Showing posts with label Advent/Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent/Christmas. Show all posts

Saturday, December 19, 2009

A Gift Not to Miss

Last night we swooped around Silver City in our t’bird and enjoyed the gifts of lights, a tradition with roots back to the Star of visitors that travelled from the East, candles on German Christmas trees, and then helped along by Thomas Edison. Cruisin’ main we noted that many merchants downtown have done a great job with setting the mood of Christmas, even with the absence of snow. Our disappointment with no lights on the courthouse lawn was quickly dispelled by bright beacons of the season on Market and on Black Street. Heading home the long way through the neighborhoods of Cherry Hills and North Loop area our de-light grew bright. The gifts of lights on homes fall into four categories, equally enjoyable:
· those which could be pictured in House Beautiful with uniform designed displays of typically white lights;
· the Christmas tree in the front window for all to enjoy with maybe a single string of lights on the porch or around a window;
· the homes that were decorated in stages where the families woke up on different days with the idea of “let’s add more lights to our yard”, adding to the jollyness of the displays;
· and then the homes that would make Chevy Chase jealous with their lit to the hilt approach, beautifully done, and deserving of several slow drive bys or just park at the corner and walk up to the home to really take it all in.
. “May your days—and nights—be merry and bright!”
Of course the greatest part of driving around looking at lights may be the time spent with your family and away from "Christmas chores", the wrapping, addressing envelopes, etc.
Blessings as we approach the last Sunday of Advent, that of worship.
Hugs from Mimi D

Christmas comes


Christmas comes again and again for me during the holiday season. One of those times was a visit from Nicolas, Jadyn, and their Mommy which turned into a tree trimming party. Yesterday Christmas came as I greeted Walmart shoppers with a Merry Chrismas while ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. My dancing, saxophone playing Santa helped to put folks in a generous mood and I loved it! Experience Christmas today!
Hugs from Mimi D

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

This delusional drugstore cowgirl challenged

Aaah, the trip to Bethlehem! Saddle up the mule, Joe, and let's get a move on! A couple of hours later....after being delayed by Mary's insistence on some last minute Christmas shopping in the biggest market this side of the Euphrates,the Jerusalem Jamboree....their reservation at The Inn of Bethlehem had been cancelled due to late arrival. After Joseph gave Mary "the look"...

I don't know how you picture the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph but I'm sure that you have a difficult time leaving the influence of your life experiences and really understanding the trip Mary and Joseph made. Maybe it's because we do relate to the paying taxes part.
An article by Malachi Martin,"The way to the first Christmas", set this here delusional drugstore cowgirl back on her heels, with the spurs a spinning!
If you can find the article which was first published in Guideposts Magazine, read it. Highlight include: length of journey 20 days, travelled with a merchant's caravan going through Samaria, no travelling on the Sabbaths, places they were going past that Jesus would visit during His years of public ministry,and they needed an exit visa to leave Jerusalem. And of course, I recommend a fresh read through of Luke 2.
Here's hoping Christmas comes to you today for it comes everyday when we look to the blessings of God's love.
Mimi D

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Advent Advances

This third Sunday in Advent, the one called Joy, has arrived. It follows the Sundays of Preparation and Expectation and could be likened to your junior year of high school—past the freshman runt stuff and insecurity of being the babies of the school, beyond the blase of sophomoric apathy with the cheerleaders blocking the view so the end of the tunnel is not in sight; and the senior shakes of "what am I doing with the rest of my life or even tomorrow....?" hasn't hit yet. Junior joy may be experiencing some of the privilege of young adulthood without the full blown responsibility of it. The third Sunday of advent focus is on the joy of the saviour's birth. Forget the stinky barn, Mary's jostling ride to Bethlehem when she couldn't see her own toes much less the feet of the donkey, and an invasion of their space and comfort zone by some unkempt shepherds in the middle of the night. This is the Sunday of JOY! God's provision of a refuge for His Son's arrival. A perfect place for the fulfillment of prophecies. A place for everyone who desires to come is able to do so. It's a 'for God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only Son' kind of place.It's the appearance of the heavenly host!
There's not much pretense in a barn or a cave for animals. In fact to come to the manger is to lay down all pretense that we typically carry. The door is too narrow for people burdened with backpacks of pride to enter. With JOY we may all approach and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This Sunday of JOY is the time to remember the softness of a baby's skin, the sweetness of one so fresh from the hand of the Creator. Advent advances. Embrace the swell of JOY this week...and always!
Mimi D

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Beware of the Baboushka Syndrome!

I am trying really hard to not fall victim to the Baboushka syndrome this Christmas season. Who is Baboushka? She is the giver of gifts to Russian children.How she reached that status is the syndrome that I am trying to avoid.
It is said that the wiseman from the East visited her village. Announcing their coming was the star but Baboushka missed seeing it due to "housework that needed to be done" The kings stayed at Baboushka's house and slept that day. They invited Baboushka to go with them but she had to clean her house, promising the Kings that she would catch up with as they journeyed onward. She never quite catches them up and so she is thought to give children still the toys that she had intended to give .The best presents are presence not under the tree but a gift. Take time to spend it with those you love.

Why not fix a thermos of hot chocolate and take a drive or walk and see how the display of lights is coming along?

Blessings, Mimi D

Sunday, December 6, 2009

A favorite by Jack Prelutsky

E versions are fine with somethings but give me the old hold in your hand kind of Christmas card! This task is yet ahead of me. I love writing the Christmas letter and selecting the different cards for individuals but this time of year— Santa is not the only one with a list! Enjoy the poem by Jack Prelutsky!

My Christmas Cards

Oh, no one got my Christmas cards,
it's making me upset,
I sent them off two weeks ago,
but no one got them yet.

I drew a bunch of pictures
and I wrote some poems that ryme,
I sent them off two weeks ago,
that should be lots of time.

I mailed them to my cousins,
to my uncles and my aunts,
sent them off two weeks ago
I think they've had their chance.

But no one got my Christmas cards,
not Mommy and not Gramps,
I sent them off two weeks ago...
did I forget the stamps?

Hugs from Mimi D

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Reminder about Christmas Cards

If you are approaching the task of Christmas cards or letter, read Jack Prlutsky's short poem and remember "love may make the world go round but a letter flies better when stamped!"



My Christmas cards

Oh, no one got my Christmas cards, i
t's naking me upset
sent them off two weeks ago,
but no one got the yet.

I drew a bunch of petures
and I wrote some poems that rhyme;
I sent them off two WEEKS AGO
That should be lots of time.

I mailed them to my cousins,
to my uncles and my aunts,
I sent them off two WEEKS ago
I think they've had their chance.

B But no one got my Christmas cards,
not Mommy and not Gramps,
I sent them off I sent them off two WEEKS ago...
did I forget the stamps?

I had a blast writing a letter this weekend to go in the cards but haven't stuck any in envelopes and addressed them. I need to think Christmas in July this next year and get my address book on my computer!