The Christmas Spirit

Sometimes the Christmas Spirit manifests itself in ways that you wouldn’t expect.

Some think it lies in holiday music or in decorated sugar cookies.

Sure, the decor, smell of fresh cut pine trees and sparkling lights add to the feeling of Christmas.

But what about this image?

The crimson color a symbol of the blood of God’s only Begotten. The blood that saves us from our silly mistakes.

The Mohawk which is a symbol of this young man’s rebellion against any type of authority. That same rebellion sometimes seen in the pious of saints.

These lights a bit different than those on the tree, yet still a symbol of the Savior, who we celebrate this season. The true light of the world.

This image, though unique and at first glance not at all what we may label The Christmas Spirit but totally a reminder of what that Spirit should be about.

May we each look to those that need extra care. May we be a manifestation of the true light of the season. May we represent the love of our Savior and turn more purposefully toward Him and his example. (And not just now, in this season, but always!)

Love those who need your love most: the unique and those that wander.

Happy Christmas season. Let your light uniquely shine and light this often dark and scary world.

May the Christmas Spirit be found everywhere, even where it is not expected.

Christmas as a Kid.

I had a pretty good plan for my Christmas list every year. I always only asked for one thing. Sure, that one thing was usually pretty expensive and like most families, we weren’t the richest and I caught on to that pretty quickly. I also was cleaver enough to know that by only asking for one thing, even if funds were tight,  I was pretty likely to get that one great thing.

Whether it was a new electronic etch-a-sketch or another fairly expensive thing, Santa couldn’t resist getting me the one thing that I really wanted. It almost always worked, so I kept at it most of my childhood and truth be told, I might actually still keep this strategy alive today.

The funny thing is that I still would get other smaller presents even if I got that expensive gift. Now, my family thought this was a great way to pick on me and have a little fun. They would always have the little trinkets under the tree but that big and most wanted present was somewhere else in the house.

I always tried to not let them know that I was disappointed after opening all the other presents but the truth was that I always was sad and disappointed that my wish hadn’t manifested. (Funny how they always did this to me, I kept asking only for the big thing I wanted and yet I fell for it every year and was sad when that big thing was missing.) So, I’d be sitting, surrounded by lots of little presents, like socks, lipgloss and other clothes but without the one thing I really wanted. They agony was real but I didn’t want to seem sad on Christmas. They would let this go on for what seemed like forever when one of my siblings, who were enough older than me to know that Santa wasn’t real and who also found it fun to be a part of the scheme, would sneak away and come back with that one last present for me to open and it always was that one thing I had asked Santa to bring.

 I bet they all found it pretty funny to see me disappointed(even though I thought I hid it well) only to fix that disappointment for me last minute. Well played family, well played.

So what things did I ask for as a kid? That’s a tough one because I have a horrible memory. I do remember the year Cabbage Patch Kids were so popular and getting Abner Erich (I named him and my sister really thought that should have been Ellis’(my Son’s) name too.). I also was the kid who didn’t have the video game systems like most of my friends did , so getting the Gameboy one year was very big! And of course there was that Etch-A-Sketch. I made lots of trips from Wausau to Green Bay seem very short because I was creating pictures on that thing!

What are the big things you wanted for Christmas as a kid? Did you always get those things? Any funny family traditions related to the giving of presents? Please take a moment to recollect your childhood Christmases and leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from all of you that stopped by to read this! Have a great day and remember there are only 23 days to the big day. No pressure to buy that big present for those close to you or anything!

31 Days Of Blogging

Hi. I’m here and haven’t been for about a year. Well, I’m busy, get over it.

I’ve decoded to blog for the next thirty days.

I promise to try to be creative. I promise to try and publish before midnight my time. (Except for today!)

So. What’s new, reader? Happy December.

I now start my month of being Santa’s helper elf, Twinkie. He comes to our house everyday in December(until we go to Wisconsin) with little trinkets for the kiddos.

Today the trinket was a Santa statue. He’s always watching.

Tomorrow it is Mickey and Minnie ears and a third Unicom headband. They are labeled: “For Ellis, For Zarah, and Remember...Santa likes it when you share.” Let’s hope they do Remember for more than five minutes!

Well, if you’re reading and have any requests for topics for the next thirty days, please comment away.

And with that, I’m off to dreamland.

Cheers.

Six Months

December 10th, 2016

Six Months

Dearest Zarah-

Here is a list of just who you are right now:

1. A food lover: cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, anything really. You sit in your bumbo with straight arms and legs, twirling both your hands and feet, dive bombing the spoon and moaning for more.
2. A laughing fool. You think your brother is hilarious. Whatever he is doing, you think it's funny and great.   You love to be tickled, when mom comes home from work and when daddy plays heads with you.
3. An ok sleeper. I think you are better than your brother was as a baby but you still get up once or twice at night. Sometimes you think you need an hour or so to party mid-night(like last night) which isn't mommy’s favorite. Thank heavens for a big bed and Little Einsteins.
4. A roller. I rock, you roll. Soon you will probably crawl but now you get pretty far just by rolling and rolling.
5. A giant. Not really but you are super good at growing out of clothes and your swing is starting to seem a bit small. You're almost into 9 month clothes and wear size three diapers.
6. A girl who knows what she wants. You also tell us by grunting, screaming and by batting or throwing toys you don't want out of the way, so you already a communicator!
7. A lover. You just love people. At first you may play a little bashful when you greet those you don't know well but you always give cute smiles freely. Your charm is irresistible!
8. A talker. You have the cutest little voice. You talk both quiet and loud. You talk both high and low. You just talk and talk and talk.
9. A wiggle worm. You're starting to be pretty squirrelly when held. A definite sign you'll be mobile soon. You can almost sit unassisted and can also almost get up from laying down.
10. A sweetheart, a darling heart, an overall chill baby! Your calm calms me. Your smile lights up rooms. Your laugh energizes.

We love you sweet Zarah Sue. You are growing fast and I keep just loving every moment. It feels like tomorrow you'll be leaving for college but that you also will be my baby forever. Always remember how much I love and adore you and remember to text or call me today. I miss you!!

Love,

Mommy

Zarah is Five Months!

Dear Zarah-

Happy five month birthday. You are so fun and are growing like a little weed. What was it even like without you in our family and lives? I cannot remember.

You are a sweet baby, still very easy, content and happy. You know exactly what you want and always tell us all about it. You only cry when you're hungry, tired, wet or bored.

You have recently discovered your feet and how to control them. This comes in handy because you hate socks and now easily get them off by rubbing and rubbing the bottoms of your feet together.

You also have recently figured out how to roll over. You can go from back to stomach and back to your back but you usually get stuck on your stomach and cry for help. Soon you will be mobile and I will need to baby proof or we are in trouble.

You love to sleep in your swing(but in order to get asleep need one of your parents in the recliner next to you to keep your bink in your mouth and sometimes rub your face) and are often just waking up when I come home from work. I love how you smile and laugh as I come in and get really sad if I walk away to put my school stuff up.

Even though you sleep well in your swing, I often just want to hold you while you sleep. In fact, as I write this you are snoring in my arms. What a sweet noise that is.

You still love to be with us and always cry if left alone in a room, even if only for a few seconds. You drool and drool when we eat dinner and must sit with us in your bumbo on the table. You are my favorite centerpiece! You will be ready for food very soon!

You are a happy baby and laugh a lot. Especially when your brother is laying in the bath being silly. You both make the other laugh more and more.

You were a pumpkin on Halloween(and Sully from Monsters’ Inc for Trunk or Treat the Saturday before) and loved having “cousin” Rey join you on a blanket(She was also a pumpkin.  Your brothers said:  Two babies, two pumpkins!) as we got your brother ready in his Olaf costume. You were a good sport as we traveled around town visiting with friends. You even took a good nap all bundled up in your car seat(your brother too) as daddy and I ate sandwiches for dinner in the car.

Your hair is my favorite right now because after a bath I can make it into a Mohawk with lotion and it sticks for a whole week. You are already a pretty trendy girl!

You love to make noises. Your newest is to blow raspberries at your daddy. You love to talk to him especially when he's just come back from work for dinner or is just leaving for work. You also talk and skreech. It's fun to see you wanting to interact!

I sure do love you sweet Zarah Sue. I am so lucky to be your Mom!

Love you,

Mommy