And the child....

We have been to church. A little boy carried a figure of the Christ babe to the altar and placed him in a manger.
And we shall all be lead by a child.
My daughter waits for her son and his father to return tonight. Her faith in the spirit of Christmas is waning. She so wants for life to be better. Just waiting for it to get better. I want to tell her how much she has. But that would be preaching. And any daughter will tell you she really does not want to listen to her mother preach.
I want to tell her of hope and light and life that can be found even in the really crappy times.
But I will let her son tell her that.
I think sometimes we have to wait to let those messages come through. When we are listening. Cait's son is 15 months old. I think his voice is just right. His message is just right.
Just like the little boy tonight taking up the baby to the manger. He came back to the pew, grinned and said he did his job and he liked it. I needed that message. The job we all need to do.
And we really will all be lead by a child.

Early Morning

I was awake this morning at 5:30. No particular reason, just "up". Coffee and my dogs. Greeting the day slowly.
We have 2 days til Christmas. A winter storm is moving into the area and we are geared for the blast. Milk and cookies, pasta and wine. Bring on the snow and holiday!

Waiting on the chicken

It is almost 5:00 p.m., three days before Christmas. The chickens are slathered in butter and roasting away. Potatoes will be peeled to cook and mash. Asparagus ready to be roasted. Not an atypical meal for us, but a little more going in to it this time. Just because.
The groceries for the big holiday have been purchased and last minute gifts are here. We are a little slow on the wrapping, but I have promised it will be done by the morning of the 25th.
I guess this is called waiting. Kind of what Advent is - waiting and preparing. Not to be too religous, but that is what we do at this time of year. Listen, wait, listen, go and do. Listen and wait again.
A year ago we were waiting for Christmas with the knowledge it would be my dad's last. I remember hearing the bells from St. Jo's, a block away, as the Luke gospel was read close to midnight. At the time, I didn't feel the joy associated with the passage and the bells. I did, however, feel a peace I had not felt in quite a while.
That peace is still with me. Sometimes I have to stop to feel and listen to it. To know it.
Peace be with all of you this Christmas season.

Passing it on

I made eggnog tonight. Not just any eggnog, but Lady Keith's eggnog. A true southern liquid concoction passed on to me by a former priest's wife when they retired back to the south. Lady (Adelaide)really was a southern lady. The term really applied. We all loved her and she us. Her wit was wonderfully sharp and gentle all at the same time.
Anyway the nog is made and will be consumed tomorrow night at the annual St. Mark's Episcopal Church Christmas potluck. Only made once a year, it has bourbon, rum and brandy cooking the eggs, cream, 1/2 and 1/2 and copious amounts of sugar. Drink a cup or two and it really does not matter what else is served.
When the Keiths left, the women of the church begged Lady for some of her traditional recipes. Green Beans ritually served at the seder supper of Holy Week went to one woman. Another got her beef burgandy. Yet another got her lemond curd recipe. I got the eggnog and flourless citrus cakes recipes. The cake recipe came to me because I had more than one angel food cake pan (comes from going to a lot of auctions). Her memory will live longer than her husband's. Not because he wasn't a good priest. He was. It was just she was such a good cook, good friend and not someone easily forgotten.
We now talk at church about the new recipes people have brought that all love.
I have to wonder who will get this batch once we move on.

Hope Tree

We have a Hope tree in the school community library. I say we, but it is the FBLA (Future Business Leaders Association) - students and a sponsor heading up the effort. Everyone in the school has the opportunity to contribute. It has been done other years by other groups, but it has been done for as long as I know.
It is a project that provides gifts for kids when their families are meeting some hard times. When there just is not enough to go around and Christmas doesn't fit the budget.
This year there is a great deal more need. The ornaments with the needs listed covered the tree. Couldn't see the green of the tree. Women of different churches have said they know the need has hit the churches as well. More families have said if there was extra, could they be considered.
I read not long ago that we have the opportunity to meet the divine everyday when we meet need. Not just at Christmas or Channakuh, but everyday. I am not preaching. I would not presume.
I am saying need is there. We need to look and listen and do and meet.
Who knows what can happen?

Another Year

We went to a birthday party last night for a couple turning 50 a couple of days apart. People making jokes about turning 50 and about being "old". It was fun and after eating dinner and chatting for a while, my husband and I came home.
Even more fogeyish, we sat and watched a movie with no violence, questionable language or possible sexuality.
I don't feel old. Middle aged? Yup, you bet.
I am at the point in life where I don't have to prove anything. Drinking and partying to the early morning is no longer required. Only watching cutting edge or popular movies/shows - no longer required.
Just being together, nice and warm. Knowing where the kids are and the dogs by our side. That is so right.
George and I have a good thing. Bring on another year.

Editorial Comment

In the local paper, the infamous editorializer was at it again. This time it was a blame game. Isreal and occupants to be exact. They are the reason for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Al Qaida.
Bet you didn't know that.
Where does he get this crap? And why?
Every time I read his column I have to stop myself from picking it apart. I have to self censor.
I have to allow for opinion.
I am trying to maintain a positive outlook. It is the Christmas and Channakuh seasons. The gift of light is coming into the world in so many ways. I have to get beyond wanting to smack the guy. Not at all a good thing to do. No matter how good it might feel....