Babysitting joy

I got to keep the girls today--what a joy!

The highlight was a new show they put on--it was Away in a Manger tinged with a Sanders'Family Christmas. At one point, Ella was singing Away in a Manger, cradling a baby doll, while Maddie was holding a stuffed star pillow over her head and alternately signing ala June Sanders the words to the song.

I am so glad I am here to experience these times. Thank you, Lord.

Good movie

I saw a very good movie today; Dreamgirls. It brought back some of my growing up music. Based on the Broadway play of the same title, I think it will win many awards come award season.

And Jennifer Hudson!!!How is it that she did not win American Idol? She was on before I started watching the addictive show. Her solo in the middle of Dreamgirls is magnificent and heart-stopping.


I love it when a movie is good. So seldom these days.

Another Christmas come and gone

I hate it when good things come to an end. Why does that always happen? I guess to make room for more good things.

We had a wonderful Christmas although the day was gray, rainy and gloomy, we made up for it in fun.

The gifts (Santa and otherwise) were properly oohed and aahed over, the meal was delicious, and by 4:00 p. m. I was ready to come home and admire my treasures.

The girls and Sam seemed to love the car I gave them--I hope it gives them many hours of pleasure. Christmas without children would not be Christmas. They add so much to the dimension of longing and impatience. Maddie just couldn't wait to open presents on Christmas Eve. She was practically dancing with anticipation. She opened hers very quickly and was disappointed when the opening came to an end. Ella opened hers very deliberately, looking at each item, making it work, etc. Sam just kind of floated through the whole melee playing with paper.

What a day. Loved it. Thank you God for all those fine blessings brought to us by your son and for all the wonderful ones shared by family.

Bikes and skates

Christmases past:

The Christmas I was ten, we spent Christmas Day with my Aunt Jean and Uncle Bud in Abilene. They lived just south of Mrs. Baird's Bread at the top of a little hill.
Not only was the smell of the baking bread wonderful, but the hill provided the perfect place to ride the bike I got that Christmas.

I remember the day well--it was very cold, and I could see my breath as I raced down the hill on my new blue bike. My dad and Uncle Bud were running behind me, shouting, "Pedal, pedal." And then they were shouting"Break, Break." Then I fell the first of many times off my bike. It was exhilarating to know that I was free to ride and roam--about the same feeling when I learned to drive a car.

Another memorable gift was the first pair of skates we each got one Christmas. At that time we were living across from the old Elementary School in Hamlin. The heavy metal skates came with keys, of course--to be used to tighten the skates so they would fit our shoes. We wore the keys around our necks on a cord. There were sidewalks which ran from one corner to the other of our block. Again a perfect place to learn. And I fell many times as we scratched along those broken sidewalks--one had to be very cautious of the cracks where one pour of concrete met another. Stangely enough, many of the kids on the block got skates that year and we raced for hours.

I was trying to tell the girls this week what we got in our stockings--little gifts like quarters, candy canes, oranges and apples and nuts--pecans,walnuts, almonds, Brazilian nuts (but we didn't call them by their proper name), etc. We spent many happy hours on the porch with a hammer breaking open the nuts and eating the luscious meat.

Two more days!

Countdown to Christmas

I kept the girls yesterday--we had a lot of fun playing with the Fisher Price manger scene I had bought several years ago. The girls seem to have a wonderful understanding of all the events of the Holy Night.

I like this poem by Madeleine L'Engle about Advent:

Born Once

Born once.
That's enough.
Jesus was born once,
for us.
That's enough. That's love.
Love is once for all
for all of us.
Jesus will come
He who was once born.
He will come when he will
Love is once for all
For all. That's enough.

from Miracle on 10th Street

Three more days.

Christmases past

One of the things we enjoyed as a family before Sam died was to make candy and deliver the tins to all our friends and neighbors. Sam loved making candy--he made fudge; I made soft peanut candy; and Sam's mother made divinity. Then we stacked them in tins and made our route.

It was also fun to see what Sam brought home the day school was out--he was especially loved by his school community and usually brought home two big boxes full of candy, cakes, small gifts, etc. One year he brought home a beautiful frosted bundt pound cake given him by the PTO president. We decided to save it and carried it to Aunt Ruby's for Christmas lunch. We cut into the cake and discovered that it was made out of cornbread! She was getting back at him for who knows what he did to her. Always up to hijinks that man.

Miss those times.

Only four more days.

Christmas countdown

I love everything Christmas; however, there are some things farther down the list than others.

Wrapping is not my forte--place my packages beside BST and Sheryl's and one can immediately see why. I finished wrapping last night with a big sigh--paper and ribbons and bags seem to cost more this year and are thinner, stringyier (sp) and less usable. However, all of them do make the tree festive.

I had a little car accident yesterday--I hit a Ford F150 truck that I did not see coming around a curve at Pettus Road. It was the same color as the day--grey--but fortunately I did stop at the stop sign and was traveling slowly. I hit his back bumper with my front left. Guess which one had more damage? I discovered that my car is made out of cardboard--He had no damage--just a smudge on the dust. My bumper has a chunk out and all lights are damaged. But I am ok. And the policeman did not see fit to give me a ticket.

Trouble is, I missed Ella's program--the pictures are so cute. Sorry baby, I will catch it next year.

Only 5 more days.

A visit from the Sanders Family

The Sanders family visited Otter Creek again last night. They are staying through Sunday night.

It was so good to see these funny, quirky characters again. As usual, Laura and Brandon stole the show, but everyone else was excellent. The band, directed by Bobbie Colvert was magnificent and the crowd evidently enjoyed the play.

I love seeing my boy act and sing. Whatever the performance, Wylie band half-time shows, speech contests, Sing-Song, Homecoming musicals at ACU, plays at Wylie, Sam and I always attended every performance. We almost knew the lines by heart.

Brandon looked very different sans hair and love spot. It is easy to tell where his hair will be in the next 20 years. The costumes were truly period (World II) costumes. Mama Sanders had on an especially ugly gray dress and hat.

The show is a welcome respite from the stress and fatigue of the season. Hope you readers in the Nashville area can come. Get there early (it starts at 7:00) especially on Sunday night which will probably be the biggest crowd.

A wonderful Tennessee Christmas

I love Christmas in this town! There are so many things to take advantage of.

Sunday night our small group went to Franklin to the end of the Dickens of a Christmas celebration. It ia annual affair when they close off the town square, have booths and people dressed in Victorian period costumes roaming around. There was Fagin, two bobbies (policemen), an old woman in a store window tatting, booths featuring sugar plums (very good) roasted almonds and other delights. A very nice petting zoo attracted the children. I have never seen fluffier sheep...It reminded me a lot of the Art Festival at Perini Ranch in Abilene.

I want to go next year on Saturday so I can take advantage of all the things in the stores and booths.

As the evening ended, everyone on the square was given candles and we strode a couple of blocks to the First Methodist Church for a Town Sing. Beautiful church and lovely music. The music minister had the children present sing Away in a Manger--so sweet.

Wednesday our group is going to YES (Youth Encouragement Services) to help with their Christmas store.

And there are two stations in town who are playing continuous Christmas music. I am SOOOOO in the Christmas mood.

Happy preparations.

Shopping during Advent

We received this prayer at Vespers last night. I think it is worth passing on:

Dear God,

As I look through my gift shopping list, I hold up to you each person listed on it. Slowly, one by one, I ask that the fire of your abundant love burn within each of them. I pray that the gift I find for each person will bring joy into that life.

But, help me to keep a balance this season, Lord. Let me keep my buying in perspective, not to spend more than I need to or can afford. Let me not give in to the pressures of this world and not equate love with money spent. Let me always remember the many, many people who have so much less in material things. Help me to buy wisely, so that my choices will not burden those in other countries who are so deeply affected by this country's economy.

And finally, loving God, help me to find time in the frantic moments of each day to become centered on you. Walking through a store, riding on the bus, hurrying down a street: let each of these times be moments when I can remember your incredible love for me and rejoice in it. Amen

I hope you can make this your prayer too.

p. s. Thanks to all who stopped and helped Brandon and Ella this morning. I am so thankful no one was injured.

Wonder

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I blogged. I have been busy putting up Christmas.

The girls were over here Sunday as we pulled out the tree and the ornaments. It was fun to see their sparkling eyes and hear their exclamations as the ornaments were unwrapped.

Someone has said that you know you are getting old when you have lost all your marvels. I don't plan for that to ever happen to me. H. G. Wells said shortly before his death that his soul was no longer moved by the sight of the stars in the sky.

I still marvel at the stars in the sky and the Creator behind them. And I marvel at the wonders wrought during this season of the year.

Wonder

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I blogged. I have been busy putting up Christmas.

The girls were over here Sunday as we pulled out the tree and the ornaments. It was fun to see their sparkling eyes and hear their exclamations as the ornaments were unwrapped.

Someone has said that you know you are getting old when you have lost all your marvels. I don't plan for that to ever happen to me. H. G. Wells said shortly before his death that his soul was no longer moved by the sight of the stars in the sky.

I still marvel at the stars in the sky and the Creator behind them. And I marvel at the wonders wrought during this season of the year.