Time-Traveling Smell

A few weeks ago I finally broke down and mopped my kitchen floor.  I had put it off for quite some time citing that drippy, summer popsicles and juicy, slurp-worthy peaches made mopping the floor a moot point.  But soon it became obvious that spot-cleaning wasn't doing the job and the patch beneath our overly generous water dispenser in the fridge was noticeably sparkly and clean.  Hence the need to mop.

I pulled out my bucket and rummaged under the kitchen sink for my bottle of lemon-scented floor cleaner.  As hot water poured into the mop bucket, I unscrewed the cap of the floor cleaner and I was instantaneously transported back to my childhood.

Suddenly I am nine years old standing in the locker room at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, shivering from head to toe as I fumble with my locker.  I stand on the cold concrete floor in front of row upon row of metal cubicles, dripping in spite of my towel haphazardly draped across my shoulders.  My fingers and toes are wrinkly and puckered and my arms and legs are covered in goosebumps.  A puddle is forming at my feet, water running down my legs from my soggy Speedo.  I hear the clang of other locker doors slamming shut, the giggle of fellow swimmers and the steady shhhshing of the showers.

And I smell the lemon-scented cleaner the pool staff uses to sterilize the floors of the locker room.  Pungent, powerfully strong and lemony-clean.  Apparently the same cleaner I use on my kitchen floor.

It's astonishing how one little whiff can wash away 28 years and send me back to a pool filled with swim team memories.  Complete with goosebumps.

My sissy and I ... in our pre-swim team years.

I used to be taller than my sister.

_____________________________________________

#1 - Describe a smell that brings back memories.

small things {sweet memories}

small things #6 ... sweet memories

Driving up to school, we pass any number of popcorn trees.  Each pink and white tree prompts Lydia to delightedly point out each one.

"There's a popcorn tree, Mom!  And another one!  And a pink one!  Look, Norah!"

Over the weekend, however, those blossomy bouquets have begun to give way to green buds, bursting into leafiness.  Which, of course, prompted the question, "Why?"

"Well ... each of those little blossoms is the start of a something else.  Some will turn into apples, some into plums and and some into cherries."

"Oh, yum!  I remember we had a cherry tree at our old house."

"You're right, Buddy.  And every spring we would fill every bowl and bucket in the house with cherries."

"Remember that picture of me with cherry juice all over my chin?"

A crimson memory prompted to life:  Bright red cherries, ripe and ready, hanging precariously on the loaded down branches.  A feast for the birds ... and the little boys that lived there.

Sweet memories ... of cherry picking parties and pink, kissable grins.

Time-Warp ~ Help!

A number of years ago, I made this little slideshow for our MOPS group.  I love these little snapshots of my babies when they were, uh ... babies.




As I watch this again, the overwhelming feelings of needing help in the midst of this mothering gig come back in waves.  And chills.  And cold sweats.

Oh, wait.  Maybe that's because while the demands and challenges of mothering change as our kids get older, there are still demands and challenges.  And a lot of toe nails to trim.

If I were to produce a remix of this video, much would be the same.  But I'd have to add ...

Help me with my homework.


Drive me to school.


Take me to gymnastics.


Soothe my tender feelings.


Braid my hair.


Unknot my shoe laces.


Hug me ... but not in front of my buddies.


And you?  What would would be scribbled on your white board?

Snapshots from Spring Break ~ Time-Warp

About a million years ago (or maybe it just seems like it ...) I took riding lessons.  Once a week, my mom would load us three kids up in the station wagon and drive the winding dirt roads out to the country.  Once a week we would climb up on one of Anne's horses and trot around her corral.  

And once a week, I was an Olympic equestrian jumper.  

In reality I was a pipsqueak bouncing around the paddock while hanging on tight to King Jay or I was wrestling with Frosty as he stood stubbornly chewing grass and refusing to budge an inch ... yanking on the reins and fruitlessly kicking him.

What fond memories ...

Which makes last Thursday such fun!  Ashley's birthday gift from us was an afternoon riding horses at a friend's house.  I think she liked it:

For about an hour, Ashley plodded around the corral with an enormous smile on her face.  Each time the owner walked back my direction, they would stop near where I stood.  But when asked if she wanted to go around again, she would grin and nod, "Yes, please!"

Norah and Aaron also had fun taking turns riding whichever horse Ashley wasn't currently on.  Norah had an equally wide-grin while Aaron was a bit more "joe cool" about the whole thing.  He sorta slouched back in the saddle and held the reins with one hand ... like he'd been riding horses his whole life!

Such a fun afternoon!  And fun snapshots to remember the day when my kids were Rodeo Princesses and Bronc Riders ... at least, in their imaginations!

Thanks, Atencios ... looks like we'll be back!

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Ashley

Six years ago tomorrow our family grew a bit as we welcomed our little LeLe Mae into our hearts and into our home.  Aaron and Norah loved that little sweetie right off the bat!  They would hold her, "read" to her and play with her by putting rainbow clown wigs on her bald little head.  Such love!

In our little blue house they would peek in on her while she slept and pile on the couch with Brett or I to peek at her tiny toes.  They loved being squished together.

They still do.

We have added another little monkey and moved to a bigger house, and they still love to squeeze into the same spot - smooshed and smashed.  Giggling and wiggling with squeals of, "You're scrunching me!"  We encourage them to spread out, but it's more fun to be a part of the dog pile.

Especially if there's an iPod involved.

Happy 6th birthday, Ashley!  

I love you!  You are a girly-girl through and through and you bring bright, sparkling joy to my life.  I'll snuggle in the lazy-boy with you anytime, just to listen to you read.  You are my super-duper cleaner-upper; my silly-giggling, goofy-face-maker princess; my sing-humming-whistling music maker and my cuddle-bug, rub-my-back-please snuggler.  Smooches to you!

Snapshots of the Heart ~ Contentment

February 22, 2011


Dear Mr. Lego,

I just wanted to thank you for the most recent Lego Catalogue that my son received in the mail.  Included within the pages of this tome are all the latest and greatest Lego creations, kits and action figures.

My boy is super excited about the new Harry Potter sets and he hopes to save up enough for "Diagon Alley".  He loves the Hagrid mini-figure and the Gringotts building.  He ought to have enough of his allowance saved up to make this purchase in about 5 years.

But then again, he hopes to complete his Hero Factory army and so perhaps his funds might go toward "Rocka" and "Toxic Reapa".  With those purchases he will have completed the Hero Factory 4.0 collection.  Just in time for the 5.0 collection to arrive on the shelves, no doubt.

However, he did recently spend a small fortune on "Jay ZX", "Kendo Cole" and "Lloyd Garmadon" of the Ninjago Series.  (Lloyd?  Really?  Lloyd the Ninja?)  In order for them to become Spinjitzu masters, he might need to purchase the "Training Set".  Then he will be able to go head to head with the dark forces in the "Fire Temple".  If he had it, which he doesn't.  Yet.

And then, of course, there are the multitude of Star Wars sets.  He already has a number of these sets unassembled and pollinated about his room, but there are always new sets to be bought and built!  He talks about saving up his money to purchase the "TIE Fighter" or the "Millennium Falcon", but he would also love to have the "Clone Turbo Tank".  Or in a perfect world, the "Death Star".  Usually his allowance is burning an actual hole in his pants and so he only saves up enough money for smaller Battle Packs.  Fortunately there appears to be an unlimited supply of theses mini-sets so he is never lacking way to spend his money.  And to save his pants from ignition.

As a mom, I am grateful for all the hours that my boy spends building with Legos and acting out battles with his creations.  But I'm less that thrilled with the hours that my boy spends pouring over the new catalogues that arrive in the mail - memorizing every detail, every title and the number of pieces in each set.  Every price tag.

And so I arrive at the purpose of this letter.

Please do not send a new Lego Catalogue to our address.  Please just send the same one as last time.  It would go a long way toward my boy's contentment if he was unaware of the amazing and astounding new sets that are waiting in your warehouses for him to desire and dream about.

Sincerely,
A Mom of a Boy Suffering from Lego-Discontent

And so began the Lego-Addiction ...

"Father, teach my children the secret of being 

content in any and every situation, 

through Him who gives them strength."  

Philippians 4:12-13

Snapshots of the Heart ~ Salvation

Recently my littlest wore my favorite, sweet dress to church.  A little red gown that all my girls wore when they were three ...

The same little red dress my Nana made for me when I was three ...

What a treat to pass on something special to my children ... maybe my grand-babies will wear it someday, too!

We pass on a lot of things to our children.  We share our love of peanut butter, our passion for watching sports and our tendencies toward perfectionism and procrastination.  Sometimes we're thrilled with what our children inherit (musical talents and athletic abilities) and sometimes we cringe when we see them becoming our own little-Me's (grouchy attitudes and bossy pants).

In the midst of sharing me with my kids, more than anything else they might inherit from me ...
- the ability to multi-task (sometimes four things at once!),
- the ability to fake most any recipe (measuring spoons?  who needs 'em!),
- the ability to plan weeks in advance (the fourth week of each month needs to be empty),
- the ability to turn a birthday party into a fantastic themed celebration (Princess Bride themed-cake? no problem!) ...

More than any of these nifty gifts, I hope that they love Jesus.  I pray that they will see Him in my life and want to be like Him, too.  (And that God will close their eyes to all the ways ... the many, many ways ... I fall short!)  And I hope and pray that their childlike hearts will know Jesus in an intimate way that will lead them on a journey of an entire life walking closely with Him ... and all of eternity worshiping Him.

Of course, their choice to trust Jesus with their lives is entirely up to them.  But I want to make sure that I'm not being a hindrance to them knowing Him well.

What are you passing on to your children?
Are they seeing Jesus in your life?

"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may 

obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."  

Isaiah 45:8 and Timothy 2:10

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Headphones

Last Fall, Aaron scored a newish MP3 player at a yard sale for three bucks.  Boo-yeah!  With a little internet research on Daddy's part, it was quickly stocked with all Aaron's favorite tunes.  And he was quickly tuned out of any and all family discussions.

He could just listen to the music on the iPod, but
that wouldn't be as cool.

Just a few weeks ago, Norah saved enough of her own money to buy an iPod shuffle.  It's blue and contains several hours of her favorite music:  High School Musical, select songs from Les Mis and Gypsy Kings.  That girl's got eclectic taste.

Now if only her ear buds actually fit
her tiny little ears.

Many moons ago, I was also the owner of my own little music box.  It was literally a box and it played cassette tapes.  It was pink, it sucked AA batteries dry and I loved it.  With my large, black headphones on my head and my walkman clipped to my elastic waist band, I was groovin' and looking pretty cool.  See?

My mom and I on Christmas morning.
I have the "I'm too rad" slouch going on.

I think the beads were just there to accent my awesomeness.  Along with the pink slippers.  And the black sports watch.

Awe. Some.

Time-Warp ~ Favorite Family Portrait. Ever.

Growing up, we sat through a variety of family portraits.  We have several snapshots of just us kids, sitting on plush carpet fluff, smiling and posing with perfectly curled hair.  We have the typical montage of school pictures with the typical backdrops.  And the typical terrible hair-dos.  Then there's the one of us three in white and turquoise with the tightly pegged pants and the tightly permed hair.  It's tight.

We have an Old Time portrait from when I was in middle school ... a little pioneer family sitting round the Christmas tree.  It looks authentic: sepia-toned, dresses and hats from that era and a jug of Jack Daniels on my lap (turned so the label didn't show, of course!).

Then we have the portrait sitting from during my senior year.  My dad's parents were out for a visit and to commemorate having us all in the same place, we had a series of pictures taken.  There are several of just us three kids in a variety of poses.  I imagine that there were also several of just the adults and a few other combinations, but of the group, the only one that I truly remember is this one.

Isn't that awesome?

This picture was the beginning of a long-standing joke regarding my brother's ability to be utterly photogenic.  At the drop of the hat.  Meanwhile, the rest of us are apparently oblivious to the camera man.  Or asleep.

Not only do I love this photo, but I love that it's the one that our family chose to print and frame.  In fact, this lovely snapshot hangs in the stairwell of my brother's house.  I think I need to dig up my copy ... it's one of the most photoshop-free photos of our family.  Authentically Nadel. :)

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ One Inch

I know a little boy.

He used to be just this big:

On the first day back from Christmas break last Wednesday, he asked me to measure him.

"Mom.  I had like five people ask me today if I'd grown over break.  Did I?"

"Uhm.  I don't know.  We measured you just a month ago.  We can check.

Oh.  My.  Golly.  No way!"

"What?"

"Are you spoofing me?  Get your feet against the wall, Buddy."

"Ha, ha!  They are.  They are."

"Oh, brother.  Yeah ... you grew an inch.  An entire inch!"

"Cool."

"Yeah.  Cool.  Now I know where all the groceries have been going."

The next day as he trudged across the school lawn, back pack loaded on his shoulders, I could tell where he had grown.  His bright white ankle socks shining in the morning sunlight gave evidence that it's his legs that grew that inch.

My prayer for Aaron today ~

May he be like the prophet Samuel ... 

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature 

and in favor with the LORD and with people. 

(1 Samuel 2:26)

And may he not eat us out of house and home.  

And may we find pants in his drawer that will fit him.

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ 365 days ago

For this Time-Warp Wednesday, I scrolled through my iPhoto files in search of some snapshots of the kids ... a few pictures to see how much they've grown in the year.  Here are some wonderful snapshots from almost exactly one year ago ...

Aaron now wears awesome glasses and can lay his head on my shoulder while standing side-by-side, but he has the same stunning smile and brilliant sense of humor.  He made the "Math Wall of Fame" at school and has proudly mastered his multiplication table.  He's his Mommy's little book worm and can most often be found with his nose buried deep in a novel.  What a terrific kid!

Norah grew four inches and gained ten pounds.  She is now modeling some rainbow bling in her little ears and is missing a few extra teeth.   But she's still cartwheeling and practicing her splits ... her flexibility continues!  She is graduating up to the competitive level at gymnastics and she can barely contain her excitement.  She continues to be my super-helper and I love that I can count on Norah to help around the house and with the little people who live here.

Little Ashley isn't so little anymore.  While she is still petite in stature, her heart is ginormous as evidenced by her generous spirit and her servant's heart.  She is loving Kindergarten and surprises even herself with the words she can read.  She happily counts to 100 upon request ... by one's, five's or ten's and she loves gym class and singing in music class.  But she's still our tender-hearted, thumb-sucking, snuggle-bug!  

Lovely Lydia is growing right before our eyes.  This year she graduated from Potty Boot Camp, discovered her fins in her first swim class and became Mommy's little helper with Baby S.  She has grown into quite the conversationalist and she loves to fill us in on all that is happening in her little world ... which is quite a lot!  She is still our dinner time entertainment and she continues to mimic everything she sees her sibling do.  Sometimes that's a joy (washing hands and cleaning up) and sometimes ... not so much (zerberting at the table and yelling, "Stop it!").  Her smile still brightens my day!

So yeah ... it's been a busy year!  But a rich, delightful, satisfying and significant year.

Here's to another 365 days to grown and learn and 

become who God has planned, in advance, for us to be!

Silent Night ~ Time-Warp

We have hopped back and forth during past Christmases between Brett's folks and my family. This year we get to have both!

It has been fun to anticipate this coming weekend and our family seeping into every corner of the house.  I love the promise of a full house:  sitting cheek to cheek (to cheek to cheek) around the dining room table, bumping into each other as we bustle around in the kitchen, squeezing onto the couch for a movie and every bed filled (with an air mattress, for good measure).  I can barely contain my excitement!

One little bit that I will miss this year, which we have enjoyed during other past Christmases at Grammy & Gramps's house, is sitting around the front room, lighting candles and singing carols together as Gramps plays the piano.  Some of my very favorite Christmas snapshots of the kids are their sweet faces illuminated in the glow of the candles.

Like this one from a few years ago ...

The kids near the German Christmas Pyramid,
watching the fans spin the characters around and around.

During this sweet tradition, we sang a number of songs including "Silent Night".  Hearing the kids' delightful voices singing the familiar verses was a treasure.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, this would be the first of hundreds of times that we would sing that particular song over the course of the next seven months.  Every night until mid-July, Aaron requested "Silent Night" as his bedtime song.  Mid-July.

Those many, many, many (many, many, many) opportunities to sing the carol allowed me time to truly hear the words.

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.


Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.


Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

While there are a number of truths in this song, the one that shines out to me today is the declaration of Jesus's Lordship that began when He was born.  Not because of anything He had done or would do, but because of Who He is.  The  Son of God, the chosen Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of Lords ... because God said so.  

And with Jesus's birth as Lord, He ushered in a new era.  The era of grace.  The grace we live in today.

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ River

In the kitchen the other evening, I was listening to James Taylor's album "At Christmas".  He sings a lovely rendition of Joni Mitchell's song, River.  (Pop over here to listen to a beautiful recording.)

I can't help but  be moved by this song every time I hear it.  Mainly because it brings vividly to mind the people in my life for whom Christmas is not joyful and full of celebration.  For some, this season is instead filled with lingering grief, sharp memories of painful Christmases and the hurt of past disappointments.  While we anticipate and enjoy this Holiday season, there are some who struggle and  who truly wish they had a river to skate away on.

Here are the bittersweet lyrics to this song:

River
It's coming on Christmas 
They're cutting down trees 
They're putting up reindeer 
And singing songs of joy and peace 
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

But it don't snow here 
It stays pretty green 
I'm going to make a lot of money 
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene 
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

I wish I had a river so long 
I would teach my feet to fly 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on 
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me 
You know, he put me at ease 
And he loved me so naughty 
Made me weak in the knees 
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle 
I'm selfish and I'm sad 
Now I've gone and lost the best baby 
That I ever had 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

Oh, I wish I had a river so long 
I would teach my feet to fly 
I wish I had a river 
I could skate away on 
I made my baby say goodbye 

It's coming on Christmas 
They're cutting down trees 
They're putting up reindeer 
And singing songs of joy and peace 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on

© 1970; Joni Mitchell 


My lingering prayer for my loved ones who find themselves searching for a river to take them away is that they would find peace.  And that they would find themselves standing not on a frozen river of isolation and grief, but in the midst of God's river of life ...


¹ Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1)


Whew ... that was a little heavy!  Before you go, I want to send you away with a little Time-Warp snapshot.  And a smile.

Growing up, we spent quite a few winters skating.  I had a pair of baby blue skates that had gray fur trim.  I loved those skates.  I think I tried to squeeze my tootsies into them way past the size foot they were made for.

Our town had a roughed in skating pond by the park.  Now they have benches and a heated shelter where you can warm up.  We, however, parked our boots in a snow bank, plowed off the rink with a rigged up, ginormous shovel and when we couldn't feel our toes anymore, we went home.

In my mind, my shuffling steps rivaled the pirouettes and Salchow jumps of Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Flemming!  In reality, I was wobbly and wonky.

That would be me in the blue winter hat behind my brother.  I'm either waving or recovering from an almost-yard-sale-tumble.  Let's go with waving.

It also became clear at a young age that I had no future in skiing.  Peekaboo Street, I was not.  This is not me adjusting after a big jump.  This is me just trying to stay on my feet.  And hoping my feet are not forever frozen lumps of ice.

Blessings on you this Wednesday!  I hope you find yourself knee-deep in the River of Life ... and laughter!

Winter Wonderland

Today's post has been inspired in a variety of ways ... "Winter Wonderland" pouring forth from the iPod in the kitchen, the kids' hopes and dreams for a snow day, Mama Kat's writing prompt and a snapshot from the archives ...

Sledding
We're all bundled up 'gainst the chill,
Ready for speed and a thrill,
We've pulled on our boots,
And our comfy snow suits,
Now we're ready to take on the hill!


We five trudge out into the snow,
Each with a blue sled in tow,
The snow's up to our knees
And it's frosted the trees,
Laughing, we've not far to go!


We're headed just across the yard,
Frosted white like an ol' Christmas card.
We'll build a jump here,
With hopes we can steer,
As big brother packs the snow down hard.


The sun peeks through clouds in the sky.
On a sled, my wee sister speeds by!
We trudge back to the top,
We don't want to stop ...
So glad the hill's only thigh-high!

In this time-warp snapshot, my cousin Megan and my brother, Joshua have made a Morgan-sandwich.  My baby sis, Allison, stands guard at the top of the hill and little cousin Corrine is either coming up or headed back down!

We three are ready to careen down the hill, soar over the jump and (hopefully) land in the fluffy snow there at the bottom.  Now let me pan back a bit so you get the whole effect:

Different snapshot, same yard.  Here my sister and I are standing proudly next to our Oblio and Arrow snow creations ... inspired by hours of listening to The Point.  To the right of me and the dog, where the picture is cut off, you can just see the crest of The Hill.  Mount Kilimanjaro it was not.  In reality is was simply a berm along an irrigation ditch.  In my mind's eye, it was more.

It was a winter wonderland.

Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the alligators knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland. 

Growing up in that little house in town with the vast tundra of winteriness stretching out beyond, I did a lot of dreaming.  (And a probably my fair share of conspiring!)  In the midst of childhood, my future was a crisp white canvas.  What fun to imagine what life would be like!

What would I be when I grew up?

Where would I live?  

Who would I marry?  

That childlike and innocent dreaming about life is so fresh - untarnished by the hard parts of life.  And that's the same childlike faith that Jesus calls us to - to trust Him completely in the midst of the hard parts of life.

There is great comfort in walking alongside Jesus, dreaming about life and facing unafraid the plans that He's made.

Walking in a winter/spring/summer/fall wonderland!

_____________________________

Prompt #5 ~ Write a poem about a snow memory.

O Tannenbaum Time-Warp

Each year our children get new Christmas ornaments from a few of our family members.  In order to keep them all straight, I tie a little ribbon on each ornament after Christmas with the name and year.  The ornaments that "belong" to someone in particular go in a separate bag with their name on it.

This year as we decorated our Christmas tree, it was fun to hear the banter back and forth amongst the kids and they unwrapped the ornaments.  

"Do you remember when Nana got me this one?  I love this princess castle!  Nobody touch it." ~Norah

"This one says, 'Baby's 1st Christmas'.  Who game me this?  Wow.  It's a heavy one." ~Aaron

"This ballet dancer is so special to me." ~Ashley

"My zebra.  Mine." ~Lydia

Between the four of them, they have almost half the ornaments on the tree!  Can you imagine how bare it will look when they all get their own homes?  Brett and I will have to do a little shopping!

As we finished up the tree this year, Brett spotted this little creative cluster on one of the bottom branches:

Any wagers as to who was responsible for this lovely hodge-podge of bells?  I'll give you a hint ... she really likes her zebra ornament.  All told, Brett counted nine ornaments on this one stretch of lights.  What a silly goose.

Speaking of silliness - here is a time-warp snapshot from Christmas past of our family decorating our mom, er ... our tree:

You can infer one of two things from this picture:  

My mom was oblivious and her children were naughty OR 

My mom was super tolerant and her children were naughty.

Either way, there was definitely some mischief that evening.  In spite of the apparent confusion regarding ornament placement, we did manage to finish decorating.

I love the smiles and joy that were captured in this snapshot.  Although it might be that we are smothering our mother with our love!

Today's song for my Musical Count-Down to Christmas is "O Tannenbaum".  Click here for a lovely version of Nat King Cole singing this traditional carol in German.

As I thought through the translation that I was familiar with, "how lovely are thy branches", I wondered about how this song could be used to focus our hearts on Jesus.

  

I thought about how the tree, quite literally, points us to heaven.  This particular tree is especially pointy.  And a tad bit sparse.  It would appear that we might have been lacking a few branches.  The ones that would hide the metal pole there in the middle.

I thought about the star that we put on the top of our tree and how it serves as a reminder of the star that announced Jesus' birth.  And then I had a good giggle as I looked at the tree in this snapshot and spotted the little yarn elf I made in elementary school perched on the top of the tree.

I thought about the third verse from Psalm 1, 

³ "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers."

Our tree above, however, had never been planted.  And even the fir tree that we have standing in our living room is no longer giving, no longer planted and rooted.

That was when I stumbled across the literal translation of this old German carol.

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

How loyal are your leaves/needles!

You're green not only in the summertime,

No, also in winter when it snows,

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

How loyal are your leaves/needles!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

You can please me very much!

How often has not at Christmastime

A tree like you given me such joy!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

You can please me very much!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

Your dress wants to teach me something:

Your hope and durability (faithfulness)

Provide comfort and strength at any time.

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

That's what your dress should teach me

(Translation)

As I read through those few verses, I was struck with how Jesus is personified in this simple Christmas tree:  loyal, pleasing, source of joy, full of hope, faithful, comforting and strong.

I'll never sing "O Tannenbaum" again, "in the summer time or in winter when it snows," without thinking of my Jesus.

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Thankfulness

Last Friday at about 7:45 pm, poor Norah reached her threshold.  And not because she was Black Friday-ed out.

We had been playing hard all day at Auntie Allie's house.  We were settling into night #3 out in my mom's art studio.  She took one look at the air mattress and burst into tears!

"I just want to sleep in a real bed!"

After twenty minutes of full-body sobbing, Daddy managed to convince her that she was really tired and that she would feel tons better in the morning.  She sniffed.  She blew her nose.  She mumbled something about not being comfy.  And she pulled her blankets up around her chin and buried her face in her pillow.

I felt her pain.

As we watched poor Norah melt down, my mom, brother and sister stifled a snicker.

"She's her mother's daughter for sure."

Let's time-warp back to a similar misery, eh, I mean, vacation ...

My family was wrapping up week two of a trip to California.  We had spent time with my aunt and uncle in Camarillo and then headed to Yosemite for several nights before heading home.  

This is night two:

Oh, the pain of it all!

The story goes (and let me tell you, they love to tell the story...) that I spent much of this night moaning and groaning.

"I just want to go home."

"I just want a real bed."

"I just want my clothes to be in my dresser."

We all have our limits and this was mine!  Because of this powerful memory, I could empathize with sad, sweet Norah.  It's wonderful to run away for a vacation, but it's also wonderful knowing that eventually you will find yourself back home.

Today I'm thankful for my home ~ where everything is where it should be.  

And my clothes are in my dresser!

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Lydia Turns 3

Well, little Weeda ... this is it.  It's your last week to be two.  Starting on Saturday, you will officially be three.  And just when you finally figured out how to get those other three fingers to stay down so your thumb and pointer finger could show us you were two!  Now you have to tuck those two digits down and let the other three free ... yep, that's three!  So tricky, but you are growing into a big girl who can do those big girl things.

Actually ... there are a lot of things your almost three-year old self can do that you didn't used to be able to do.  When you were this big ...

Week 1 with my little Weeda

... you couldn't really do anything, but eat, sleep and fill your diaper.  But now that you are all grown up, you can do lots of great and wonderful things!

You can use your fork and spoon so well.  I know you still prefer to use your fingers, but you're getting the hang of it!  One of these days, we will get through an entire meal without you picking at it with your fingers.

You use the potty like a big girl and you even wash your hands.  You are a really good bubble maker.  And yes, your Mommy is so happy that you don't do pee-pee or poopy in your pants anymore.

You can sing songs, just like Ashley.  I love to hear your sweet little voice singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "ABC".  Even if you get the words are jumble-bumbled up, it's still sweet music to my ears.

You love to look at books.  And I love to see you sitting by the library shelf, surrounded by piles of books, studying the pictures and turning the pages so carefully.  You treat our books so gently.

You are a super-duper helper with Baby S.  You are so good at fetching my burp rags and diapers.  

You are also a good friend to her ... she loves when you talk to her in your squeaky, teeny-tiny voice.

You make me so proud when you fetch your coat and shoes all by yourself.  I love that you can be big like that because it makes my day so much easier.  And when you dress yourself crazy in the morning ... that makes me super happy!  So independent!  Even if you have nothing that matches and both socks are on the same foot ... you did it all yourself.

You can toodle around the culdesac on your little pink bike.  Granted, it appears that you are biking in slow motion, your feet are moving so slow.  But ... give you a few months and you'll be racing around the bend and chasing Ashley up the driveway!

You brush your own teeth so well.  Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.  Your little teeth are so shiny when you're done, even though I think there might be more sucking and spitting that actual brushing.  Thanks for letting Mommy & Daddy help keep your smile sparkly.

You are a super-star at getting your shoes on all by yourself.  Of course you had trouble getting the right tootsies into the right shoes, but you have figured it out and now you have a 87% success rate.  Awesome!  Of course, right now your shoes are wonky, but next time you'll get it right!

You say your own little prayers at bedtime.  I love to hear your sweet Amen at the end of your tender prayer ... even if I'm unsure of what you actually said.  Gratefully, God knows what you say!

You laugh and smile and giggle and squeal and snicker and grin and chuckle and shriek and sparkle and shine ...

Week 156 with my not-so-little Weeda

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Lydia!  

You make my heart so happy!