Aaah...

I must say I am relieved that the holidays are over. Even though everything I did was quite lovely, it will be equally as nice to get back to my routine. Perhaps a more accurate statement is that it will be very nice to discover and maintain a routine for at least the first few months of this new year. I'm reading a book on simplifying your life and am going to make a life map - writing down all that I do, the things I don't get done, and things I wish I had time for. I'll then prioritize them according to what I actually do. How do those 2 things stack up against each other, where do I need to make changes, and how can they be accomplished? We'll see if it helps. I have many more minutes in a day in which I could be productive, and I have lots of stuff I'd like to do that will be fun and be good for me! I'll give it a try. 

P.S. I think I've just about got pie crust figured out even in this dry climate of ours. My last few crusts have held together and been wonderfully flaky. Yeah! A small victory.

New blog title?

All right, everyone. I guess I might as well ask since I can't seem to think of something clever on my own. I think I need a new blog url as my adventures aren't really new anymore, and it isn't 08. Any great ideas? I have a few OK ones, but nothing wonderful, so post your comments, and I'll see if something catches my eye. The one that would be most intuitive for me is already taken, so I'll leave it in your capable hands. xo!

Christmas Day

I rose to join the glorious morn 

whose calm and splendor would adorn

the virgin mother's infant born

this blessed dawn of Christmas day.

I pray one day my heart will see 

the light of God's eternity,

and know that Jesus died for me.

Now close my eyes, so I may rise,

as blessed dawn of Christmas day.

Christmas day has come and is almost gone. Another year's worth of love, fun, friendship, food, gifts, gatherings, and joy has passed over the threshold to my heart. I am full of love. I am full of joy and thankfulness for my life - the peace in which I am blessed to live, the family I have, the husband I adore. Christmas day for me is about faith, peace and quiet, family, tenderness and laughter. I close my eyes thankful for another day spent in the midst of those things. 

Christmas Eve

The tree's lights are lit, the star is placed, the gifts are arranged. Candlelight service was attended and enjoyed. Cranberry nut tarts have been eaten, a lovely bottle of wine savored. A quiet evening with my beloved. Time for bed. Time to dream. Time to fall asleep thinking of a tiny babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, adored by mother, father, shepherds. This baby boy born into the most humble of circumstances, yet his birth heralded by a host of angels. What excitement must have filled heaven, to transcend an immeasurable distance and be demonstrated on earth! And what an incredible gift to us...the reason for all those beautifully wrapped presents under the tree. I go to sleep tired, happy, content, knowing full well how well I am loved by family, husband, friends, and most of all - my heavenly Father. I pray this same peace and knowledge for all in my life. Goodnight.

Sunny day

I just read several friends' blogs and talked to a friend on the phone. I am once again reminded of how blessed I am by the great friends I have and what talented, wonderful women they are. These lovely women pray for me, love me despite my often complaining spirit, accept me for who I am yet encourage me to ever better myself, give me great advice, walk through life's ups and downs with me. I am THANKFUL for them! 

I am having a joyous day at home doing some laundry, wrapping my first Christmas present (which was promptly presented under our as of last night erected and decorated tree - very simple and lovely this year!), thinking about a sweater I'm going to make, listening to Christmas music, and waiting for my honey to get home so we can go shopping. What I thought might be a stressful day has turned out to be lovely, full of sun, music and small tasks accomplished. 

Today is one of those days in which I acutely feel the goodness of God, his small mercies and the gifts with which he fills our days. His love for me is so personal and intentional. How he desires to lavish me with peace and joy if I will but stop long enough and put aside my petty (and significant) worries, put them into His much more capable hands, and look for the good that has come, and is coming, my way. The small wonders that fill my days are the ones that keep me close to Him, keep me trusting Him, and keep me so aware of His care for me. I am grateful. 

Counting down

Well, only 3 more days to Christmas, my cold is slightly better today (I got some good sleep), I survived my busy but fun weekend, and now on to business! Today we're going to hammer out some Christmas shopping although, frankly, I don't have to do my family's stuff until after Christmas as we're having a late celebration. A bit of a reprieve. ;-)

I'm working to keep my focus on God, on what this time of year should be about. Why am I buying these presents? What do they represent? It is an excellent exercise of mind and will to fight against the crazy commercialism that has all but overwhelmed Christmastime in America. But I think today will be fun, to be out in the sunshine, listening to the Christmas music, being in the throng of people, looking for just the right thing that communicates that I really do love this person. 

By the way, I made these delicious rugelach fingers from Martha Stewart's Christmas cookbook. They aren't the most beautiful Christmas cookie ever, but are they ever delicious! Cream cheese, butter and flour crusts filled with chocolate, cherries, walnuts and sugar. Oh, yummy! Fun to have goodies around.  

Life saver

So, now I have a cold and am feeling quite worn out, but I still have these things I've not only committed to do, but want to do...like help cook for a friend's big Christmas open house party and make Christmas cookies for a get together tonight. My time is slipping by, my energy diminishing even more quickly. And what do I discover? My local grocery store will deliver my groceries to me for $10.00! Is it worth $10.00 to not have to wander around the store, load and unload my groceries on a very busy weekend when I'm already coughing every time I walk up the stairs? Why, you bet!!

What a wonderful feeling to have those lovely groceries delivered right to my front door by a friendly man. Not only was my order perfect, but they gave me all the right discounts. Am I a happy camper!

Now all I have to do is cook, and for all of you who know me, that's my very favorite part! Yeah for me! ;-)

Early morning

6:00 a.m. and I'm awake for no good reason. After writing this I'm going to go back to bed and try reading myself to sleep. I do have an awful lot on my mind, but no more than anyone else this time of year, of that I would bet. I could make a boring list of everything on my mental plate, but I think I'll skip that. Instead, I'll write just a small observation about my trip to the mountains this weekend - something that will bring me great joy throughout this Christmas season. 

I was driving over Hoosier Pass (very curvy, hairpin turns, amazing views!) south from Breckenridge and then across South Park (a strange bowl of land that a million years ago was a lake). Christmas music was filling my car and "Oh, Tannenbaum" came on. Such a strange song about a tree, ever-green, and lovely. I was reminded of the many symbols that fill our Christmas celebrations and how many of their meanings have been lost to public knowledge. Here's just one.

The Christmas tree, the evergreen, was first used by pagans in celebration of the winter solstice as a reminder that winter would indeed come to an end. For that, I think we're all thankful. I think it can be a symbol of even  greater significance to me at Christmastime - the everlasting life of Christ, whose birth is my entire reason for celebration. What a joyous reminder to me as I drove through those tree-covered mountains, evergreens filling my view.

 

No matter how hectic I get, no matter what I have going on at Christmas, I would like to keep that reminder in the forefront of my mind. Christmas for me isn't about presents, carols, or beautiful wreaths - it is about celebrating the greatest birthday the world will ever know - the birthday that was perhaps the most humble. Born in a stable, surrounded by animals, no one to tend to the young mother but a single husband, straw for his bed. And yet he is my King, and my Savior. Amazing!

Order...

I'm trying this new thing where I have at least one day a week where I don't leave the house. (Have I said this already...?) This is going to help me keep up with my housework and, hopefully, get going on some projects. Today is my stay at home day. I hope to do some kitchen cleaning, work on a sewing project, and work on some miscellaneous piles. Sounds stimulating, huh? 

There is one problem with this new idea - I have so many lovely friends! I'm going to have to practice saying "no" to them. I'm going to actually stand in front of the mirror and say, "No, I can't do that," "I'm sorry, that time won't work for me." Aaaaaah!! Seems so difficult! I love being with people. 

But I'm telling you, I have a lot of projects in mind: clean out the basement, sew some clothes, cull out my fabric, hang pictures, fill some photo albums, design and sew a quilt, etc. That all takes time! Maybe I need two days?

Monday, Monday

Greetings to cyberspace! A lovely day was had by all here. I spent time with my sister and nephews, played with one, put another to sleep - both equally rewarding! I had a fun evening with old and new friends...enjoyed more snow falling...did some relaxing...finished knitting a hat for my nephew...processed some holiday issues with my hubby. Now it's 9:30 and time for bed...at least for this old lady!

The bed calls...I'll answer with a good book in hand, and my kitty next to me on my pillow. Nighty-night.

Help!

Seasonal affective disorder kicking into high gear, resulting in pre-holiday stress. So much to do, so much to think about. Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Can't get my house neat, can't seem to keep up with it. Haven't exercised in months. Spending too much time doing ... what?!

Ok, deep breath, relax. Nothing is falling apart, husband is happy, friends are holding me up, God is still good! Heart rate slowing, feeling a little better. Tomorrow is a "work at home" day which is a good and lovely thing. 

Whoa! It's 11:30 at night?! Going straight to bed! Goodnight all.....

See saw

Oh, the small pleasures of life! And the fun we can (hopefully) make of ourselves! 

Jane Austen has been in the news, in the movies, and in the book reviews more often than not over the past few years. The resurgence of her works has been fun to observe. Ashamedly, I had never read one of her books - excerpts, yes, in some of my literature classes at university, but never a complete work. A change of the tide was about to occur. A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to a lecture entitled, "Jane Austen for Smarties." (Get it? A play on the ...for Dummies  books.) The lecture was given by the author of the recently published Jane Austen for Dummies, Joan Klingel Ray, and was indeed an entertaining and informative afternoon. Afterward, Sue and I were talking, and I confessed to being one of the "Jane Austen smarty-pants" to whom the author referred - those who have seen the movies but never read the books. Sue was rather surprised at my confession, and I was spurred on to do some exploration myself of an Austen book. 

The quickest to come by at our wonderful library (ppld.org if you want to check it out!) was Pride and Prejudice, and so I began my Jane Austen education in earnest. I anticipated enjoying the book, as so many around me gave testimony to their joy in its reading. I must confess, though, that the beginning was, for me, rather ignominious. I was neither moved nor intrigued by the language of the book, and the plot, being known to me, served as little enticement. I said as much to some friends. I found, however, that as I progressed in my reading, the words themselves began to draw me "further up and further in" (C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle). Austen was working her magic on me...

Result: my mind has been changed - yes, I am an intellectual see saw (teeter totter, if you'd rather)! My conclusion is this: Jane Austen does, indeed, deserve the praise she receives. Despite knowing rather intimately the progression of the plot, despite being aware of the critical reasons for and against the book, despite the sometimes (to our modern ears) over-written prose, I was drawn into Pride and Prejudice like a fish to a lure, and enjoyed every minute of it (except, perhaps, her, albeit period-justified, overuse of commas). The characters, language, and unfolding of the plot gave me great joy and actual out-loud giggles. Her use of just those things was quite delightful and fulfilled just as I had hoped. Too many words, too much dialogue - pah! Quite the opposite if one is willing to go on the ride and enjoy the play being acted out on the page.

Try it for yourself if you haven't - I think you'll be as surprised and delighted as I was!