A Christmas Story

I should probably hang my head in shame over the fact that I'm doing a Christmas post in March. Good heavens, we've already sprung ahead and everything.

So, how was your Christmas?

We had big plans for Christmas this year. Two of PB's brothers and their families were visiting from out of the country (Africa and Texas) so there was going to be a big shindig at the in-laws on Christmas day. PB's mom was giddy at the prospect of having 3/4 of her offspring around the table for Christmas so I responded with a healthy dose of denial when Obi Wanda announced on Christmas Eve that she had a sore throat. I figured a good night's sleep and Christmas presents would cure whatever was ailing her.

Or not.

Nothing says Merry Christmas quite like a 102 degree fever. PB's brother, wife and children were scheduled to board a plane home to Africa a mere 48 hours later so we decided the best gift we could give them was to not show up and spread the cooties. It ended up being a relaxing morning as we curled up in our pj's while the kids played with their presents. The only problem was that we hadn't planned on being home for lunch so our Christmas dinner ended up being sandwiches and tomato soup with nary a casserole in sight.

I was so depressed.

I had a hankering for mashed potatoes and stuffing and turkey so I made the recommendation that we eat dinner at Denny's. A recommendation that PB promptly rejected. I had stuffing on the brain and couldn't understand PB's problem. When did he get all uppity on me? PB responded by asking me hadn't I heard the "Christmas at Denny's" song? No, I had not and I'm figuring I'm not alone in this. PB pulled it up on our iTunes and played if for me (yes, we already had it but that's a whole other discussion).

Wanna hear it? Warning, it makes "Cat's in the Cradle" sound like a party song:

Obviously, Denny's was now off the table but I still wanted to get out of the house so we racked our brains to figure out what kind of restaurant would be open on Christmas day.

Fa-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra!!!!

In leu of pie we went to Twistee Treat for dessert, tucked the kids in for the night and watched, what else, "A Christmas Story". It was the perfect ending to what our kids have declared, and I have to agree, their favorite Christmas ever.

Random Random Updates

Just woke up to an all out brawl over who gets to put an angel on the Advent calendar... nothing like a smackdown beside the manger to get you in the mood for Christmas.

I think I can officially say that my status as a flaky blogger is here to stay. I just can't seem to get it together so "say hello to your fickle friend" (in your best Al Pacino voice). We're in the middle of our Christmas concert week so it's super busy at the treehouse this week. A brief and random update:

• The choir musical is Saturday and Sunday with 3 shows in all, so that's 3 opportunities to see me in all my jazz-hand finery. I don't want to give too much away, but there might be a few box steps thrown in too. Who said Baptists don't dance?

• Actually, I'm so thankful for how the Lord has blessed me through the choir that I'm gonna get up there and boogie right out my comfort zone with a big old smile on my face.

• PB is on lighting duty this week which means 8-10 hour preparation every night this week. That's after putting in a full day of work so I'm expecting to have a comatose husband on Monday. The guy who's actually doing the lighting design has worked with David Crowder, Chris Tomlin and Steven Curtis Chapman, but my favorite item on his resume is that he worked on Solid Gold. Man, that makes me want to pull out my sister's gold lame' prom dress and crimp my hair. Doc can't wait to watch his dad's "cool tricks".

• Without the ' lame' is just lame.

• Actually it's lame even with the '.

• We're on a 3 day a week school schedule for the next couple of weeks. Last year I tried taking the month of December off and that was a huge mistake so this year we're just attempting a lighter load so we can still make time for the fun seasonal stuff. Clearly we need to do more work on getting a proper attitude about the Advent.

• There's been a lot of talk about heaven around here following the death of one of the kindest men you'll ever meet. Obi Wanda is convinced we'll be wearing sandals in heaven. The kids were very excited about our new "never get sick or hurt" bodies when Ella explained that the reason we get new bodies is that right now we're in our "disobeyin' bodies". True words, my friends.

• This year I'm working on my "Christmas Shoes" trigger finger. I'm working on changing stations in less than one second.

• All 3 of my favorite teams on the Amazing Race have gone home (I'd tell you who, but PB hasn't seen last week's episode) so Sunday will be about watching everybody come unhinged. I much prefer it when I have a team to root for all the way to the end.

So that's the doings around here. I hope you guys have a great day!

What Christmas Is All About

Merry Christmas!

Oh rest beside the weary road

Christmas is a time for many things: giving, sharing, loving and fellowship. All wonderful ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

So is honesty.

So here goes.

From parties, to concerts and holiday outings I've enjoyed a lot of wonderful events this Christmas season. But during the moments between those events I've been sluggish, cranky and withdrawn.

Depressed.

It's a relatively new thing for me to be honest about depression partly because of the stigma attached to the word and partly because in my pride I don't want anyone to think I don't have it all together.

I so don't have it all together. (That should take care of the pride part and as for the stigma, well, I've decided not to care.)

I can honestly say I'm not depressed all the time, but depression does rear its ugly head in my life from time to time. Christmas 2008 is apparently one of those times.

Praise the Lord over the past year I've learned some tools for managing these times: prayer, the Word, talking to PB, talking to others, going outside and actively changing my thought patterns. That last one is just as hard as you would think and some days I'm better at it than others. Frankly, some minutes are better than others.

Above all the Lord is the One who breaks through the fog of depression and reminds me that His truth is so much stronger than my feelings. I've been noticing a recurring theme in my bible readings lately: the compassion of God. That compassion has reminded me in the past couple of days that I can have hope even in the midst of depression.

On Sunday I halfheartedly sang "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" with the rest of the congregation but stopped short when I read the words of the third verse:

"O ye beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow;

Look now, for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing;

Oh rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing."

Those "glad and golden hours" mentioned in the song? That's an empty tomb and the source of my hope. I love that the song doesn't follow up that part with, "so snap out of it you useless toad" but instead it says "oh rest beside the weary road". A baby was born in a stable a little over 2000 years ago to save and give real rest to a world full of weary people who don't have it all together.

People just like me.

Oh let the angels sing.

My kid sings!

You can't tell by looking at the picture but Obi Wan-da actually sang with her class in front of the church yesterday.  This is huge because Doc Brown has never so much as opened his mouth when he's up there with his class... he's a nonconformist like his father.

Obi Wan-da acted like it was no big deal, but PB and I were waving and grinning and giving her the thumbs up sign.  When it was over we applauded like it was opening night at Canegie Hall.

This must be how Jessye Norman's mom feels.

These are a few of my favorite things

Raindrops on roses...

I keep hearing this song on the radio stations that play Christmas music and it confuses me.  "The Sound of Music" isn't a Christmas movie is it?

Anyway, I thought I'd list some of my favorite and least favorite elements of Christmas.  I'd love to hear yours, too.

Christmas hymn:  "Angels from the Realms of Glory" - we hardly ever sing it, but I love it!

Least favorite: "We Three Kings" - I'll never be able to sing it without thinking of the cigar version.

Christmas song to crank up in the car:  So tough, but I think I would go with "12 Days of Christmas" by RelientK.  It brings out the headbanger in me.  Also, "Snoopy's Christmas" by the Royal Guardsman is a personal favorite.  I'm completely unable to listen without bopping my head back and forth during the chorus.

The song that makes me flip the channel: "Christmas Shoes", no question.  "Light Your World" is a close second.  Apparently I'm not very sentimental at Christmastime.

Best Christmas Dessert:  I'm going to have to go with Scotcharoos. (I've linked to a recipe, but I use less Rice Crispies in mine.)  I can eat a whole pan in one sitting.

Total Waste of Calories: Divinity.  This one might be a bit tainted because of the Christmas of '86(?) when my entire family caught the worst cold ever sharing a tin of divinity.

Christmas sweater, yes or no?  I don't own one, but I actually enjoy seeing people's Christmas sweaters.  It's festive.  However it is a little strange when I see a grumpy person in a Christmas sweater, an oddly regular occurrence.  Do they think the sequins and bows will cover up the fact their face looks like they've been sucking on a lemon?

Favorite Christmas Movie: "White Christmas".  I love every song, every dance and every dress Rosemary Clooney wears in it.  I wasn't introduced to "The Christmas Story" until after I married PB, but it's almost a tie with those two.  It's certainly the most quotable Christmas movie.

Least Favorite Christmas Movie:  I might get some comments on this one, but... "It's a Wonderful Life".  There.  I said it.  I can't get past the scene where that mean man makes George's ear bleed.  I know it has a happy ending but you have to sit through way too much depressing stuff before you get there.

Did I miss anything?

By the way, I'm sure "My Favorite Things" is not a Christmas song.

Winter Wonderland My Foot

It might be beginning to look like Christmas but it certainly doesn't feel like it.

PB and I took the kids out to look at Christmas lights last night and stopped to get ice cream instead of hot chocolate.  

In shorts.

I've lived in Florida all my life and I still can't make peace with warm weather at Christmastime.

Bah humbug.

Peppermint Bark... Yes or No?

Help, please.

I'm going to bake some treats for the kids' Sunday School teachers for Christmas.  I want to bake something super yummy and rich, not just something to take up space in a cellophane bag.  A bland and dry cookie just doesn't seem like an appropriate thank you for ministering to my kids all year.

I've seen some recipes for peppermint bark but I've never eaten any so I don't know if that 's what I want to do.  It seems appealing because it looks easy to make in bulk - that'll come in handy because the kids have 15 teachers in total.

So, who's tried peppermint bark and what's your verdict?  Delicious or nasty?  Or do you have another recipe recommendation?

Thanks for the help!

Went for it...

... and it was fun!

For starters, I did not fall off the stage.  This is huge considering that I had to stand precariously close to the edge for the opening number.  I think it helped that the kids prayed, "Jesus, please don't let Mommy fall off the stage" all week during their bedtime prayers.

PB did an awesome job working the lighting.  Doc Brown was sitting with my parents and every time the lights changed he talked about Daddy's "cool tricks".  

When I asked the kids on their way home what their favorite part was they told me it was the man playing that song on the green guitar.  "That song" is "Christmas in Sarajevo" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  

That's right.  In a Baptist church.  (And yes, we take the kind of Christmas music the kids are exposed to seriously.  We're very proud that they have developed discerning taste.)

Anyway, I had a ball as evidenced by the goofy grin I wore all night.

I can't wait to start practicing the music for Easter...

Our Jesse Tree

I was going to post some pictures of our Jesse Tree but something weird is going on with either me, Blogger or my computer.  For some reason I can't post pictures to my blog.  Weird.

It's probably me.

Anyway, I'm loving the whole Jesse Tree thing.  

For starters, we had a great time painting each of the ornaments.  Obi Wan-da tried her best to conform to the guidelines for each ornament.  She really did, but the girl can't help herself.  She added smiley faces to every one of her ornaments and to some of mine, too.  Yesterday we hung the ornament representing God's promise to Abraham.  There's a camel, a tent and a big smiley face at the top.  I love it so much that we're going to use it with our grandchildren.

We've been super busy this week; PB's been working late every night this week getting the lighting ready for our church's Christmas musical.  The Jesse Tree has been great because it has forced us all to stop and focus on the advent for a few minutes each day.  It's so great to watch the puzzle pieces of God's redemptive plan start to come together for the kids - especially for Doc Brown.

Also, the Jesse Tree devotional I purchased is great because there are two devotions for each day: one for children and one for adults.  In addition to the children's version we're doing as a family, I've been doing the adult version for my quiet time.  I can't tell you what a blessing that has been already.  I grew up in the church so I often let familiarity with the Christmas story dilute my awe of the miracle of the nativity.

I don't think that's going to happen this year.

I know we're only five days into it, but I'm certain we've found a new family tradition.

The Santa Solution

I have an unapologetic confession:  We do the Santa thing at our house.

We leave him cookies, we ask the kids what they want Santa to bring them and Santa signs the gift tags.  Santa even leaves a trail of candy canes from from the kids' room to the Christmas tree when he comes to our house.  Santa did the same thing at my house growing up... he's very good about remembering family traditions:)

I'm not worried about scarring my kids' understanding of the real meaning of Christmas because while PB and I talk about Santa we emphasize Jesus.  The Jesse Tree's been a big help with that this year (I'll post pictures tomorrow).  

Also, we have a secret weapon...

Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.  Specifically the Rankin/Bass Santa in Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.  

I used to watch that movie every year when I was a kid and I never liked it because Santa was a bit of a jerk in it and I'm not the only one who thinks so (warning a teensy weensy bit of language printed on the screen at the end, but still very funny):

(I'm glad I'm not the only one who overanalyzes children's movies.)

So if the kids start getting too attached Santa, we'll just bust out the Rudolph DVD.

Barefoot Christmas Shopping

Every Christmas season PB and I set aside a date night to go Christmas shopping for the kids' presents.  We always end up at Toys R Us on one of the busiest nights of the year and divide up our list so we won't be stuck in the store all night.

PB hates shopping in general and I have a long list of "I'd rathers" before I go to Toys R Us.  As in I'd rather have my eyebrows completely plucked out than go to Toys R Us at Christmastime.  It doesn't make for much of a date night.

This year we decided to join the world of online shoppers and it was awesome.  We curled up on the couch in our sweats and bare feet while we did our browsing.  We munched on cookies and had a football game playing in the background while we did our pricing comparisons.

No crowds.  No frantic atmosphere.  Free shipping.

The Tree Climbers have a new family tradition.

Here's what's mocking me today

Sometimes I have moments of inspiration that put me on a tear.  It could be something useful like cleaning out a closet or organizing recipes.  Other times it's something of a more creative nature like making two ridiculously labor intensive blankets at one time. 

I quit making those blankets, by the way.  My children are just going to have to find out that their mother loves them some other way.

The latest bee in my bonnet is a to create a Jesse Tree.  A Jesse Tree is a way to celebrate the advent by studying God's redemptive plan beginning in the Old Testament and working up to the New Testament.  Every day the family does a reading from the Bible and then places a corresponding ornament on a small tree.  I think it will be great to set aside a few moments each day in December to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

I've bought a book of Jesse Tree devotions and a four foot Christmas tree.

Now I need to make the ornaments.

25 of them.

With the kids.

Oh sure, I could buy them, but I think it'd have more impact if the kids and I make them together.  And I'm too cheap.

I have the paint, 25 pre-cut round wood ornaments and patterns for the pictures on the ornaments.  All that's left is to just do it.  That's the hard part for me.  I can plan and I can shop, but the actual doing is where everything falls apart.

I've invested too much to not follow through.  And I know it will be worth it on December 1.

17 days.  25 ornaments.

We start today.