3 Gifts for Christmas

Last year, my husband and I decided to start a new Christmas tradition. We would only give our son 3 Christmas gifts, symbolic of the Wise Men’s 3 gifts for baby Jesus – gold frankincense and myrrh.

My cousins follow this tradition and I have read on blogs about others celebrating Christmas in this way. One blog explained how the parents taught the symbolism to their children. Gold is for a want – that big item they are longing for. Frankincense is for something spiritual that will help develop their character like a Christian CD, DVD or book. Myrrh is for something practical like a new outfit or snow boots. For older kids, I think it would be a lot easier to emphasize these meanings; for little ones everything is fun, practical and educational.

Limiting ourselves to three gifts should help keep the house from being overrun with toys, our budget in check, and keep our son from expecting a ton of toys for Christmas – taking his focus off the real meaning we want him to understand and appreciate.

All was well with my son’s Christmas list, until my husband decided he wants to buy our son a train set. This is great after all trains run in the Higgins’ blood and right now the kid has “Train Brain”. However, this meant I was down to picking out two from the list! I had a little freak out. Suddenly limiting ourselves to just three seemed impossible! Whose idea was this anyway? Why torture myself? Can I just spoil him rotten for his birthday in February? Can I wait till February? And what about stocking stuffers like toothbrushes and socks?

The truth of the matter is I am really excited to have new toys in the house just as much as my husband is really excited about getting him a train. I have grown a little tired of stacking boxes, cars that talk, and “chew toys”. I am ready for Legos, tools and workbenches, castles made of blocks, and choo choo trains that really “choo choo.” Mostly we are excited because our son is getting to that stage where he knows stuff, and he is interested in things like trains and dump trucks. He is just so much fun!

I had to take a deep breath. Working on this article forced me to reevaluation this new tradition and then wrestle what I really want to do.  My husband and I decided on this tradition but it should not be a burden or an idol. It should not be a source of guilt if I decide to fill his stocking with a bunch of toothbrushes and socks bumping him up a few more gifts. Feeling guilty defeats Jesus’ purpose for entering this world…

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Giving three gifts in keeping with the Wise Men’s three gifts is a boundary not a commandment so we don’t over indulge or overspend and so we can teach the true meaning of Christmas without Jesus being crowded out by a mound of gifts. It’s a way to treat our son and not spoil him. It sets a precedent so he doesn’t grow up expecting more but rather is content with just a few.

My husband has found the perfect train, and I mustered up some restraint and think I can wait until his birthday in February for the other toy I had in mind. I did decide to give myself the freedom to stuff his stocking with little necessities like socks, toothbrushes maybe a coloring book because seriously what kid has been spoiled at Christmas by too many toothbrushes!

Compassion Gives a Future

I received a letter from my Compassion International Child this week. I have watched -from afar- this Indian boy grow up. His sweet melancholy little 5/6 year old face won my heart almost a decade ago. He has grown into to a tall, smart looking teenager. He said in his letter this week, " I have six months more in school. After my school I am willing to study computer engineering in the college." I was moved to tears.

My sometimes meager, sometimes hard earned funds have helped  a poor boy in India have a future. What an honor to be apart of his life. Now he not only has the chance at college but he knows Jesus too.

I guess once he graduates we will no longer be able to write to me; I will have to wait until Heaven to meet him. What a sweet time that will be.

The Turkey Song

The Turkey Song

A Turkey sat on the barnyard fence,
And he sang this sad, sad, tune,
Thanksgiving Day is coming!
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble
And I know I'll Be Eaten Soon!

Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
I don't like Thanksgiving Day
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
I would like to Run Away!

     For as long as I can remember, The Turkey Song has been as much a part of our family's Thanksgiving as the turkey or pumpkin pie. I always looked forward to Grandpop singing it. On Thanksgivings when he was not eating with us, singing the song without him just seemed kind stale even sacrilegious. This is our first Thanksgiving where no one will get to hear him sing it. Though if I know my Grandpop he will amuse a host of angels with his crooning. 

    This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many years of listening to my Grandpop sing at the dinner table. I am also thankful that I got to record him singing this song for the last time so that my Walter will never be able to forget him. Thanks for the memories Pop. Gobble, gobble, gobble.

 

 

5 Kernels of Corn

I picked up The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel today to brush up on my Thanksgiving history. The true poignant bits of history are so often lost. Instead we now hear all about the big bad Englishmen taking over the Native American's land. For the record, the land the Pilgrims settled on belonged to no one - anymore. The tribe of Indians who had lived there all died a few years before the Pilgrims landed. 

Anyway, this is one of my favorite bits of history about Thanksgiving.  An influx of more people from England - with no supplies- forced the people of Plymouth to ration their food. All winter long each person was given 5 kernels of corn a day. This is what they survived on. How? Only by God's grace.

On the 2nd Thanksgiving, least they forget how God helped the colony survive on 5 kernels a day the 1st course of the 2nd Thanksgiving meal was - a plate with 5 kernels of corn. A reminder to be thankful in lean times and even more so in abundant times.

Down with Dishdrainer

 Who knew that a stainless steel dish drainer could have so much power? We moved in September and I was appalled at the dust under my bed. I kept thinking, “If my Gram saw this I would be mortified.” She is the kind of homekeeper who washes the windows because its time to wash them not necessarily because she can’t see through the dirt anymore! 

As we have been settling into our new place, I am trying to establish better homekeeping and cleaning strategies so I can be a little bit more like my Gram. (Even at 90, I think she will always work circles around me.) I made up a chore sheet for myself of all the things that need to be done. There are things that I just don’t think to do to maintain cleanliness until it is obviously dirty. The reason Gram’s windows aren’t really dirty when she cleans them in the spring is because she cleaned them in the fall – not 3 years ago! So I am working on it, which brings me to the dish drainer.

I should preface by saying I don’t have a dishwasher, so a dish drainer is a necessity right?! Yet, it’s ever presence on my counter has always felt a little like a black hole sucking in any attempt of uncluttering my counter. I also hate the way the tray collects water.  There is always slime growing and rust spots on the tray because when I would think to clean it the sink was full of dirty dishes or the drainer was full of clean ones.

In our new kitchen, I gained more cabinet space but I lost counter space. So that dish drainer became an even bigger big black hole and I felt like I was being sucked into everyday. I would glare at it while I tried to conjure up more room for meal preparation. Until one day it occurred to me, like someone spoke from the glorious heavens above. “Why don’t you try going without it?” Could this be sheer brilliance? Could this be the answer to my counter space woes? So I emptied it, cleaned it and stashed it up high. Then, marveled –seriously marveled at the acres of open space I saw. I laid down a towel, started washing dishes, and then I dried them and put them away. Now my goal is to go to bed with no dishes in the sink or on the counter.

Between the dish drainer and the dust bunnies I feel liberated from a cluttered counter and motivated to tackle dirt and dust before it tackles me – just like my Gram does.

If you need something to help you get your butt into gear I highly recommend moving! It will reveal all those dusty critters or you might just want to clean under your bed.  If you are feeling like your own black hole is sucking you in, whether it’s a dish drainer or a hall closet just make a change, put it away, clean it out, or purge. Do what you have been wanting to do and have been putting off. Then, just see if making a change in that area doesn’t act as a catalyst to other areas of homekeeping.(More on that later)

Or you could just go visit my Gram…

Projects Done

So I am working out my new cleaning and organizing system. Feeling very proud of myself that I don't have to scold Walter for touching the shower curtain when he takes a bath. I am feeling so motivated that I actually worked on a several projects and I am feeling mighty proud of my accomplishments this week.

This week is bedroom week so while the little monkey played in his room I dusted which brought me to the yard of fabric I just threw over the dresser while unpacking. I decided this is only 4 simple straight lines, I will pull out the sewing machine, put up the gate and sew right outside of his room. Worked like a charm and took no time at all. Project: Done.

While the machine was out I figured I would go ahead and hem a king size blanket I cut down to fit our bed. It was like a red fuzzy albatross around my neck now ... Project: Done! No picture. A picture doesn't do justice to the satisfaction of having that finally done.

Later on that day, I started working on a little pumpkin project which I found here. So many times I see really cute projects that I know I could do but I just don't take the time so much easier to surf the internet...but because I am feeling highly motivated... I have 4 patchwork pumpkins to keep or give away. Although in this picture it looks like I may end up with 3! This project took me a couple days to finish completely.



A couple weeks ago, I bought a HUGE box of organic apples from an Amish farmer. I am not sure it is any cheaper than buying organic in the store but at least I won't have to remember to buy it for a couple months. 7 pints of applesauce to be added to the other 12 I did in 2 other batches over the last 2 weeks.

I thought I would try some apple butter too while I was at it, and now I have 7 half pints (oh that reminds me of Laura Ingles - but I digress). Unfortunately, the apple butter really didn't make the oatmeal I had for breakfast any more palatable. Maybe it will be better in Cream of Wheat as my husband calls it. I prefer to call it by its rightful name, Farina.

Well before you start turning green with envy ;-) please note my sink is full of dirty dishes and my bed hasn't been made in 2 days.

Next weeks project won't be nearly as fun it involves bank statements and Quickbooks...

The Prequel Review

I can't help myself. I have to critique more fully Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning
with more than just a post of disappointment on facebook.

First, I must set the stage. In part 3 of the Anne of Green Gables series, The Continuing Story of Anne the movie could stand alone as a good enough movie. For the Anne fans, who have read the books and love the story of Anne the way the author Lucy Maude Montgomery writes it, the movie really was a travesty. Still I watch it from time to time because I love seeing Anne and Gilbert even if the storyline is completely NOTHING like the book. In the books, Anne & Gilbert's kids were involved in World War 1 not them -apart from being concerned parents. If Kevin Sullivan the producer wanted to do a movie on World War 1 and Anne sticking to the book Rilla of Ingleside would have thrilled us Anne fans beyond measure. Alas, he just makes up stories and calls the characters Anne and Gilbert. It is a disgrace really.

Then, there comes the Prequel. The actress who played Anne was adorable and she did nice job. However, the storyline was ridiculous and insulting. I would swear that Lucy -the creator of the Anne character- is spinning in her grave.

The movie is supposed to be what happened to Anne before she came to Green Gables. The movie upends everything we know about Anne. Most importantly, Anne was not orphaned at 3 months when her parents died of the fever. Her father accidentally drove her mother into a ditch and she died and he was blamed. Anne was a 7-9 years old at the time. Then. all this junk went on and she was bounced around ended up living with this rich lady Mrs. Thomas until she died. It was all so ridiculous and not worth writing about.

The thing I find insulting though is that secret letter's belonging to Marilla were found hidden under a floorboard in Green Gables. Among the letters was a letter from Walter Shirley, Anne's father where he writes that he has fallen on better times and would like to know about Anne and maybe see her. Marilla never told Anne about the letter. Really?! Marilla would do that!? Deny Anne access to her father! Not even a deathbed confession. Marilla would never do that to Anne. She would never be that dishonest. She would not be dishonest. Marilla was a pillar of honesty and truth and strove to do the right thing. It is what she taught Anne. So for "them" to write this drivel into the movie and smear the character of Marilla just so Kevin Sullivan can put out another Anne movie that is not really about Anne at all but really "unAnnes" the whole storyline it just infuriates me.

The movie wasn't even a good enough stand alone movie. The acting was weak, the storyline weak, things were brought up and then not developed. Anne repeated lines from the original movie that just seemed so weird to be used again in a different setting. If you are going to write a whole new story about Anne's life come up with original dialogue too. It was such a disappointing movie on so many levels. Compounding the disappointment that as good as the books are "they" still won't just make the books into movies (shows). It is what real Anne fan's want to see -the books come to life on the screen.  

So if you want to torture yourself watch the movie, but I can almost guarantee you -the Anne fan- will be disappointed.

My New View

So we no longer live in the treehouse. Now we kind of live in a meadow.  This is our new evening view.  Each night brings a lovely sunset. 

We have "Oreo" cows in our backyard. We have a constant breeze blowing and thus far we can't smell the cows. Our new neighbors don't moo the kind of moo sound I am teaching the baby. Sometimes they just sound more like elephants. We still like them though.

Our new space is more spacious which is nice because we can spread out more with the stinkbugs in stead of being right on top of each other. I have gotten rid or a lot of "stuff" and could probably get rid of a lot more, but I almost have a place for everything.




                                                                                                                                                                                     We are definitely enjoying our new place. I am also enjoying my new craigslist china cabinet. Sometimes I just like to lay on the sofa and look at the silver trims and crystal glisten under the lights.

We are so thankful that God revealed this new view for us.

My Freezer

So I cashed in two 8th grade savings bonds and bought a freezer. I had almost exactly enough to pay for it but I suspect in the end that won't be true because Uncle Sam will want to collect his portion of my interest. Who knows how much he will want. I wonder if it will work out to me wishing I had just been given $25 on graduation day 23 years ago...

Anyhow, I have a freezer now and spent a couple weeks filling it with pre-cooked meals, ready to go in the oven meals, several ears of corn and 25 pounds of peaches.

Then, hurricane Irene came on the scene. I spent my days praying for my freezer and its contents. I bought extra bags of ice and filled water bottles so it would be filled to capacity and hold in the cold. Thanks be to God, my freezer was spared from any power outages! What a huge sigh of relief to know I didn't have to enact one of my plan B,C or Ds if the power went out.

I couldn't help but think of all the people who weren't so lucky and just had to toss their freezer contents. It made me sad to think of all the time and money lost. Certainly make me think the next big purchase should be a generator just in case we aren't so lucky with the next storm!

Toy Nostalgia for the Cousins

This winter I went through a little toy nostalgia. I fondly remembered these little guys to the right... I asked a couple of my cousins and they remembered them too. We figured that if we looked hard enough they could still be found in our grandparent's basement!

Sure enough while I was staying with Gram last week for a couple days, I hunted them down and was pleased to see they still have their "getupandpop". They have lost a little suction, so they pop before you can take cover. Part of the fun back then was waiting with thrilling anticipation for those unknown seconds of delay before the "pop" would happen. The fun now is that they still pop at all after probably 40 years!

So for kicks here is a little video of my fun in the patio with pop ups from bygone days.  Cousins, if you want to play with them yourself .... go in the pantry, find the Reynolds wrap stockpile, look down and they are in a bucket on the floor. Little warning though, don't try them on the freezer because they like to land behind the freezer! I learned this the hard way - twice.

Grandpop's Eulogy

By the grace of God and the prayers of his people, I was able to say the following at my Grandpop's funeral service on July 8. 

I missed the bus to high school one day and knew I could count on Grandpop to take me so I ran home quickly called and asked. He shows up in his blue truck. He’s driving along at what feels like a snails pace.  The whole time I am thinking, “can’t you drive just a little faster?”

And then he precedes to take route 130 instead of 295. Now I am thinking, “You would take the longer, slower way…,” He said something about how he liked this route better.  Of course I couldn’t say anything! I was just thankful he was taking me. I can’t help but wonder if he did it on purpose though so I wouldn’t miss the bus again. I don’t think I ever did!

The whole way he was telling stories though, you could count on him to have a story or a song and he was always ready to teach something. Some of the things he has taught the grandkids through the years …

Never end a sentence with a preposition

The importance of saving money

Foods to avoid that are high in cholesterol

How to properly use a handsaw

A glass of red wine everyday is good for you

Don’t say “ain’t” !

How to hold a pencil properly

How to extract honey and what centrifugal force is

How to change a tire

Don't be afraid to get your hands a little dirty in the garden

Always remember names of people you meet

Never keep your hands in your pockets

How to catch a toad

The importance of composting

And “you get no bread with just one meatball” (I did my best to sing is like him.)

Practically everything that came out of his mouth was laced with instruction or history from the light fixtures in the patio to helping you pump up your bike tires.

I hope and pray I can half as good a job teaching my own son as Grandpop has done with all of us.

A Little Thinner

"Each year our ranks grow thinner", this is said each year at the Gibbstown Memorial Day ceremony followed by the list of those veterans who passed away during the year. Today, the ranks are a little thinner. For my dear Grandpop, who so faithfully served his family, country and fellow man for nearly 90 years has gone on to his eternal reward. 

I think he lived well and loved well for all those that didn't get the opportunity to live out their dreams like get married and have children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. He helped to form the local VFW Post soon after he was discharged and worked hard to remember his fallen comrades. It was his idea to rename the streets in town during Memorial Day week after the deceased, " a means of keeping Veterans names and sacrifices in our memories."  

He is at long last with the 18 fellow soldiers who were his friends and neighbors. Perhaps they were standing by to welcome home a fellow comrade. 

We who are left behind will miss the way he was forever correcting our grammar, or his willingness to feed our pets when we  were away, or sing funny songs at the dinner table,  or bicker with Gram over every little thing. We'll miss his stories and his ability to remember in such detail. I especially will miss his hands. He had the nicest hands so soft and smooth and spongy even though he was working in the garden up until just a couple weeks ago. 


Someday there will be no more World War II veterans left. All those grandpops and great grandpops will answer the final call. May their "great grands" never forget to honor their memory or remember the sacrifices they and their fellow comrades made.

I came across this poem by an unknown Civil War poet, he offers the same sentiment:

Each year some dear familiar face to memories keeping we consign
Each year some comrade takes his place among the shadows in the time
And thus the living ranks grow thin Ah few must be the years at most
Before we all are mustered in to serve among the silent host.  Someone posted this wonderful tribute to our town's fallen soldier's.

 

A Little World War 1 History

I use to have a 101 in 1001 days list. You know a list of things I wanted to do in 1001 days. I think I made it a little less than halfway through my list before my 1001 days ticked away. I have continued to occasionally scratch items off the list. One week in March, I scratched off a good one that has loomed over me.

91. Learn the basics about what started World War I.

My dad pulled a book off my husband's bookshelf that I had never noticed before:
A Pictorial History of the World War 1 Years by Edward Jablonski

"Pictorial" called to me. Give me just the basics. Give me pictures. All of the sudden I was engrossed. ENGROSSED and shocked. WOW the more I learned about this war the more I was shocked and appalled with myself for not knowing!

First off, I could never keep straight who was fighting who.

Central Powers: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria
Allies: France, England, Belgium, Russia, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Serbia and many others

Now before I go any further. I have to tell you about another book I read a couple weeks before I read the pictorial history book. Agathe von Trapp: Memories Before and After The Sound of Music by Agathe von Trapp


Agathe was Captain von Trapp's oldest daughter and she was always a little miffed that the movie did not accurately portray her family. She eventually came to terms with the fact that people loved the movie and its message about family and God etc. Regardless of the fact that that they actually took a train out of Austria and into Italy when they left the country. They didn't walk through the mountains to make their escape from the Germans. The Captain was also an Italian citizen so the Austrians couldn't force him into service -yet. There were many other discrepancies.



A proud daughter wrote and praised her father for his important work during World War 1.  He manned a submarine. I thought little of this as it was just Agathe's accounting. So as I am reading the pictorial history I realized that the von Trapp was commanding a submarine that was sinking British & French steamers with civilians on them! This is the danger of not knowing history! Her father was an enemy of America and its Allies and I didn't get it. It greatly disturbed me! I wish I had read the books in reverse. Reading about Agathe's account of history with more knowledge of World War 1 would have enabled me to really understand things and not be so easily swayed into how wonderful Austria was.

Now granted Captain von Trapp eventually came to America and he didn't want to fight with the Germans during World War II so obviously there was some change in convictions and loyalties. The point is had I not read the pictorial history, Austria would have continued to be - as it always has been- just this country where the von Trapp Family Singers originated.

When in fact it was they - the Austrians- who really started World War I.
    

They had wanted to start a war with the Serbians. The Serbians wanted to be their own country or something. So when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot it gave them a perfect reason. The assassination was carried out by Serbian terrorists and not the Serbian government. However, that didn't stop the Austrians from declaring war. The next thing you know Germany is invading Belgium and pushing toward France. It was a war that didn't seem to have a really good reason to be happening and nobody wanted to admit it and no one wanted to end it. They just kept drawing in more countries and sending more young men to die.

There is so much to this war. So much to history we should know.

In the end, which really wasn't an end at all, it was just the ceasing of hostilities aka Armistice Day.
That was another thing that was new to me. I didn't know the war didn't really end. They just stopped fighting.
According to wikipedia over 16 million people died in that war. That's 1.75% of the total population of the earth at that time. That doesn't include the wounded.

On one of the last pages of the book was this quote that really tied it all up for me.

Some German delegate at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, asked Georges Clemenceau, the French Prime Minster, "I wonder what history will have to say about all this?" Clemenceau said, “They will not say that Belgium invaded Germany.”

May Americans always know this and so much more. 

I just took out from the library The Pictorial History of World War II by the same author...  

'Tis the Season for Savings Bonds

'Tis the Season for savings bonds otherwise know as graduation time.

I couldn't help but be a little disappointed when I opened up my graduation card and found a savings bond. 30 years to full maturity seemed like such an eternity to a 14 year old with a pimple in her ear. Oh, yes one of the memories I have of my 8th grade graduation party is the popping of my ear pimple.  But I digress...

So I have 4 savings bonds brewing and bursting forth into almost mature bloom. I can't recall speculating how I would use them if they ever matured without me forgetting where I put them. There was a time about 9-10 years ago I considered cashing them in to help pay my way to Italy. We decided to count every coin in the house instead.


When my baby received a couple savings bonds I really got to thinking, "What will he use these for? A down payment on a car, or an engagement ring, towards a trip to Italy or Sweden." Hopefully he won't have to use it to just pay some bill. I feel that a savings bond ought to go toward something special after all you have waited a long time to use it.

I am leaning toward cashing mine in before they reach full maturity because frankly I am afraid the U.S Government won't have any cash left or will decide to keep more of my earned interest. Seriously for a kid waiting to spend money that isn't quite there to spend yet is hard work! I deserve every penny -interest and all but I know I won't get it all.

So I decided a little while back then when I do cash them in. Something very adult. Something that will go with me through the decades - I hope. I will use the money to buy an appliance. So when I look at I can say to myself, "See what patience will get you!"  I can't tell you what I spent the cash gifts on 20 years ago, but I will remember what I bought with my U.S.Savings Bonds.

So I am leaning towards a freezer! With an extra going toward a china cabinet but we'll see.

Much like the Turkey Hill Ice Cream bucket we don't always know how something will be used when it goes forward with us into the decades but it kind of fun to watch and see...

Always Searching

Been on a vacation from rental searching so much so that I forgot I drafted the post below.


The more things change the more they are still the same.

So I am married with a baby and have been on a search. Sure I found my husband or rather he found me but looking for a new rental sure does feel like an online man search. I swear I am having flashbacks to all that craziness...

the frenzy...
the uncertainty...
the looking for a needle in a haystack...
the temptation into something that is not a right fit...
the waiting...
the multiple daily searches on the various websites...
checking again just to see if something new was posted in the last 5 minutes.

It is exhausting.

I ebb and flow from taking it too serious to not serious enough. Though I tend toward the too serious! I need to find that happy medium of looking and putting myself out there through networking and trusting God to bring the right thing along at just the right time. Instead of all the craziness of searching that I am Oh so familiar with and Oh so don't handle well.

When I was single and stuck in the rut of searching like a hamster in a wheel, I knew I had to work hard to keep my brain in order. I had to surrender and be ready at the same time. No woe is me frame of mind allowed! Because I know the right frame of mind is when good things happen. So I am trying...

The Ice Cream Bucket

It is kind of interesting to me how objects can take on a new life of their own as they age.

Take for instance this Turkey Hill ice cream bucket.

Turkey Hill put out these special buckets in the mid-90s. I kept it because it had quilts on it and I thought it might be "collectible" someday. It's a nice sized bucket because back then they sold buckets of ice cream and not these tiny itty bitty cartons. It's proof of the fact that food manufacturers keep downsizing the size of the bucket and up-sizing the price of the product. But I digress...

So for the last 15 years or so I have kept my pink sponge curlers in this bucket under my bed... that is until Baby got a hold of the bucket and the curlers. The curlers got a new home and the bucket was actually headed for the recycle bin. But the Baby liked it so much I decided to keep it and give it a new purpose in life.

The Baby likes to put it on his head. He puts stuff in it and takes them back out. Sometimes he tries to put it on his head with stuff in it! He carries it around. He chews on the lid. He takes the lid on and off. He bangs on it like a drum. He loves this bucket! What I find so fascinating is that once upon a time a teenage girl decided to save a simple ice cream tub to keep stuff in it, never thinking that someday her little boy would have so much fun playing with it!

In Memorial

The unofficial start of summer arrives this weekend. For me Memorial Day is more than hotdogs on the grill and a day off.

In my home town remembering started on Monday, May 23rd when a couple men went around and "renamed" the streets in the center of town.


We remember the men from town who died during WWII and Vietnam by renaming the street closest to their family's home or their home. George Synder's aunt and uncle lived at the end of Oak Street. It is such a special way to keep their sacrifice in the forefront of our minds as we drive down the street during Memorial Day week.

I have my Grandpop to thank for instilling in me the importance of remembering. These fellas were his childhood playmates. He remembers them well and has always taught -by his actions- the importance of remembering those lost. For as long as I can remember, at noon on Memorial Day I have gathered with my parents, neighbors and fellow townspeople at the war memorial outside of the police department and we remember specifically our 17 men who died in World War II and 1 in Vietnam.

I have watched in pride as my Grandpop, also a WWII vet, set up for this VFW Memorial service and made sure everything ran smoothly. I teared up when Taps was echoed by a distant trumpeter. I listen attentively as names are read off of the veterans who have passed during the year and as a bell is rung for each one. Often I knew them. At the end, my aunts and whatever cousins are around get their picture taken with Grandpop and his sisters in front of the memorial. To me this is what Memorial Day is.

This Monday my baby boy will get to attend for the first time. He will probably cry during the "21 gun salute" but I hope over time to instill in him the importance of remembering those who gave their all and also those veterans who have diligently kept memories alive by honoring their fallen comrades.

Farmers Market Time

The Amish and local growers are back in town bringing with them produce of the season.

Friday we picked up succulent strawberries and luscious looking lettuce.


I am looking forward to Fridays from now until November. I will eat my way through all those beautiful fruits and veggies of the season! From strawberries to butternut squash ... yum.

Fan into Flame

It is decided I am going back to my old Bible.

My good old underlined and highlighted with life and struggle Life Application Bible. I got it in college and it is underlined with intention. I pulled it out this morning and what moved me back then is moving me now. Now, when I feel distant, out of sorts, alone and weak. I have felt like a reoccurring train wreck and I shouldn't feel this way. I have been through worse struggles, situations and emotional states of mind. I made it through God's well thought out lesson plans (with His help!) and learned well enough to ... pass to the next thing... by applying what I read!

I have felt a little like the Bible I have been using the last few years coming apart at the seams on the outside and not doing anything about it on the inside to fix me. There is a shocking lack of underlining and that's not because there has been a lack of trial and struggle or pens but more a lack of leaning, reading and delving into the Word for hope, sustenance and assurance of God's provision.

This morning I read...

(From the old Bible) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands for God gave not a spirit of fear but of power and love and self control.

The Life Application says "stir up the gift of God" that works too because I have been sedentary.

Thanks 2 Timothy 2:6-7 I really needed a stirring, a good old kick in the pants.

So this is what I need to do.

I need to fan into flame the gift of God. I need Him to stir up the gifts He has put inside me.

Starting with spending less time sedating my worries with Swagbuck games and solitaire. I believe God gave me the gift of writing but I have had nothing to write about because I am not delving into the Word of God. A few paragraphs before bed is not enough to grow or maintain past growth let alone produce anything that might cause reflection or revelation or encouragement for me or anyone else for that matter.

I am weakened by or just too weak to research rentals, face calling a health insurance company or staying home all day with no errands to run because gas is too high to take a daily "field trip". I am not exercising my spiritual muscles, I have laid aside the full armor of God. I am a flabby spiritual couch potato and have no one to blame but myself!

So cue the Rocky Theme Song it is time to get back in shape!

2011 Goals Update

So far this year...

DAILY
Drink water - struggling with this one
Take my vitamins - I should be ashamed of myself
Listen to a different CD everyday and purge the ones I don't want anymore - slowly working on this one.
Read to the baby - half and half.
And
Get dressed by 11am - hit or miss

MONTHLY
Blog at least once a week - failing but I have a few ideas brewing. Having ideas help.
Read a book a month - Success - read 2 in one month! Stay tuned
Complete a craft project a month - completed a scarf to be donated to a worthy cause.
Ebay something once a month - sold one item this year.

Musical Memory Lane

So I am successfully doing one of the things on my goals list for 2011.

I am playing not one but sometimes two CDs a day. I randomly pick a couple CDs and the Baby and I listen to them throughout the day.

Most of the music is old school Christian music going back to the days when Audio Adrenaline and Out of the Grey were topping the Christian music charts.

Earlier this week it was Mitch McVicker who was in the car accident that killed Rich Mullins - gosh nearly 15 years ago. Can it be that long ago? I remember he died on my brother Louis' birthday and I was thinking of my brother and heard on the radio about the accident... Needless to say listening to music that is 15 years old and practically from another lifetime brings back memories of high school and college and the years following. Followed by googling all these old musicians to see what they are up to now. Because frankly the only group I keep up with is Third Day.

Anyhow, today, it was Eli and his "Things I prayed For" and its funny how I still remember the words to these songs! I can sing right along and my baby must think I am nuts!

Another oldie but goodie by Eli is "That's all the Lumber" in this video its sung by Ceili Rain. (It is a better video than any I could find by Eli.) I remember the words and the same little excited thrill still happens inside me when you get to the end of the song when the guy finally "get's it."

The old songs still have it. They renew and inspire ... thoughts from memory lane and also thoughts of the future as I teach my son to love the old music, learn the words and hope and pray he will live them too.

On the Band Wagon

I was feeling very uninspired to come up with any 2011 Goals or Resolutions like everyone else seems to be doing in the "Blogosphere". The best I could come up with is to be out of my PJs before 11am. Failing already. The bulk of my laundry are pajamas.

One blog I looked at asked all these abstract questions probing into your psyche. I've got no time for that!

Then, I found my inspiration here! Great idea I will use a journal book instead. Anyhow this jump started my idea maker so that now I have a list of Goals. Besides getting dressed by 11am.

I even created a Daily Log to help keep me accountable:
DAILY
Drink water
Take my vitamins
Listen to a different CD everyday and purge the ones I don't want anymore
Read to the baby
And
Get dressed by 11am

MONTHLY
Blog at least once a week
Read a book a month
Complete a craft project a month
Ebay something once a month


Well see how it goes.

Christmas Shells

The last few years we have been doing Christmas dinner differently. Usually we would do a turkey dinner and/or ravioli. Lately, we pick something that's a treat that we don't normal have like veal or prime rib.

This year it was veal cutlets and stuffed shells. I made the stuffed shells because I can't eat regular ravioli neither can my mom or brother. Making stuffed shells seemed a lot easier than making dairy free ravioli.

So this is what I did for my Christmas Stuffed Shells.

Pound+/- of ground meat (I had veal but it smelled funny so I had to pitch it and used turkey)
A Bag of frozen spinach
Onion
garlic
Mashed potatoes
egg
bread crumbs
salt & pepper

I cooked the meat, added all the other stuff to it and then stuffed the cooked shells with the concoction.

It was so easy after I got over the sorrow of the spoiled veal and after my neighbor provided me with more mashed potatoes -because I had less than I thought.
The baby took one of his 2 hour naps (PTL) and I got them all done Christmas Eve.

We smothered it in sauce and called it Christmas Dinner.



I am excited to try them again maybe making them a little bit more like pierogies next time hmm potato, onion and spinach - yum!

Fruit of my Grandparents

I wrote the following for my grandparents for Christmas. My Pop suggested I have it patented... well I don't know about that but I can self publish ;-) and share with the world just how wonderful my grandparents are!

As you near 90, I think of all the years I have been blessed to have you in my life. Now that I have Walter I think of all the things I want him to learn from you, inherit from you, and value like you do. Here are just a few...

I hope he learns the value of a compost pile.

I hope he learns and develops the skill and patience to produce something

whether its tomatoes, honey, wine …

I hope he is generous with his loved ones and those in need.

I hope he can tell a good story and include a song in it too

and appreciate a good story when he hears one.

I hope he works circles around everyone else.

I hope he has a mind for remembering details (names, birthdays, dates, faces) because people feel respected & loved when you remember their name etc...

I hope when people hear his name they only have good things to say.