Well, tomorrow is December 1st and, as usual, I’m a little behind schedule. Not bad though.

I have done some Christmas shopping – I went with my mom and sisters/sister-in-law this past Saturday. That is an awesome idea, by the way. This will become a new tradition, I think. We got to hang out and visit. Compare ideas for each other and the kids, etc. It was totally stress-free! And Yogen Fruz was involved – my favorite!

Anyway, my kids all have their birthdays in November/December, so Christmas likes to sneak up on me.

My husband and I have been talking about a different Christmas this year. This is for a few reasons:

• watching the budget – it’s very tight this year
• we have way too much “stuff” in our house – we’ve been purging/de-cluttering over the past year
• we have been getting too many gifts and so have our kids – it has become an expectation. Personally, I am against that – that is not what Christmas is
• we have been wanting to spend more quality time with them, with each other, with our families and with our friends
• our kids are getting older, so the toys are not such a big deal anymore

Our plan for tonight is to have a “Christmas Family Meeting”. And what do we hope to accomplish with this meeting? (All meetings SHOULD have a purpose and an agenda – though I seem to attend many at work with NEITHER of these things but that’s a topic for another day!)

The Purpose:

Decide what is the best way to celebrate Christmas the Cevraini way

The Agenda:

1. Each family member take a turn telling what parts of the current Cevraini Christmas they like/dislike. No one is allowed to interrupt. Everyone gets heard.
2. Each family member take a turn talking about what they would like to do this Christmas. Some new traditions, new ideas, etc should come out of this!
3. Write this down in the FlyLady’s Holiday Control journal. In our house, if it’s written down, it’s accepted as fact! This way, we can go back later and see what we missed, what we changed our minds on, what was great, etc.
4. Talk about the budget (a little) – this is important, I think, for even the kids. I think that they need to understand that there is not an infinite amount of money to spend. Too often, we make the mistake of not teaching our children about money. My oldest doesn’t have a clue. I plan to make sure that doesn’t happen with the other two. We won’t bore them with details, just understand that we are setting a budget (and what that means) and are going to stick to it.

All in all, I think it will be fun. The kids will all get a chance to contribute and they always feel important when we call “family meetings”. I’m sure it will automatically become less about the presents and more about the time spent together and things we will get to do together.

My kids (all kids, really) just crave the season, not the presents. They like hanging out with their cousins. They like having people over and eating tons of “fun food” instead of having to eat the four food groups everyday! They like staying up late watching Christmas movies. They like going toboganning and maybe skating! They don’t have to go to school! It’s all about family, friends and FUN! That’s what they really want. Isn’t that what we ALL want!??

Let’s all make this the year that Christmas became so much more than the commercials – less toys, but more fun. Less stress, more love. That’s the reason for the season.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Jeffrey, who will be 3 on Christmas, admires his tree-decorating skills.

Holidays are wonderful. Friends and family gather, catch up on each other’s doings and growings, and partake of favorite traditional fare. What could be better? As my son-in-law Greg says, How could you NOT love Thanksgiving? You don’t have to buy anything. All you have to do is show up and eat (admittedly a man’s perspective, but lovely in its simplicity). 

After our Thanksgiving feast on Thursday and Black Friday shopping, my grandson Jeffrey helped me decorate my Christmas tree on Saturday while his mom and dad spent time with friends at the Vandals game, and Aunt Lyanne kept Jeffrey’s sister Gracelyn (13 months) occupied.

Jeffrey had the absolute BEST time. He strategically placed each ornament I handed him and chattered happily all the while. When we finished, he did what I do—and what my father did—after a job well done. He stood and looked at it. And he came back time and time again to look at it some more. He was satisfied with a job well done.

I think we’d all do well to give ourselves a bit more appreciation each day for our jobs well done. And, to give our Heavenly Father more appreciation for HIS jobs well done. We owe all we have and all we are to Him. As we enter the Christmas season celebrating the birth of our Savior, I’m thankful for the blessing He has been to me and my family. And I’m thankful for the humility that thankfulness engenders.

Last year I took my daughters and step-daughter with me for their first-ever experience of Black Friday.  They had so much fun that they decided it had to become a tradition.  This year was a little different.  Mack had a terrible head cold and didn’t feel up to coming with us, and Juju, my step-daughter, chose to sleep over at a favorite cousin’s house.  Since we were down two in numbers, we invited my 13-year-old niece, “Mad-dog” to come with us.  This was Mad-dog’s first Black Friday experience.  She says it won’t be her last. 

Here are some of the highlights from our experience this year:

*Getting to spend time with Huh, Hoob, and Mad-dog standing in line at Target from 3:00 a.m. until the store opened at 5:00 a.m.  We spent the time joking and visiting.

*Making friends with the strangers in line around us.  Learning that the guy behind us was from Canada.  Hearing the hilarious stories of others who had already visited some stores.  Wondering how on earth someone could show up wearing shorts and flip-flops.

*Receiving a coupon for IHOP (Buy one entrée get one free) from one of our new friends in line.

*Seeing friends from our neighborhood as they arrived to stand in line.

*Receiving free re-usable bags from Target as we stood in line.  (I believe this was their way of combatting “line jumpers.”  Anyone who didn’t have a bag wasn’t getting into the store until the end of the line had entered)

*Once entering the store, laughing hysterically as we ran like crazy people on the hunt for the GPS unit we were trying to get. (Not a must-have item, we just needed something to hunt for so that we could experience Black Friday.  If we hadn’t gotten the GPS, we would have still had fun).  Hearing Mad-dog say, “This is funny,” as she was running behind me through the store.

*Finding the GPS unit and the Flash drives we were looking for.  Adding a digital picture frame, blanket, and a Christmas gift for Yawlin (I can’t type it here in case he reads my blog in the next few days) to our haul.

*Helping out my sister and her husband by finding the bike they wanted to buy for their youngest son (Mad-dog’s little brother).

*Laughing as we tried to cram the un-assembled bike into my car.  We got the box in, but it forced Hoob and Mad-dog to ride in a cramped style.  We decided to take the bike and the rest of the stuff to our house before going to breakfast.

*Using our IHOP coupon that we’d received from our new friend in the Target line to buy breakfast.  Running into those same friends at IHOP as they were using their coupon.

*Listening to Hoob’s contagious laugh as we drove home after IHOP as she laughed at a funny she’d made up.  And when I say contagious, I mean contagious.  We were all laughing hysterically when we finally pulled into the driveway.

*Taking a two-hour nap after returning home at 8:00 a.m.

*Stopping at my mom’s after dropping Mad-dog off at her house and eating Thanksgiving left-overs (I love my Mom’s sweet potatoes!).

*Taking another nap by the fire after returning from my mom’s house.

And the best part?  The girls still want to keep Black Friday a tradition.  Mack hopes to be able to go next year, and Mad-dog says she will continue to join us. 

Maybe next year we can talk my sister into going with us.  And maybe Hub and Shroom and Yawlin and my parents and my other sister and my brothers…

My cousin Carrie came up with this great idea to make December loads of fun! Feel free to do this with your kids, and to personalize the calendar:

She is basically planning a fun, cheap or homemade activity for every night in December. A few of them include doing things for others, and many include free local activities. She also clicked here, printed 24 coloring pages for free, and bound the books for her daughters to color a page every night in December.

Another tradition that I am starting (along with using her calendar idea) for my daughter is The 12 Days of Christmas. I went to the dollar bins and dollar store and got 12 small surprises. I wrapped each individually, put them in a Christmas bag, and on December 13th, Aubrey will get to open a surprise every night until Christmas Eve. I’m figuring since I already have things like crayons, glitter, glue and cookie decorating supplies that all of these activities will cost me around $20 to do. A small price to pay for making memories.

It’s November 30th, and you still have time to gather things and personalize the calendar for your family. I encourage you to do this with your family. Merry Christmas!

I don’t know about you, but my Thanksgiving week was all I could have hoped for. It was a time to relax, while at the same time, run around like crazy: baking pies, driving all over the place, hanging out with family and friends, not to mention feasting and fun games of Apples To Apples (my youngest cousin’s favorite game – she’s 9).

So, quick updates from last week -

The PHS Choir Russia-Tour benefit concert was a huge success (in my opinion). The Concert Choir and Norselanders put on a 2-hour show. SO impressive! Most of the pieces were a cappella (i.e. no accompaniment), all the music was totally memorized, and every song was fantastic! It made me very proud to be a PHS choir alum.

PHS Choir with Director Mr. Guenther

Some of my favorite moments from the evening were Norselanders doing an arrangement of the Postal Service song “Such Great Heights” (so awesome!), a Billy Joel song that was just beautiful (“And So It Goes”), and some of my favorite pieces from when I was in Concert Choir – “How Can I Keep From Singing” and “Praise His Holy Name.”

***************

During the week, I worked lightly on a few crafty and wedding-related projects, some of which I’ll get to later this week…

***************

Wednesday night, M and I went to his parents’ house for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner which was lovely! We’re going to have to start doing this whole “share holidays with both families” from now on.

Thanksgiving Table

On Thanksgiving Day, M and I made our way south to my parents’ house, which was filled with family – my grandparents, my uncle with his wife & my three lovely cousins from the Portland area, my older brother, and then M & me.
In true Guenther tradition, we had happy hour around 2:00 with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. We even got a few games of poker (small change only, of course), something we used to do all the time as kids at Grampa’s house.
Dinner was fabulous, and it was so great to spend time with family!

]]> http://deniseisrundmt.com/2009/11/30/christmas-time-is-here/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:27:22 +0000 Run DMT http://deniseisrundmt.com/2009/11/30/christmas-time-is-here/

Christmas time is here and I couldn’t be happier!

Christmas time is here

Happiness and cheer

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year

I love Christmas and all the sights, smells and sounds associated with it, but particularly the sounds.  Christmas music moves me. So, for the next four Musical Mondays leading up to Christmas, I’ll be featuring some of my favorite Christmas songs.

When it comes to Christmas music during the holidays, my DH are worlds apart.  We have quite different tastes when it comes to our favorite music, especially Christmas music.

For Allan growing up a young lad the UK, a new Christmas pop hit topped the charts every holiday season.  In fact, the movie, Love Actually, pokes fun at this UK Christmas tradition.

Sure the usual Christmas classics, such as Crosby, Sinatra and Martin are equally cherished on both sides of the pond, but there are some UK Christmas classics I had never heard before Allan introduced them to me.

Allan has a Christmas compilation CD of UK holiday hits from over the years and honestly the songs on this CD make me anything but merry.  Some of the songs are so depressing, I feel compelled to tie a noose around my neck.  One song in particular, Fairytale in New York by The Pogues, makes me want to drown my sorrows with some Irish whisky rather than deck the halls with boughs of holly.

To shake off the depressing mood of his favorite Christmas tune, I crank up one of my favorite upbeat, happy holiday hits because for me, Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

Oké, het is de tijd van het jaar dat ik eventjes weer kinds wordt (al gebeurt dat regelmatig wel). Ierland kent Sinterklaas niet. Iedereen kent Santa wel en da’s in theorie wel hetzelfde, maar toch. De enige hier die Sinterklaas kent, is Andrew van mijn klas, maar dat is omdat hij in Amsterdam gestudeerd heeft en ze hem Zwarte Piet hebben laten spelen en ‘O kom eens kijken’ geleerd hebben .

Dus bij gebrek aan een Sinterklaastraditie heb ik besloten in ons appartement een kleine Sinterklaastraditie te starten. Ik heb Sinterklaas een brief geschreven om te vragen of hij alstublieft dit jaar wel naar Ierland zou willen komen. Dit is zijn antwoord terug (gevonden in onze keuken):

Dear children,

 Despite not usually visiting Ireland on my tour of all the good children in the world (and usually leaving that task to Santa in these areas) I have decided to make an exception this year and make a detour to the Emerald Isle. All of your names are in my ‘Book of all Good Children in the World’, so you have been quite good girls during the past twelve months. If you want to receive a surprise – on the occasion of my birthday the 6^th of December – leave a shoe in the kitchen on the night of the 5^th of December. However, a little warning is in order. If you do not behave in the coming week, I will order my servant Zwarte Piet to take you in his bag all the way to Spain and to employ you in the kitchens of my castle!

There will be no need for you to leave carrots and/or sugar in your shoe for my dear horse Bad Weather Today – I’m flying Ryanair, so I cannot bring him without being ripped off. Please do not leave any pints or other alcoholic drinks for Zwarte Piet because he will have had enough by the time we get to Trinity Hall. Biscuits, however, will be appreciated.

Hope to be able to leave all of you something on the 5^th of December.

 Sinterklaas (& Zwarte Piet)

 PS: Due to the unusual travel plan (and the policies of Ryanair), I will not be able to carry toys. Direct all requests for presents to my dear friend Santa. You can however always write me a little note and leave it in your shoe if you want (even before the 5^th of December, my agent in Ireland will collect them).

Dus, hoera! De Sint komt langs!!! Met picknicken, chocola, guimauves en mandarijntjes en hopelijk – als de Sint dat tepakken krijgt hier in Dublin – marsepein ook. Wie weet brengt hij wel een cadeautje mee . Ik kijk alvast uit volgende week zondag :).

It is true it seems that our ancient Christmas traditions are no longer sacred. First of all I am sure there are a majority of people still will be chosing Donald Duck on Christmas Eve. Please, let it stay that way. Why? Beacuse of another “Duck” or Anka which I am not particularly happy about. Let’s just say that Swedes will have a choice of what Duk to watch the traditional Donald Duck or the more contemporary Duk… I will still refuse to say exacly what the other Duck is…

 This years it seems like we might not get saffron for our beloved Saffron buns. And now it seems our favorite chocolate Aladdin has chosen to modernize by creating one new flavour and removing another. There has also been an official statement urging people to recycle their glass bottles in order to save the Swedish Julmust.

Recent reports stated that the traditional Christmas ham might contribute to the dreaded H1N1 virus. More recent reports about the regulations on Swedish pig farms states that a majority of them are poorly maintained. People are recommended not to buy any pork or pig meat from suspected pig farms.

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

As I was surfing on the internet today, I found a wonderful article written by Martha Beck for O Magazine (Oprah.com), titled Caring for Your Parents: How to Reclaim the Good Old Time. But the editors at CNN.com renamed the article “How to care for your parents and keep your sanity” – a title which I find much more fitting.

CNN also listed the article’s highlights as follows:

• Caring for elderly parents can leave a person lost and overwhelmed
• Every aging-parent scenario is unique; there are few generalities that apply
• Caring for the elderly will force you to — and help you — face your own mortality
• A morbid sense of humor is like oxygen for some caregivers

Ms. Beck talks briefly about Navajo traditions, telling readers that “that caring for the elderly is a blessing path…” What a beautiful culture.

The article is insightful, uplifting and even humorous. It’s one of those articles that you should read every six months or so – whether or not you need it!

I’m not clear on the wordpress policy of linking to articles on other sites, so you’ll have to google and find it for yourself. But you’ll be glad you did.

Betty’s Daughter

November 29, 2009

Most families have traditions–especially around the holidays, and tonight my family gathered for one of ours. Every year, as my two children unpack their ornaments, I explain who gave them each one, and with cups of egg nog and fresh-baked goodies to snack on, I videotape my children as they hang the ornaments on the tree.  

This year, though, marked a milestone for both of them, since no one needed any help hanging the ornaments on the tree. So with a sad sigh, I hit rewind and go back a few years, watching as each child–with the help of a parent–hangs their first ornament on the tree. 

Yes, Christmases go by so quickly, and after all the busyness of the season, we are just left with those memories. So for me and my family, the annual ornament video is the way we capture each passing year. 

Happy Holidays to you, and I hope you find a way to capture the spirit of the season with your family…

Searching for the spirit of Christmas I’ve long forgotten. Fond memories of family gatherings at chalets, limo rides, and decked halls. Snow falling and hitting the slops. I do love to ski.

My stepfather has a large extended family and Christmas has always been a big deal among most of the French Canadians I know. Including me.

Our traditions of  staying up all Christmas eve then going to midnight mass and returning to house filled with gift jolly old St Nicholas left for the good little boys and girls continues. Given my own duplicity, superhero by day evil mastermind by night some years turned out better than others. One year the Barbie McDonald’s and another no Nintendo.  

Last year and this, I’ve struggled to find the spirit that invoked me with joy of celebration. The desire to cook until no space could be found in the fridge.

Now I fear with dread, one more set of tasks to add to my list of things to be done. The pace of life zooming by me as I fight to spend time writing and creating. When I don’t I’m a lesser me. Story telling compels me to be a greater version of myself. Nourishes the essence of what I am. The individual.

I spent most of this weekend going down the memory lain that is bodies of my work. I used to write Historical and thrillers. Infused with sad dark emotions. Reflections of my state of mind? Perhaps. I’ll let those who wish to examine the creative analyze the soul of me through the embodiment of my reflections on humanity. I however feel magic in the words that pour from me.

All introspective aside. I’m on the hunt for the spirit of what moved me to dance and sing at the rhythm of my ancestors’ ghost.

Happy hunting.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Why Christmas? Why give gifts? Why sing Christmas carols? Why put up a tree and plan a party? Why celebrate Christmas? To be sure, Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways and for any number of reasons, some of which have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Yet I am reminded of Paul’s affirmation of faith in 2 Timothy 1:12, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that I have committed to Him until that Day.” Christmas reminds me that God sent Jesus to be my Savior. And, like Paul, I can live each day victoriously, not because of anything I have done, but because of what God did for me. To me, that is reason for rejoicing and celebrating. I have a Savior who not only saved me, and walks with me today, but also who guarantees my future with Him in heaven. How can I not be happy and want to sing about the precious gift of God’s Son?

A few years ago I was working in an office that due to the pressure of political correctness decided to drop any mention of “Christmas” from office celebrations. All official greetings carried the noncommittal “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.” The annual Christmas party became the holiday party and although decorations were not expressly forbidden, nothing was to be displayed that could be a source of offense to another employee. There was a tree set up in the foyer and employees were invited to bring ornaments to decorate the tree, but they were encouraged to use sensitivity in their selection of ornaments.

At the time I remember feeling angry. I couldn’t understand why my choosing to celebrate Christmas because of Christ should offend anyone who celebrated for any other reason. Shamefully, I didn’t help decorate the office tree that year nor did I attend the holiday party. I wanted no part of a celebration that was leaving Christ out of Christmas. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time. But now, a few years later, I’m ashamed – not because of how I feel about Christmas, but because of my Christian witness, or lack thereof.

You see, no where in Scripture are we told to put up a Christmas tree and throw a party to celebrate Christ’s birth. While we do those things and can even incorporate those into our worship, they are not central to our actual celebration of Christ’s birth. Many secular aspects of the Christmas holiday have evolved along with the Christian celebration and in many cases have come to be celebrated more than the religious holiday itself by both Christians and non-Christians.  Many of these secular celebrations such as decorating trees and giving gifts probably originated from earlier German pagan celebrations surrounding Yule which was a mid-winter holiday that preceded modern Christianity.  Christmas through the centuries has been celebrated in a variety of ways by both Christians and non-Christians. While many of these things have become part of our Christian traditions, they are not necessarily Christian in origin and are shared by many different beliefs.

So, what should I have done instead? I wish I had taken a star ornament to hang on the tree. It wouldn’t have been particularly objectionable, but if someone asked, I could tell them about the star that my faith believes led the shepherds to the stable where Jesus was born. I wish I had attended the holiday party and perhaps through conversation shared with a coworker how, and why, my family celebrates Christmas. The happiness and joy that I know because Christ is my Savior could have spilled over and provided an opportunity to share what I believe in a natural and totally nonthreatening way.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” If we hide our light, others cannot see, nor will they have an opportunity to hear about the hope that is within us.

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” As Christians, our lives should not reflect the current culture or worldly beliefs, but they should radiate a Christ-centered life that is guided by the Holy Spirit. That means that others should be able to see a difference in our lives – and I think that is especially true at Christmas!

At Christmas time, Christians should be the happiest people of all because they know the Christ child as their personal Savior. They have a reason to sing the beautiful songs. They can stand in awe of the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree while marveling at the true Light that came into the world on that first Christmas so long ago. Giving gifts, caroling, reaching out to those in need, among many other Christmas activities or traditions can all be a way of sharing the love of God with a world that needs to know Jesus desperately. So, this year instead of trying to defend what I believe or how I choose to celebrate, I pray that I might just celebrate the Christmas season with my “light” turned on so that others can see Christ in me. Join me and keep your “light” on for Christmas, too!

Many pagan festivals celebrated the winter soltice. The Roman celebration Saturnalia celebrated the god of the harvest, and people would exchange gifts. On Saint Nicholas’s Eve in 13 century France nuns would give presents to the poor. In the Bible the three wise men brought the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; the first Christmas gifts. Stories of the various incarnations of Santa Claus tell of Saint Nick leaving treats or coins in the shoes or stockings of poor children. Traditionally though Father Christmas was a symbol of good cheer and not necessarily of giving gifts; since Saint Nicholas was the patron saint of children this connection is often made.

Christmas in early America was considerably different. Puritan pilgrims frowned upon the practice of drinking, caroling and riots that the holiday brought about; and for twenty-two years during the 17th century it was banned in Boston.  Following America’s independence it fell out of favor, along with other “English customs.”  Christmas wasn’t made a federal holiday until 1870.

Our current concept of Santa Claus and Christmas traditions were largely influenced by a cartoonist named Thomas Nast in 1881 and the poem “Twas a Night Before Christmas.” Along with it’s new popularity came the practice of giving gifts that we’re familiar with today.

Sources

This week I want to share another Christmas tradition that you can use with your family. The Jesse Tree is a great way to help your family focus on the true meaning of Christmas. By telling the story of Creation through Jesus’ birth, you can share God’s amazing plan for the redemption of a fallen world with your family. The idea of the Jesse Tree comes from Isaiah 11:1 which says, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”

The Jesse Tree is created by using a small Christmas tree or banner. Each day there will be an ornament that will correspond with that day’s Scripture reading. To create your own Jesse Tree and download daily Scripture readings, click here.

The Jesse Tree readings begin on December 1. As with the Advent wreath, there are many different types of readings out there.

I’d love for you to comment if you’ve ever used the Jesse Tree. Share your experience and what the Jesse Tree means to you.

Today’s blog is brought to you by the word: thanks. It seems to be the word on everyone’s mind this week.

***

My Thanksgiving was pretty normal: football game in the morning, big meal of turkey, stuffing, etc… with the family in the afternoon.

My Black Friday, however, is NEVER normal. A long time ago we came up with the tradition of watching Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving with Ann, Don, Caroline, Evan, LaLa, and of course, all the doggies. Each year someone else hosts, and by now we each own a copy of the movie.

(Top from left to right) Ann, Amanda, Rachel, Beccy (Bottom) Caroline and Abby

From there, our tradition has morphed into a costume party. Actually, it’s more of a contest– a battle for who can come up with the wackiest, most accurate, prettiest, or in the other night’s case, the “tappiest” costume (kudos to Ann for pulling that one off.) And then, there are always those who prefer to keep it simple and wear the ever-favorite Santa hat. Awards range from the Golden Tap Shoes, to a plunger, to The Pajama Game on DVD, found at the Dollar Store.

After we reveal our true selves in 1950s fashion, we settle down to watch the movie, reciting our favorite lines, and  throwing around the ones we still don’t understand, like: “Well how do you like that? Not so much as a kiss my foot or haaaaaaave an apple!” We poke fun at Vera Ellen for her abnormally petite figure, and Rosemary Clooney for the abnormally large figure she fills out in her later years.

***

So among these semi-awkward yet  totally fun traditions is an underlying question: What on Earth am I thankful for? Every year in church, at the dinner table, in school, I’m asked the same question. The obvious answer would be: my family, my friends, my health, etc… They’re all very important things in life and by no means do I want to take them for granted, but I feel like a broken record; it should go deeper than that. “Friends” and  ”family” just can’t describe how grateful I am for the people in my life that seem to make the world turn. We all have those people, so here’s a shout out to some of them below:

• all of you who are taking time out of your day to read this now, and all of you who go the extra mile to comment
• my extended family, even if our visits happen to be as often as a solar eclipse
• you who entertain my craziest thoughts, sit first row in the movie theater and scream during New Moon, and sing Christmas carols at the top of your lungs with me– not to mock me, but because we can…you know who you are

To all of you, and I mean ALL of you– as the song goes: “You build me up Buttercup…I need you…You know that I have from the start…”<—(include wah wah wahs right here)  Thanks for being there.

Thanksgiving went off with a hitch. (for the most part. but we’ll get to that) I was awake at 7:30 am cooking up a storm until we sat down to eat at 11:30.  How? Beats the heck out of me… I thought with all that pre-cooking I did the night before that I would have a chance to relax while things kind of cooked themselves.  That obviously wasn’t the case.

My brother did end up coming by so that was pretty awesome too.  He does care! (or just wanted free food…)

Here are the main highlights-
Um. Did someone forgot to tell me how completely icky and actually kind of scary turkeys are?! I had to put my hand… in that. Soap wasn’t enough to get the ickiness off so I seriously considered putting my hand in a vat of boiling water.
But I forced through the grossness and made this little beauty.  Not only was it our first thanksgiving as a married couple (kind of. its complicated) but it was the very first time we used our dining room table! And the very first time I realized that our dining room table is only big enough to be like a card table. (PS Mom- notice the picture in the picture? “Wherever you are- you’re in my heart”)

Then Justin carved the turkey as he will for our family for the next 60 years. Although… we may want to get him lessons before the next 60 years start. I’m not sure you’re supposed to use tongs to help carve a turkey… but what do I know. Also, as many of you know the Cowboys play every single Thanksgiving.  Does anyone know what that means? That means I now have to coordinate my Thanksgiving meals to be far enough in advance or after the game that the husband will sit down to dinner and not isolate himself in front of the television yelling obscenities at the other team. So thats fun. Something to look forward to….

This was only part of the aftermath of hurricane Thanksgiving. Another thing that I didn’t quite calculate correctly. Who knew the dishes didn’t just do themselves after such a big day? I never remember seeing mounds of dishes at my Nanny’s Thanksgivings.

This year was ultimately a success. Justin didn’t like my pumpkin pie (from a box) or my candied yams… which were the only two things I cooked solely for him because I think they’re fricking disgusting. But everything else he thought was delicious. And it was.  Especially the dressing which turned out EXACTLY like the kind they had back home.  Its amazing how much you miss the little things when you aren’t there and that was one thing that made me feel like I was sitting in Siloam with my family.  And just that one thing was all I needed.

Advent, O Holy Advent! » The Anchoress | A First Things Blog
I shed tears of gratitude and joy that you have come round again, O Advent, to shake us from our torpor as early night comes, and the match is struck, and the message is brought home once more; that we are forever in the absence of …

First Advent Candle – Jesus Creed
Advent is a word that means coming or visit. In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the advent of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things:• We remember Israels hope for the coming of Gods Messiah to.

Happy Catholic: Advent
So she encourages us, during advent, t take the shepherd-folk for our guides, and imagine ourselves traveling with them at dead of night, straining our eyes towards that chink of light which streams out, we know, from the cave at …

Advent! « Gabriellas Blog
Today is the First Sunday of Advent. For most, this marks the beginning of the shopping season. The department stores, like the great cathedrals of Mammon they are, will be adorned for the high holy days of the financial year, …

Advent Prayer: Behold His Coming – Prayer, Plain and Simple
By Claudia Mair BurneyThe First Sunday of Advent Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, KJV. The word advent means coming. But the season is not merely a time to.

Advent – Jesus Creed
Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming, or advent of the Christ child at Christmas.

Cranmer: Christmas stamps and the First Sunday in Advent
At a time the political pessimism and religious oppression, political delusion and spiritual despair, we turn to Advent in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, in anticipation of Christmas Day and the revelation of God became man …

MSDN Blog Postings » Blog Archive » Advent calendar 2009 – how to …
Last year I wrote the same test in 24 different ways as a little advent calendar for you to enjoy. This year Im going to do something similar but also a little bit different. Im going to start with a simple piece of code and then show …

Thinking Anglicans: Advent opinions
Advent opinions. Gary Anderson writes in The Times that If sin creates a debt, almsgiving creates a heavenly credit. Stephen Wang writes there also. He argues that Religious education is not brainwashing. …

Catholics or One’s That Celebrate the Advent?
London, Nov 28 (ANI): A bishop has warned that wishing people a Happy Christmas could be seen as an ‘insult’ or even an ‘obscenity’, as not all are in a position to celebrate. The Right Reverend Humphrey Southern, the Bishop of Repton, said it was a “hollow” greeting to make to those who were suffering, and that people should not “simply make a cocoon of happiness for ourselves and our loved ones” at Christmas. “This is the ‘Happy Christmas’ month. Yet to many that greeting will be hollow, coming as an insult, or even an obscenity,” the Telegraph quoted him as writing in the monthly Derby diocese newsletter. “What can ‘Happy Christmas’ mean in a family whose father has been killed in a military operation in Afghanistan that fewer and fewer people understand (still less support)? While Advent was meant to be a season of preparation and expectation “too often”, he said, “that means things like shopping and decorating: working to create a domestic cocoon in which to be ‘Happy’ with friends and family”. “But Advent is not supposed to be about ‘Happiness’ or comfort. In fact it’s deeply uncomfortable. It’s about judgement and what’s wrong with the world,” he added. Those who choose to celebrate Christmas in a cocoon and ignore the plight of others are “like the people who took their ease in the Inn, missing entirely what was happening in the Stable just around the corner,” he concluded. (ANI) http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20091128/882/twl-bishop-warns-wishing-happy-christmas.html

What does Advent and Christmas mean to you? Will you wish people a “Happy Christmas!” ?
It’s a sin I am seeing some of my friends and family declare they have christmas stitched up and I have barely started and will not get decorations up before the 13 th…can’t folk wait until advent…then the countdown starts. Does anyone else get annoyed with this?

Who puts their tree up in November and has everything wrapped and organised?
We don’t want to do candies this year. It’s always been both of us fill 12 of the little compartments with candies, and each put a small gift in the larger Christmas eve compartment. Then we take turns opening a door every other day. We kind of wanted to do all little gifts this year, but past small ornaments, I don’t really know what else we could put in there that would fit. My fiancee somehow wedged 8 demitasse spoons in the Christmas eve compartment last year, and we could almost not get them back out, so we need really little things that will not be hard to remove from the smaller compartments. We don’t have any children, so the gifts would be for 2 adults. Any suggestions? Also, it’s a wood calender, not one of the cardboard ones. The little compartments are all 2″highx2″widex3″deep, except for the Christmas eve one, which is 5″highx2″widex3″deep.

Suggestions for little gifts to go in our Advent calender?
Hi I am looking everywhere for a bob the builder advent calendar? has anyone seen any anywhere at all.. know of any sites i can get one on.. or do they ot exist? Live in uk.. Thanks

Bob the Builder Advent Calendar?
i have an advent laptop and the switch is broke so i wandered if there is any way i can turn on the wireless without the switch?? thanks

Turn wireless on without switch?
English, because of its simplicity, enjoys worldwide acceptance. With the advent of shorter form of words [like 4u,2day etc as used in SMS] the younger generation has started using this form in many places,even in letter communications. Will these shortened words replace the prevailing form of english and make the language more popular and easier to learn?

Is this a blessing in disguise for English language?
they showed the main advent be IC title match and batista comeing to ring for commontery for the main advent XD

anyone see smackdown glitch on sky sports?
I would like to upgrade the graphics card on my ADVENT 4211 (rebranded MSI WIND U100). it currently is as stock with 80gb Hard drive and 2gb RAM. i know the graphics cards in laptops are normally souldered in but can this be bypassed?

Is it possible to upgrade the graphics card on the ADVENT 4211?
this is very urgent. . .i broke my laptop charger and i found another one which belongs to my brother’s laptop but is not used anymore. . .i can’t use my charger no matter what i do with/to it so i decided since my brother’s laptop charger fits my laptop and it works, i would use it for now. but the problem is i’ve got toshiba laptop and the charger i’m using now is from an advent laptop. would something bad happen? or is it ok to continue using it?

urgent: advent laptop charger on toshiba laptop?
I have an advent lap top, it is just over a year old. The problem is if I try to plug in anything via any usb ports it just shuts down. It cannot be restarted until I remove lap top battery and put back in. Any ideas what could be wrong?Thanks for the answers so far. The problem is with all the usb ports, the lap top had a new motherboard a few months ago (when still under warranty) The usb ports also seem to have become really hard to plug anything into, which is really strange!

Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”) is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. The Eastern churches begin the liturgical year on 1 September. The Eastern Christian equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast but it differs both in length and observances.

The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25; in other words, the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as Savior, and to his second coming as Judge, special lessons are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent.

The usual liturgical color in Western Christianity for Advent is purple or violet. The color is often used for hangings around the church, on the vestments of the clergy, and often also the tabernacle. On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, rose may be used instead, referencing the rose used on Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent. In some Anglican and Lutheran churches, blue is the liturgical colour for Advent, a custom traced to the usage of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and the medieval Sarum Rite. This color is often referred to as “Sarum blue”. Red is used in the Eastern churches.

The “Late Advent Weekdays”, December 17-24, mark the singing of the Great Advent ‘O antiphons’. These are the antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers, or Evening Prayer (in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches) and Evensong (in Anglican churches) each day, and mark the forthcoming birth of the Messiah. They form the basis for each verse of the popular Advent hymn, “O come, O come, Emmanuel”.

From the 4th century, the season was kept as a period of fasting as strict as that of Lent (commencing in some localities on 11 November; this being the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, the fast became known as “St. Martin’s Lent”, “St. Martin’s Fast” or “the forty days of St. Martin”). The feast day was in many countries a time of frolic and heavy eating, since the 40-day fast began the next day. In the Anglican and Lutheran churches this fasting rule was later relaxed, with the Roman Catholic Church doing likewise later, but still keeping Advent as a season of penitence. In addition to fasting, dancing and similar festivities were forbidden.

In many countries, Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. In England, especially in the northern counties, there was a custom (now extinct) for poor women to carry around the “Advent images”, two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was thought to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at the latest.

In Normandy, farmers employed children under twelve to run through the fields and orchards armed with torches, setting fire to bundles of straw, and thus it is believed driving out such vermin as are likely to damage the crops. In Italy, among other Advent celebrations, is the entry into Rome in the last days of Advent of the Calabrian pifferari, or bagpipe players, who play before the shrines of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Italian tradition being that the shepherds played these pipes when they came to the manger at Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus. It is the second most important tradition behind Easter for Roman Catholics.

In recent times, the commonest observance of Advent outside church circles has been the keeping of an advent calendar or advent candle, with one door being opened in the calendar, or one section of the candle being burned, on each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.

In Anglican churches the Sunday before Advent is sometimes nicknamed Stir-up Sunday after the opening lines of the Book of Common Prayer collect for that day. In the Roman Catholic Church since 1969, and in most Anglican churches since at least 2000, the final Sunday of the liturgical year before Advent has been celebrated as the Feast of Christ the King. This feast is now also widely observed in many Protestant churches, sometimes as the Reign of Christ. The First Sunday of Advent, called Levavi is the first Sunday of the liturgical year.

advent children, advent calendar, advent wreath, final fantasy advent children, advent 2009, advent computers, advent rising, advent candles, advent speakers, advent season, Advent wreath, prayers, church, God, Advent candles, the Nativity, season of Advent, lighted, Christmas, Traditions, the Christian, New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia, Christ, Advent International, liturgical year

Do you want to know more about how Christmas is celebrated in the UK?

Try looking here : http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/index.html

Travelling around in Tuscany you meet with such different realities, from a natural point of view, as well as from historical, art, cultural and social point of views.  

Well, I was once driving up on the hills and mountains of Pistoia, and asked myself the origin of those special features of the territory, the reasons of the athmosphere you find there.

My first answer was: mountains. The second was: we are on the borderline with Emilia Romagna…..

Here a few notes on a very interesting project trying to make the boundaries area a tourist area of interest.  There is also a specific webisite where you can find info, gps maps for biking and trekking over there: http://aptpistoia.megamente.com/index_EN.cfm

The mountains, as natural obstacles, are often considered borders destined to separate opposing sides. However, border areas can not be thought of solely as dividing elements: they must be considered for their most important characteristics, and seen as “centres in evolution and expansion, small worlds with their own value and able to attract and bond closely men and places” (Febvre).

 Among the elements that distinguish border areas, especially in the mountain, were the roads that lead to the mountain passes, the shelters for travelers (churches, hospices and inns), the border stations or other military or commercial control structures.

 The mountain area was, not only in the past, marked by defined settlements (castles or villages), by extensive woodland, by pasture land, streams dotted with factories and thick network of footpaths. The mountain, which dominated and continues to dominate over all this, is a natural and breachable boundary – depending on the seasons.  

The evidence of the material culture, traditions and folk tales, and even the relations of governing officers, tell us of a difficult world with meagre resources.

The beautiful historical maps, almost like old “photographs” from the past, show us the mountain landscape as it was, until it’s transformations of the modern age.

Taking inspiration from this rich documentary asset, the project “The ancient boundaries of the Mountainof Pistoia” acts as a meeting point for historical research and the modern needs for tourism (culture and sport), as well as education, hoping to conserve the original characteristics of the territory and an awareness of ecology.

Very often one thinks of boundaries as a line that separates two realities, be it states, communities, or other. An imaginary line, sometimes linked to natural obstacles such as mountains or rivers, and often linked to political and human events. In reality, as many historians as Lucien Febvre have taught us, mountains, rivers and forests, although they are dividing points, they are also “centres in evolution and expansion, small worlds with their own value and able to attract and bond closely men and places” (L.Febvre, The Earth and Human Evolution, Turin 1980).

More notes on this project on future posts………meanwhile, I would like to hear about your world boundaries: are they physical, as mountains and rivers,   or lakes…or Oceans?

what do you think is the influence of physical boundaries on social life, therefore on your psycological, inner life?

So we had decided – mostly by my request – that this year, Thanksgiving wasn’t being celebrated. Instead, we were doing a birthday celebration – since mine fell on Turkey Day this year – and would be doing a very relaxed party. More of a “come, bring food (something you like and want to share), and hang out as long as you’d like” type of affair than a party, really. We invited our close friends, and extended the invite to family as well, letting everyone know that there was no traditional anything going on. Everyone thought this was a great idea, and the meal planning began.

We had decided ahead of time that this would be a nibble all day, no formal dining time, buffet style food service.  The food would be there, and people could get what they want, as they needed it.  I made a coffee cake in the morning, so that those that were close and wanted to could stop by for coffee and munchies before starting cooking. The Hubby’s college buddy was next up with egg drop soup.  He mentioned that he thought it was a little to heavy on the sesame oil, but it tasted great, and the timing was perfect since I was just starting to get hungry.  A little bit later, my heartsister arrived, with sushi and the makings for spring rolls and lettuce wraps. The sushi went over great, disappearing in less than 30 minutes I know one of Bro’s favorites is enchiladas, so I made those, and rice. I had planned to make beans too, but realized we didn’t really need them; we were going to have plenty of food. People started gathering around the table to fix their plates, and the Hubby’s college buddy came back from their house across the street with sesame chicken.  My other close friend brought a mexican-flavors inspired chocolate mousse – cinnamon and chili powder added a little kick, and made for a more complex flavor profile. The whole thing was finished off by a delicious chocolate cake with coffee cream cheese frosting.

The best part of the whole day – aside from the wonderful homemade food – was the lack of stress. No worries about gathering everyone up, or forgetting something. No worrying about the food coming out perfectly, or all getting to the table hot. For Bro, the best part was having plenty of foods to choose from – and foods that he either knew he enjoyed, or looked forward to trying.  Towards the end of the day, I asked the Hubby if we could do this again next year – instead of Thanksgiving – because it had been so very enjoyable for everyone.  He agreed that he’d liked it very much, and that yes this might have to be our new tradition. We’ll extend the invite to family again – they declined to come this time – and there are a couple more people we’ll be inviting – one had been going to come this time but wasn’t feeling well, so decided to stay home.  My heartsister and I have already started thinking about what next year’s food might be – after all, there’s no reason to make the same thing, unless we really want to.

In sharp contrast was last night’s visit to family for make up Thanksgiving. The Hubby’s mom reheated leftovers, and we sat down to the table – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, yams with brown sugar and marshmallows on top, gravy, and bread. I took the things I wanted, as did the Hubby. When Bro sat down with his plate there were only three things on it – turkey, a slice of the garlic bread, and mashed potatoes. One of the other reasons for the non-traditional Turkey Day offerings at our house – Bro has always disliked (or downright hated) most of the traditional foods offered. I used to make him have a bite or two of yams and stuffing, but over the years, I’ve learned to respect the fact that he’s a person, too, and that he has a right to decide that he doesn’t like a particular food.  He hates the feeling of gravy in his mouth, doesn’t like green bean casserole at all (also in this category are Hubby and me), has never ever liked yams – ever, and most of the time doesn’t like cranberry stuffs – too tart for him.  Grampa gave him a hard time about the lack of stuff on his plate, telling him he’d have to grow up some time and actually eat foods that are at a dinner. To my gratitude, the Hubby jumped in immediately and defended Bro’s food choices. This all served to reinforce the idea that perhaps we as a society have become to hide-bound regarding what foods should be eaten on which day or at which time.  Makes me really glad we did something different this year.

So for next year, I’m thinking of fun things that I’d like to try, and thinking about foods I enjoy that I want to share. I know there are a few people who’ll definitely be joining us, a few who are maybes, and possibly a few that won’t join us.  If there are those who don’t want to join us, I’m just as happy that they don’t… if they don’t want to eat with us, then they shouldn’t come.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come
(Revelation 4:8)

Sunday we pull out our Advent wreath and begin the season of anticipation, praying, pondering and worshiping the Lord Jesus, who was, and is, and is to come.

I bought an Advent wreath years ago and decorated it simply without realizing the fake plastic berries and cheap gold beading would be with us for years.

But that’s how traditions sometimes tumble into our lives:

We try something out.

And it sticks.

Here’s a picture I snapped last year:

It’s simple and humble, but it’s an integral part of our Christmas traditions.

We tried it, and it stuck.

Traditions … wow, traditions are so wonderful.

They can be simple or involved (though I prefer simple).

They can be planned out or spontaneous (I like both).

They can be borrowed or invented (sometimes I need inspiration from others; sometimes we’re creative on our own).

Regardless of how they begin, traditions that fit a family’s culture—traditions that reflect our personality and can be sustained over the years—end up weaving into our family story, forming our memories and tying together relationships.

They provide rhythm to our days, weeks, seasons, years.

In a tumultuous world, traditions can provide some familiarity and stability.

They slow us down.

Because Christmas has so many potential traditions, I often poke around the Internet to see what others do.

Perhaps you’d enjoy browsing the ideas I collected last year to share on my personal blog:

The Big Advent Collection

If your Christmas traditions are still evolving and you want to experiment with something new, check out some of them.

Perhaps a wonderful new tradition will tumble into your life.

And stick.

Subscribe to NotSoFastBook.com by e-mail or RSS feed for continual updates.
Get to know Ann Kroeker better at annkroeker.com