Christmas Withdrawl

It amazes me how one day can change everything. How is it that Christmas decorations can seem so lively and festive on December 25h, but December 26th it all seems awkward and out of place. I suddenly realize reality must be faced tomorrow and somehow I must learn to face it without the glowing lights and soundtrack of merry Christmas tunes. In spite of the withdrawl another year is approaching fast, and a little spark of anticipation begins to grow in hopes for the new year.

I really wanted to add pictures to this blog, but I am just so terrible at sitting down and getting them uploaded and organized. I blog rather impulsively and this does not lend well to any form of organization. I will probably end up getting them all out in one huge picture blog. Never the less without the pictures to aid I will recount our Christmas day.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. Dinner was wonderful and we pretty much followed the usual routine. I wrote Christmas letters for everyone, following the lead from my dad who had done this a few Christmases before. It made for a little teary eyed prelude to the gift opening, but what are gifts if no one knows how much they are really appreciated. Kaylie was very excited and a little overwhelmed with all of her gifts. Chris bought me a new 10.2 megapixel camera. After that I really should be posting more pictures. My brother also surprised us with a gift certificate for a night out together at Del Frisco's. That was pretty awesome as well. My parents gave us some gift cards and monetary gifts. We were extremely grateful and were blessed beyond our expectations. All of the kids chipped in to get my dad a blue ray player for his new T.V. Micah was pretty much content to sit by sucking on his fingers while we opened his gifts. My dad and I attended services Christmas Eve. It was especially meaningful. The last hymn we sang was Joy to the World. In the Luthern church everyone stands as the crucifix enters at the beginning of the service and then again at the end as we watch it exit. As we sang that last hymn I looked at that cross and my heart flooded with hope. In spite of economic woes and turmoil abroad everyone sang with such gusto. What peace we can have knowing who is in control. He truly does rule the world with truth and grace! We spent Christmas day at home with Chris' family. We had a very tasty meal, and it was relaxing to just be home. Overall Christmas 2008 was a complete success.

The last couple of days have been spent recovering. I barely slept the first half of this week. We all slept in yesterday. Last night we were able to reunite for dinner with my best friend from high school, her mom, and step dad. It was wonderful to reconnect remembering old times, and sharing what is going on in our lives. It has been so nice being off it will be hard going back to work Monday. Such is the cycle of life. Oh and I forgot to mention my other Christmas gift. I asked Chris for the Jillian Micahels 30 day shred dvd. Jillian is one of the trainers on the show the Biggest Loser. She is so tough, and has a tendency to make people cry, but for some reason I like her. She gets results. I read nothing but good reviews on the workout regimen so we will see. He also got me a nifty little watch I can wear when I work out that will take my heart rate and count the calories I burn. Now I'm not making a crazy new years resolution about weight loss. We will just see where it goes =) Losing weight would be great, but I also want to get my energy levels up and increase endurance. I am finding these are musts when you have two kids.

I will try to get pictures up tomorrow. Chris will be glued to the television for the last day of regular season football which means I will have some free time. Until next time!

Merry Christmas Eve

After days and days of preparation and anticipation that hallowed day is upon us. The culmination of parties, decorations, and retailer's holiday flair, which has been on the shelves for months now, will all come together in that glorious date we call Christmas.

I have wanted to add some photo updates from our Christmas adventures, but I always seem to blog at work. I don't have copies of all my pictures on this computer so it makes it quite difficult. I hope to get some pictures up over the holiday weekend.

Tonight is the big night for our family. Since I was a child we have always opened our gifts Christmas Eve. We now have a tradition of going to dinner Christmas Eve at a local restaurant called Italianni's. They have wonderful Italian food in a romantic old school atmosphere. It's the kind of place that feels a little fancier than your everday chains, but has that comfortable neighborhood feel. Afterward we go home and gather in the front living room and read the story of the birth of Jesus. We then do the usual and open gifts and let the kids and adults play around with all the new toys. We usually end up watching a movie that someone received. At 11 pm my dad, Chris , and I head out for a candle light service at a local Lutheran church. This is perhaps one of my favorite traditions. After all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas it is almost sacred to drive out into the empty streets. Everything is quiet and calm. We head into the church surrounded by the faint glow of candles and twinkling lights. The sound of carols fill the air and suddenly I forget about the list of things I needed to do or the gift I forgot to buy. As we participate in the liturgy my spirit is lifted as we verbally affirm the truths of our faith. Some may find this pratice rigorous and monotonous, but there are times when this unification of a body of believers is especially meaningful.
After services we always spend the night at my parents to be together Christmas morning for our stockings. Tomorrow we will go home late in the morning to prepare Christmas dinner at home, and Chris' family will be over. I am pretty excited. We are cooking prime rib which I believe will be delicious!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I Can't Take It With Me?

Stress has been eating at me for awhile. I don't want many thing for myself, but I have a desire to see my loved ones have everything they could want. I'm not a perfectionist or a neat freak, but I long for my house to be perfect. I can work myself into a tizzy adding to my list of to-do's, and the things I hope to do someday. I hear this is fairly common in our fast paced world, but I have been fortunate enough to hear something screaming at me in the depths of my subconscious. Am I so busy worrying about tomorrow that I forget to live out today? The kids will only get older, and I too will grow old and meet my end. When it is all said and said and done I can't take perfection with me. The grasping for the ever dangling carrot will vanish.
Plans are good when they act as a guide, but they can be deadly when they control.

Warm Me Up

Please don't tell anyone, but I have an awful little secret. I like the cold weather. Give me a cold overcast day and I'm a happy girl. I find this to be a dangerous secret because the vast majority of Texans despise the cold. Oh of course we all wish for the occasional white Christmas, but for the most part, Texas enjoys nice warm sunny weather. One week of cloudy skies and the makers of prozac are back in business.

Maybe I should explain myself a little better. It is not necessarily the cold weather I enjoy, but rather the instincts it draws out in us as human beings. The cold causes us to come inside together, to seek warmth and comfort from the elements. In these moments we realize we are not all that self sufficient, we need something more to bring light and warmth into our lives. Nothing warms me up more than some yummy soup, a warm fire, and my family. Yes even a warmed heart can bring comfort to my physical body.

How often my spirit becomes cold and dreary, and I am reminded once again I need to be drawn in by the love, light, and warmth of a Saviour.

One Year Later

How do you fill such a big void, when no one else compares? They say time heals wounds, but what if time just let's it settle in further?

I have been reflecting this afternoon. It has almost been one year since my grandpa Jack, passed away. The year has gone rather quickly, and sometimes I feel like I just heard the news for the first time. We always called him papa. He was such an anchor in this family, someone you always just knew would be there. I rarely heard a cross word come from his mouth, he preferred to make people laugh. He used to call me Cris, and would always sing silly songs. I could go on and on about how he loved people and they loved him. He was an upstanding member of the community, a staple of his town. His great character is achieved by very few men. He loved his wife. You could tell they still had that spark even after 6 decades together. Even at the end when he was in pain I knew he hung on because he loved her so.

All of these memories give me joy because I know his legacy is so great. They still don't bring back papa. One year later that is still sinking in.

Line Dancing=Holiday Entertainment?

Saturday evening we found ourselves at the mall waiting in line to see Santa Clause. This is the first year Kaylie caught onto the idea and she determined that no matter what she would see Santa on Saturday. The winding line did not deter her and we found ourselves with the hundreds of other parents waiting to see the jolly old man.

As we stood waiting a group of middle aged people began to set up near our line for what seemed to be some sort of holiday entertainment. The music kicked up and I realized we were caught smack dab in the middle of some good old fashioned Texas line dancing set to Christmas music. They even had cute little shirts that said "Dancin 'n' Line." Now I have lived in Texas almost my whole life and have never developed an affinity for cowboy culture. I understand everyone has there own preferences, but line dancing has never been one of those activities that seemed like entertainment for an audience. If you enjoy it as a personal entertainment great, go out and have yourself a grand old time. But really, can we seriously call a few combinations done in a line holiday entertainment? It truly was painful to watch. There was a small crowd gathered of obvious friends and family. The rest of us were held captive against our will as we waited in that hopelessly long line.

Now that I realize how easy it is to get a spot in the holiday line-up, I may grab my ipod and docking station and head out the mall and find my own little corner to perform. Jumpin Jacks to holiday music will be my schtick.

For now I'm stuck in Texas. Merry Christmas ya'll!

Jingle Bells

Time for a Christmas update. We have been having a fabulous holiday so far. This is the first year that Kaylie has really had a keen understanding of Christmas. Every aspect of it has been exciting for her, and as parents that just makes it all worth while. I've been trying to explain to her the story of Jesus. I know I know he was most likely born at some other time of the year, but since we can't pinpoint a date we'll have to just live with December. Since we needed something to replace worship of the sun god, this will do wonderfully! Ok sorry for the rabbit trail. Anyway, if anyone knows of a good live nativity in the DFW area let me know. I believe Kaylie would really enjoy it.

Our days have been filled with Christmas music to and from work, watching Christmas movies, and decorating trees. Jingle Bells is Kaylie's favorite song, as she has learned most of the words. Sleigh Ride is a close second. We have actually covered five Christmas movies, but there are still more to go. The upcoming week brings some Christmas parties which always involve baking. Then of course we will begin the final countdown. I am enjoying the season very much as well. We completed almost all of our Christmas shopping right around Thanksgiving. It really is a good feeling. Micah is also enjoying what little he can process. His favorite thing has been to lay on the floor and stare at the Christmas lights on the tree.
Next year will be even more fun we he can toddle around the house after Kaylie and join in the fun.
I hope you and your families are enjoying the holidays. The economy may be headed south and uncertainty is around every corner, but the warmth of family and friends is just the medicine to carry us through. I leave you with a few more pictures of our Christmas festivities.