Christmas 2011

We attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church and focused on the birth of our Savior, God in human form, baby form, humble form.  How fascinating, that God chose to experience our humanity, in the flesh.  

The Nativity set there is really special.   Predictably, so also was the music of the evening.  The brass accompaniment to all the hymns created a celebratory note for the singing.  I think my favorite song by the choir was "Mary,  Did you Know".  The first time I ever heard that song I was inside
a high security prison with the choir from the church I served at that time.  I remember the faces.  The male inmates were deeply
touched by that song.

Gerry and I, and our Long Island children opened one another's gifts at home, and then had a big Christmas  breakfast.  This year, oldest daughter Brenda hosted our family meal at her house, so cooking duties were much lighter for me than usual.

She was cooking for twelve, but had enough food for twice that many!  Everyone was so full.  It would have been fine, except for the many tempting and
tasty appetizers, before the meal..

We enjoyed one another's company, many fun gifts,  lots of food and laughter, and lively little girls!
Here, Sadie is eating some of the banana nut bread I included in everyone's Christmas baskets.  She is an adorable little imp.

 As the day progressed, everyone began to fade, with full bellies and a warm room.

Also, as the day progressed, it became painfully obvious that the various pains I had been experiencing for the past few weeks was clearly sinus pressure and extreme discomfort.  The sinus areas in my face began to ache and hurt miserably.  Then one eyelid started to swell and puff up and itch.   

I did go to a doctor today and get the much needed prescriptions, and hopefully tomorrow I will feel like a new person.  I cannot wait for that!  Despite my aches and pains, it was a very very good Christmas enjoyed by everyone in the family!  Thank God for a loving family!

Our cup runneth over!

Christmas Baskets

For each one of my four children's households,  I have created Christmas Baskets.   In each one, there is something that I made with the sewing machine.  Those items all tend to be of the domestic type.  I enjoyed many creative hours making something for everyone.

Each basket is personalized with some unique gifts for each person, or persons.  Hopefully, none of my children will read this blog before tomorrow, Christmas Day.  That seems unlikely, but just in case,  I will not give real specifics.  Except this:   In my oldest daughter's basket, there are two small pillows that I made with fabric she gave me.  Those are for the two little grand-daughters.

Each basket also contains some things that I baked or cooked.  So these are pretty much "homemade" baskets.  I do hope each family enjoys their baskets as much as I enjoyed putting them together.

Merry Christmas to all, and Peace on Earth!

Cantata Sunday

My real, true Christmas experience was delivered to me this morning in the form of a Christmas Cantata.  And as usual, it was spectacular. Together for Christmas left no talent unturned. There were narrators, a full component of choir members, and instrumentalists. (Synthesized strings, Synthesizer, Flute, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Percussion, Tambourine, Chimes.) Also, various soloists.

 Of course, I cannot forget the director, and the pianist.  Together they do such high quality work.  I am sorry that I forgot to take a picture of the pianist.  I was close enough to do that.  Next time, I will.

I was reflecting on why it is, perhaps, that I receive Christmas from musical form rather than a sermon.  I suspect that is because there are probably not very many Christmas-themed sermons that I have not heard or preached myself. (Plus, truthfully, my mind is likely to wander off on what I might have said, or how I might have said it.)  But I cannot do music, so music is always fresh and new.

These musicians are top notch, disciplined, practiced, talented, and committed, and best of all, joyful!   And so it is that for me, Christ came down at Christmas, through them.

Edgy

Bridesmaids

"Edgy" is a word I often hear.  It seems to apply to movies,  television shows, fashion, haircuts, and anything style related.  Often, 'edgy' seems to be the goal.  We are in a time of   'edginess'.  

 But honestly,  I don't get it.   As I ponder the question, I have to ask myself what is the opposite?  Is it by chance 'wholesome'?  Or perhaps 'homespun'.  Or maybe ordinary?  What exactly is it over/against?  Definitely, sentimentality.  It is certainly as far as one can get from the Father Knows Best and Brady Bunch shows of the 1950's.  Maybe being 'edgy' is a rebellious reaction to being 'straight'....as in walking the straight and narrow.   Edginess certainly desires to push the boundaries of: modesty,  courtesy,  civility.   It almost always involves being sexually explicit.  Innuendo is from a bygone era!

You could not pay me to watch it, but I see in the TV guide that Fear Factor is back on television, and this time, it is much more gross.  Recently I watched a Netflix movie that I thought I would enjoy.  I like to see a good chick flick from time to time.  This one was supposed to be a laugh out loud comedy.  I was quite disappointed.  I am certainly not a prude, especially not when it comes to movies.  But that one was just gratuitously gross!  It almost seemed like the movie maker was trying to out-gross gross guy movies.

As an observer of culture,  it seems to me that edgy might be a good word to describe the first decade of the twenty first century.  Unfortunately.