The Merriest Christmas EVER

Sometimes you just have to stop and take it all in. Life, I mean. As fast as this year has flown...this Christmas season I was able to s.l.o.w. down my life enough to really enjoy the season...it was so incredibly stress-free. A FIRST for me. Oh, in the seven years since my heart attack (Dec. 13th 2001) I have greatly reduced my stress level over Christmas. I have also realized that I thoroughly enjoy the things I do to make Christmas special... I just learned how to do them stress-free.

For example: I just can't get away from making ornaments... I don't have to make them...I enjoy making them. This year, me and the girls spent a wonderful day making our traditional yearly ornaments. We played fun Christmas music and sat at the dining room table until midnight making little elves. Likewise, I enjoy the day my friend Diane and I spend together making over a hundred paper bag snowmen ornaments for her students. I also make gingerbread boy hockey ornaments every year for my son's hockey teams. These ones I make after Christmas and give them to the parents for the New Year. (I will post pictures as soon as I figure it out.) It's just a part of my Christmas tradition.

Oops...I forgot to mention that I got my new camera for Christmas this year. I still haven't figured out how to plug it into my computer to show pictures...but the minute Jordy is free, she will teach me. (Jen and Jordy are both working the night shift tonight on the Eve of the Victoria's Secret SEMI-Annual Sale...the store will be crazier than the day after Thanksgiving shopping or the day after Christmas returns, and they have to make sure everything is stocked up.)

I made super yummy pretzels this afternoon. Oh these aren't just any ordinary "dipped" pretzels. These pretzels are double dipped in homemade caramel, then dipped in dutch milk chocolate, drizzled with white milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed pecans. I did take a picture of them and will post the photos that will make your mouth drool. I'm not gonna lie...I hit it out of the ball park with these. Chances are...they will already be gone by the time I post the picture. Ryan and Jacob especially loved them.

Well, guess I'll go back to crocheting another scarf and watching my new addiction: DEXTER. I don't know why...but it's like watching a train wreck. It's so incredibly warped and creepy...I watched all of season two and now I'm going back to watch season one. The music even stands the hair on my neck.

http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do

The funniest thing happened to me in Gordon's

I was out running errands yesterday and stopped into Gordon's Food Service to pick up a large package of yeast to make my dinner rolls. It was crazy -busy in there and I was too impatient to walk up and down every aisle to find it, so I stopped a worker and asked him to point me in the direction. He got down off his ladder to personally walk me to the spot. As we were walking down the aisle, an elderly man with white hair and a white beard was approaching us and our eyes briefly met with a twinkling in our eyes. I nodded and smiled with that "knowing" look in my eyes. He knew what I was thinking and quite frankly, in an instant I was a child again. The worker pointed to the yeast and I said, "that was the REAL Santa!!!" This kid was probably in his mid twenties and he looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. "huh?", he said. I was like, "you mean to tell me you didn't see that man approaching us with the white hair and beard? He was the real Santa, I just know it!!!" He didn't even know what to say.

Uh...whatever. Kids these days just don't know how to have REAL Christmas spirit. I swear I was smiling the rest of the day. Just the look in "Santa's" eyes was priceless. For a split second, we both embraced the moment of our youthfulness and the magic of Christmas was alive in our hearts.*sigh.

I bet he gets a lump of coal in his stocking.

Getting my "Joy" on...

I realize it's been a week since I last posted. I've been busy getting my "joy" on. I've been spending time with my family and friends, walking, shopping, going out for coffee/margaritas or lunch/dinner, crafting, baking, etc. It's been the most peaceful, joyful Christmas seasons ever. Somehow I just realized that it's not supposed to be crazy/chaotic... it's about taking time for the simple things, giving of your time and of yourself. I made a lot of ornaments and gifts this year...not only because I'm frugal, because I enjoy thinking of others while I labor over their gift. I'd show pictures but then it wouldn't really be a surprise to those who read my blog...besides, I don't really have a good camera anyways. I've been hoping to get a new camera for Christmas but if money doesn't allow, I'll be fine with that too. It's not something I desperately need.

Pat's last day of work was Thursday and he's off now until January 5th. It was good to hear the auto industry "loan" was approved finally...which is good for Pat's job. Let's hope this economy takes an upturn. Buy AMERICAN CARS!!!! Our jobs depend on it!

We got hit with a heckuva snowstorm and have been buried in snow around here. I'm not gonna lie...it's kind of fun to be stuck inside for the weekend. I'm going to go crank on the tunes and start getting down to business. (wrapping, baking, cleaning, etc.)

I will not let anything/anyone drown out my Christmas JOY. Four more days until Christmas!!! Woo Hooo!

Engaged!

Tonight my dear sweet Jennifer got engaged to Patrick, her boyfriend of over six years. They were high school sweethearts. She is absolutely giddy. She's in Chicago until tomorrow night... but she was talking to Jordanne on her webcam and flashed us her rock. All 1.1 carats of it!!! It's huge and very beautiful. I can't wait to see it in person.

Now we will be planning two weddings. I sure hope we win the lottery pretty soon...in the meantime, I'm going to bed. It's been a l.o.n.g. week.

Festive Change

Yep, I went ahead and changed my blog to make it a bit more festive...only thing is -I messed it all up...I can't figure out how to add my sidebar blog links. I don't know why they didn't convert in the changeover, but that would be my kind of luck. So now I have to ask Jordy how I get them all back. I am, as you know, totally technologically challenged.


So I've been up since 5 am... I made Pat's lunch and he went off to hockey practice. In the meantime I saw that our school was cancelled because of the snow. It's really strange because it's the only school in our city/township that is cancelled. I guess they got a freebie. Neighboring towns have closed, but only the parochial schools in our town get the day off. Too funny.


My bronchitis seems to be getting a little better. At least I'm not feeling like I was run over and dragged by a bus anymore. Oh the wonders of antibiotics. It was definitely a long weekend. We had our first hockey games this weekend too. They lost the first one and won the second game. (which is good when you live with the coach.) Jacob did a great job as a sophomore defenseman. It's still so weird to watch the games without Joshua playing. I'm sure it's very difficult for him too.

My brain is on overload with all the talks of job layoffs in the auto industry. I just cannot imagine what we would do if Pat's job was eliminated. People just don't understand how important this bailout package is. As if the auto industry wasn't in enough financial trouble...then they throw in out of control gas prices and wonder why nobody is buying cars/trucks/SUV's. Like it or not...people liked their big SUV's. I know I did. (before I traded down to my Saturn Aura) And suddenly it wasn't "cool" to drive "gas guzzling SUV's". (despite the fact that some people have large families or live in a climate where 4 wheel drive is a necessity.) Suddenly we have to be "green" and drive itty bitty hybrid cars. Shame on American car dealers for not seeing it coming. While they were busy building big cars (because that is what most of us wanted before the gas prices went up...isn't that called supply and demand?) now suddenly they are miles behind in technology because they don't offer itty bitty hybrids. I'm all for saving the planet, don't get me wrong... but I can't help but wonder if some of this "go green" frenzy didn't spark a bit of this vicious cycle regarding the downward spiral of the auto industry. Just a thought. And almost ironic how suddenly the price of gas has dropped to under $1.50/gallon... after the economy took a dive. Hmmm... it all makes me scratch my head. All I can do is pray that God has all the bases covered...I know I can't wrap my mind around how to fix it.

So I'll just dig a little happy hole and stick my head into it...surrounding myself with happy thoughts of good tidings and Christmas cheer. We sure need a Savior. I wonder if that was the original plan? If times never got rough, some of us would never recognize the need for HIM?

Decking the Halls

Well, today I am finally going to DECORATE my Christmas tree that has been standing in the corner naked since Sunday. Jen came over to put on the lights and apparently one set decided to "follow the light" leaving me short a set. I went to Hobby Lobby to buy two new sets, came home only to realize that the wiring was white instead of green. Ugh. So yesterday I went to Lowe's and bought the right ones. White lights with green wiring. YES! Now I'm in business.

Gotta get our stockings hung on the mantle and "festive up" the place. You know, since it is ST. NICK'S DAY tomorrow. This is a tradition we have kept since the kids were quite young. (except for last year, it was overlooked for some crazy reason) The night before Saint Nicholas Day, children place their shoes in a prominent location--say, by a fireplace, or outside their bedroom door. The next morning--usually very early--the children find their shoes filled with little presents from the great saint. I think this is primarily a Catholic tradition... although it is celebrated all over the world in various ways. Anyways... we celebrate this tradition with our kids... It's a part of our Advent preparation.

... and yes, Virginia... St. Nicholas was a real person and his spirit lives on in those who BELIEVE. If you don't believe me, google him.

Comfort and Joy

I woke up this morning with the phrase "Comfort and Joy" in my head. Hmmm...what exactly did they mean by "tidings of comfort and joy" anyway? So I got to thinking about what "comfort and joy" means to me and how I can evoke these feelings during this blessed Christmas season. com·fort
1 : to give strength and hope to : cheer
2 : to ease the grief or trouble of : console

joy:
1 a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss
3: a source or cause of delight

Well I guess when you break it down...it's seems easy enough to attain the pursuit of "comfort and joy"... when you apply the definitions to your life.

Most people associate the word "comfort" with food or a feeling of well-being as in enjoying the comfort of your favorite sweat pants or your favorite chair. In all honesty though, during Christmas the word "comfort" is more of an action than a feeling. It's about giving strength and hope to others around us who are hurting. Spreading Christmas cheer in a world darkened by gloom and doom. Recognizing the fact that the gifts we've been given are not purchased with dollars but by a birth of a Savior who has given us the gift of salvation: a gift purchased with His very life.

The word "joy" is derived from the word "rejoice". In the Bible we are told to "rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4) which is more of an action than a feeling. The very idea of "Joy" being "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires" seems to reduce the action to a self-absorbed feeling we can experience if we get what we want. The fault of this way of thinking is that most people still never experience real joy that comes from God (abiding joy) even when they attain "success, good fortune", or getting what they think are "their desires". They experience a temporal joy. The Bible tells us to "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart". (Psalm 37:4) If we align our thinking with HIS, we will find our desires are not monetary, but of things eternal.

So perhaps God put this little phrase in my head this morning so I would go on my little quest to discover a way to evoke these feelings throughout the Christmas season, only to discover that in order to experience "Comfort and Joy" I must first take action by giving comfort and solace to others and to act upon Paul's exhortations telling us to "Rejoice in the Lord always". We can't allow the dark realities of life blind us to the radiance of joy found in the Lord. We first have to trust that He will be faithful if we trust Him with all the details.

Trust is an action. Faith is an action. Comfort is an action. Joy is derived from the action of Rejoicing. Wow. That's some pretty powerful stuff coming from a mother who tells her kids they are accountable for their actions. I guess I better take some action if I'm going to drink from the cup of Comfort and Joy.
In the meantime, I think I'll go crank up some Christmas Cheer and sing my heart out while I bake up some yummies.

Almond Joy to the World
Makes 2 dozen candies
4 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup light corn syrup
Whole roasted almonds
1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Line cookie sheet with wax paper. Place coconut in large bowl; set aside.
In a glass measuring cup, microwave corn syrup until boiling, about 45 seconds. Pour hot syrup over coconut and knead with a wooden spoon until coconut is saturated.
Shape into bite-size rectangles, place an almond on top and refrigerate for 15 minutes. (You can refine shape of candies after they have been in the refrigerator.)
Meanwhile, melt chocolate and shortening in a double boiler or microwave until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Use a fork to dip each candy into chocolate, then refrigerate on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet until chocolate is hardened. Store in an airtight container.