Category Archives: Christmas

Wednesday Medley

1.  National Ding-a-Ling Day is observed across the United States each year on December 12.  Ding-a-Lings on this day call the people they haven’t heard from in a while.  It may be an old classmate, co-worker or neighbor from years ago.  Or perhaps a call will go out to the child who used to mow the grass during the summer.  How about that couple who carpooled for soccer. There are all sorts of people in our lives who manage to slip out of our lives who would love to hear the ding-a-ling of a call from you or me.  So tell us who you want to call today!

Well, this ding-a-ling didn’t know there was such a day. If she were alive, I would love to call my first and second grade teacher, Mrs. Nickolaus.

2. Each year on the 12th day of December, people across the United States recognize National Poinsettia Day. I am including this “National Day” too because my neighbor’s poinsettia from last year is blooming beside their house!!  Have you ever tried to plant a poinsettia outside?

Another day that has escaped me. I always enjoy going to Molbak’s in Woodinville, Washington to see their beautiful display of poinsettias and their poinsettia Christmas tree. We don’t live close enough anymore to pop into this great garden store.

3.  Do you believe in Bigfoot?  What size shoe do you wear and do you have trouble shoe shopping?

 

Well, do photographs lie? I would have loved to buy this huge piece of yard art to put up on our mountain behind our country bungalow but I have grandchildren now and wouldn’t want to make them afraid to go into our backyard.

I am a 7 to 7-1/2 depending on the shoe style. I don’t have a problem finding shoes in my size but it is hard work finding shoes that are comfortable to wear in general. I am way past the stiletto days. Even when I could have managed them I didn’t wear real high heels.

4. What is one thing you refuse to share?

My husband. The only way I will share him is for him to do his acts of service for others. He enjoys helping people.

5. Are you finding that this Christmas is stressful? More or less than last year?

What’s stressful about painting all your interior walls in the month of December? Don’t you love how the Christmas décor intersect with the painting equipment?

But no, thankfully I’m not stressing about the above photo of what real life looks like at our country bungalow.  Things will be back in their proper place before Christmas. Our family of 9 and a half chose to only have stockings this year and all of us won’t be together till Christmas afternoon. The 4 who are flying here on Christmas day are staying until the 28th and we are going to take one day at a time while they are here.

6. Tell us something random about your week so far!

We are having our first December snow that will linger and I’ll be driving in it for the first time since we moved. Our road is a 50mph road and I’m watching cars and trucks going slower then usual. They’ll not enjoy driving behind me because I’ll be going real slow and steady. I’m a wimp in the snow. Our motion sensor light above our garage was on this morning because of the snow falling. The little birds were flying under Dear’s parked truck and congregating there. Where do little birds go ?

I’m happy to report I made it there in the snow and then back home again in the dark. When there is snow on the road it is hard to see where your lane begins and ends. I made it up our kids mile long driveway with switchbacks in the light and then in the dark. She is patting herself on the back. It was sweet to spend time with Addy while her folks went to the hospital to have an ultrasound to see how Addy’s baby brother is doing.

Hope all your preparations for Christmas are going well.

I’m linking up with Terri in Florida for the Medley. She asks the questions and we answer them. Thank you, Terri.

Santa…

… was NOT a hit this year for Addy. It was fun for me to be at her Santa photo shoot, though. She just wasn’t sure about the old guy in the red suit and beard.

She was just fine sitting all by herself far away from Santa.

Later in the day after her nap, Addy’s mommy and daddy brought her to Baba and Gramps so we could all enjoy dinner together. Addy likes to rewind and do all the things we did the time before she was over. So we go to the bedroom where we keep her toys and she gets the dolls she plays with here. She has also decided that it’s fun to put all the manger scene people and animals in a little owl bag. This time around she learned how to turn off and turn on the battery operated candles I have down on her level of reach. That kept her busy for quite a while. She doesn’t like it when it’s time to go home.

 

Today we visited a different church in Colville where the kids come up to the front of the church right before the sermon. This church had them recite a memory verse they’ve been working on and then they let each child say a prayer to God. The first young boy to pray said “Dear God, thanks for nothing.” I tried not to laugh. His mother in the front row looked mortified. The pastor took it in stride and held the mic in front of the next little one who thanked God for his mother, father, and dog. By this time the mortified mother got her son’s attention and he came down to the front row next to her and then they both exited the sanctuary. When all the little ones were done with their short prayers they were excused to go downstairs for Sunday School. Hope that little guy didn’t get into too much trouble.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Infant holy,
Infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing,
Little knowing
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging
Angels singing,
Noels ringing,
Tidings bringing,
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping,
Shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new,;
Saw the glory,
Heard the story,
Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing,
Free from sorrow,
Praises voicing,
Greet the morrow,
Christ the Babe was born for you!

 

Lyrics: Traditional Polish Carol
Translator: Edith M. G. Reed
Translation Date: 1921
Music: Traditional Polish Melody

“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” is thought to be a very old Polish carol, of unknown origin. It was published in Spiewniczek Piesni Koscielne in 1908 and speaks of the stable scene-baby Jesus lying in a manger bed with the animals nearby. It also speaks of the hillside where shepherds heard the story from the angels and rejoiced.

The short rhymed phrases move the piece forward, pointing to the final statement and the purpose of the song: “Christ the babe is Lord of all.”

ht: Bible Gateway

Across the Line…

…for our annual Mennonite Girls Can Cook Christmas gathering.

For Christmas 2018, Terry and Lovella hosted us at their warm and inviting bungalow.

The birch tree candle holders were made by Lovella’s beloved after their beautiful birch tree was felled in a storm this year.

Everyone contributed to the meal. Judy and Marg brought and assembled the Charcuterie Board.

Once I sat down at the table my photographing went out the window so I don’t have photos of the delicious Potato Leek Soup that Julie made and brought. The fresh citrusy pomegranate salad was brought and plated with care by Kathy. Bev baked fresh buns. Lovella prepared a stuffed Pork Loin that Terry barbecued to perfection along with sides of noodles, gravy, and broccoli salad.

Before we sat down at the table and while we were enjoying our appetizers the “girls” had their gift exchange. This year we were instructed to bring something that was consumable or used up by Christmas. There were a few varieties of fresh baked cookies, the promise of a hazelnut sponge roll to be delivered, coffee beans, candles, and my choice was a fresh baked razzleberry pie all wrapped up beautifully by Judy.

Two of our husbands were missing, Dear and Kathy’s husband Scot.

Anneliese brought the desserts.

We all got up from the table before dessert and it was the perfect time for me to head back across the line to the U.S.A. before my coach turned back into a pumpkin. At the border crossing I declared my pie and continued south to our kids’ home in Bothell making it there, safe and sound by 10pm. We enjoyed Judy’s pie the next evening for Laura’s birthday dessert and all 6 of us declared it perfect with no soggy bottom!

Hope all is progressing well toward Christmas at your house. We will go out back on our property and find a tree that will work for our Christmas tree this year. We think we spied something that will work well. We were going to get a permit to cut one down on National Forest property but opted for the easier route.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ~ Hymn

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

Words: Unknown

So Fast…

This little girl is growing so fast. It seems that now that we are much closer in distance I take fewer photos. In fact none of the photos I’m sharing today came from my camera. Oye.

She has some new skills like smelling her own feet after a workout with her mommy.

High fiving!

Scrunchy smiles for selfies.

Fun times bringing out the snowman décor with her mommy.

In my defense when I’m around her she wants me to play with her, not take pictures. When we are playing it’s hard to get a good photo. I’ll try harder. It’s easier when her aunts and uncles are around to distract her and play with her.

Although I’m a tad sad that she’s growing so fast, I’m thankful she’s growing up right before our eyes!

Oh, Come, Little Children

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Oh, Come, Little Children

Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.

Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.

Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.

Words: Christoph von Schmid, 1794

A friend of ours faxed me the music and words for O Come Little Children in the Russian language. I learned this song by heart in Russian and it’s been fun to sing it this week. We have started the Advent Season and I’ll be posting Christmas Music for the rest of the month. Some of the words in Russian translate different than the English version.

Preparations have started at our Country Bungalow for Christmas. In the midst of it all Dear is still painting so some of my decorating will happen later. We gave Addy the Little People Manger set and we opened it up together on Friday at our 2nd Thanksgiving. We’ll keep it at Baba and Gramps’ house for her to play with when she comes to visit. She gives us such joy. We will treasure the Christmas memories we make this year being close by. A few Christmas Cd’s and other favorites are playing at our bungalow today. Good music with truth spoken helps to prepare my heart and mind for this most wonderful time of year. “You give me everything I need”.  “Look Up Child”.