Merry Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and I actually have all my wrapping done! Usually I am scrambling at the last minute to get gifts wrapped and ready to go under the tree, but this year I had my huge helper, our granddaughter, Elf Madison. She is a great gift wrapper and loves doing it as well.

Elf Madison will spend today at her other grandma's house, where her aunt and greatgrandma live as well. They always have a lot of family gather at their house, so I am sure they will appreciate Elf Madison's energy and willingness to help.

Last evening, our daughter, Joelene called with a dilemma. She had come to town to pick up Elf Madison after work and when they got home, they realized they had no cookies baked for Santa! They decided they would make the dough last night and then bake and decorate the cookies this morning. Only problem was they didn't have enough eggs for the recipe, so Grandpa Pat and Pappy came to the rescue and took some eggs to them. Thank goodness they live less than ten miles away.

Another trip was warranted this morning because the cookie cutters are at my house! We got there only to discover we had failed to bring the sack with the "good" Christmas shapes, like the star and the bell and the Santa and the snowman and the holly! So, it was back home again to retrieve them.

I got to help with the baking and the decorating, but now my appetite is whetted for some good Christmas sugar cookies, so that is my project for today. I have plenty of colored icing left from the last cookie baking project, so it seems like a perfect way to spend the day!

There is no snow here, and that makes me a bit sad. However, I know they say there was no snow at the actual birth of the Christ child either, so despite the fairly "warm" weather, (45 degrees), the spirit of that Holy Night abounds in my heart.

As I write this, I am chatting with our son, who lives in the UK. We sent them two packages for Christmas and they received one on time, just today. At least they have a few gifts from home to open with more to anticipate over the next few days. Considering the havoc the weather has caused in London, I'm pleased that they at least got something! We will miss Jason and his wife Jaque terribly this year. In the past, we were able to anticipate that phone call where he would say, "so, mom, would it be a big problem to pick us up at Denver airport on Christmas Eve?" It never was a problem, even the trip we made one year on Christmas Day, but we knew there would be no such call this year.

Got interrupted with chores that were necessary, like getting to the stores for last minute items before they closed for the holiday.

We just returned from the Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church. Tuesday evening, our pastor did a "longest night" service, which celebrated the winter solstice and spoke to the hearts of those who often experieince a "blue Christmas". Tonight's service, as is so appropriate, centered around the birth of the Christ child and what that monumental event means to all of us. With scripture, song, and narration, our pastor put is right there at the heart of the event, an awesome place to be! We celebrated the wondrous miracle of Christ's birth with communion and the lighting of each parishoner's candle as we sang the verses to Silent Night. The service ended with Joy to the World. Despite all the disharmony in the world today, it truly is a joyous time that we experience in the knowledge of Christ's love for each and every one of us.

I have a full evening ahead of me, despite all of my best laid plans. I finished baking the cookies just before we walked out the door to go to church, so now I have all of them to ice and decorate. I'm sure they won't come out near as nice as Elf Madison's! (see picture).

Tomorrow morning, Joelene and Elf Madison will come into town and spend Christmas morning with us, since Elf Madison's dad is working during the day. We will have a big breakfast of pancakes and bacon, watch the parade, and open gifts. Then we'll go to my sis-in-law's house for a delicious meal. I am so blessed to have a sis-in-law who loves to cook, so I don't have to do much of that over the holidays! I bought the turkey this year and all I have to provide other than that is a macaroni salad. (Don't even ask how something so unorthodox became a holiday tradition in our family. I really don't have an answer!)

All in all, I hope that amid all the feasting and gift giving and merry making, that the members of my family will keep in their hearts the real meaning of Christmas, the spirit of love and caring and giving, and the greatest gift we have all received in the birth of Jesus, the son of God.

May all of you reading this find Christmas joy in your hearts and experience the love and peace of our Lord Jesus!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Important versus Imperative

Decorating the tree in progress! (12/9/10)













It takes me by surprise this morning as I log into my blogspot account and realize I have not entered a post since the day after Thanksgiving. Seems like ages ago.

One of my favorite movies is the 1970 classic, Airport, starring Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, and several other famous movie personalities. A scene that sticks in my mind is when Mel Bakersfeld's wife Cindy comes to the airport and confronts him about their marriage and the time he spends at his job as airport manager. She accuses him of placing more importance on the situation at the airport than on the commitment he had made to attend a social event with her that evening. He responds with the answer "not more important, more imperative".

This Christmas season, I find myself evaluating what is imperative versus what is important.

My imperative list

Reflect with a joyful heart on the true meaning of the season each day - if I don't do this, the rest of it makes no sense!

Get Christmas issue of Starsongs to layout and design editor - This took a lot of time, but absolutely had to be done. Although the magazine has other than Christmas stories and poems, who wants to read them after Christmas?

Get packages mailed to family out of state (and country) - always anticipate the mail is slow this time of year!

Get Christmas shopping done - wish I was one of those people who starts Christmas shopping in July, but I'm just not.

Get gifts wrapped - unwrapped gifts under the tree are not very exciting to a 9 year old on Christmas morning!

Keep the bills paid - Yes, money is tight this time of year, but I really don't want to be getting ready for Christmas in the dark!

My Important List

Attend Christmas activities - I try to participate in as many as I can, but if I miss out on one or two, I know there will be opportunities at other times of the year for socialization.

Christmas letter and Christmas cards - I spent the most time on this one this year, even though it was not on my "imperative" list. It is the one time of year when I can get the same information out to family and friends, but if I don't, I figure those closest to me already know about the most important things in my life anyway.

Christmas baking - Who doesn't love to see their table adorned with those brightly decorated star, bell, and Christmas tree sugar cookies? Still, I don't need the calories!

Housecleaning - Falls way low on the list at this time of year, but I do try to keep the dust off the Christmas decorations. No matter how much vacuuming gets done, pieces of tinsel manage to magically appear everywhere but on the tree.



Hubby doesn't know it yet, but that old, old TV will be replaced with a new one on Christmas morning! (SHHHHH!)


Blogging - Obviously didn't make it to the imperative list, but still very important. Even though you haven't heard from me in a while, please know I wish you all a Merry and Blessed Christmas Season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

What's imperative and important to you this season? I'd love to hear your comments!

Thanks for reading my blog!