I'm as bad as any kid when it comes to Christmas. Here it is 3 days before Christmas and I'm so excited that I can't sleep. I didn't get to bed until 1 am, then was awake at 6:15. I tried going back to sleep, but my mind raced with all I had to do...and it's all fun stuff (pretty much). Then again, today being the Imp's birthday has me excited as well.
The reading from Mass today is about Hannah thanking God for her child, Samuel. She had prayed for a child and out of thanksgiving was dedicating the child to God. I prayed for a child, as well. I was so thrilled when I knew I was pregnant and when I awoke early on the 22nd in 1993, and determined I was in labor, my heart swelled with joy. After a short labor, Theresa arrived right at noon. How wonderful to hold her. Christmas had a new meaning, holding a newborn at that time. I pray daily that the Imp will be dedicated to God, that she will hear His call and like Mary, simply say, "be it done to me according to your Word." And I pray, that like Mary, I can support my child in whatever undertaking God calls her.
It's hard to believe the Imp is 15. Images of a driver's permit dance in her dreams. She still has to take an online drug course, so we have at least a few more days until she can get it.
It's almost Christmas!
We put up and decorated our tree Saturday. We often wait until the Imp's birthday...we've always tried to make her feel special and not just a part of Christmas celebrations. But because of her sleep over tonight, we needed to decorate the tree earlier. The Singer got me an early Christmas gift, the Casting Crowns Christmas CD. We played that as we decorated the tree. One of the girls favorite parts is looking at all the ornaments they've gotten, especially their "Make-A-Wish" ornaments they get each year from my mom. They lay them out and make pronouncements about the prettiest, the most elegant, etc. The Singer tends to think the current year's ornament is the best. The Imp, of course, will be a different one.
I wrote the yearly Christmas letter. I know some people hate them. I figure, if you don't want to read it...don't. But I have skipped a few years and always get comments about how much far-away friends like getting the overview of our lives.
Time to finish up my Christmas cards, so I can mail them by Christmas.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Winter in Florida
Enjoying the beautiful, sunny, balmy weather the last few days while seeing images of ice and snow on the Weather Channel reminds me of why I like living in Florida. My stuffy nose, watery eyes, and sinus headaches remind me that the wonderful weather also allows/encourages year pollen. There is always some plant blooming. My girls are highly allergic to oak pollen (the yellow/green stuff that will coat everything) and suffer through February and March every year. I do react to oak (especially when the pollen is 2 inches deep on everything) but my time of suffering is when the cedar/juniper trees are pollinating. The Pollen Alert let me know that we are indeed in the cedar/juniper season, not that my nose hadn't already informed me of this. But I guess I'd rather the allergies than the ice and snow.
I actually like snow...in moderation, but my last winter up north (Maryland) was 1993/1994. Our area had 16 winter storms...13 were "wintry mix" translated to ice, sleet, slush and all around miserable. Living in a townhouse with no garage, having delivered a baby in December and with a 3 1/2 year old to entertain, it was an unpleasant experience. Remembering the claustrophobic feelings of being trapped indoors, isolated from everyone, unable to get out even in our tiny yard, makes me grateful that I'm in Florida now.
The school year is winding down. The Imp is taking her Algebra II exam right now. She's got 2 exams tomorrow and 1 on Friday. She really stresses at this time of year. She gets sooooo excited about Christmas and her birthday she can barely sit still, but she knows she has to focus on academics. Then she worries that her excitement will prevent her from focusing enough. I'm often called into her room at 10:30 with her asking me to tuck her in, and rub her head so she can calm down enough to fall asleep.
Hubby normally saves vacation so he can be home during the school break at Christmas. This year with our extensive vacations to NYC and Lake Powell, he's short on vacation and has to work through the 23. The Imp is a little down about this, because he's normally home on her birthday on the 22nd. She's having 5 girls over on the 22 for a sleep over. The 23rd we'll celebrate her birthday with her cousins, and then it's Christmas Eve with her choir singing at the 7pm and Midnight Masses. Our tradition has been to go out to dinner at Bennigan's after the evening Mass. The Bennigan's we go to has always been opened on Christmas Eve because it was attached to a hotel. "Our" Bennigan's is now closed. So we are researching to find another venue for our Christmas Eve tradition.
After Midnight Mass we'll head home, put Baby Jesus in the manger, sing a few carols, have hot chocolate (even if it's hot outside) open one present each and finally send the girls to bed sometime around 2 or 3 am. Then Santa gets to start his work. Christmas day we tend to stay home, in our pjs, and enjoy our small little family. We'll be travelling to SC to see my folks on the 27th. My dad just turned 80. He doesn't seem that old to me.
I picked 2 green peppers yesterday and have a few cucumbers still growing. Living in Florida has its perks.
I actually like snow...in moderation, but my last winter up north (Maryland) was 1993/1994. Our area had 16 winter storms...13 were "wintry mix" translated to ice, sleet, slush and all around miserable. Living in a townhouse with no garage, having delivered a baby in December and with a 3 1/2 year old to entertain, it was an unpleasant experience. Remembering the claustrophobic feelings of being trapped indoors, isolated from everyone, unable to get out even in our tiny yard, makes me grateful that I'm in Florida now.
The school year is winding down. The Imp is taking her Algebra II exam right now. She's got 2 exams tomorrow and 1 on Friday. She really stresses at this time of year. She gets sooooo excited about Christmas and her birthday she can barely sit still, but she knows she has to focus on academics. Then she worries that her excitement will prevent her from focusing enough. I'm often called into her room at 10:30 with her asking me to tuck her in, and rub her head so she can calm down enough to fall asleep.
Hubby normally saves vacation so he can be home during the school break at Christmas. This year with our extensive vacations to NYC and Lake Powell, he's short on vacation and has to work through the 23. The Imp is a little down about this, because he's normally home on her birthday on the 22nd. She's having 5 girls over on the 22 for a sleep over. The 23rd we'll celebrate her birthday with her cousins, and then it's Christmas Eve with her choir singing at the 7pm and Midnight Masses. Our tradition has been to go out to dinner at Bennigan's after the evening Mass. The Bennigan's we go to has always been opened on Christmas Eve because it was attached to a hotel. "Our" Bennigan's is now closed. So we are researching to find another venue for our Christmas Eve tradition.
After Midnight Mass we'll head home, put Baby Jesus in the manger, sing a few carols, have hot chocolate (even if it's hot outside) open one present each and finally send the girls to bed sometime around 2 or 3 am. Then Santa gets to start his work. Christmas day we tend to stay home, in our pjs, and enjoy our small little family. We'll be travelling to SC to see my folks on the 27th. My dad just turned 80. He doesn't seem that old to me.
I picked 2 green peppers yesterday and have a few cucumbers still growing. Living in Florida has its perks.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Life's Not Fair
I hate it when I let something I know I shouldn't, get me down. Friday I found out that my homeowners' association dues are being raised, significantly. The reason...because so many people didn't pay their dues last year...primarily because they foreclosed on their houses. Ugh. I play by the rules and I get to pay MORE? My pollyanna view of life doesn't think life should be this way, but as I often tell my children...life isn't fair and trying to make it so will only frustrate and exhaust you and life will still be unfair. But I'm still angry over this and it's not like my anger is doing anything except raising my blood pressure. And once I got angry about this it seemed there are a lot of other things to be frustrated/angry about.
We had our annual extended family Christmas get together yesterday, and overall it was great. I love getting ready for it, even though I tend to drive my immediate family crazy the week of the party. I enjoy cooking and baking for it and I tend to enjoy the 20 people who tend to come. But as I was still reeling from the unfairness of large increase in my dues, every little thing set me on edge. I was feeling "put upon" because I'm the only one who will host this get together...and let's face it, the hostess does a whole lot more than everyone else, even when the dinner is potluck. Then little comments drove me batty. And I was left wondering where is the line between letting little comments slide and acquising to a view I don't believe in. Just because we're family doesn't mean we agree on anything much less everything. But if someone knows I am a happily practicing Catholic, why would they dis the Catholic church? I don't want to start a huge philosophical debate but when do the little digs they make about the Catholic church reach a point where not saying something suggests I agree with them. Let's face it, it's fun to tell Sr. Mary Elizabeth stories and the like. And an organization as large as the Church is an easy target. But when are do the jokes cross the line into true harsh criticism and denunciation of the Church? And I knew I was in a 'bad' mood going in...so I felt my ability to distinguish degrees of acceptability to be lacking. So I found myself leaving many conversations to "check on the food" so I wouldn't scream. And then negative people try my patience anyway so by the time everyone left at 9pm, I was totally exhausted. Thinking over yesterday, I still don't have a definitive way to decide when to let comments slide and when to take a stand. I like to have clear cut rules to live by. This has left me unsettled. And I'm not happy one little bit.
On a positive note, another old friend contacted me on Facebook. This is someone who made my first years of college so good. I consider her a dear friend and am glad we'll do more than exchange Christmas cards, now that we've connected through Facebook.
We had our annual extended family Christmas get together yesterday, and overall it was great. I love getting ready for it, even though I tend to drive my immediate family crazy the week of the party. I enjoy cooking and baking for it and I tend to enjoy the 20 people who tend to come. But as I was still reeling from the unfairness of large increase in my dues, every little thing set me on edge. I was feeling "put upon" because I'm the only one who will host this get together...and let's face it, the hostess does a whole lot more than everyone else, even when the dinner is potluck. Then little comments drove me batty. And I was left wondering where is the line between letting little comments slide and acquising to a view I don't believe in. Just because we're family doesn't mean we agree on anything much less everything. But if someone knows I am a happily practicing Catholic, why would they dis the Catholic church? I don't want to start a huge philosophical debate but when do the little digs they make about the Catholic church reach a point where not saying something suggests I agree with them. Let's face it, it's fun to tell Sr. Mary Elizabeth stories and the like. And an organization as large as the Church is an easy target. But when are do the jokes cross the line into true harsh criticism and denunciation of the Church? And I knew I was in a 'bad' mood going in...so I felt my ability to distinguish degrees of acceptability to be lacking. So I found myself leaving many conversations to "check on the food" so I wouldn't scream. And then negative people try my patience anyway so by the time everyone left at 9pm, I was totally exhausted. Thinking over yesterday, I still don't have a definitive way to decide when to let comments slide and when to take a stand. I like to have clear cut rules to live by. This has left me unsettled. And I'm not happy one little bit.
On a positive note, another old friend contacted me on Facebook. This is someone who made my first years of college so good. I consider her a dear friend and am glad we'll do more than exchange Christmas cards, now that we've connected through Facebook.
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