Christmas in February

Christmas in February?  Why not?  Sometimes the hectic, whirlwind, over-stretched, over-stressed feelings really put a damper on what we are really celebrating.  So stepping back and exchanging gifts with extended family later on is refreshing.  That's what happened this year ~ a delayed exchange.

I always love the gifts I get.  They are fitting for me.  I'm all about simple and sweet without all the fluff-n-stuff.  Fluff-n-stuff is nice, but sometimes it's irrelevant.  Simple and sweet means thought out for me specifically.  That's what touches me ~ that someone has listened to my needs and sometimes my wants.  ;).

I received a February gift that really spoke to me.  It wasn't a "want", nor was it a "need".  It was, however, geared specifically to me. It was a Willow Tree figurine, a "Generations" piece.  A grandmother, a daughter and a granddaughter comforted by a quilt.  Yes, this was me.  I love to make quilts and I love even more teaching my lovelies how to make them. Very fitting. Yes, very fitting indeed.   It was the note that came with it that made me do some serious thinking.  So, I guess, this post is more about the effect of this exchange rather than the timing of this exchange (although God's timing is always perfect).

The note that accompanied it simply stated:  "Crickett, When I saw this I instantly thought of you. You are the anchor in your family....even on the days you don't feel like you make a difference to anyone.  Love you more than you know, Donna"

A simple note with a profound statement.  I can assuredly say I don't feel at all like any anchor.  More often than not I feel as I've let my entire brood down.  I can't for the life of me see them tethering themselves to me for anything, let alone, stability.  I feel more like the buoy in the ocean, bobbing to and fro, insecure in where I'm placed. The only thing keeping me from drifting out to sea is The Anchor tethered to me. Perhaps my minuscule affect on my family has trickled it's way upward from The Anchor to the buoy to them. Perhaps.

Twas the Day of Christmas. . . .

Twas the day of Christmas

And all thru my house

The critters were stirring,

And somewhere, someplace, even a mouse!

The children had long since sprang from their bed

Forgotten, the sugar plums that danced in their heads.

They had an agenda ~ it was plain to see

They wanted those gifts left under the tree!

Santa had come sometime in the night

He came and he left ~ to continue his flight.

And along with the presents he'd left  'neath the tree

He had filled up the stockings, for the girls, all three.

The reindeer ate the snack left on the roof

As the girls dozed off waiting for the sound of their hooves

And Santa ate up his cookies and drank up his milk

He enjoyed it all ~ without any guilt!

 

The hustle, the bustle that Christmas does bring

Builds utmost excitement and makes their hearts sing

They anxiously wait for this day to arrive

It's like riding the carousel and grabbing the prize.

 

 

And when all the paper and bows had been removed

And we patted our backs for not coming unglued,

And there was nothing left for the kidlings to unwrap

Some people settled in for a long, mid morning nap!

So I must say as the night begins to fall,

May God richly bless you ~ one and all!

For the birth of His Son is the true reason

We, as a family, celebrate this season!

Fast, Frenzied Family Time

This year was way too wonky!  Only part of my KY gang was able

to come home for Christmas.  They were literally here for only 29 hours! From

 4:00PM on Saturday until 8:45PM on Sunday.

So, instead of slaving in the kitchen making a traditional Christmas dinner, I opted

for a "Christmas Brunch".  Paul did the scrapple (you can't come home and not

have scrapple) and an egg casserole.  I managed the rest ~ a blueberry french toast bake,

fruit salad, OJ, cocoa, and coffee.

Hopie helped with the cocoa, and Rease, Erica and Helena set the table.



 We ate til we burst.



 We served ourselves.

 We drowned our french toast with Blueberry syrup.

We drowned our scrapple with regular syrup.

We savoured our cocoa.

We discussed the benefits of eating blueberries.

We posed for the camera.

We laughed.

And we missed those that weren't here.

Then, just as quickly as they came, they were gone.  Just like that.  In the blink of an eye.



Web Cam . . . the newest member of our family

So, I said this past Christmas was a little "wonky". Well, it was. But out of it came a good thing.

Jenny gave us a web cam for Christmas this year! And it is wonderful. The girls (everybody's out of school because of weather) had a ball chatting, showing off school work, singing and laughing and being just plain silly! It cannot replace a warm hug, but I can chat with them and see them at the same time! The slight delay takes some getting used to, but, hey, I'll take it!

DON'T Mess With The Tree!

In my attempt to simplify life this Christmas, I put up a small tree and less decorations.The small tree was not a wise idea on my part. I didn't realize how much the kids looked forward to the big tree being up when they came to my house. It's bad enough when I don't put up a real tree, but to downsize? No way - so . . . lesson learned (I think I may have fallen into "Grinch" status!). I may be able to get away with fewer decorations . . . but leave the tree alone! ! ! !

(Although it may seem as if "Santa" left more gifts if they spill out farther from under a small tree - do ya think?)