One for the Thumb!

What a great year to be living near Pittsburgh! The Steelers won the Super Bowl last night, and I admit it's the first time in my LIFE I've watched it for the football and not merely the commercials. (Although I thought the Hummer ad was just freakin' funny, and the Budweiser magic fridge was a hoot. Apparently the best was the streaking sheep, but I miss that. Drat.) When the game ended, you could here car horns, fireworks, and just general shrieking all around. Yes, we picked a good year to move here. :)
What have I learned from my brief but intense flirtation with Steeler football?
1- Jerome Bettis is "The Bus." That makes Benjamin my minibus.
2- People think Ben Roethlisberger is one hot man. I think he's fine, but I don't care for the beard. Wonder if he'll shave it off now that they've won??????
3- Pittsburgh loves their Steelers so much that they opened the Pittsburgh Public Schools 2 hours late today in honor of the win. Now this is a city that knows how to have a bit of fun.
4- If you want a Steelers Champions shirt, you'd best go buy it RIGHT AFTER THE SUPER BOWL. Stores opened after the game last night and the shirts were sold out by morning here.
5- Troy Polamalu has a cool name, cool hair, and a catchy tune about how to pronounce his name.
6- Terrible Towels are all the rage. Now I want one of these gold numbers to wave around.
7- It is possible to reclaim our living room TV on game day. Camden even runs around in anticipation. Then, when the game starts, he disappears upstairs to play Star Wars. If only Darth Vader were a player. He'd watch it for sure then.
8- Apparently the Steelers are more than a winning team. They're full of character. Really. (Joey Parker's trash talk aside) I heard so many comments from news heads referring to the players' strength of character. From what I've seen in interviews with Bettis and Polamalu, among others here and there, it's true. Many of these men love God, play for each other, and recognize that their strength is in their numbers, not just in themselves. I just love that.
9- For some reason, you are not allowed to push off of another player as you pursue a pass. I don't get this. It seems to me that if you're allowed to knock the hell out of each other, you should be allowed to use that force to help you out a bit. But I don't write the rules of football. I barely know them.
10- Inspired by the game, Benjy now runs around the living room and hurls himself onto the ground, Steeler style. That's my minibus! He also shouts, "kick ball!" Amazing how this game has gripped us, turned us into Steeler fans, and helped my little boy pick up a few new words. :)

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

There's no way in the world you can live here, an hour east of Pittsburgh, and not be PSYCHED about the Steelers playing in the Super Bowl tomorrow. For a solid week I've worn the black and gold to work with jeans. Only during Super Bowl week would we be granted the privilege of wearing jeans to work all week long. Only during the Super Bowl would I see hundreds and hundreds of people around town proudly wearing their black and gold necklaces, hats, shirts, jackets, HAIR. Only during the Super Bowl would I hear the beat of Steelers tunes on the regional radio stations. One of my favorite songs is this little number from Mr. Devious: Polamalu Song. Be sure you click on the Polamalu (spelled Pohlamahlu on this site) tune to hear it. It's so freakin' funny!

OK, so it's obvious what we'll be up to tomorrow night. The boys, Curt, and I will all be decked out in favorite Steelers Tees, sipping our favorite beverages (Carnation Instant Breakfast chocolate milk for the boys...gotta sneak those nutrients in where you can!), and tuned into the Big Game. This will be the very first time I've watched the super bowl for something other than the commercials. I cannot tell you how excited I am! Win or lose, it's been a wild ride here in the Pittsburgh region. What a place to be!

Blessings

A few things God has blessed my life with:
* Benjy's first drawing of a fact (that I've seen before he destroyed, anyway!)
* Camden's sweet bedtime prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. MY angels watch me through the night and wake me with the morning light. Dear God thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Benjy, me, Ellie and Emma. And please help the bad guys be good."

* A loving Dad for my boys. Curt is the most patient man I've ever known. He sits with Camden as he counts out 100 lollipops to take to kindergarten for 100s Day. He can play chase with both Benjy and Camden for a good bit of a Saturday afternoon. He can listen to the two of them carry on and never raise his voice. And he can even put up with my sometimes extreme mood swings. This man is a saint!
* Ellie, my lovely and loyal black lab/mutt. She's mostly deaf, not too bright, suffers from arthritis, incontinence, and just plain old age, and could use a bath. But she's been mine for longer than Curt! She's my Ellie Belly, beautiful and sweet.
* Creative time: God has blessed me with a creative gift. I'm not sure what it is yet, but I know it's there! I'm studying just how I can grow it and use it best in my new creativity journal. I'm forcing myself to carve out time to play with this in hopes of learning more about myself.
* A family I can count on: Even though I don't get to see my folks or sister often, I know they're out there, thinking of me and each other. I know we share a love and respect for each other, and I'm blessed to come from such a bonded and strong family.

fefe bi du

"Fefe bi du!"

So Benjy tells me every day. I have no trouble understanding this one. He started saying it one night as he, Camden and I were watching Madagascar. There's this one part where the alligator gobbles up the duck. Well, that was a shocking sight for Benjy. He immediately started talking about it. "Fefe" he would say. That means "alligator". "Bi" that means "bit". "Du". Well, that's obvious. "Fefe bi du!" He said this over and over and over and with an excitement that I've rarely seen in him when talking. I think that excitement was all about the amazing feeling of communicating. He was talking to me, and I understood him. And he KNEW it! Man, that's just so freakin' cool. You could tell it was a huge aha moment in his little life.

And so, he says it daily now. "Fefe bi du." He says it with the same excitment and expression that he had on that night as we watched the movie. "Fefe bi du." Amazing.

In the news...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Amid tight security and a sea of green and yellow flags, Palestinians cast ballots in their first parliamentary election in a decade Wednesday — a historic vote that could shape the future of the peace process with Israel. I think this photo is so telling, so powerful, so remindful of our own precious right to vote here in the US.


A false-color composite shows the Cartwheel galaxy. A new planet-hunting technique has detected the most Earth-like planet yet around a star other than our sun, raising hopes of finding a space rock that might support life, astronomers reported on Wednesday. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/Reuters) How can you look at our universe and NOT wonder what the plan is? What the origin was? WHO put it all in motion? I can think of only one who could imagine it and then make it so. God.


Is it possible to live without it?




TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Bill Cowher's news conference had nothing to do with the Seattle Seahawks' devastating offensive line or the running of league MVP Shaun Alexander or the tactics of Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Holmgren.
No, the theme Tuesday centered on fabrics and hues, as in "What color jerseys will your team wear for Super Bowl XL, Coach?"
This is what happens when the big game is 11 days away and storylines are coming from every angle.
For the record, the Steelers will wear white for Super Bowl XL in Detroit, even though they are the home team and always wear black at Heinz Field.
GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been tagged

Kristen sent me this, and I answered her questions and sent it back to her along with a few others. Here's what I had to say today.

1. What is your full name?
Wendi Leighann Gibson Richert
2. What color pants are you wearing?
red PJs from Target with cute little black dogs and a sprinkling of polka dots on them
3. What are you listening to right now?
Sponge Bob's Christmas movie - Benjy's favorite
4. What was the last thing you ate?
salad and stuffed shells
5. Do you wish on stars?
Nope, but I have to recite the little rhyme for Camden so he can.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
yellow or periwinkle
7. How is the weather right now?
dark and cold, somewhere in the 30s, I suspect, but I'm too lazy to check on it.
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My sister last night. Unless you count answering the phone a couple of times at work today.
9. Do you like the person who sent you this?
Yes - she ROCKS! And she's just so darn sweet. :)
10. How old are you today?
37
11. Favorite drink?
black coffee and cosmopolitans (not together)
12. Favorite sport?
Huh????
13. Hair Color?
brown with a few streaks of Sun-In brassy tones
14. Do you wear contacts?
yup
15. Siblings?
A younger sister
16. Favorite Month?
September - my birth month and the weather starts to change
17. Favorite Food ?
Eat & Park's smiley cookies. This week, anyhow.
18. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
19. Favorite Day of the Year -
Christmas morning with my kids.
20. What do you do to vent anger?
Take a nap, cry, sit in the dark. Then get over it.
21. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Barbies - my barbies were always better than my sister's.
22. Summer or winter?
Winter!!!!!!!!!
23. Hugs or kisses?
Hugs
24. Chocolate or vanilla?
Vanilla
25. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
Sure!
26. Who is most likely to respond?
Kristin better!!!!!!
27. Who is least likely to respond?
My sister. She never responds to any of my emails. (What's she trying to tell me, anyway???)
28. When was the last time you cried?
Last week.
29. What is under your bed?
Emma and some suitcases
30. Who is the friend you've had the longest?
Jodie in Roanoke
31. What did you do last night?
Watch the Steelers win the playoffs for the super bowl!!Wooohooooo - go Steelers!
32. What are you afraid of?
People I know dying
33. Plain, buttered or salted popcorn?
oooo, yuck. chocolate covered raisins for me
34. Favorite car?
don't care
35. Favorite flower?
Daisies
36. Number of keys on your key ring?
2
37. Type of job?
preschool specialist at KinderCare
38. Favorite day of the week ?
Friday, or sometimes Thursdays because you ahve teh entire weekend to look forward to
39. What did you do for your last birthday?
Opened presents from my boys, ate a lot of cake, and uploaded some tunes on my new iPod Shuffle
40. How many states have you lived in?
three!
41. How many cities have you lived in?
5
42. What do you collect?
Ws - the letter W, that is. And Willow Tree angels
43. Who do you LOVE most in life?
God, Family, Friends

This is the tree

The tree that Camden loves. He climbs it nearly to the top. He shakes the whole thing while up there, the branches swaying wildly as he climbs higher and higher. It's as if he thinks he can reach the sky. Today he brought me a "flower" from a branch of his tree. It was dead, dead like the winter, but it was a flower from Camden, nonetheless. He even put it in a glass of water and brought it up to me in my bathroom. He was so proud. I hugged him, wrapped my arms around him and told him how thankful I was. Now, isn't that just the sweetest thing? My son climbed a tree on a drizzly cool January day to pick a flower just for me? He's so freakin' cool. :)

The Dark Side

It's everywhere.

In everything from my kids' undies to their dinner plates. It's ubiquitous, entrancing, and all over my living room. The Dark Side and I live a not-so-quiet co-existence as my children have fallen prey to its force. I trip over light sabers, hang up Darth Vader capes, and gather chess pieces and tri fighters and action figures more often than daily, if that's possible. I hear the sounds of Star Wars theme music in the car as Benjy and Camden hum it, from my study as Camden and Curt struggle to win against the Playstation, and from Benjy's little mouth as he teams up R2D2 against Darth Vader and General Grievous. I don't even want to know who wins that one.

Such is life with boys. For years we got away without hearing the slightest gun noise from Camden. Then, suddenly, Star Wars entered our home and the BOY in my husband and two children was awakened. PACHOOO PACHOOO PACHOOO. It's the sound of boys. Of the force. I hope I've taught them that the force is not to be used on real people. It's a pretend thing. Yes, Camden tries hard to use the force to move a straw across then kitchen table. And he blames "the force" on his difficulty with listening to directions. But, overall, I think The Dark Side lives in their active and vibrant imaginations. I don't see it when Camden hugs his "babies" - stuffed animals. I don't see it when Benjy runs up to me and plants a big ol' kiss on my cheek. I don't see it when they both snuggle in bed with Curt and me first thing in the morning. Truly, that's when the Dark Side has been overcome by my good Jedi masters. I guess I really don't need to worry. Deep down inside, the power of the good force is there, ready to shoot out of their Yoda light sabers and save the day.

Beautiful Things

These are a few things that I have found beautiful lately:
* The pinkish white Christmas cactus that has recently bloomed in my bathroom
* Benjamin's cheeks - they are so kissable
* The sunshine today - temp in the mid-50s, perfect spring-like weather. Driving with the windows down, feeling the cool breeze that wasn't hot but wasn't cold either. The blue skies with streaky white clouds. Beautiful.
* Camden on his birthday perched on the porch rail out back. (Yesterdays' blog picture) He is a beautiful being.
* Krystal fried apple pies Curt brought me from the Atlanta airport - the best! (Who needs to be healthy when these are in the house?!)
* Ellie. This old dog is the most loyal, beautiful black lab. I love her.
* The sounds of kids playing outdoors - at KinderCare today, at home with the neighborhood kids running about. Ah, almost like spring.
* Snowfall. Nope, none yet, but an inch or two on the way. I'll take what I can get.
* The smell of ground coffee in the coffee maker waiting for tomorrow morning when we hit the ON button.

Happy Birthday, Camden!

All day I've thought about the wonderful delivery of Camden 6 years ago in Virginia. Epidural - check. Husband by my side - check. Mom there, too - check. A perfect birth - check. Camden came into this world without a hitch. The perfect birth. The perfect baby. Just too sweet. Yes, he's had his moments of The Dark Side, but he's still my Baby Camden. He still loves to snuggle, listen to stories, share raspberries, and sneak sweets. He's still my first one. He's still a slight little fellow, my bean pole who's shooting up like a weed. He's still loud and silly and a drama king. He's still my sweet, sweet Camden Neil. I love you, Camden, to the moon and back and then back again to infinity and beyond.

Six years ago

It really does seem like just last week that I gave birth to Camden. And yet tomorrow he'll turn six at nearly 1:30 in the afternoon. I cannot believe my little punkin head is growing up so fast - reading, combing his hair "like a man!", asking for privacy when he uses the bathroom. Geez, where has the time gone?! In these pictures, he's eagerly chopping away at a "rock" that housed a tiny dinosaur. He was so excited to chisel away at it, just like a scientist. I did squash a bit of his excitement, though, by asking him not to spread rock bits all over the kitchen. "You mean scientists don't get rocks and dirt in their houses?" he asked. "No, scientists don't get rock and dirt in their mommys' kitchens," I replied. Something makes me wonder if he'll be a scientist when he grows up: so curious, eager to learn and explore, and find the answers out for himself. How cool is that?!

Oh, the life

If I could be Emma for just a day.... Emma, the naughty, naughty bad dog. The one who is so submissive to everybody, and yet will snap at me at the drop of a pin when I try to brush her. She HATES to be brushed, loves to curl up on the bed, HATES to be cold, loves to lick your hands, HATES to eat dog food, loves to beg for table scraps. You may recall that I had a picture of her on the KITCHEN TABLE a few days ago. That's my Emma. This digi kit by Carrie Stephens came from a freebie at Scrapbook Bytes. Check it out!

On other notes...

* I'm 8 days into SUCCESS on my intention to NOT GO TO WALMART IN 2006.
* I can't wait for ANDERSON COOPER to come on CNN tomorrow at 10 p.m. Funny what you look forward to when you've spent nearly 60 nights alone.
* My 3-2-1 DVD from PREVENTION will be here any day now. It's the coolest exercise video - 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength, and 1 minute of abs - 6 of these sessions all together. I figure I'll do 2 at a time and have the full workout in by days' end. Woohoooo! I can do that...12 minutes per session. I can SO DO that!
* Thanks to my friend Laurie, I'm feeling the push toward healthy eating - I'm adding ground flax seed to our morning smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, anything that my kids and I will eat! And I've ordered an Omega 3 supplement for Benjamin. Some studies have shown that the boost in Omega 3s can help strengthen speech issues. Read this in my Late Talkerbook, awesome book.
* Having Curt home has been such a blessing. We've had no trouble getting back to normal. And I must admit, it was nice to see him put the boys to bed tonight while I caught up on emails. :) But, truly, just having him here, WITH ME, is enough.
* That Emma makes me want to sleep all day and all night....

With each day this week, I'm amazed at Benjamin's speech. He's TRYING so hard! Saying so many new sounds. They may not sound like the words we know, but he's saying them just the same. He's so proud of himself. And I'm so proud of him.

Curt's home!!!!!!!! Probably should have led with that, but the pic of Benjy playing with the crayons when we went to lunch the other day was just too cute. He drove from Jacksonville, Fla., to here today. What a wonderful surprise and blessing to have him back with us. I spent the day rearranging the living room after taking the Christmas tree down and reorganizing the study. I'm one of those freaky people who find cleaning and purging cathartic. I dread it till I do it, then once I'm into it, there's no turning back. Every corner will be cleaned, every box emptied, every drawer searched. It's all going to be in its place when I'm done, and then the rest is HISTORY.

Setting: After dinner and baths, comfy time for the boys to watch Polar Express before bedtime. I've just sat down to do some scrapbooking.

Emma: Woooooowooooooowoooooooooooof
Me: Camden, will you let Emma out, please?
Camden: You always want me to do stuff for you. You always just want to sit down and relax and I have to do your stuff. I'm so tired of having to do stuff while you relax. You have to start doing things for me and let me have a break.

That Camden has no idea. I'm going out on a limb here by saying this: I hope he has one just like him one day. :)

So sad...

My heart goes out to all the West Virginia families who lost loved ones in the Sago mine explosion this week. Prayers for coping, hope and peace go out to the entire community.

I am a coal miner's grandaughter. Born and raised in the coal country of southwest Virginia, I grew up knowing next to nothing of the mines and their influence on my family and community. One grandfather was retired from the mines with black lung. The other had died from a heart attack before I was even born. He, too, had lived with black lung. The mines didn't affect me directly, so I just didn't really care to understand them. It was not until after college when I moved away from the area that I became interested in learning more about the place I'd always called home.

My interest was piqued by a novel by West Virginia author Denise Giardina. "Storming Heaven" is a powerfully and beautifully written novel about the unionizing of the coal mines of Kentucky and West Virginia in the early 20th century. I fell in love with the people in this book, with their love of the family and land and their fight for justice against the coal companies who forced them to work, cheated them out of their pay, and held them virtually hostage on their own land. This novel fed a fire in me that I never knew burned. After reading it, I couldn't learn enough about my heritage.

I followed up this novel with Giardina's sequel, "The Unquiet Earth" and then the movie "Matewan" about labor wars among West Virginia coal miners during the 1920's. I went on to write a feature story for my regional newspaper's Lifestyle section about a retired Virginia miner's dream to turn a tiny defunct Virginia coal town into a tourist attraction. To this day, his dream hasn't come true, but the time I spent with him touring his town, meeting the wonderful people, and soaking up my history has changed me forever. I will never let go of my roots. I will forever be a mountain girl with a proud history that has helped weave the fabric of workers' rights across this country.

And so, while I know nobody from this small West Virginia town where 11 families are grieving after an unforgettable tragedy, my heart is breaking for them. Truly, we are all brothers and sisters to some extent. I feel close to them tonight, and I will keep them in my prayers.

A Wanna Be Hokie

The Virginia Tech Hokies won today's Gator Bowl in Florida against the University of Louisville - woohoooo! I was scrapbooking when Mom called to tell me they were playing. She and Dad were shocked that I wasn't watching it, but I'd totally forgotten. Camden was gracious enough to let me pause his Star Wars Playstation game to watch the last quarter. He, Benjy, and I curled up on the floor and cheered the Hokies on to victory. Bless their hearts. They have no idea what they're cheering for, but cheer they did! We did the victory dance (made up by Camden) and shouted loudly enough to disturb neighbors, although nobody came knocking to check on us. ;) I called Curt to tell him the Hokies had won. He didn't even know yet. So much for being in Florida, closer to the action than us.

People often ask if I went to Tech. No, I say. But my college didn't have a football team while I was there. Curt's didn't, either. So, when we lived in Roanoke, we adopted the Hokies as our own. And we've rooted for them since then. (When I was a kid, I used to tell people I was "voting" for a particular team to win.) Everywhere we go, we cheer on the Hokies. In Ohio, where people are INSANE over their precious OSU Bucks, we stood out like sore thumbs. "Hokies??? Who are they???" Here, well, people are a bit more sensible about their choices - it's the Steelers for pro football and either Penn State or UPitt for college. We're still Hokies all the way. :)

Let's Play Show!

This is Camden and Benjamin's favorite new game. We call it, aptly, "Show". Here's the jist of it - one person is the star. They turn their back to the audience, then turn around slowly and make a silly face. Then they turn their backs to the audience again before turning around with a new silly face. It goes on and on and on and on. They could play it all night if their raucous laughter is any indication. When they take turns being the star, it's a hoot. Camden has no trouble coming up with one crazy face after another. Benjamin has more fun with his back turned to us, waiting and waiting and waiting before he turns around ever so slowly and strikes a pose. These two are just so darn cute!

New Year's was a quiet night for all of us. Curt said he turned in at 11:30 in Fla. I made it till 11:45, dropping off to a sound sleep after watching "You've Got Mail" (love that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks). I had every intention to read my new Nelson Demille book, but I got so hooked on the movie that I completely lost my resolve. As for the boys, they were tucked into bed and sleeping like angels till about 7:30 this morning when I was awakened by Camden and Benjamin playing with their new aircraft carriers. I love to wake up and hear them playing together. :)


I worked on my Christmas art journal last night, adding my resolutions page. My resolutions, which I'm calling "intentions" this year, are:
* to play ~ play with my children, play at my art, play with my whole family more and not put it off till I "finish" whatever I'm doing.
* to be healthy ~ exercise more regularly and eat more healthy foods. This goes for the whole family.
* to be more faithful to God ~ go to church more regularly, get involved in our church, Christ Episcopal, and make sure the boys are included in my growing spirituality. Also, read my Bible and pray daily and with purpose.
* to let go ~ let the magic of Christmas and even just ordinary days just happen. It's there, I just need to relax, let go, and let it happen. Then I'll find it.

ONE

Spending the last week of 2005 thinking about how I've lived my life and how I plan to live it next year. When reading Ali Edwards' blog I discovered ONE.org. Please visit and watch the video, read their mission, SIGN THEIR DECLARATION. You, too, can help fight poverty. One person at a time.

Things that are making me happy

* Camden is still going through his big bag of goodies he brought home from school after his Christmas party. He's been pinning his art up all over my bulletin board. These pieces make me so darn happy. * Although I've been taking down a few decorations, I can't part with some of my lights. These are among my favorites - the little Christmas tree with the button and rag ribbon garland I made, and my basket of primitive stuffed hearts and pillows. * Benjy went to the potty TWICE today! * hot green tea with lemon and ginger * sleeping on flannel sheets * cleaning up, tossing out, recycling junk - trying to SIMPLIFY * my friend Linda's gingerbread candles * bear hugs from my boys

The Day After

Time to start thinking about the new year. About resolutions. About change.
But first, I must think about today. The day after Christmas. All that hope, anticipation, magic, all gone. In the time it took Camden and Benjy to tear through their gifts, it was gone. Left behind - the wrappings, the boxes, even a couple of bows (even though I'd given up on using bows on my own packages years ago). All that work, all the decorating, the baking, the WAITING, and now it's gone.

The day after Christmas has always been sort of a let-down, I'm sorry to admit that, but that's the feeling year after year. I put so much effort into making the holiday perfect. One of remembering, of reverence, of magic. And in one swift moment, it's gone. I think I've finally learned my lesson. It's time to take the effort out of MAKING the magic. It's time to start letting the magic happen. It will. If I just let it. So, when I make my new year's resolutions this week, one of them will be to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Let the magic happen on its own. Live in the moment. Enjoy it. Just LET IT HAPPEN.

Merry Day After Christmas

I can't say it any better than this....

I found this quote on Ali Edwards' blog. Loved it. Love what it says about changing, growing, living, and joy. Love how it focuses on what Christmas means beyond all the presents and trappings. I guess the kid version of this quote would be the Grinch story. But Sister Joan has taken all the feeling, all the soul, all the pure joy of the little Whos and put it into words. Her words are beautiful, and this quote is worth reading and living each day.

Christmas is a strange season. When you're a child, it is a season of presents. When you're young, it's a season of parties. When you get your own home, it's a season of preparations. But when you get older, Christmas changes color drastically. Suddenly, out from behind the advertisements and big dinners, through the haze of old carols and soft candles, past the dazzling altars and sumptuous crib scenes, we begin to see what Christmas is really all about. Christmas is about finding life where we did not expect it to be. Every year of life waxes and wanes. Every stage of life comes and goes. Every facet of life is born and then dies. Every good moment is doomed to become only a memory. Every perfect period of living slips through our fingers and disappears. Every hope dims and every possibility turns eventually to dry clay. Until Christmas comes again. Then we are called at the deepest, most subconscious, least cognizant level to begin to live again. Christmas brings us all back to the crib of life to start over: aware of what has gone before, conscious that nothing can last, but full of hope that this time, finally, we can learn what it takes to live well, grow to full stature of soul and spirit, get it right. There is a child in each of us waiting to be born again. It is to those looking for life that the figure of the Christ, a child, beckons. Christmas is not for children. It is for those who refuse to give up and grow old, for those to whom life comes newly and with purpose each and every day, for those who can let yesterday go so that life can be full of new possibility always, for those who are agitated with newness whatever their age. Life is for the living, for those in whom Christmas is a feast without finish, a celebration of the constancy of change, a call to being once more the journey to human joy and holy meaning. ( Sister Joan D. Chittister )



And finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!! We went to the Children's Service and Holy Communion at 4 o'clock today. Beautiful service, and such a meaningful sermon. It was given to the kids, but was really for us all. It was all about accepting the gift Jesus offers us. Perfect. That's what Christmas is all about. Of course, it's also about The Christmas Story and its appearance for 24 straight hours each year starting at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. We're watching it right now. We'll be watching it on and off for hours tonight. We'll watch it tomorrow. Basically, our TV will be tuned to TBS for the next 24 hours. I just love the sound of this movie. Now it's really Christmastime. :)

This makes me happy

I fell in love with this freebie digi scrapbook kit I found on Scrapbook Bytes' latest newsletter. It's from Dawn Stocstill - don't you just love the colors? The doodles are from the creative team at Digital Design Essentials. Every week this month you can download a set of 'em for free. LOVE these!!!

Yesterday I got everything wrapped and under the tree. Bummer on the post office, though. I just didn't make it. So I'll put Curt up to it tomorrow. Some things will arrive late, but it's the thought that counts, right?!

Also talked to Kristen - hey girlie!!! I'm thinking of you!!! (Isn't it good to know that somebody does? hehehe)

OK, I'm outta here. Too tired to reflect any more.

Christmas traditions

Today I'm thinking about family and what made Christmases so special when I was a kid. I remember how we always drove around looking at the Christmas lights after the Christmas Eve church service. I remember how we would sit up late and watch the Johnny Carson show where Doc Severenson and the NBC Orchestra played Christmas tunes and I was sad that Johnny didn't talk or tell any jokes. (How I'd love to catch a rerun of that Christmas Eve special now.) I remember how Grandmomma Stapleton stayed the night with us and how my sister and I would knock on the adjoining wall in the mornings and she'd knock back, then we'd tiptoe into the guest room and climb into bed with Grandmomma and be happy that Christmas Day was finally here. I remember how my sister and I would "rearrange" the gifts under the tree every night for days before Christmas. We said we were "rearranging" them, but truly, we were counting them and making sure no one was getting cheated! I remember the stockings. The stockings are still my favorite part of Christmas at Mom and Dad's. Santa can stuff a stocking like nobody's business!!! I remember how I'd take my Christmas haul to my room and spread it out on my twin bed. One year I got a camera for Christmas and I took a picture of my gifts. I was so proud. I remember the smell of Barbie plastic, new crayons, Grandmomma's peanutbutter pinwheels, and candles. I remember Mom's little tree she decorated and put on the TV console in the living room. I have that tree now and it sits on the trunk in front of the window in the study. I remember hearing Santa shout Ho Ho Ho one night, the buzz of family visiting, the laugh of Daddy when we asked where Casper was that Christmas. (Casper was the ghost/son only he could see. :) ) Memories. I'm glad I took the time to remember them today.
Merry Christmas.

Today was the Christmas pageant at church. Camden was a sheep. Benjy started out as a mouse, then a sheep, then in the nursery where he was truly happier. Maybe next year he'll stick around for the show. I was so excited for Camden, though. He remebered his last pageant when he was three at Mrs. Griffin's preschool. He was convinced that because he'd been in that then he'd be able to handle his part in this one. "I want to be Jesus," he told me. "Well, Jesus will be a little baby," I said. "Then I want to be an angel. They have boy angels, too." Yes, Camden, they do. He changed his mind by the time he saw the cute sheep costume and decided he was better cut out to baaaaa than look angelic. :)

After the pageant he had to sit with me for an inordinate amount of time for a five year old like Camden. He fussed, wiggled, and grumbled. Eventually he settled down and even cuddled up beside me, convinced that he'd better just get used to it. By the time we returned from Communion and kneeled down to pray, he was asking me if it was ok to talk to God about Star Wars. I told him God is listening. He could talk about anything. Somehow, I think even God must like Star Wars. That Yoda is just too cute.

Merry Christmas

I'm so sick of hearing people gripe about being told "Merry Christmas"! Come on, people!!!!! Just exactly what holiday do we celebrate on Dec. 25 anyway? Yes, Santa has become an all-too-big part of it, but Santa would have no special day if not for Jesus. The other day I heard some lady moaning about how the local McDonald's had a sign up that said "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." "bla bla bla...it just doesn't include everyone...bla bla bla" Well, it's the birthday of Jesus Christ, lady. Just who all should be included on his special day???!!! I could go on, but I'll just end this post with a hearty MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!"

My list

Here's my digital layout that I did for my art journal tonight. I bought this awesome page kit from Scrapbook Bytes. LOVE the colors and that awesome tree.

My list...
It's getting shorter! Got most of the shopping done. I've talked to Santa and taken care of that end. I do still need to wrap presents, copy pictures for the cards, send the cards, cook for the neighborhood party on Friday night, and take lots of deep breaths. I've realized that I need to keep it simple. (Too late, yes, but I can start trying now, can't I?) Christmas needs to be about family, the art of giving, the power of Jesus in our lives. Yes, the toys will interfere, and the racket that accompanies Christmas morning will wear and tear on our nerves. But in the end we'll be a family, together, feeling joy, swimming in it, loving each other to the moon and back.

I've been MIA...

There's a good reason I've been missing since my last post. Curt came home on Friday!!!!! Although he's leaving on Tuesday to go back for more CAT duty, it's been such a wonderful blessing having him home. We just feel so, oh I don't know, COMPLETE with him here. The way our family is meant to be. I am positively dreading Tuesday, but there's nothing he nor I can do about it, so off he will go until Christmas-time, and then he's back. I pray for good.

Check out these pictures of the boys today - all my boys! Camden and Benjy played in the snow (we must have had at least 6 inches the other day plus another inch today). Then they had some snow cream and hot cocoa when they came in. Benjy always wants to bang his cup against ours and say "cheers" when he drinks. Then, later in the day, the boys decided to play Star Wars Play Station and have some popcorn. A definite Kodak moment!




Here's our brand spankin' new Christmas tree - ARTIFICIAL! It's the first artificial tree Curt and I have ever had. We've always loved real trees - their smell, choosing the perfect one, watching the branches fall into exactly the right places. But this year we decided to go artificial for a number of reasons. Fake trees don't need water, which Emma would steal anyway. They may not have that fresh tree scent, but they don't drop their needles either, which means I vacuum one day less than I ordinarily would. :) Fake tress cost less over the long run. We easily paid $50-$70 for a fraser fur EACH year but paid $140 (on sale) for this one. And it'll easily last for many years. So, while I miss the fun of going on the Christmas Tree Hunt and the smell of fresh pine that goes with it, I'm so happy to not have to water the tree two times a day, chase Emma from the water bowl, worry that the boys will somehow trip up the water bowl, and vacuum up the mess the needles make. I love our new tree. :)

Car Wash

Man, did my van need washing! Took it today and paid eight bucks to drive it through one of those fancy automatic car washes that even blows the car dry. The spray took all the road salt off and nearly took the snow "painted" Christmas tree and M's (courtesy of Missy the prankster from work). I felt like I had better gas milage once I drove outta there!

After the car wash, I went to get my hair cut. Didn't have time for that, but did have time to find this awesome sweater! Lamb's wool. I loved it so much that I scanned it, softened it, and printed it out for my December art journal. Love the reds and grays together.

Emma's view on life

I should be embarassed to show this, but what the heck. This is my naughty naughty bad dog, Emma. She's on the kitchen table, eating the leftovers. I was so fed up with her that all I could do was just take pictures and sigh. Yup, this is my dog.

I found this quote on Ali Edwards' blog...

Anna Quindlen : ...but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Wow. Now that is inspiration. I've spent the entire weekend and today fretting about lists, things to do, taking care of every body and everything. And I've truly not spent much time just LIVING. So, who cares of the Christmas shopping doesn't get done as well as I'd like it? I shouldn't. It's not about the gifts anyway. Who cares if the Legos are in the floor AGAIN? I shouldn't. They'll just wind up back on the carpet anyway. It's time to quit complaining and start LIVING.

Why?

What a day.
It started out so wonderfully. The boys let me sleep till 7:40 a.m.! And Ellie didn't want out a minute before that. :)
I drank coffee. The boys played and watched cartoons. Camden even read the paper with me. Then we went to Target where we had lunch (hot dogs and salad) and came home where Benjy had a nap while Camden played in our dusting of snow. All was well. I created, working on my Christmas journal a bit. Camden played Star Wars, making cool light sabers with the Duplo Legos. Benjy woke up happy and ready to "talk" about Star Wars. Then, suddenly, after baths and before dinner, I lost it. I just flipped. I couldn't help it, but every little noise just set me off. Every little fuss from Benjamin. Every little silly sound from Camden. Every little thing I couldn't control just set me on the end of my nerves. I just lost it. I cried and cried. The heavy sobbing kind of cry. I lost it. Camden said he knew what would help, and he hugged me. He got up from his chair and said, "I know what would help you feel better." It was such a beautiful hug. Just the thing you would do to help someone in need. That really turned it around for me. Camden truly knows how to comfort people. He may act like an insane clown sometimes. But he knows. He knows how to love. I love my family, and I am so thankful for them. :) Thanks be to God.

Camden - "I love you way way way way way way way way way past all the moons, past past past past past past past past the suns, past the asteroid belts, past the planets. to infinity and beyond!

Mom - "I love you more than that!

Camden - "I love YOU more than that!

Mom - "ditto"
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Christmas cards

I made nearly 40 Christmas cards since last night. So exciting to get them started! I'm loving this paper from Basic Grey. I used all mine up, so I cannot wait till my Mosh Posh order comes and replenishes my stock!
I totally hate to admit this, but doing Christmas cards can be such a bother, it seems. I wish I didn't feel that way. I don't feel that way when I'm CREATING them. It's only when I have to sign them, address them, stamp them, and mail them. It feels like we're always so rushed. And I HATE to get cards with only a name and no personal note, so feel like I need to add a little note to each of mine. Last year we got our cards out on Christmas Eve. And even then we had no return addresses on them. Lazy, huh? The thing I am almost looking forward to this year, though, is getting a Christmas picture of the boys. I say ALMOST because they're just at that uncooperative age where expecting both of them to smile AND look at the camera at the EXACT SAME TIME is futile. I'm not even gonna bother with the mall people. I'll just do it myself. At least I'll be spared the humiliation, if not the frustration. Still, I love seeing how Benjy and Camden act together. Benjamin loves to laugh at Camden and copy everything his big brother does. He so cracks me up! And Camden will do anything to keep Benjy in stitches, to the point of annoying me to death. Still, I know he loves his baby brother. Perhaps tomorrow would be a good day for that picture....

Peace on Earth, goodwill to men.

It's Christmas time. That means many things for me. Not only is this a season full of Santa, Ho Ho Ho, sweets, and children buzzed with excitement, but it also is packed with stress, worries, cranky kids, and exhaustion. While I try to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in me and my family, I find myself challenged to find a balance at this time each year, to find peace. When at my wit's end, here's where I can find it.
* Church - The place itself with its beautiful and inspiring stained glass windows, the liturgy and everpresent reminder that Jesus loves each of us, the people who, like me, are looking for a sense of peace and hope.
* Blue Christmas tree lights. These will always remind me of the tree lights we had growing up. The big fat blue lights that grew hot to the touch. The ones that had a certain "hot" smell. These were the true color of Christmas for me.
* Christmas music - Favorites are the sountrack for CBS' Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
* Watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
* Snow - lots of it. The more the better. Just watching the snow is so darn relaxing.
* Creating - not necessarily scrapbooking, but just CREATING anything.
* Licking the bowl of Mom's chocolate poundcake mix. Yummmm!
* Sitting in my favorite rocker by the window in my bedroom reading. Just reading and watching the sun shine outside.
* Hot bubble baths
* Lots of candles
* Finally, but certainly not least important - prayer