Happy Christmas!

As I sit quietly sipping my morning coffee, fingers of sunlight stretch over frost glistened roof tops....I imagine squeals of excitement as children spy beneath the tree unimagined gifts from that jolly old elf himself. And I remember Christmases long past stretching all the way back to my childhood...each memory warms my heart.

When my children were small, I tried so hard to make each Christmas magical for them...so much so, that by the time Christmas morn dawned I was a frazzled mass of nerves.  If I had only known what I know now!

 We had our own traditions for the Yuletide season....the children opened their first gift the night we put up our tree and it was always an ornament chosen with much love to reflect some aspect of their personalities....after Christmas these ornaments were packed into their personal Christmas box, destined one day to decorate their own holiday tree.  On Christmas Eve, we joined the aunts and uncles on their father's side of the family at GranGran's house....the table groaned with all the holiday foods traditional to the South.....turkey and dressing, ham, ladyfinger peas, Aunt Vickie's delicious white corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and I won't even list the desserts.

Of course, the children hardly ate a bite so intent were they on the gifts piled beneath the tree. Their father and his brothers regaled us with tales of their childhood....sometimes all talking at the same time....in fact, we once set up a video camera to capture the scene.  Upon later viewing, we realized that everyone was talking at the same time and we couldn't figure out who was listening! Eventually gifts were exchanged and much laughter ensued.  Here there were traditions as well....someone in the family was going to receive a frozen fruitcake....which they were pass on to some one else the next Christmas....and yes, I believe that same fruitcake is still being bestowed upon some lucky soul....if not mistaken, the cake has been passed around for the past ten years....never opened or tasted....just re wrapped and re gifted.  There is also a mismatched pair of male socks which is re gifted among the men in the family.

Christmas morning dawned so early! Our rule was no one got up until they smelled the coffee brewing and the Sister Schubert's sausage rolls cooking....then and only then could the children make a mad dash for their stockings.  One never knew what kind of craziness Santa had placed in the stockings.....I think at times the children enjoyed the stocking stuff more than what was under the tree.

Then there was the mad dash to get everything and everyone ready for our Christmas celebration at my parents'. Once again we stuffed ourselves with yummy food and then on to the pile of presents.  Of course, that particular part of the day was not without its pitfalls...I remember one Christmas when the pet dachshund had climbed over the gifts, knocking tags off.  My mother quickly replaced the tags on what she was sure were the correct gifts....imagine our surprise when my husband opened his gift to find several pairs of lacy ladies underpants! It was our first married Christmas...welcome to the family!

Traditions are wonderful things until the maintaining of those traditions makes one lose sight of the really important things....time spent with the ones you love and cherish.  My advice to those who wear themselves out physically, mentally and financially trying to make a 'perfect' Christmas for everyone...stop it! Quiet moments spent watching old Christmas movies....or making a batch of favorite cookies....stretching out on the floor with your child marveling at the lovely Christmas tree....these are the times that matter.  If you aren't enjoying these moments, then it is time to give your idea of a 'perfect' Christmas an overhaul.

That being said, Merry Christmas.....slow down and enjoy it.

The Perfect Christmas

Christmas Day celebrations have come and gone.  There were happy moments and the prerequisite "family dramas" to round out the day.  This year we had the added element of severe weather. And by severe I mean tornado warning sirens going off at least six times between 3:30 and 7:30.....we were keeping a careful eye on the television weather reports and saw that a massive wedge shaped tornado had touched down in the Mobile neighborhood where my best friend lives. After several frantic phone calls and texts, she finally got a text through letting us know they were safe.

My daughter and I had a long conversation about Christmas celebrations.  I think there lies within a lot of women.....wives, mothers, girlfriends, etc. this deep seated need to make Christmas 'perfect,' the stuff of dreams and fantasies fueled by the constant influx of Hollywood films....."Miracle on 34th Street," both versions, "Its a Wonderful Life," "White Christmas," "Christmas in Connecticut," and I could go on and one. It was true for me for more years than I care to remember.....and I never accomplished or reached perfection. So I've quit trying....and I just take joy in whatever comes.

Because I've learned that I cannot 'create' happiness for anyone but myself......I'm willing to share my happiness with those around me, but their own happiness is their responsibility. 

And as for the "perfect Christmas," it doesn't exist....never has. Even the first Christmas wasn't perfect.....Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem and found it full of travelers much like themselves. As a result, there were no vacancies at any inn.....then Mary went into labor somewhat unexpectedly I'm sure.  An innkeeper took pity and led them to a stable in the side of a hill....and as any woman who has given birth will tell you....a barn full of noisy animals is not an ideal place to give birth.

But thankfully, from those less than ideal circumstances came the birth of God's Son, His perfect gift to us in the form of an innocent baby......so maybe that Christmas was perfect after all.

Are You Ready For Christmas?

Christmas Eve, 50 degrees, cloudy with a chance of rain.......thanks to Pandora radio, Christmas music softens the quiet so that it feels more comforting than lonely. Having that first perfect cup of coffee and just thinking.

Looking around I note the chores I need to accomplish before everything is "ready for Christmas." There are still a few piles of clutter here and there and I definitely need to vacuum! And of course there are a few things to bake......nothing new or fancy this year.....just tried and true favorites.....Pecan Chocolate chip Pie, Blond Brownies, Wedding cookies, and Dark Chocolate brownies with Walnuts.  You see, the Christmas gathering is at my house tomorrow.

My three children, Michael aka Bubby, Melissa aka Sister and Lewie plus my sister and her two grandchildren and my daughter's fella, who is also named Michael, will all be gathered together. Thank goodness my son has been called Bubby since Melissa learned to talk! My apartment is going to be bursting at the seams on Christmas Day.  I'm glad.

As I ran my errands yesterday I was greeted with "are you ready for Christmas?" by several people.....people I didn't even know! It is a common refrain.....'are you ready for Christmas?' I'm guessing I was really being asked if all my gifted had been purchased, wrapped, and placed beneath the tree.....had all the food been purchased and readied for the feast?.....but this year it struck me differently.

Are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready to open your heart to that small baby whose birth brought light, joy and the hope of peace into the chaos of our world? Are you ready to take that joy and peace into your own life and carry it forward despite all the hate and fear and desperation which surrounds us?  Become a blessing in your own corner of the world.....those who are blessed will then bless others and on and on........be a blessing and change the world.  That is my challenge to you.....and to myself.  Merry Christmas!

Blogger's Block

It has been a while.....seems I've suffered from "blogger's block." Yes, I made that up.....just think "writer's block." There's been a whole lot of pain going on and quite frankly I wasn't in the mood to talk or write about any of it.

Just to catch you up......had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with family at my parent's house. My traditional Sweet Potato Pie was a big hit with my Daddy and he even shared a small sliver with me! Was I honored or what? And I have to say it was pretty yummy!

Now it is December.....and the Christmas season is fast approaching.  It used to bring with it stress and anxiety and more feelings of inadequacy to my life.  There never seemed to be enough time nor money to make sure every one had THE perfect Christmas.....because of course I felt that was all my responsibility.  Let me say for the record....I have relinquished that responsibility. 

For me Christmas is not about perfection.....nor is it about gift exchanges.....nor being invited to Christmas parties......nor making tons of perfect Christmas goodies.  It is about the little things.....like enjoying a nice cup of ginger spice tea before bedtime.....humming snippets of Christmas carols as I fold laundry.....unpacking my collection of Santa face mugs and lining them up on the counter.  Each one brought memories of the fun MoMe and I had experienced as we found these treasures in junk stores and Goodwill stores throughout the southeast.

This year instead of a mad flurry of trying to decorate my apartment and patio and tree all in one day I'm savoring each step.  For now, my Santa face mugs smile at me as I contemplate what bit of decorating comes next.....and if I can figure out how to share photos of them on the blog, I will. I want to enjoy every moment of every day.

Hopefully, the "blogger's block" I've suffered has passed......because I do so enjoy blogging and sharing the every day ordinary life I live.......I am so blessed.