Christmas Stockings and Memories Part 2

If you haven’t read Part 1, check it out here.

My mom loved Christmas. I’m pretty sure it was her favorite time of year. She was always giddy, happy and smiling during this time of year. I think she got so much joy out of seeing her kids get excited about presents and watching us in our Christmas programs at school and church year after year. Oh…and she was always doing her snow dance. Her idea of the “right” amount of snow was about 3-10 feet!

My mom started a tradition in our house of putting Christmas presents in or on the tree. My mom did this because one of her favorite Christmas presents, pearls she received from her father, were hanging on the Christmas tree. Since that time, she decided to put presents in the tree at her own home. I carry on the tradition today. Some of my favorite gifts of my growing up years either came in my stocking or were hanging on or sitting in the Christmas tree.

I will share three of my favorite presents I ever received in my stocking or on the tree. One year I received a Claddagh Ring. A Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring that has a heart with a crown on top and two hands holding the heart. I received it around the time I was 12 years old and the heart had a cubic zirconia in it. I loved that ring although it didn’t fit quite right. It was to replace the ring my brother had broken a few years ago. The ring is so special to me because it shows my heritage (Irish) and that means a lot to me.

Around the time I was eight years old I received a Peanuts necklace (shown below) that my mother had purchased from Avon. I like Peanuts and love all the movies, but my mom liked Peanuts the most, so I can’t let it go.

Finally, when I was 16, I received a tennis bracelet. I played tennis and my mother knew how much I wanted one. That tennis bracelet has been with me through a number of events in my life from proms, to band performances, flute solos, and banquets. This was probably one of the most treasured gifts I ever received from my mother, who is no longer with us.

Christmas Memory

Another precious memory of my growing up year occurred in 1999. I was part of the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at my high school and every year a Christmas breakfast was held where we invited a guest. The breakfast was at the school and we got there early in the morning to attend.

I invited the freshman English teacher, Mr. Wild and his wife, to attend. I invited them because she worked with me at the library, and I met him the summer before he started working at our school. I just felt they were the right people to ask.

At the breakfast, we are all asked to write something on a slip of paper for the other people in the group. To be honest, I have lost a few, but I have 2 that I have kept all these years. The two slips I still have is one from Mr. Wild thanking me for inviting him and one from my best friend, Susan. Yes, Susan (if you are reading this), I still have it. It marks Luke Chapter 2, as you wrote on it, and I keep it there so I can read it to my boys on Christmas Eve.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! God Bless!

Happy New Year!

It is 2011!

I must say that 2010 went fast.  I agree with what I have heard a lot of people say this year, "Time seems to go faster as you get older."  I'm not sure, but I think this really started happening after I had children.  It seems that time passes before you know it because you are so busy taking care of the kids and meeting their needs.  Don't get me wrong, I love it, most of the time, but everyone needs a little slow down time, right?

I am off the subject of my post, so I will get back to it.

I wanted to share some New Year's Resolutions.  I usually don't share these with the whole world.  In fact, I don't usually make resolutions, but this year, I wanted to.  Mostly because I need to work toward some goals for myself and my family.

So, in order of importance (to me):
1. Develop a more positive attitude.
2. Develop a better physical physique.
3. Become better organized in all areas of my life...mommyhood, household, career (I think that is basically it)

I think all these resolutions are very important, but I have them in a particular order for a reason.  I think developing a positive attitude is the most important of all my goals.  I am sure there are tons of studies that show people with a positive mental attitude have more energy, are more creative, and can overcome obstacles better.  I think that will help in my other other two goals as well as open the door to a host of other good things to come my way.

If you would like, post a comment with your own resolutions.  I would love to hear them!

I hope this post finds my readers in good spirits.  I also wish you all a Happy, Safe, and Blessed New Year!
God Bless!

It's Beginning to...

Look a lot like Christmas!

Every year I am excited for the first "real" snowfall.  What I mean by "real" is when snow covers the ground and you can't see the grass through.  No "skiffs" of snow for me!  These last few day have DEFINITELY had our first "real" snowfall.  In fact, here in the northwest, we had the first blizzard warning I have ever heard of in the 9 years I have lived here.  Weather advisories say to not go out if you can help it and most of the schools in the area are closed for today and tomorrow.  It's hard to say how much snow we have due to all the blowing and drifts that have accumulated.

On the other hand, there is no denying how beautiful the snow is when it is fresh and just fallen on the ground.  It was amazing a few days ago just to see if lightly falling.  My 2 year old boy got to put on snow pants, coat, gloves and Spiderman boots (that light up) to play in the snow for the first time.  He absolutely loved it.  We know he got cold in the half hour to 45 minutes he was out there, but he was less than happy when it was time to come in and warm up.  I was just sad that I had no hot chocolate to make for him.  I remedied that during my trip to the supermarket yesterday.

I also remedied another frustration I had been facing.  I was looking all over Fred Meyer's holiday area of Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Santas.  You can't really be in the holiday spirit (particularly Christmas) if you haven't had a Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Santa.  I had been supplementing with Chocolate covered Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Trees.  BUT...I found them!  They had put the little darlings in the candy bar aisle.  I was so excited.  I probably looked like a little kid in the candy shop.  It may sound funny, but I love the Santas.  It was the way my mom and I first "felt" Christmas was coming.  Since she is no longer with us, I like to keep this small tradition going and will pass it on to my little ones.

Now, it is time to get ready for the holidays by thinking of presents, decorations, baking and all the fun get togethers that come with this time of year.  I'm ready!

Last but not least, I wanted to mention that I am thankful for so many things in my life.  I have decided to take up a challenge that I saw on another blog to name in the next 6 months 1000 or more things for which I am thankful.  I have a few friends helping to keep me accountable as I am helping keep them accountable.

Here is one thing I have thought of in the last day:

Thank you Lord that I have warm clothes, shelter and a family to go home to.  I can't imagine people having to be out in the high of 11 degrees and wind chill factor of -9.  I pray that You keep these people safe through this bad weather.  Help each one of us to help others, no matter how small that might be, in their hour of need.

Autumn is Here

I can feel it in the air.  Autumn is here.  I hope it stays a little longer than it normally does here in the northwest.  It hit me a few days ago as I walked with my two little boys that the crisp breeze and smell in the air was refreshing and wonderful.  Usually when the cold weather starts here in Idaho, I get a little depressed because winter sets in very quickly.  It’s not long between summer and winter.  Today, though, I caught it, that feeling of autumn.

Feeling autumn has a lot of advantages.  First of all, it tells me that I need to get outside with my little guys more before we are stuck inside by bad weather.  So, I am planning on trying to take them for a walk every day, and, hopefully, one of our friends or daddy can join us sometimes.  Secondly, it let’s me ease into the holidays a bit better.  Without feeling autumn, I feel rushed and don’t realize we are already at the season where I need to think about parties, family get togethers, baking, and presents.  Things seem to sneak up on me.  Finally, I can savor the smell of the season and the beautiful colors that are all around.  The leaves turning color and falling from the trees, dew on the grass, and harvest deals (apples on sale, corn on the cob, etc.) and decorations everywhere.

I saw a post on Dave Ramsey’s website where people listed traditions.  It got me thinking about what kind of traditions I would like to start with my family that were relatively cheap and easy to take little ones too.  No Oktoberfest here, anymore!  A few that I saw and liked were talking about going to an apple orchard or raking leaves and jumping in them, which reminded me of autumn as a kid.  There is only one that I know we will be able to do, which is carving a pumpkin.  I’m not really into Halloween or taking my kids out, but I think my almost 2 year old would love getting messy with a pumpkin with his dad.  Additionally, I may look at baking a few “autumn” type things such as apple crisp, apple pie or pumpkin bread.  I also look forward to trying to roast those pumpkin seeds my husband and son take out of that pumpkin they are going to carve.

So…I need ideas.  What kind of autumn traditions do you have in your family?