Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Let heaven and nature sing...

Christmas isn't even here and it is already fading into schmarmy,  silly, sticky-finger memories. Our large family gathering on Saturday with Mr. Macho's side of the family was a hit. Nephew and his wife hosted and the sun shone on the day. Literally. And. Figuratively. Their home is large and lovely. They were warm and welcoming. They made it a kid-friendly-fun-filled day. Too much food. As always. Funny story reading game. Cookie decorating for the children. Family pictures. I will share some of my favorite snaps from Saturday...

"How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?"

Miss America.

Lauren and Sweet Daughter-in-Law.

A very patriotic Super Carrot.

The Father-in-Law sporting his new hat. 

Cookie decorating fun. And. The photo bomber strikes again. 


Saturday night we came home and played our own dirty Santa game. More laughing. Sillier gifts. 

Sunday was better than I had even hoped. All our children and grandchildren were in church with us. I can't even find the words to say how I felt having us there. All together. 
Sometimes the stars just line up and you know it is weighty. 
This one moment in time filled me with Christmas.
This is our old church that we use as a chapel now. It is the church my children grew up in. 

We came home and opened all the rest of the gifts and enjoyed a huge pot of red beans and rice. Beach Boy (via Aunt Mimi) provided some french bread and it made the meal. 


Tucker is already having a magical Christmas. Football cards, eye black, and shoulder pads were the shizzle. He gained 50 pounds of tough. Immediately. 

Our fashion designer, Lauren, sporting her new ear warmer. (Not sure what to call it!) She is gaining in grace and her sweet disposition adds to her beauty. 

Miss Alabama. Glitz and bling. And. Mr. Bubble. 

These two, along with their parents, have been here since Friday. This afternoon they traveled to their other grandparent's house where they will spend the rest of the week.
 Breakfast won't be the same tomorrow. 
Sweet Pea and I promised we would think about each other and think happy thoughts. 

This afternoon has been filled with washing sheets and towels. And. A little cooking. 
***
And so it went. 
Today. Mr. Macho and I made a mad dash to the grocery store to buy supplies for dinner on Christmas day. We will spend it at his Dad's house. It will be quiet. And nice. 
Again this  years I find our Christmas evolving. It isn't the same any two years in a row. 
Daughter and I watched one of her favorite movies in tandem last night, "The Family Stone". It was good for a little emotional release. A good little cry. 
Ah, nostalgia. You are my friend. Sometimes I try very hard to keep you in the box. But times like these it is good to take you out and shake you off. And wallow in it. 
And so. This brings me to my Christmas Eve mantra, that I must repeat, yet again...

"Backward, turn backward
O time in your flight;
Make me a child again
Just for tonight. " 

-Elizabeth Akers Allen

***
Wishing you a Christmas filled with wonder. 
May you welcome the Christ child with a joyful heart. 
Merry Christmas. 




Thursday, December 18, 2014

On being present.

It has been several days since my last post. I have visited this spot thinking I might...but thought better and decided to just wait. And so. I did.

I am trying to enjoy each day during this Advent season. We haven't had parties to attend. We have done a minimum amount of Christmas shopping. All is well. I have had my regular monthly bunkos to attend. Each with their fun dirty Santa gift exchange. We do white elephant items, which means you wrap something that isn't new.  Yesterday I cam home with a box of designer matches. I have already tried one this morning. It struck beautifully. Tonight I hope I come home with something equally fun.

Mr. Macho spent the night with his Dad last night. And will again tonight. I think Macho is catching a cold. This duty is discussed and revisited each and every day. Taking care of a parent is much like taking care of a child. Reminding ourselves that we do this out of love is our unending conversation. We are trying to be thankful for this gift of time to honor our parent.

Daughter and her family have all been under the weather this week. Husband and three children have all been taking the Tamiflu(?). Daughter had steroid shot and a z-pack of antibiotics. She finally sounded alive yesterday. Poor baby, she was not well first of the week. Having to nurse a sick family while sick your own self is the pits.

Our Christmas celebration weekend begins tomorrow. Family will begin to arrive. By Saturday our house will be filled with love and laughter. Meals will be shared. Gifts will be given. And received. I sometimes don't know how it all gets done. But. It does. My house may not be spic and span, but today! Today I will steam mop my kitchen. I have graduated from the back brace and I am free at last! I will promise not to overdo, but sweeping and steam mopping is about to commence!!

Then on to lunch with my girlfriends.
Go.
Find the peace and joy that awaits you today.
I'm all about the base. No treble.



Saturday, December 6, 2014

The week in review.

The two week point was marked by a doctor visit. What else?! Doc said I could "ween" off the back brace, I can drive, I can walk on a treadmill, walking is good, do light housework, lift 15 lbs...but for another two weeks no sweeping, vacuuming, and no extensive bending over. 
Check. And. Check.

I stayed in the road on Thursday and Friday. Freedom felt good as I celebrated my 58th birthday. Yep. Me. I bought a dozen cupcakes from my neighbor/baker. Got home and ate two right away. Happy birthday, a day early, to me. Mr. Macho treated us to a nice restaurant Thursday night. We shared a chocolate eruption dessert. Happy birthday, early. 

On Friday I had a hair appointment followed by lunch with two of my good friends. More sweets - we split and ice cream sundae for dessert. Happy birthday to me. I picked up some barbecue and fixin's for dinner at father-in-law's house. And ate another cupcake for dessert. Happy birthday to me. Mr. Macho spent the night at his Dad's. I came home. And. Ate another cupcake. 

Now. The birthday calories don't count. Today I am back to a more healthy ingestion. Turnips greens and such. 

I'll spend the afternoon resting my back. I have been up and moving since about 6:30. I got three weeks' worth of paperwork filed away. Cleaned up the yarn explosion. Replaced it with Christmas wrap explosion. 

I've cleaned a toilet, mirror, and dishes. I want to clean my floors, but that is off limits to me for now. Argh. Really need to steam clean. 

Pacing myself is not my favorite. I want to do things as I see them. Ah well. It is what it is. 
I thought I would put out a few decorations today. That hasn't gotten done. Yet. The day is young.

Going to kick my feet up for a few.
Be sweet. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Pssst.

It's December.

It's December?

It's December!!

Birthday month. Woot. Woot.

Tomorrow is my two week post-surgery appointment. I have hopes that the doc will say
#1. You can lose the back brace.
AND.
#2. You can drive.
Please-oh-please-oh-please.

Warm day yesterday. Was glad to have a neighbor and a sister-in-law come over. They each visited and helped me pass the day. Last night I started a puzzle that Daughter brought to me. I worked on it for hours this morning. It, too, has helped pass the time. Today it is light rain and bone-chilly.

The stir crazies are knocking at my door. I am chomping at the bit. To do things. I have gathered the Thanksgiving decorations (what few there are). And have put out two (2), count them, 2 - Christmas things.
A. The mouse count down calendar
B. A plaid table runner
I gathered dirty towels and got them to the laundry room. Shhh. I dusted. Be quiet. Yes I did. Just a little.
In the last week I have finished two crochet projects and am working on the third that I started before the surgery. It will not get done 'cause I don't have enough of the lilac yarn.

Other decorating things may not get out until the last minute, if at all, this year. It is okay. I am not sad nor panicked. It is what it is. I have so many residual good feelings from being well taken care of during my convalescence that I will not complain. I am going to rock this Advent.

Be sweet. Fa-la-la-la-la. La-la-la-la.