of these kids and parents have to dream up and then make such fantastical things. It's fun to watch. I don't mind answering my door and handing out candy. I like to share. I've never liked the idea of tricks on Halloween. It doesn't sit well with me. But aside from all that, it just isn't a holiday I love.

 

My daughter Cassie, on the other hand, LOVES Halloween. When I asked her why she said because it's a whole day when you can be anyone in the world.  I thought a lot about that. For her, and on that day, what a great concept to be anyone you want to be. But I also thought, well, isn't that what life is? To be who we want to be. I mean, to break it down, if I want to be a kind person, it's entirely up to me. Even if I am surrounded by mean and petty people, I can still be kind and choose how to react to them. If I want to be a guitarist, I need to be willing to sit down , figure out how to make my instrument sing, and practice with all that is in me. Meghan wanted to be a pirate...and she was a gorgeous one!

Pretty Pirate Meghan

 

Cassie as Cruella

 

Gorgeous sisters in crime!

Some things take time and practice and learning to become. But the option to become who you want to be is ever present and even then, changeable. That's inspiring to me. Cassie might be inspiring dressed as Cruella, but in less than a year she will become a great man's wife.

We can be who we want to be and then guess what? You can change your mind. Now it may take work or adjustment but it can be done. What a gift.