After Glow

It's not quite 1:00 a.m.
I'm not quite ready to call it a night. 
After expending a crazy amount of energy on this day, It's still to soon to turn off the lights.  Tomorrow, they'll officially be tacky.
So here's the highlights from this year's Christmas celebration.
Having Kamie yell "There's Jesus" when seeing Santa
Walking into Bath & Body to see a familiar looking guy in a Carrhart coat... And I scooted right on out and he doesn't know a thing...
Doing our part in the 'Red Kettle' drive.  (I purposefully did not take a picture- Cuz, there's that fine line between doing cool things to do them, and doing cool things to show others that you're doing cool things.)
Watching an Angel fly at Dad & Mom's Nativity
Looking for beauty each day
Making Orange Rolls with my older sister, at 10:30 p.m., both in our own little houses. (Do great minds think alike, or what!)
Pink tree in Kamies pink bedroom
Spotify - Where I can compile my eclectic (code for eccentric) favorites from Michael Card to Dolly Parton
Kamie wrapping presents for cousins, and being oblivious to the fact that she was going to get presents. (That lasted until she opened her first one.)
Spreading out a plastic tablecloth and frosting a birthday cake for Jesus.
And my favorite was seeing my little bro-in-law give out his gifts, we had drawn names this year, but he still went shopping with his own hard earned money and bought gifts for everyone. Carefully wrapping each item, some with lots of tape, some disguised so they wouldn't be guessed. When Bronz opened up his gift and wondered how he knew that was exactly what he needed, the lil guy's face just beamed.
Merry Christmas!



In the interest of honesty I've got to add a postscript
Christmas morning had the sleep deprived Mama bear, up and running. Presents to wrap, rooms to clean, food to bake, laundry, all while creating that orange roll, coffee, and grapefruit ambience.  Bronz was going to clean the porch clutter up, only to step on some ice, slip, fall, grab onto something and basically pull his fingernail off.  All I saw was that he came running into the house with lots of blood saying "I slipped" While stomping his feet. I thought he had sliced his finger and dropped a knife on his foot.  He was clammy and cold, and obviously in a lot pain, the kids were now up and crying. I was still wearing the only clean clothes I could find without waking anyone up.  Umm Bronz's long johns and a sweatshirt.  About that time I realized my makeup was a mile away. Not like I could put it on if I had it. And it's 20 minutes to arrival. Deep breaths. Bronz's pain reliever kicks in, Blake sleeps, Kamie shapes up, I get dressed, Grind coffee (About now would have been a good time to put the partially thawed mashed potatoes in the oven. Note to self for next year.) Wash the dishes. Not a person arrived before 11:00. Oh Yeah.  (And who cares about makeup we've all seen each other look cruddy.) gifts, Bronz reading from Luke, yummy food, games, cousins hugging, cousins not hugging, movie, peach cobbler. Nighty Night

Nor Doth He Sleep

I'm going along my merry way
Running errands after getting our Christmas pictures taken
When I hear that they've found the girls-
The cousins missing since summer
How does this fit into Christmas?
I want to block out the pain
I don't want to empathize
I want to think about Jesus in the manger
Not the Jesus on the cross
But the two are the same
the Jesus who was born, and brought hope and life eternal
Was the Jesus who died for the ugly, the heinous deeds, careless actions
So I hurt for my Aunt who lost her Granddaughter... My Cousin who doesn't have his little girl anymore.  My Grandma whose Great Grandbaby is dancing with Jesus.  And the other Mothers, Father, Aunts, Uncles, Friends...  The people who turned on porch lights, and tied ribbons on trees.  The thousands who prayed, posted fliers.  The many who are now asking "Why?"

This carol came to mind, written during the civil war it skillfully takes what we have compartmentalized -- gritty life, traditional worship, God, and melds them together.
I Heard The Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
H. Longfellow

 

On The Third Day Of Christmas

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful
designs and embellishments to choose from.

^^^ This came in the mail... the project I do once a year in order to get all scrapbooking out of my system.  For an entire year.  One problem, Bronz is making me wait until Christmas to open it.
(He had better hide it good.)

 

How Lovely Are Thy Branches -cough, cough,

Tree Hunting today…

With gorgeous 60 degree weather, it didn’t feel quite right.

Not like I’m complaining or anything

We loaded up the kids in the truck.

Note: Kamie goes around telling people “My Dad has a Chevy.”

Said in a my-daddy-can-beat-up-your-daddy tone of voice.  Hysterical.

It’s Bronz’s year to pick a tree, he says no waayy are we going to have a tree as big as last year’s.  I just tell him that it’s his year. I’ll bide my time.

Everything goes all hunky dory, pretty traditional, sunset, cider, one dirty diaper –

Then we get home,

                Again we’re doing pretty good.

                                Bronz reminds me that moving things with my feet isn’t the speediest way to get ready for the great tree set-up.  I remind him that we aren’t being timed or anything on getting this all done and sip my coffee. (Us Fun Country people can be a tad annoying.)  So we take deep breaths.  I watch the kiddos and set out snacks and make up a cheese pizza. Bronz carefully adjusts the tree, sorts out the lights and puts them on.

We have our happy little snack time. 

Bronz goes to make final adjustments on tree, spinning it around just so-

And

Then

It

Tips

Right on top of him.  He’s laying on the floor, with the whole pan of water dripping into the carpet beside, and the tree smack-dab on top of him.

Well then it got a little noisy.  (I did tell him later that I was really glad that he doesn’t swear, cuz’ something like that would be a real test.)

So then we have to do the whole lift-up-the-tree get-it-in-place thing again, and just when we’ve got it almost right – Kamie quits rocking Blake in the recliner, and instead climbs over the back and plops down right on top of him, as in stomach on face, with her red blanket to boot.

I hollered at her and then let go of the tree to grab her… Yup we had to do the rigamarole again.

It’s up now.

Kamie & Bronz got peppermint lotion backrubs.

Smished branches sorta add character.

Days Of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas…

I came home from a baby shower for this little dolly…

Little Audrey got some amazing parents...

And I'm an Aunt again!

 

 

 

 

 

So anyways, I'll try to stay on topic. 
So, I got home from the baby shower. (Isn't she just perfect?!!)

-To see a sheepish look on Bronz’s face

                Which I had to look up high to even see

See, the guy is as frugal as they come, and renting a lift in order to put up lights is pretty extravagant.  Ha, so I caught him, and was terribly excited.  When we were first married I had constructed a cross out of t-posts and carried it up a ladder to our barn loft, climbed up another more rickety ladder, then grabbed a hold of the trim board and tied on our first lighted cross… Only to find that the electrical outlet in the loft didn’t work.  Bronz figured that issue out, and since then we have had a cross on the barn, and the first night on we always make each other close our eyes, until we are both standing in optimal viewing spot, then turn around to look at it together.

Yay Christmas!
Thank You Jesus!