Christmas Week

Merry Christmas!  I know, I know...it's almost over but I hope you and your families had a blessed day full of peace, joy, love and happiness.  Did you get everything you wanted?  Did the children wake you up before the crack of dawn?  Do tell...we would love to know.

We had a busy week leading up to Christmas.  Monday was my brother's, birthday. 

He's a handsome devil, huh?  And he is a strong booger and we were VERY happy to head to Bay City to celebrate 50-somethin' years with him and his family.  We have more of a "give you a hard time" relationship than a "lovey dovey" one, but I know he loves me and I sure hope he knows how very much I love him.  I cant wait to get to Bay City so I can show him a few things about catching fish!! :D

Pam made enchilada casserole and rice, Mike made beans a la charra and Leo made homemade tortilla chips.  It was all delicious and my brother being the "up with the trends"simple kind of guy he is, he requested cupcakes to top off his dinner.  We hung out for a while, met his new puppy Smokey, played with Alex and the twins for a while and even watched part of a movie with the kiddos before we had to leave.  Hope it was a Happy Birthday for you Brother.

We had another showing one day this week.  Actually, they scheduled one, but we don't think they ever came, which is a bummer because it was a two hour time frame, between 5:30 and 7:30, that we we had to be out of the house.  Kinda messes up the evening.  Usually, they will call and cancel, so maybe they did come, I dunno. 

Of course, we had some shopping to finish up this past week, also, so with all the traffic in town, that took a whole day.  But finally, Christmas Eve arrived.  Hope you will come back for a visit for that post!  We sure thank you for stopping in!!

"The Christ of Christmas"

This has been a wonderful time preparing for the coming of baby Jesus.  Of course there is a lot of lights and decorating and parties, but there is also daily reflection, prayer, scripture and rememberance about the most precious Gift of Christmas.  

We attend the Catholic church, but my brother and sister-in-law (Leo and Pam) attend the First Pentecostal Church in BC and we are often invited to their church events.  Even though we do not worship in the same house we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  I cannot tell you how many times their church family has been right there by our side in difficult times.  They are our "family" too and we so enjoy attending as many of the invitations extended to us as we can. 

Last week we had the pleasure of attending their Christmas program.  The program included powerful visual reminders of the events leading to the birth of Christ accompanied by the beautiful voices of their choir.

But, this years program was especially touching because Rev. Moore and his family truly experienced a miracle recently.  Rev. Moore and Mrs. Moore were attending a conference in Houston when he fell ill.  He knew whatever was wrong was serious and at 4 a.m. Mrs. Moore drove him straight to the hospital.  He was right and thanks be to God that they were in a metropolitin area where they could receive the best care because Rev.  Moore had massive pulmonary embolisms (blood clots) in both lungs and severe blood clots in his leg.  As he recalled the experience to us he told us of how each doctor working with him told him things like, "You are lucky to be alive" or "you're lucky to be here right now" three in all!  But Rev. Moore was quick to point out that it had nothing to do with luck.  He stated it boldly, clear and simple...it was a MIRACLE.  Although we are not members of that church community, we are very grateful this inspiring man and his family are still able to spread the word and love of God through their ministry to the people of BC and every one whose lives they touch! 

It's evident that the peace, happiness and willingness to serve the Lord that we have seen and felt in this church community has been fueled even more by this miracle.  It is in their smile, their eyes, their touch...and it is in the song they sing. 

Being new to blogging and recording the events of our lives, I did not have the proper equipment to record this memory properly.  A 1gb card ain't enough.  Of course, I went to the program with the narrow minded idea of only filming Baby Boy and Baby Girl, but from the first note of the first song I immediately wished I had enough memory to record everything.  But, I wanted to share what I do have, the kiddos were so cute!   Stay tuned to the end for a special song from all of the children! 

Deck the Halls...or the Mantel

Hey You!  Hope everything is going well over in your part of the world!  All is well here, but we have been such busy bees or poor time managers.  In our defense, though, we have been on the road some, also.   

It's funny.  In October we were very optimistic about selling our house...like "dream on, baby" optimistic.  We were so sure we would be in BC by Christmas we even went ahead and took the Christmas decorations over there.  As I posted previously, Ronnie grabbed them on one of his trips to BC.  But, once we took everything out there was still a few things missing.  Just some glittery poinsettias and glittered eucalyptus leaves and other accessories, but we just could not think back to last year and where we put those few things or even in what we put them away.  We knew they would be in a little box because it was just a few items, but put our finger on it...we could not.  Of course, once we gave up looking for them, they appeared...in the garage...somewhere.  

I digress.  Okay, now the results of our little projects.  Crafting really is fun!  And, it really doesn't have to be expensive!  I was very happy that we did would not have to spend a dime on the tree decorations.  I had spent about five bucks on Dollar Tree 2/$1 tree embellishments to use to dress up our green garland, but did use them for the tree when our other embellishments went AWOL.  Thanks to my sweet hubby for all his help with the tree.  His choosing to decorate the bottom part on the tree was a little questionable, though, since I am 4' 6" and he is 6' 1", but I'm definitely not complaining!

Don't you love digging into the Christmas decoration boxes and re-discovering all the junk decorations that have accumulated over the years?  A lot of times one might get into those boxes and think, "Goodwill...trash...Goodwill...".  But sometimes if you look at them with an open mind you can change them up as your tastes change.  I was happy to find these decorations and decided I could make them fit into our red and gold theme with a can of gold spray paint: 

My favorite way to decorate is with garland everywhere...on the mantel, surrounding the fireplace, in the windows....   But, when I tried that in this house, it just didn't feel right.  So this year I tried something a little different.  First, we changed out mirrors.  Rae, you may recognize this mirror...it is the one you gave us but we painted it all gold.  The Martha Stewart inspired poinsettia wreath looks nice with it and it really "lightened" up the mantel, weight wise and color wise.  The Gold Nutcrackers helped lighten it up some too.  Those guys really added a lot of bang for very little buck!  I love the sparkle in the little gold trees, especially at night.  The little bit of light in the room reflects off the glitter.  It's like having my own stash of diamonds and gold.

 

 

Well, that's it for our decking the halls!  We had a good time getting things together and a differing opinion here and there, but it's done.  Now, we can concentrate more on enjoying the Reason for the Season!

What about you all?  Are you all done decorating?  Any favorite decorations you just cant let go?  Doing ok with holiday stress?  We sure hope so, but if not, come back tomorrow or the day after with a cup of hot chocolate and check out our post on the Christmas program we attended at the First Pentecostal Church in BC.  Hint:  there will be videos of precious little children singing.  Once you see those you will say, "Stress who?"  It is a program you will surely want to check out next year if you live in the area and/or seek out something similar in your area.  Looking forward to seeing you then!

Dickinson Parade

Ronnie and I went to the Dickinson parade this year.  The weather was just perfect - cold, but not so cold we couldn't enjoy our time outside.  All of the floats were really pretty and I cannot emphasize enough how much Christmas spirit was around.  It was the most incredible feeling hearing the people in the parade hollering, "MERRY CHRISTMAS".  Not only that, but when I realized everyone watching the parade was hollering it back to them, I couldn't even say anything because I was so choked up (that has been happening a lot lately.  I'm like a faucet with a leak...don't ask me why...I don't know).  It was just beautiful!

Lots of people had plastic bags prior to the start of the parade.  I didn't think much of it.  Later we realized that candy would be thrown from the floats to the children watching.  The poor little guy next to us had to work really hard for his candy, but he didn't mind.  And when the floats with music came along he and his older brother just naturally started shaking their boodies!  They were pretty good dancers.  

The Grinch was there.  He hopped out of his little cart and gave everybody "five".  I was using a new camera and did not get a good picture of him during the parade, but wouldn't you know it...as we were leaving the parade we somehow ended up behind his little cart.  Yep, we stalked him all the way back to the starting point of the parade so we could get a better picture.  He was so nice about it and very accommodating. 

It was an awesome evening!

On another note...look what we found in our tater sack! 

It is too cute to cook. It’s a heart! We are going to take it with us to BC and plant it in our new yard so we can grow love...and taters, should we ever get there. Hope it’ll stay good that long. Any ideas on how to preserve a potato for future planting??  

So what about you, our very much appreciated readers?  Have you attended any fabulous Christmas parades or parties or plays?  We hope you will link some pictures and let us share in your joy!  

Christmas Crafts

We have been trying really hard to get our Christmas decorations up.  My hat is off to those of you who actually get your decorations up the week of Thanksgiving.  Oh, how I aspire.  But, here it is December 11th and we are just now finalizing our decorations.  Which, that is actually ok since we wait until the Epiphany to take them down. 

The web is chock full of inspiration for Christmas crafts.  The first place I usually look to is MarthaStewart.com.

Love this Ribbon Poinsettia Wreath 

 So I made this one...

Now, I went to one of the major craft stores to buy the materials necessary to make this wreath.  The Styrofoam wreath forms were $3.99 and up. 

Normally, I wouldn't care, but we are really trying to find the best deals possible now-a-days, so I went to the trusty Dollar Tree and they had a plain, wood wreath for $1.00! Ok, it IS a little different, but it is workable.  Not only that, but I am making some glitter trees and the cones at the craft store were $3.99!  Dollar Tree...yep...$1.00.  Yes, they are a little shorter and smaller, but I can make it work.  Take the four bucks you saved and go get ya a latte or a Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milk Shake from Chick Fil A (stay tuned and maybe we will have a homemade version that will save you some calories.  We sure are going to try!) 

It worked fine.  I went there tonight to get a few more things and they had Styrofoam wreath forms also for a buck which they did not have the other day.  Save yourself some money and time and check out the Dollar Tree first. 

Next, I so loved this blue spruce wreath trio, also inspired by Martha Stewart 

Which led to this:

I had some old Dollar Store wreaths we had used at our house in BC.  I am so glad I found a way to put them to use here in Dickinson.  And then there is the nutcracker idea I found at House of Hepworths.  I bought these at the Dollar Tree.  I had actually been there the day before I read HOH's post, but I did not remember seeing any nutcrackers.  So, of course I went back.  This is them before:

 

Then I stripped them of their hair.

Don't they look much younger??  At first, I painted them white, like Allison's, because I really love them white. 

But it didn't really go with my Christmas colors so I took a chance and tried painting one gold.  I like it. I did not think it would be as pretty as the silver one Allison did, but I think it is.  Now, I just have to finish them.

 

And this garland we have had for years.  I am the type that likes everything.  Aren't multi-colored lights so awesome? But white lights are beautiful and elegant.  But, blue or green or red lights are unique and always look great.  Same thing with Christmas trees.  I like a multi-colored tree, I like monochromatic trees with white lights.  I like it all...which makes it very hard for me to pin down an exact "style" for myself.  Anyway, these are from my multi-colored decor days. 

I am going to transform them to fit into our golden decor of today.  Me and my friend, Can o' Krylon paint! 

For real, folks.  Final Christmas decor pics between now and Monday.  I know, I know...I said that a week ago, but like I said...For Real!

Holiday Traditions

!! CAUTION:  Nostalgia Ahead!!

I've been saying, "Christmas is just around the corner" since July but guess what...Christmas IS JUST around the corner and Thanksgiving REALLY IS just a hop, skip and a jump away! 

I have vivid memories of the Holidays.  I can still see myself as a child, sitting on the dark wood floor playing my little 45 records in the heat of summer singing along to Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Jingle Bells, Silent Night...the list goes on and on.  Mom would come in and make me put them away saying those were special songs that we only listen to at Christmas time.

In the beginning, according to mom, when she and Dad first started out it was more of a rule than a tradition that they have their own Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at home and then go out to visit family.  That rule translated into a beloved tradition for me.  Not only the dinner at our house, but the tradition of going to my Aunt Mercy and Uncle John's house afterward.  They lived one block over and we would just walk over to gather with the rest of the aunts and uncles and cousins that were there.  I remember lots of laughter and everyone being happy...maybe my child like mind just could not conceive any worry, anger or tension that may have been present.

Even after we grew up the Holidays was a time when the family came together.  When my oldest brother, Leo, married my sister-in-law, Pam, in Louisiana, it meant they would travel home to see us.  There was a special buzz around the house with Mom cleaning and preparing for the visit and knowing they were coming into town.  I think we actually even went to Louisiana one Thanksgiving, also.  The best part for me being getting out of school early--give me a big "woo-hoo"!  When my other brother, Chris, went to college at Texas A&M he joined the Band and the Corps, so he spent most weekends at football games and just trying to survive as a freshman at A&M in the Band and the Corps!  I had undergone leg surgery that year (actually, the day) he left for college and was stuck in a body cast for six months.  We had a home made calendar at the end of my hospital bed to mark off each day until he came home on Thanksgiving.  I missed him terribly and remember how happy I was when we finally got to the last box without a big X in it!  Then it came time for me to move away.  My first year at Texas A&M was a real adjustment for me.  Thanksgiving break was a double edged sword...finally, a nice, four day, relaxing weekend...on the flip side, not so relaxing because the long, sleepless nights studying for finals would start the next week.  I can not even begin to explain the feeling of going home from college for the Holidays for the first time.  All of those memories are full of happiness, excitement, joy and just plain anticipation of being home with the most important people in my life, my family.  My heart swells just thinking of it.    

Every year Mom and I would decorate the tree and a little on the inside of the house.  The decorating was complete when we placed the old fashioned Santa face with the nose that lit up on the front door.  I can remember sitting by myself in the living room illuminated only by the lights on the tree, after my parents had gone to bed.  I would crank up the Kenny Rodgers Christmas album and just stare at and bask in the beauty of the decorations . Although, he seldom got involved in the preparation, the gift giving and all the hoopla of Christmas was special to Dad.  Once I got older he would give us a $100 dollar bill every Christmas Eve day so we could go shop.  He was quiet, strong and kind.  

Riding around the "rich" neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights was also something we did every year, several times a season.  Even though many of the families put up the same decorations year after year it was still a special time riding around with my mom and dad.  Once my niece and nephews came along I remember loading them in the car to take them to look at lights.  Again, even though they had seen them the year before (heck, even the week before) they always had that amazement in their voices and their little brown eyes.  Once they grew too cool to do that we would take my cousins children and they too had the same reaction.  

Of course, Christmas always included baking and making tamales!  We have made tamales every year either before Thanksgiving or before Christmas.  More on that in another post.  I remember so many years Chris would spend hours baking cookies and preparing baskets for the special people in his life.  Then, we would go all over town and deliver them.  What fun that was, especially if it was nice and cold and a little drizzly.  He and I used to get together early in the day every Christmas Eve to finish up our shopping together (that $100 bill Dad gave us was burning a hole in each of our pockets) and then we would go have nachos at any Mexican Restaurant that was still open!  At first it was just us and then as the years went on our family started joining us.  Next, the rush home to try to wrap all the gifts before our traditional Christmas Eve get-together at 6pm. 

Ah, the Christmas Eve get-together.  Sometimes we would have it at Mom and Dad's and sometimes at Pam and Leo's, house.  It was always a small intimate gathering with lots of food and family togetherness and after much talking and laughter with each other, ripping the paper off of presents we had just wrapped hours before!!  You should have seen the spread of food.  We always had ham and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches on a croissant roll,  roast beef sandwiches on croissant rolls, a veggie tray, a fruit tray, tamales.  Oh, and don't forget the chips and dips and all the different cookies!!  I remember one year, early in Leo and Pam's marriage, we all waited for Leo to get home from work.  We waited and waited.  Then we waited and worried.  Finally, he made it home, a little uh, shall I say "well-oiled" from celebrating with his works buddies.  Needless to say, he got in a little bit of trouble.  Once Ronnie came into my life I would not budge on Christmas Eve.  My husband is a saint because he always allowed me that.  He knew how important that particular tradition was to me so no matter what, we were in Bay City for Christmas Eve.  Even the year our yellow lab was bursting at the seams with puppies.  She ended up having TWELVE puppies that Christmas Eve! 

Of course a Hispanic, Catholic Christmas wouldn't be complete without memories of Midnight Mass.  I remember many a Midnight Mass the church so packed there would be people standing out in the cold (hence the term Easter/Christmas Catholic).  Sometimes we would be those standing outside, my dad holding me in his arms trying to keep me warm and sometimes we were the ones inside, sitting falling asleep in the warm, comfortable uncomfortable pew.   Even though I could not stay awake for Mass I was definitely awake enough to open presents afterward.  My very favorite Christmas Mass was the last one I went to with my dad, Chris and my then fiance, Ron.  For some reason we went to the children's Mass in the early evening of Christmas Eve so mom couldn't make it with us because she was preparing for the Christmas Eve get together, but her being there is the only thing that could have made that evening more perfect.  What rich traditions.  I remember feeling the connection among the family these traditions brought about.   

I am sad that lately, I just haven't been able to get that warm, fuzzy feeling for the Holidays.  I cant explain it...cant put my finger on it. The last few years I have said I am not going to Bay City for the Holidays because it just isn't the same, but I love my family and wont see them unless I go.  So, I go.  So, I just need to reconcile what I want things to be and what things really are, to put new traditions in place and begin new memories.  It is so hard to do and I don't really see it happening this year.  In a way I feel like I am being a spoiled brat.  Maybe I am.  I don't know.  What I do know is that I feel a great sadness that things have changed and will continue to change.  But, at the same time feel grateful to have these memories to pull me through these times when I feel so disconnected.  And no matter what, I will always celebrate and be comforted by the greatest gift of the Season, the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.