Sorry, got sick the day after Christmas and had to work today. So, more about the traditions of our family as I grew up.
The Christmas tree got put up whenever we could. That might be 2 weeks before Christmas or the week before, maybe the day before. (Unlike my married life, we got it done every year. Can't say that here. We had one 2 years ago that stayed up until March, I think. Got it down in time for easter, but haven't gotten it back up since. We'll try again next year.) We usually had the presents under there in time for opening after church on Christmas eve. Then, Santa came and we opened the stocking gifts on Christmas day before the big dinner. That gave Mom some time to get things ready for us. In later years, it got to be a challenge to sneak around Mom when it came to the stockings. She was hard to get to go to bed on Christmas eve! She sure did enjoy those surprises in the morning, though. That was my favorite part of helping Santa out.
When we were really little, in Iowa, we would go to Grandma's house, just around the corner, on Christmas for dinner. The Christmas I remember the best was the year Mom took the cradle Grandpa made for me (life-size) for the BPW Christmas party and it just didn't get back to me for some reason. I found it in the living room at Grandma's with a 6-mo size doll in it. She has been my favorite for about 39 years, if I recall right. I named her Susan, though I don't know why since I didn't know any Susans at the time. She has survived a fire, however, the cradle wasn't as lucky in 1987. It wasn't repairable and Grandpa couldn't do such lovely work anymore. It has returned to dust.
Those are the ones I can think of this year. Maybe next year I'll have more if my memory holds. I'm getting old, but I'll never be as old as my brother, at least not for quite a while, God love him.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas traditions
WARNING: this is LONG! :-) As my hubby changed the channels tonight, I saw the mass from St. Peter's Basillica on later. I was drawn upstairs to a tradition that began many years ago. I don't know how or why, but it was on every year past midnight, my mother watching it when I came home at midnight from the youth service at our church. In 1999, as I was up all night packing to move to Marshall, MO, after we opened gifts at Dad's, if I remember, I couldn't find anything else on at that late hour and listened to it while I was packing. Mom had been gone for 9 years by then, and I had never really wanted to watch it. Something inside of me saw the beauty of the ceremony that I had never seen before that night. Now, I seem to be the one that is watching it in my mother's place. I don't know of anybody else in the family that watches it as we never have been Catholic, but I love hearing the translation, the young voices, and seeing people from all over the world gathered in one place, as Christ's believers will one day be when he comes to get us and take us home. And maybe part of my Lutheran roots recognizes some of it, even in Latin, since the responses are the same in any language if you know where they go in the service. (Peace be with you; and also with you in the service transitions) Hearing scripture chanted is more beautiful than someone just reading it, perhaps because it is different than every other day in my life.
The other thing that made tonight different was that we watched a choir concert that was put on in Decorah, IA, just 15 miles or so from where I was born. They have a Lutheran college there with 2500 students, about half of whom are in the music department in some way, from singing to playing instruments. I understand how they feel about their music as I loved choir in high school, and didn't care if people saw me singing along at the concerts, even though I wasn't in the actual choir that went on tour. These kids tonight reminded me of the St. Olaf College kids, where 2 of my friends went to school. High quality performances, done because they love it. The heart gives something that just a voice and talent can't.
There was another show after that in which they had various churches from around the nation singing. If I knew the songs, I'd sing along, especially the ones from the Messiah. That was always my favorite set of songs every year in choir. They were challenging, but so beautiful when we had it right in the end. The kids at Decorah said they feel the music. It's not just a performance for someone else, they get something out of it. I have that sense when I hear certain songs and sing along and direct in my goofy way. I'll never do that as well as our director did, and I've found it wasn't as easy as he made it look, but I have fun.
And isn't that what we should have in our worship, fun? I don't think it should be a hum-drum, boring kind I see so many times on TV or have experienced at times in my life. I think it should be alive, and interactive with the LORD. I guess I see Him looking at us as I do little ones, who try with all their might, put their whole heart into it, and don't even have to know someone's watching to put joy in the performance. I feel like a child, asked to sing a song in my imperfect way for Him, but He still smiles because I'm singing it for Daddy. And I love Daddy and know he loves me. Who cares what anybody else thinks? They see, I hope, what we have.
That's another tradition. The children's program on Christmas eve. They aren't perfect, sometimes they are down right embarrassing to their parents (easy for me to say since I'm not one), but they do seem to enjoy it, at least the ones that aren't scared to death like I always felt. But I remember things from those programs in school, even 36 years later. I can sing most of Silent Night, the first verse, in German; I remember O Taunenbaum in part; I know Vom Himmel Hoch first verse. I learned all those before 1980, but I can remember singing them in front of all those people with the other select kids who had a talent for German. I remember Luke 2 in King James because my class had to say it in 1st grade, by pairs. I don't even remember what my part was because I learned everybody else's too.(I did that alot in programs) Tradidtions stay with you for a very long time.
I'll save more traditions for another day. Later is Christmas day, and that has it's own traditions.
I should get my reading done in Nehemiah. To all, a Merry, and blessed Christmas. I hope anybody who stumbles across my blog will find the God incarnate, 100% man/100% God come to earth, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all if they only receive the gift. Please take the gift if you haven't already, and open it up. It'll change your life. (Read the book of John in the Bible to start the opening process.)
The other thing that made tonight different was that we watched a choir concert that was put on in Decorah, IA, just 15 miles or so from where I was born. They have a Lutheran college there with 2500 students, about half of whom are in the music department in some way, from singing to playing instruments. I understand how they feel about their music as I loved choir in high school, and didn't care if people saw me singing along at the concerts, even though I wasn't in the actual choir that went on tour. These kids tonight reminded me of the St. Olaf College kids, where 2 of my friends went to school. High quality performances, done because they love it. The heart gives something that just a voice and talent can't.
There was another show after that in which they had various churches from around the nation singing. If I knew the songs, I'd sing along, especially the ones from the Messiah. That was always my favorite set of songs every year in choir. They were challenging, but so beautiful when we had it right in the end. The kids at Decorah said they feel the music. It's not just a performance for someone else, they get something out of it. I have that sense when I hear certain songs and sing along and direct in my goofy way. I'll never do that as well as our director did, and I've found it wasn't as easy as he made it look, but I have fun.
And isn't that what we should have in our worship, fun? I don't think it should be a hum-drum, boring kind I see so many times on TV or have experienced at times in my life. I think it should be alive, and interactive with the LORD. I guess I see Him looking at us as I do little ones, who try with all their might, put their whole heart into it, and don't even have to know someone's watching to put joy in the performance. I feel like a child, asked to sing a song in my imperfect way for Him, but He still smiles because I'm singing it for Daddy. And I love Daddy and know he loves me. Who cares what anybody else thinks? They see, I hope, what we have.
That's another tradition. The children's program on Christmas eve. They aren't perfect, sometimes they are down right embarrassing to their parents (easy for me to say since I'm not one), but they do seem to enjoy it, at least the ones that aren't scared to death like I always felt. But I remember things from those programs in school, even 36 years later. I can sing most of Silent Night, the first verse, in German; I remember O Taunenbaum in part; I know Vom Himmel Hoch first verse. I learned all those before 1980, but I can remember singing them in front of all those people with the other select kids who had a talent for German. I remember Luke 2 in King James because my class had to say it in 1st grade, by pairs. I don't even remember what my part was because I learned everybody else's too.(I did that alot in programs) Tradidtions stay with you for a very long time.
I'll save more traditions for another day. Later is Christmas day, and that has it's own traditions.
I should get my reading done in Nehemiah. To all, a Merry, and blessed Christmas. I hope anybody who stumbles across my blog will find the God incarnate, 100% man/100% God come to earth, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all if they only receive the gift. Please take the gift if you haven't already, and open it up. It'll change your life. (Read the book of John in the Bible to start the opening process.)
Monday, December 22, 2008
ok, so it's bothers me some
I realized tonight that the cancer thing is bothering me more than I want to let on. I don't know if it's because I'm trying to make up the hours I'll miss, that it's the Big C, or something else. Maybe a combination of all of them. I've been focused at work, but now I've lost another buddy as she broke her arm. Sometimes we felt like the only Christians there anyway, now I'm alone. Such is the icey world of the here and now (and I know you folks in TX don't miss it!). We're supposed to get more snow the next 2 days, making it unlikely I will be going to the next town over to work on Christmas Eve, but I know I have the backup of here, since there's plenty of work here to be done. If not then, over Fri and Sat when I'm "off". Keeping busy can be helpful, I think, but I don't want to be reeling by Jan 19. I have to be able to think straight to pack the right stuff for a week, like laundry soap, books, and the game I got my hubby for Christmas that he doesn't know about yet. It's a John Deere Monopoly game. I thought maybe I could keep him entertained some in the hospital with a new toy.
I will try to look at his one day at a time. That's the way we're told to do it in the Bible, right? Tomorrow and yesterday take care of themselves, focus on today, and don't worry about it either. The reins belong to somebody else. I better get off here before he sees what I got him for Christmas.
I will try to look at his one day at a time. That's the way we're told to do it in the Bible, right? Tomorrow and yesterday take care of themselves, focus on today, and don't worry about it either. The reins belong to somebody else. I better get off here before he sees what I got him for Christmas.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Christmas time
I just got done wrapping the majority of my presents for the family when the electricity went out. Again. It did this yesterday, right in the middle of work. That's not so bad, there was a bit of daylight on the cloudy day it was. But today, it was almost completely dark. And the flashlights were upstairs, we were downstairs. Well, you can finish wrapping a present by flashlight that was forgotten downstairs, which I did, then gave up for the night. Wouldn't ya know, then the lights came back on. So, just to be rebellious, I'm stitting in the living room with candles going on the hearth. It's going to be a bit cold to have the flue open tonight all night while I wait for a fire to completely go out, so I'm doing the next best thing.
I may even go read for a while as my hubby is watching football. Yes, it's Saturday night, but apparently, Dallas wanted to play their last game in Texas Stadium unopposed by any other game, so they are playing the Ravens tonight. I like football, but not that much to watch it even on Saturday. The playoffs are soon, though, then the Super Bowl. That will be 2 weeks after surgery, so hopefully, that will be good in case there are any funny commercials. No laughing for 2 weeks after surgery is my rule.
Well, I think I'll grab a book and catch up on some land far away. Due to weather, church was cancelled, but I may still get out while I can before the weather gets bad again. Who knows when that will be, but probably a day that I need to go somewhere, so I'll try to plan ahead and get plenty at the store to tie us over. I'll just pretend it's the semi-weekly trip to Anchorage, minus the frozen milk. That I will take my chances on being able to get no matter what.
I may even go read for a while as my hubby is watching football. Yes, it's Saturday night, but apparently, Dallas wanted to play their last game in Texas Stadium unopposed by any other game, so they are playing the Ravens tonight. I like football, but not that much to watch it even on Saturday. The playoffs are soon, though, then the Super Bowl. That will be 2 weeks after surgery, so hopefully, that will be good in case there are any funny commercials. No laughing for 2 weeks after surgery is my rule.
Well, I think I'll grab a book and catch up on some land far away. Due to weather, church was cancelled, but I may still get out while I can before the weather gets bad again. Who knows when that will be, but probably a day that I need to go somewhere, so I'll try to plan ahead and get plenty at the store to tie us over. I'll just pretend it's the semi-weekly trip to Anchorage, minus the frozen milk. That I will take my chances on being able to get no matter what.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Differences in areas of our country
Tonight, I have been missing Alaska. Like I wasn't when I put the Northern Lights as my pic? Yeah, ok, I admit it. But when we are getting hammered with ice instead of snow, it's just not much fun. Alaska has snow, they deal with it, and it's pretty.
We fear having a rough drive next month, but we're praying for good roads to Mayos in 4.5 weeks. So far, no other adventures have taken place. I'm going to be working some more hours to make up for the time I'm gone since there will be no income during that time. We have some reserve, but would rather not use it. I'm trying to get at least 1 week covered, 1 week of education time since I'll have time to work on some much needed courses, maybe covering 2 years of credit in the 3 weeks if I'm good and the internet holds. Fast internet helps LOADS I found on my last round. I think I can make up the third week after I get back. I may not even have to be gone 3 weeks, but we'll see how it goes.
I still think of my friend in Afghanistan, or soon there, who is in the guard. The war becomes more personal and I want to do whatever I can for his wife, who's stressed out, and he's probably aware of that even though she tries to hide it. If anybody has some ideas, help me out! Especially you military types out there. I'm new at this.
My hubby is exercising as he's been told to, which is good. Now to get me to do it as well. Cleaning house when I get some time will be good, too. I have dreams of such activity when it's cold out and I don't want to go anywhere. There's books to unpack, sewing to do, Christmas cards to get out (after the surgery, I think), and dejunking to do. So much to do, so little time. I can always find something to do instead of cleaning, no problem.
I guess I'm out of news for tonight. Hope health is in your life and that the Lord continues to be good to you--how could he be otherwise?
We fear having a rough drive next month, but we're praying for good roads to Mayos in 4.5 weeks. So far, no other adventures have taken place. I'm going to be working some more hours to make up for the time I'm gone since there will be no income during that time. We have some reserve, but would rather not use it. I'm trying to get at least 1 week covered, 1 week of education time since I'll have time to work on some much needed courses, maybe covering 2 years of credit in the 3 weeks if I'm good and the internet holds. Fast internet helps LOADS I found on my last round. I think I can make up the third week after I get back. I may not even have to be gone 3 weeks, but we'll see how it goes.
I still think of my friend in Afghanistan, or soon there, who is in the guard. The war becomes more personal and I want to do whatever I can for his wife, who's stressed out, and he's probably aware of that even though she tries to hide it. If anybody has some ideas, help me out! Especially you military types out there. I'm new at this.
My hubby is exercising as he's been told to, which is good. Now to get me to do it as well. Cleaning house when I get some time will be good, too. I have dreams of such activity when it's cold out and I don't want to go anywhere. There's books to unpack, sewing to do, Christmas cards to get out (after the surgery, I think), and dejunking to do. So much to do, so little time. I can always find something to do instead of cleaning, no problem.
I guess I'm out of news for tonight. Hope health is in your life and that the Lord continues to be good to you--how could he be otherwise?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Another wintery day in the Midwest
I have learned to appreciate the small gift of time this week. After last week's running around Mayo's for all kind of tests, I took Tuesday afternoon off to just relax and play some. The weather was too stinky to go out on the roads as planned to work, so I took it off. I did the same thing today, only we were on the road. We bought an exercise bike, so now I have to put it together.
My hubby is feeling good still, just nervous. Let me explain the rest of the situation I wasn't ready to before. At Mayo's, we went for a cough, and ended up leaving with a diagnosis of a pancreatic cancer. It's a slow growing one, thank God, or he'd be dead right now--it's been there a year, probably more, as it's only grown 1/2 inch in a year. Somebody just missed it on the CT last year he had of his lungs, but they caught it on the re-read at Mayo's. I'm grateful for that, but have let the hospital where the scan was done last year know they missed it to help them improve there quality of care. We all need some help from time to time to improve, so I'll give them some breathing room. We feel blessed as my uncle just died of a fast growing kind last year. I think with surgery, he'll be fine as it has not spread anywhere as of yet. I appreciate all the time I have with him, though, and look forward to being able to be at his bedside next month. I have not asked for time off, I have told them I am taking it. They don't know yet he has cancer. I just don't want them to know yet. I want them to trust me enough to allow me to do what I need to do without having the know the reason. I know eventually, they will know, as I have to put it on the FMLA papers, but for now, only a friend at work knows about it. I figured she needs to know if I get emotional or upset that I'm under stress and why. She's been a good friend over the last 2 years and I can share openly with her since she's a Christian.
I better get some sleep so I can get the bike together tomorrow. We stayed up too late watching the game tonight on TV to get it done now, but GO BEARS!
My hubby is feeling good still, just nervous. Let me explain the rest of the situation I wasn't ready to before. At Mayo's, we went for a cough, and ended up leaving with a diagnosis of a pancreatic cancer. It's a slow growing one, thank God, or he'd be dead right now--it's been there a year, probably more, as it's only grown 1/2 inch in a year. Somebody just missed it on the CT last year he had of his lungs, but they caught it on the re-read at Mayo's. I'm grateful for that, but have let the hospital where the scan was done last year know they missed it to help them improve there quality of care. We all need some help from time to time to improve, so I'll give them some breathing room. We feel blessed as my uncle just died of a fast growing kind last year. I think with surgery, he'll be fine as it has not spread anywhere as of yet. I appreciate all the time I have with him, though, and look forward to being able to be at his bedside next month. I have not asked for time off, I have told them I am taking it. They don't know yet he has cancer. I just don't want them to know yet. I want them to trust me enough to allow me to do what I need to do without having the know the reason. I know eventually, they will know, as I have to put it on the FMLA papers, but for now, only a friend at work knows about it. I figured she needs to know if I get emotional or upset that I'm under stress and why. She's been a good friend over the last 2 years and I can share openly with her since she's a Christian.
I better get some sleep so I can get the bike together tomorrow. We stayed up too late watching the game tonight on TV to get it done now, but GO BEARS!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Priorities
As I sit at home, once again, I have go say that the thing that is making me think most is what my priorities are. In the movies, and in theory, it's so easy to just rattle them off. In reality, it's harder to juggle at times. I know it should be God, Family, Career, but I have a demanding career with many areas that try to divide me. In this case, I have to stick to being more loyal to my husband than my work. We've been doing alot of praying about our situation that last 2 days. Maybe later, I'll share more, but for now, I'm just not ready. Make sure that you have your priorities right, though, before you go to bed tonight.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Adventures in health care
I just wanted to say that I can't say Mayo clinic is my favorite place to get away (though I like getting away), but it can be fascinating. I have been watching how they get so many people through in so little time with no feeling of being rushed. The staff have been so helpful, making my hubby feel more comfortable about tests that he's not a fan of in the past, but boy, have they encouraged and gotten him to relax. Makes me want to just pick up and move up here and find a job. We hope in the end, we find the problems and can solve them, but in the meantime, I have a dream to come back and shop in the subway when we have time--this wasn't the time. We just might take a vacation at the Mayo clinic, just to shop. No offense to the docs and staff, but the stores look so much more inviting, especially at Christmas. And there's always feeding the geese at Silver Lake, which we probably won't have time for either.
Friday, November 28, 2008
It's a start
Ok, so I'm going to learn how to blog. You may not find out much about me personally unless you already know me, and that's fine. But you'll find out about what's inside either way, I think.
So, be patient as I learn how to do this. I have read other's blogs and have enjoyed them, sometimes without them know it. It has taught me how to pray for some, and how to support others. Perhaps the same will be true as you read mine.
Thanksgiving--let me start with that. As I cleaned out the gutters for the first time since fall 2006, I was thankful that I have a house. Today, I am thankful I didn't fall off said house as my husband was a bit nervous. I figured my stability was better, and hey, he had the chance 2 years ago, so it was my turn. And, if I did, I most likely would have survived since the back would have put me on the deck that falls away from the house. Below that is bushes, which I think would be sticky, but softer than the ground to land in. Today, I'm also grateful that I have muscles, and realize how much I need to use them in stretching since they have told me they exist in places I forgot about.
I have given thanks for my cats, even though I didn't want them (well not all 5 of them) 6 months ago, but they seem to have adjusted to our family (or is it that we have adjusted to their family since it's mom and her 4 of 6 kittens, the other 2 being given away to a farm home). They seem to know that if you feed them at 6 AM something is wrong. However, at 8, their cool and waiting. We even invested in a dog house for them, and are looking for straw so they can stay warmer. Towels aren't the same. Now to catch the last 2 and get them fixed.....
What else...I'm grateful that I have friends who are not fair weather only. We've developed some close friends who will tell us the truth in love when we need it, and support us as well. How anybody can go through life as a hermit is beyond either one of us. Reaching out and helping others also has helped us since we've moved here 2 years ago.
Well, it's late and I better get ready for work. Yes, even on a Friday night since I was the dumb one who volunteered to work 3 Saturday AMs in a row. Guess the money is good at Christmas, but I miss the sleeping in!
Me
So, be patient as I learn how to do this. I have read other's blogs and have enjoyed them, sometimes without them know it. It has taught me how to pray for some, and how to support others. Perhaps the same will be true as you read mine.
Thanksgiving--let me start with that. As I cleaned out the gutters for the first time since fall 2006, I was thankful that I have a house. Today, I am thankful I didn't fall off said house as my husband was a bit nervous. I figured my stability was better, and hey, he had the chance 2 years ago, so it was my turn. And, if I did, I most likely would have survived since the back would have put me on the deck that falls away from the house. Below that is bushes, which I think would be sticky, but softer than the ground to land in. Today, I'm also grateful that I have muscles, and realize how much I need to use them in stretching since they have told me they exist in places I forgot about.
I have given thanks for my cats, even though I didn't want them (well not all 5 of them) 6 months ago, but they seem to have adjusted to our family (or is it that we have adjusted to their family since it's mom and her 4 of 6 kittens, the other 2 being given away to a farm home). They seem to know that if you feed them at 6 AM something is wrong. However, at 8, their cool and waiting. We even invested in a dog house for them, and are looking for straw so they can stay warmer. Towels aren't the same. Now to catch the last 2 and get them fixed.....
What else...I'm grateful that I have friends who are not fair weather only. We've developed some close friends who will tell us the truth in love when we need it, and support us as well. How anybody can go through life as a hermit is beyond either one of us. Reaching out and helping others also has helped us since we've moved here 2 years ago.
Well, it's late and I better get ready for work. Yes, even on a Friday night since I was the dumb one who volunteered to work 3 Saturday AMs in a row. Guess the money is good at Christmas, but I miss the sleeping in!
Me
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