This year we hosted a Christmas party for our church small group, which has actually become quite large. It was a really fun night, although we cannot take credit for the festivities. Phil and I, lacking in certain talents, asked others to perform songs and reading and such. Our friends brought so much food that we ran out of table space (and second table space, and third table space). Our “talent” went out of their way to make the evening special, with music and singing and a great version of the twelve months of Christmas (a parody on the twelve days), which even included fun props.
We decided that the fun thing WE were going to contribute (since it did not take the ability to play the clarinet or guitar) would be an Ugly Ornament Exchange. You know, we all have “THOSE” ornaments. If you are newly married like Phil and I, they are out on the tree. For others of you, they are tidily packed away in the boxes – the ones you “couldn’t quite fit” on the tree this year. Riiiiiight.
People were quite delighted to bring us their worst tree ornaments. About half of the ornaments were nicely wrapped, and it was a good idea, because even as it was, they were groaning over the ornaments they ended up with.
Phil and I, being a bit short- sighted, thought only of the fun that would come from seeing what was in the “bottom of the box” for each family. We did not think of the ramifications of asking people to take home someone else’s ugly trinket. And, as a result, we laughed quite heartily as people opened their ornaments, cringed, and chuckled with the story that went along with it. But when the whole group started congregating around our own tree, we got a bit nervous. We don’t know who started it (although we suspect our pastor) but, one by one, each Ugliest Ornament was carefully placed on our tree. “You can keep them here!” they collectively (and excitedly) said.
So, all in all, it was a fun game…to play at someone else’s house.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
On Christmas Eve
There is no snow tonight. In fact, the weather over the past month has been a far cry from this same time last year. I remember quite clearly, because this time last year we were moving into our house, buying our first (and second and third) snowshovel to clear walkways. It was the first time I realized how much it really took to heat this house. (When we moved in,we had 15 percent of the propane tank full, or 150 gallons of propane. It took three weeks to burn that up) Needless to say, we quickly tracked someone down to inspect our chimney so we could use our woodstove! To survive, we kept all but four rooms of the house completely closed off, and all of our boxes in the garage. It would be months until we unpacked more than the bare essentials.
The wind whipped around us whenever we ventured out in the cold, the wind chill in the teens on even the warmest of afternoons. The wind howled around the house starting at about 3pm each evening, a constant hum that reminded us just how lucky we were to have a brick house- the straw or stick houses would have been long gone.
This year, however, has been mild. A bit chilly, but barely a wisp of wind most days. It has allowed us to do some overly "Christmasy" things, like load hay bales into the back of Phil's Hidden Valley Ranch truck, put a lantern on a post, and go carolling with 15 of our closest church friends. (Which was quite fun, really, even when Phil accidentally flooded the engine at the last stop and half of the passengers had to get out and push the truck to a running start- ah the memories!)
The mild weather has been good to us, allowing preparations like putting a wood burning stove into the garage (so Phil can work in freezing temperatures), and splitting wood that we have received from neighbors. Slowly, we have been able to prepare for the upcoming winter weather. Our house is three times the size it was last year, making it trickier to "tighten up" this time of year. While last year we lived in four rooms of the house, this year, we are using all of the rooms both upstairs and down (which means more windows and more cold air!)
Last year, Christmas Eve was sad and quite lonely. We thought of family, of friends. We were cold, and though our tree was lit and we had presents, the joy of the season was missing.
This year, we have had so much hubbub over the Christmas season, I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow. And though I still get teary eyed over family back home, it is because I miss their smiles, their stupid-jello salads, their Clam chowder and the laughter that went with each family get-together, not because we are lonely. For we have been surrounded with loving people here, too. And for this I am extremely grateful.
But, I think, we miss the point in focusing on either one this Christmas Eve. Because Christmas, though it is a time for families to gather and presents to be exchanged, is first and foremost remembrance of the birth of Christ- the child who would bring salvation to the world. And though we were lonely last year for our family, and though we are surrounded with people this year, either can be a pitfall where we seek out comfort in such trappings instead of the one true Comforter. It matters not where you are, nor who you are with, but Who is in your heart on this Christmas eve.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas tonight- may your fires warm your homes, your dinners include lots of jello-salad, and your tables be surrounded with people you love.
The wind whipped around us whenever we ventured out in the cold, the wind chill in the teens on even the warmest of afternoons. The wind howled around the house starting at about 3pm each evening, a constant hum that reminded us just how lucky we were to have a brick house- the straw or stick houses would have been long gone.
This year, however, has been mild. A bit chilly, but barely a wisp of wind most days. It has allowed us to do some overly "Christmasy" things, like load hay bales into the back of Phil's Hidden Valley Ranch truck, put a lantern on a post, and go carolling with 15 of our closest church friends. (Which was quite fun, really, even when Phil accidentally flooded the engine at the last stop and half of the passengers had to get out and push the truck to a running start- ah the memories!)
The mild weather has been good to us, allowing preparations like putting a wood burning stove into the garage (so Phil can work in freezing temperatures), and splitting wood that we have received from neighbors. Slowly, we have been able to prepare for the upcoming winter weather. Our house is three times the size it was last year, making it trickier to "tighten up" this time of year. While last year we lived in four rooms of the house, this year, we are using all of the rooms both upstairs and down (which means more windows and more cold air!)
Last year, Christmas Eve was sad and quite lonely. We thought of family, of friends. We were cold, and though our tree was lit and we had presents, the joy of the season was missing.
This year, we have had so much hubbub over the Christmas season, I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow. And though I still get teary eyed over family back home, it is because I miss their smiles, their stupid-jello salads, their Clam chowder and the laughter that went with each family get-together, not because we are lonely. For we have been surrounded with loving people here, too. And for this I am extremely grateful.
But, I think, we miss the point in focusing on either one this Christmas Eve. Because Christmas, though it is a time for families to gather and presents to be exchanged, is first and foremost remembrance of the birth of Christ- the child who would bring salvation to the world. And though we were lonely last year for our family, and though we are surrounded with people this year, either can be a pitfall where we seek out comfort in such trappings instead of the one true Comforter. It matters not where you are, nor who you are with, but Who is in your heart on this Christmas eve.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas tonight- may your fires warm your homes, your dinners include lots of jello-salad, and your tables be surrounded with people you love.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Christmas Tree Hunting
Last year, having only been in our home for two weeks when Christmas rolled around, Phil surprised me with a tree on Christmas eve. He happened to pick up one of the last two trees on the lot (quite a gem with two tops and a hefty left-side). It took a bit of trimming and creative positioning, but it ended up being a very pretty tree for the appropriately discounted $5 price tag.
This year, I was surprised once again when Phil and our friend Michael braved the winter cold to head into town in the big "Hidden Valley Ranch" truck to pick up a tube tree. Or at least that's what I called it. They smush many hundreds of trees onto semi trucks and drive them across the country from Washington and Oregon to sit on the tree lots in front of Iowa's Menard's and Walmart stores. Because they have to sit in such tight quarters, they are bound into tiny tubes. We were assured it would "relax" with the warmth of the house. (Thankfully, they were right!)
Lot trees, by the way, were always a bit "no-no" in my family. So were fake trees. A real tree was appropriately hunted, cut down, and brought home from the woods. Though we tried many different tree farms over the years, our routine remained the same. It looked something like this:
On a December Saturday morning, one that was usually drizzly, we would decide that yes, this was tree hunting day. My sister, giddy with the idea, spent the rest of the morning preparing for the event, while the other three family members (or five, once we were both married) would spend the time watching TV, playing games, or reading. About 15 minutes before we had intended to leave, there would be much commotion and searching for lost snow boots(because rain equals mud). Once we were all packed in the car, my sister and I took stock. What was the plan? How would the perfect tree be located? This part of the trip, I would later learn, was fruitless.
Upon arriving at the tree farm- we would pair off- Me and Sis, Dad and Mom (dad, of course, carrying the saw). Each tree we saw was too short or too fat or too lopsided. Too many or not enough branches. Dad and mom would each find multiple options for us, and we would quickly decide why it was a tad bit inferior. Mom, being the shortest of all of us, would often pick trees vertically challenged, while dad, impatient, would find trees just "not quite right". Kristina, however, would bide her time, being the last holdout of the group.
See, while we were all dilly-dallying around in the morning, she was carefully choosing her wardrobe- three shirts, one coat, long johns, stretch pants and jeans. Two pairs of socks squished in well-insulated shoes. She could be as choosy as she wanted, because she was the only one who was warm.
Back together as a family, we each decided to keep our opinions to ourselves. As time wore on, Kris walked around, comfortable, while we each tried to bring attention to the good points of a particular tree. We started to take layers from her. First, the scarf. Then, the hat. Then, the coat. Finally, she would mention she liked a particular tree. Before she could walk around the back, dad was on the ground, cutting it down. Invariably, halfway through the cutting, she would see a bare spot and squeal "STOP! We can't get this one!" but Dad, undaunted by his youngest's plea kept on cutting.
This year, since I could not be in on the hunt, Kristina called and informed me she would be enlisting the help of technology to involve me. She would send pictures of potential trees via cell phone. Delighted to be involved, I settled in, next to my warm fire, and waited. This time, I think I had the hand up. "Did you remember all of your layers?" I asked, mixing my hot chocolate. "Sure did!" She replied. "Good! Don't forget, I want to see and be able to comment on EACH option." I settled in with a good book, waiting for the first pictures to come across the phone, wondering just how long she might last this year.
This year, I was surprised once again when Phil and our friend Michael braved the winter cold to head into town in the big "Hidden Valley Ranch" truck to pick up a tube tree. Or at least that's what I called it. They smush many hundreds of trees onto semi trucks and drive them across the country from Washington and Oregon to sit on the tree lots in front of Iowa's Menard's and Walmart stores. Because they have to sit in such tight quarters, they are bound into tiny tubes. We were assured it would "relax" with the warmth of the house. (Thankfully, they were right!)
Lot trees, by the way, were always a bit "no-no" in my family. So were fake trees. A real tree was appropriately hunted, cut down, and brought home from the woods. Though we tried many different tree farms over the years, our routine remained the same. It looked something like this:
On a December Saturday morning, one that was usually drizzly, we would decide that yes, this was tree hunting day. My sister, giddy with the idea, spent the rest of the morning preparing for the event, while the other three family members (or five, once we were both married) would spend the time watching TV, playing games, or reading. About 15 minutes before we had intended to leave, there would be much commotion and searching for lost snow boots(because rain equals mud). Once we were all packed in the car, my sister and I took stock. What was the plan? How would the perfect tree be located? This part of the trip, I would later learn, was fruitless.
Upon arriving at the tree farm- we would pair off- Me and Sis, Dad and Mom (dad, of course, carrying the saw). Each tree we saw was too short or too fat or too lopsided. Too many or not enough branches. Dad and mom would each find multiple options for us, and we would quickly decide why it was a tad bit inferior. Mom, being the shortest of all of us, would often pick trees vertically challenged, while dad, impatient, would find trees just "not quite right". Kristina, however, would bide her time, being the last holdout of the group.
See, while we were all dilly-dallying around in the morning, she was carefully choosing her wardrobe- three shirts, one coat, long johns, stretch pants and jeans. Two pairs of socks squished in well-insulated shoes. She could be as choosy as she wanted, because she was the only one who was warm.
Back together as a family, we each decided to keep our opinions to ourselves. As time wore on, Kris walked around, comfortable, while we each tried to bring attention to the good points of a particular tree. We started to take layers from her. First, the scarf. Then, the hat. Then, the coat. Finally, she would mention she liked a particular tree. Before she could walk around the back, dad was on the ground, cutting it down. Invariably, halfway through the cutting, she would see a bare spot and squeal "STOP! We can't get this one!" but Dad, undaunted by his youngest's plea kept on cutting.
This year, since I could not be in on the hunt, Kristina called and informed me she would be enlisting the help of technology to involve me. She would send pictures of potential trees via cell phone. Delighted to be involved, I settled in, next to my warm fire, and waited. This time, I think I had the hand up. "Did you remember all of your layers?" I asked, mixing my hot chocolate. "Sure did!" She replied. "Good! Don't forget, I want to see and be able to comment on EACH option." I settled in with a good book, waiting for the first pictures to come across the phone, wondering just how long she might last this year.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
It's been so long, hello old friend
The computer crashed Wednesday morning.
We test drove and purchased a van Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday night we took up the red carpet in the bathroom.
Wednesday night we replaced the red carpet with flooring that doesn't stain your feet.
Thursday morning two friends arrived from Washington.
Four days of whirlwind excitement and good times followed.
Sunday afternoon Friends head home.
House seems extra quiet.
Boot up borrowed computer and hook up to internet- remember I have a blog.
Decide I better explain why I have not posted in awhile.
I will post pictures and deeper explanations soon. So much to share!
We test drove and purchased a van Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday night we took up the red carpet in the bathroom.
Wednesday night we replaced the red carpet with flooring that doesn't stain your feet.
Thursday morning two friends arrived from Washington.
Four days of whirlwind excitement and good times followed.
Sunday afternoon Friends head home.
House seems extra quiet.
Boot up borrowed computer and hook up to internet- remember I have a blog.
Decide I better explain why I have not posted in awhile.
I will post pictures and deeper explanations soon. So much to share!
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