Oooooh Christmas Tree! This year my mom did not have
good luck with live trees, which our family has always gotten in previous years. Her allergies acted up, so we ended up with
an artificial tree by the time all was said and done. (Tree #2 is currently in my mom's front yard if anyone's interested.) The white lights came on the artificial tree and the colored
ones are our traditional ones to use. I
hassled my mom, saying that she was going a bit far claiming to be allergic to two
different trees, so she could get an artificial one and put all of the
decorations on herself. (When we were
little, my dad was really particular about where decorations went on the tree,
how far about they should be, etc.) 
It turned out Mom
was the only one who had trouble with the tree.
She’s apparently really allergic to Scotch Pines, so Wednesday night we
had the second quickest ornament and tree removal ever for our family. As misfortune would seem her lot, my mom
exchanged the Scotch Pine for another tree at the lot, put it in the stand last
night, and by 1:00am, was having trouble breathing, so she threw a coat on over
her pajamas and dragged the thing out the door. (Today she got an artificial tree, which we would
consider almost sacrilegious if my poor Mom weren’t so allergic to all of the
live ones she’s come across this year, at least from the lot where we usually
get them.)
Triage for our Christmas
Card List In the event that you didn’t receive a Christmas card from Kevin and me
this year, rejoice and be glad! No,
really. I’ve decided this year to
concentrate my card writing/mailing efforts first and foremost on family and
friends of ours who 1.) are currently in the hospital 2.) were just released
from the hospital after major surgery 3.) are serving in the US military
overseas, and/or 4.) have lost a loved one in the past six months. 
I laughed uproariously
during the modern part where they sang and danced to 70s disco music rewritten
with Christian lyrics, and I was very amused by the Bethlehem shepherds’ musical
number about how they hate sheep. I love how they combine Christmases present
with a flashback to the first Christmas, and then the spectacular finale of Christ’s
Second Coming. Of course, their
performance of The
Midnight Cry (always gives me chills-especially hearing so many hundreds of
people singing it in person) is always one of my favorites. 
What are we really waiting
for this week, this month, this year? 
Our dear brother in Christ sent
me a link to the song “Where’s
the Line to See Jesus?” by Becky Kelley.
It’s a thought-provoking video I listened to and watched a few times
through. 
I am often reminded that God gives us the freedom to
refuse love when I spend time with my family. Over the years, there have been times when I
have hardened my heart to family members whose own pain and insecurities at
different periods mirrored those I kept deeply hidden in order to cope. 
Sunday afternoon, Kevin and I picked
up the
stroller and baby toys from my mom’s house that wouldn’t fit in the car after
the baby shower and headed to the mall.
We were excited that we’d finally get to see Purity again and meet
Nathan (whose name means “gift from God).
Mom and baby are the two we’ve been praying for since God was knitting
him in his mother’s womb. A friend of a
friend asked if he could give Purity my contact information last Spring. Of course, I said yes. 
I have found the gift I treasure most is that of quality time with
loved ones. Add some yummy food, and the
experience is downright delightful regardless of the weather! I’ve been very blessed to have several family
and friends who have given the gift of their time to Kevin and me this holiday
season. 
Thanksgiving
Redo As some of you may recall, Kevin and I managed to miss not one,
not two, but three different Thanksgiving dinners this year because we were
sick. We have some wonderful friends who
didn’t get to celebrate Turkey Day together with the traditional fare. Laura and her husband Jeff hosted a
Thanksgiving dinner at their home this past Monday evening that was absolutely
delicious, positively delightful, and at times, downright hilarious. Okay, so the food was delectable, but the
company made for some unbridled laughter.
Thanks, God, for friends who have become family! 
Upon closer
examination, this seemingly inane song, sounds rather creepy. Do we really want kids thinking that some
stalker Santa is watching their every move? Does it make sense to make a bigger
deal over having our kids go sit on some stranger’s lap and tell him what we
want for Christmas than to marvel at the circumstances and love implied by
Christ’s birth? Yikes, let’s hope not! 
A couple weekends ago our
priest gave a sermon that included a reflection on the lyrics of the seasonal
song he likes the least: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” He doesn’t have a problem with the concept of
Santa, who of course was inspired by Saint Nicholas, but he does find some
verses of the well-known song to be rather misleading. 
“The Church’s celebration of
Christmas isn’t just for a day (or even twelve) but starts with the joyful waiting
of Advent and lasts until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.” Quote from the
back cover of A Catholic Christmas
“At times life is pure
joy!” is what’s written on one of the mugs at my mom’s house with a drawing of
Snoopy and Woodstock dancing on the front. When I was
a baby, my Godmother Marcy decided I looked a bit like Snoopy’s fine feathered sidekick,
Woodstock, because my hair would stick straight up, so that was one of my
nicknames back then. We had some really
fun times as kids. 
Being around children has
helped me learn to rejoice and be glad in a variety of circumstances. They’re enthralled by so many different
things that we just take for granted, never notice, or find to be rather dull. They take great delight in hearing their favorite
story books read to them over and over and over again. Peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek are occasions
for great bouts of giggling. 
When I was
little, my mom and grandmother made a pilgrimage to Mexico City to see where the Blessed Mother had appeared
to Juan Diego. Appearing as a young
Indian maiden and speaking in his native tongue, Our Lady asked Juan Diego to go
to entreat the bishop to build a church on the hill at Tepeyac. When the bishop wouldn’t heed this request
and instead asked for a sign that the apparitions were true, the Mother of God
instructed Juan Diego to gather the roses growing on the hill, though it was the
middle of winter and snow covered the ground, and take them to the bishop. Juan Diego did as he was told, and when he
opened his tilma, letting the roses fall out, they saw a full-color image of Our
Lady. 
Part
III: Hold
on to Hope …I’m still utterly amazed that she made it through such a
difficult period while hiding some very painful secrets by holding on to a
pinpoint of light and hope. Her story is
further proof God never gives up on us or stops seeking to have a relationship
with us that allows us to walk in the Truth…
My Sister’s Coming Home for the
Holidays! If all
is going as planned, then Theresa is at present on her way home over the river
and through the woods. My mom flew up to
OH to help her drive back down here for the break. I’m looking forward to seeing her and giving
her hugs and kisses. Taking care of Vivi
has reminded me of how absolutely precious Theresa was at the same age. Love you, Miss Reesa Lynn!
