Merry Christmas

Loved this sentiment on my sister's Christmas card. So I thought I would make it my bloggy Christmas card.

Merry Christmas everyone!We need JOY as we need air.

We need LOVE as we need water.

We need each other

as we need the earth to share.

We are blessed

that there is within our reach

enough of all we need.

~Maya Angelo

May the holiday season bring the best

of everything to you and your family.

Love,

Andi

Pretty much sums it up

With a pile of gifts to be wrapped, and candy gifts to be made - all before we leave for the weekend - this poem pretty much sums up the holiday for mom. I am going to try to create one for vacation too. I found this on another blog. See this mother have a LARGE mimosa on Christmas morning.

Funny, Funny Mother!
See Mother.See Mother laugh.
Mother is happy.
Mother is happy about Christmas.
Mother has many plans.
Mother has many plans for Christmas.
Mother is organized.
Mother smiles all the time.
Funny, funny Mother!

See Mother.See Mother smile.
Mother is happy.
The shopping is all done.
See the children watch TV.
Watch children, watch.
See the children change their minds.
See them ask Santa for different toys.
Look! Look!Mother is not smiling.
Funny, funny Mother!

See Mother.See Mother sew.
Mother will make dresses.
Mother will make robes.
Mother will make shirts.
See Mother put the zipper in wrong.
See Mother sew the dress on the wrong side.
See Mother cut the skirt too short.
See Mother Put the materials away until January.
Look! Look!See Mother take a tranquilizer.
Funny, funny Mother!

See Mother.
See Mother buy raisins and nuts.
See Mother buy candied pineapple
And powdered sugar.
See Mother buy flour, dates, pecans,
Brown sugar, bananas and spices.
Look! Look!Mother is mixing everything together.
See the children press out cookies.
See the flour on their elbows.
See the cookies burn.
See the cake fall.
See the children pull taffy.
See Mother pull her hair.
See Mother clean the kitchen
With the garden hose.
Funny, funny Mother!

See Mother.
See Mother wrap presents.
See Mother look for the end
On the Scotch tape roll.
See Mother bite her fingernails.
See Mother go.
See Mother go to the store
Ten times in one hour.
Go Mother, go.
See Mother go faster.
Run, Mother, run!
See Mother trim the tree.
See Mother have a party.
See Mother make popcorn.
See Mother wash the walls.
See Mother scrub the rug.
See Mother tear up organized plan.
See Mother forget gift for Uncle Harold.
See Mother get hives.
Go, Mother, go!
See the faraway look in Mother's eyes.
Mother has become disorganized.
Mother has become disoriented.
Funny, funny Mother!

It is finally Christmas morning.
See the happy family.
See Father smile.
Father is happy.
Smile, Father, smile.
Father loves fruitcake.
Father loves Christmas pudding.
Father loves all his new neckties.
Look! Look!
See the happy children.
See the children's new toys.
Santa was very good to the children.
The children will remember this Christmas.
See Mother.
Mother is slumped in a chair.
Mother is crying uncontrollably.
Mother does not look well.
Mother has ugly dark circles
Under her bloodshot eyes.
Everyone helps Mother to her bed.
See Mother sleep quietly
Under heavy sedation.
See Mother smile.
Funny, funny Mother!

Cookie day!

This is what we did Sunday!

Not nearly as many as usual. There hasn't been much room or time for baking! But we did manage to pull together a batch of cut out cookies.

The kids are getting way to big too fast though. This year, I did not have to help at all. Other than in and out of the oven, the cookies were 100% kid created. They rolled, and cut without any help from me.

I am so glad they enjoy baking and cooking at much as I do.

Some of my best childhood memories are of the times spent in my grandmother's kitchen. She didn't have much else to give but she shared what she knew. She let me get messy, she let me stir, she let me crack eggs. I hope to one day do the same with my grandchildren, and hope I have shared that feeling of accomplishment in something so tangible with my own children as well.

A little Christmas Fun

This is my mantle.

I noticed this angle when I was sitting with J. on the couch the other night. Totally loved it, and wanted to share.

Now a little Christmas fun - totally hijacked from another blog. But I wanted to have a bit of fun for the first time in a few days!

So here goes - post your reply here with your answers. First I can get to see who actually reads this thing, and second, I can learn a bit more about each of you!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot choclolate all the way. Preferably laced with a bit of peppermint schnapps.

2. Does Santa wrap or just place gifts under the tree? Wraps with his own special paper

3. Color or clear lights on house/tree? Totally clear

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. Plenty of kisses without it.

5. When do you put up decorations? Outside usually as soon after Thanksgiving as possible. Inside and tree usually that following weekend.

6. Favorite Christmas dish? I am not big on tradition holiday dinners. So I would have to say cookies all the way.

7. Favorite Christmas memory? Getting a teddy bear I was dying for. Or the year we got up way too early and my mom wouldn't let us go out ot he living room yet. So we sat with our backs against the door waiting.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? That's no fun!

9. How do you decorate your tree? (garland, tinsel, theme, etc) Very old fashioned. Popcorn, candy canes. Angel. Then donned with all of the ornaments we have collected. Each of the kids gets a new one each year that will go with them when they have their own tree.

10. Snow...love it or hate it? Love it as long as I can stay in and watch it.

11. Can you ice skate? A loong time ago - yes.

12. Favorite Christmas dessert? Cookies - see number 6.

13. Favorite Christmas tradition? Creating some for the kids. New jammies comes to mind.

14. What tops your tree? Always an angel. She did bring the good news.

15. Favorite Christmas song (and artist for that song)? Anything by TransSiberian Orchestra

16. Candy canes...yum or yuck? Yummo!

17. Favorite Christmas movie or show? Toughy - I have a few. The Year Without a Santa Claus, fav claymation. A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation, fav "real" life movie.

18. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk. Magic food for the reindeer

Thanks for playing!

Gratitude

Well it seems Blogger only has problems with fire pictures. This one would upload, but those still won't. Argh. Love technology.

But anway - thought I would share this picture. I guess Jim figures we have the extra kids here right now, Free Labor comes to mind, so he put them to work! They actually jumped at the chance to help. They are painting shelves for the basement. They did an awesome job too! only a wee bit of paint on feet and in hair.

So - on to gratitude.

I have been brought to my knees a number of times this week. The first being when I heard the words, "My house is on fire" coming through my phone and barely uttered by my sister. I hit my knees in shock and dismay.

Next was when I became aware of how much worse things could have been, and I hit my knees in thanks. The smoke detectors do not seem to have been working, which means had the fire started just 8 hours sooner, my sister and her family would all have been asleep oblivious to what was happening, and rather than having a few extra house guests, I can't even verbalize what may have occured. Then, gratitude that "something" made my sister head home for lunch sooner than she would have normally. Had she been 10 min later, or not come home at all, they would have been left with just a shell of a house, rather than a few rooms that need gutted and severe smoke damage. Also incredibly grateful for the firefighters who fought hard to keep everything from spreading, and also did not hesitate to redon their gear and race back into the house to find the family dog that ran back inside out of fear. Being in a small community means that quite of few of the firefighters were family friends, and very supportive to my sister. Then there was the Red Cross. Anyone can say what ever they want about the agency, but they were there with their truck, and a counselor before the house was even cooled. My sister had food and clothing vouchers in her hand (to recloth everyone with the necessaties) within an hour. I am not sure what we would have done without them. We were in WalMart til 10 pm Monday night getting jammies, and undies for everyone, as well as new coats (since of course no one wore their's to school in the am).

Then, I am brought to my knees in humility at the generosity and care shown to the family but friends, family and strangers alike. Proof to me that living in a small community is invaluable and I am so glad we have chosen to raise our children where I was raised, and in an area that still emphasizes helping your neighbor. My sister and I are more used to giving than getting and were very uncomfortable with accepting. Realizing the spirit in which everyone is giving has made us try hard to be more gracious and accepting of the help. Clothing donations, and food have been left and people calling to drop off more. Gift cards have been sent home with the girls from school by families that we don't even know. Amazing. I know I personally will pay it forward many times over.

So- even in the face of what seems to be a horrible tragedy, there are so many reasons to be grateful, and I feel blessed that we are able to see the good in it all. God has blessed us with enough beds for everyone to be safe and warm, and a dining room table big enough for everyone to eat together as the family we are. My oven and washer/dryer will be getting a work out, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Pictures link

Since blogger just does not want to post these pictures, here is the link to the album on snapfish. You will just need to enter your snapfish account to access the album. If you don't have one, it is free to create one.

Everytime I look at them I can still smell the smoke.

http://tinyurl.com/y4yrpu

Still doesn't seem real.

The latest happenings...

**Ok blogger ticking me off again..won't post pictures**

So - here has been what has been going on here. I come home from work, earlier than usual thank goodness, to answer the phone and hear my sister's weak voice say, "My house is on fire"

She came home from lunch to find her sofa on fire. Tried to put it out, started to get over come with the smoke and thank God had the frame of mind to give up and call 911. Within the five minutes it took the fire company to get there, the entire living room was engulfed. The fireman, who many are friends of the family, fought like hell to save the rest of the house. Physically, they did. (God bless those volunteers. They did not hesitate to throw on their masks and run back into the house when one of the family dogs in all the confusion ran back into the house) Unfortunately, smoke and heat causes a lot of damage. The entire first floor is declared a loss, and all but the hard furniture on the second floor is a loss. It seems to have been some sort of electrical short in some wires behind the couch. Right now, they are all here with us. Nathan is still away, which makes things much easier. God bless bunk beds and futons, everyone has a place to lay thier heads. But it has certainly been an emotional week for everyone. We are doing are best to make the days as normal as possible for the kids and I have insisted the last two days that we sit down at the table and all eat together like the family we are.

There are also TONS of blessings to be seen here. The old brick and plaster construction, kept the fire from spreading too quickly. Makes me rethink my 2x4 and dry wall house. My sister came home earlier than she normally would have, and had she not the entire house would be ashes. Her smoke detectors were not going off when she was home, so had this happened in the middle of the night the night before I shudder to think what may have happened. The Red Cross was there within the hour, and offered counseling as well as food and clothing vouchers which we took to WalMart that night to buy pajamas, undies etc. We live in a small community that has stepped up and overwhelmed all of us with offers of help and presents, and support. As well as our scrapping friends overwhelming us with generous offers. We are so much more used to be on the giving end rather than recieving end. What made me snap out of it was the other night when my niece mentioned that all she wanted to do was listen to her own CD's. She just wanted something familiar and comfortable. We adults were running around thinking of clothes, and shoes and beds, and all she really wanted was a bit of music. So I pushed aside the martyr who wanted to say "No, really, we are fine" and just ask if someone wanted to donate to please make it for the girls. The insurance money will come in time, and in the meantime now they can have some of the things they love.

So , even in the midst of the ashes, there is plenty to be thankful and grateful to God about. God has blessed us with a home warm enough and *just* big enough that they can stay here. The house will feel empty when they do find their temporary home. We live close enough that the girls can still go to school from here, and God bless them as well - they wanted to go the very next day.

I ask too, if you are blessed with the means and opportunity, give to the Red Cross. They were a god send and a tremendous blessing. I am not sure what we would have done about immediate clothing and coat needs any other way. We give religiously to the Salvation Army, but never the Red Cross. I will now, believe me.

Contentment

I am a bit irritated right now. I had a HUGE post with five pictures and long narrative just Poof out of blogland Friday nite! ARGH! Oh well. Life goes on, and life is not blogging right??

So - today I move on to Contentment. Have probably touched on it before. Seems to be a theme in my head lately though. This quote caught my attention and made me think about it again.

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

How much of lives do we spend walking around, looking at our surrounds, family, friends, job - whatever it may be, and take a mental inventory of what is not the way we would like it to be. The furniture isn't new and perfect. The house a wee small. Your boss not as supportive as you would like. You don't have the car of your dreams, the house of your dreams, the children of your dreams. I know I am far more guilty of it that I care to admit.

How often do we actually sit back and look around and say, Wow, we've got it pretty good. We have a great house, that keeps us dry and warm. The frig is full. I have happy healthy children, a job ot earn money to pay for the things we have, a car to get to work, and a healthy body to move and take me places. How often do you sit in someone's home, that you think is simply warm and beautiful, only to have them sit there and tell you all that is not perfect about it and things they are going to change some day?

Seeing the proverbial forest through the trees. We take so much energy complaining about the trees that are not growing quite the way we intended or wish they would grow, that we miss the wonderful forest we are actually living in. No matter how perfect someone else's forest may appear from the outside, I can garuntee that they also have their share of crooked trees that sit and look at. Stop comparing. It only makes your own trees look worse!

So my invitation for you this holiday season is to step outside of your trees, and take a minute to stand and gaze over your forest, and note all that is good in it. The blessing you have I am sure will outnumber the crooked trees. For just one month, and hopefully longer, appreciate even the imperfect in your life. It may be quite liberating.