December Daily - December 31

This is the December 31 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

I really did not like the quote on the prompt for today and so I changed it. :)

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

Write: What are your New Year's resolutions? I don't ever make resolutions. The years I have, I've not kept them and they've usually been forgotten by March 1. In at the end of 2007, I came across Ali Edwards' blog post about her word for the year 2008 (her post about her word for 2010 along with links to her 2007, 2008 and 2009 word posts can all be found here). Since much in my world was going to be in a state of upheaval in 2008, I decided to join those choosing a word and I chose FOCUS. I did pretty well focusing on being a wife, a mom, a full-time employee, and a kindergarten teacher. However, my life was lacking something significant with my family - gentleness, especially in my speech. So, I decided that my word for 2009 would be GENTLE. There were days and times that I was anything but gentle - but I never forgot day-to-day that my goal was to be more gentle. I wish I could say I was successful and saw a great increase in gentleness. I did see some improvement in my interaction with my kids when I was irritated but not enough for me. I can and should do better - and I have had some conversations with friends to help me in that pursuit. I was more quick to seek forgiveness from them and the Lord when I was not gentle. So, knowing how 2009 went, and knowing how I struggle and what qualities I need to cultivate in my life - my word for 2010 is KINDNESS. And, thanks to Jennifer I have the verses I am going to use for 2010: Colossians 2:12-14

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

And not only does it hit on kindness - but compassion, gentleness and patience -- things I need to work on as well.

Photograph - take a photo of yourself in the mirror or pose for a photo. We'll see about that... :) We are going out for a while, so I may take one while I have hair fixed, make-up on and am in something other than yoga pants and a sweatshirt!

Our do today is to go to the store for sparkling cider for the kids. I'm making the Saltine Toffee candy for tonight, too.

Remember - recall a significant New Year celebration -- of course, that would be New Year's Eve 1999...awaiting the "doomsday" that would bring the Y2K bug and the collapse of modern civilization when computers rolled to using 00 as the year in MM/DD/YY. {wink} My beeper didn't go off (I worked in hospital IT at the time). I called in to see if I would have to go to the hospital - we were scheduled in shifts, just in case we were needed to keep things functioning through the night. I called in, things were fine. Perfect, even. No need to come in - at all! The clinic system I supported had seven very small, very fixable Y2K issues that weren't covered by their Y2K update. They installed a patch and everything went smoothly from that point forward. How do I remember something crazy like "seven small issues"? Because we had to predict - written and signed - how many issues our supported system would have with Y2K. The winner got a large (very large) AmEx gift cheque (this was in the days before gift cards, you know). I guessed 5. I was closest. I won. :) W00ts! That ushered in what turned out to be a very good year for me - despite turning 35 and still not being pregnant, it was a good year.

December Daily - December 30

This is the December 30 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.  ~Mother Theresa

Write about your favorite activities, accomplishments or milestones this year.   Definitely one of my favorite activities was also an accomplishment for me and a milestone for Elizabeth - we completed our first year of homeschooling in May!   I loved teaching Elizabeth, though there were days that we'd have to take a break because she wasn't focused and I wasn't patient.  Always a good opportunity to learn forgiveness and humility - and hopefully instill that in my kids.  Elizabeth loved spending a week with her grandparents in mid-May.  Katherine loved graduating from pre-K and starting kindergarten.  She spent a few days with her grandparents in November - though she called me sobbing one night and has decided she doesn't want to go alone again.  Annie had a great time growing, being a big sister to Harrison and going to the TN Aquarium (we're members now).  Harrison had a BIG year - he turned one and three days later, started walking!!!!  What a joy that was to see...and capture on camera!!  Check out what a baby he was compared to now!  {sniff} My baby is growing so quickly!!!!! 

Photograph something related to love.  Wow.  Um, I have no idea what I'm going to take a picture of - no idea at all!

Our "do" today - more games and family time.  I'm loving all the games we're playing together though I'm not always loving the teaching opportunities.  Ahem.  :)

Remember ~ Spend a few minutes thinking about how far you have come, whether this year, or in life.   A lot has gone on this year that I don't have the freedom to discuss here - a lot of conversations happened that needed to happen, ties severed, ties re-established.  2009 was not as difficult as 2008 in some ways, but in other ways it was more difficult.  I set out with the desire to be more gentle in 2009 and I didn't do well.  At all.  Blew. It.  All I can do is hope that 2010 will be better than 2009 in that respect and many others...but that's a post for tomorrow, isn't it?  :) 

December Daily - December 29

This is the December 29 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

At Christmas, all roads lead home.  ~Marjorie Holmes

Write about the importance to you of holiday cards and letters - photograph holiday correspondence.  I usually share our holiday letter on the blog because I do one. :) I love them.  I love reliving our year and noting the highlights.  I love trying to capture each child's personality in just a few sentences.   I love getting them, I love reading them.  I love cards - regular cards and photo cards.  I display them in a green wire basket that is shaped like a tree and I have spiral-bound scrapbooks full of past years' holiday cards and letters.  Usually two years-worth will fit into one album.  The girls love looking at them!

This year, I included a small photo of each child beside their little moment of holiday letter fame.  I also included a family photo (used a "premade" at Sam's rather than do one myself...I'm trying to recreate it, but PSE is giving me fits.  I'll upload it later!)  So, with no further ado - here is the 2009 holiday letter from the Eggs. 

Was it just me or did 2009 zoom by for you, too?  Wow.  When Elizabeth Jane was born, I had a dear friend say to me, “The days will sometimes seem long, but the years will be so short.”  I didn’t “get” it then – but now?  I understand all too well!!  Time is flying, my babies are growing up and we’re trying to relish every minute of it (and not always succeeding, I admit!)

Elizabeth Jane is six, about to turn seven!! She’s in first grade at “Egg... Academy” and doing wonderfully.  This year, I’m glad to say she loves reading just as much as she loves math!  She spent a week with her grandparents in Tennessee in May and is hoping for an even longer visit with them in 2010. She is a Daisy Scout and loves being part of Sparks in AWANA at church.  She’s still anxiously awaiting being old enough to play volleyball.  She is such a sweet girl with a tender heart and helpful spirit.  We are thankful God has blessed us with her.



Katherine Martin (Nin) is five now.  She’s in kindergarten and we are homeschooling her as well.  She loves math and reading. She’s more excited every day about the words she can sound out.  She loves to sing, dance and perform – though she gets shy when she thinks anyone other than her siblings might be watching. She is also a Daisy Scout and in the Sparks Club in AWANA.   She’s the family clown and often makes us laugh aloud with the things she does and says. We love our sweet NinNin and are thankful God has enriched our lives with her.



Anne Lancaster (Annie or Bitsy) is celebrating her fourth birthday on the 22nd.  Her Sunday School teacher said, “Annie has such an infectious love of life!” and she does!  Annie is the child who happily greets everyone with an impish little grin and wrinkle of her nose.  That photo?  Totally Annie!  Of all our girls, Annie is the most outgoing.  As we are walking through church on Wednesday nights after Cubbies (Annie is a Cubbie in AWANA this year), I hear “Hi Annie!” or “Annie! I need a hug!!” from girls and boys through all grades.  Annie has the ability to make all of us smile and see the bright side.  She is most definitely a precious “Christmas gift” from God.


Thomas Harrison (Harrison or Buddy) is 22 months and now we’re beginning to understand the difference between boys and girls.  This little guy is a bundle of energy! His sisters have trouble keeping up with him, much less these old folks who are his parents!  His vocabulary is beginning to take off – when his sisters let him talk.  He loves cars and balls (he is a boy), baby dolls (showing his sensitive side), all sorts of technology (showing his “inner geek”…yes, he is my child!!!), and most of all…chocolate milk.  “Chocolate” is one of his favorite words.  He’s recently started hugging me and saying, “I uh you” (I love you) – needless to say, I melt every time.  He has added so much to our family – and if you don’t believe me, ask his other little mothers, errrr, ummmm…his sisters.  They’ll tell you “Harrison is the cutest baby boy God ever did make.”  I know I’m biased, but I have to agree.

Brad (Daddy) and Gina (Mommy…that’s me) are still competing for the title of “Most Boring Couple on the Planet.” We’re both in the same jobs we’ve had for many years (thankfully – that is not a complaint!!).  During basketball season, Brad can still be found sitting courtside and wearing stripes for the UALR Men’s and Women’s basketball teams…24 years now.  I am helping with Elizabeth and Katherine’s Daisy Girl Scout Troop (momentary lapse of sanity). Once a month, a big group of us who graduated from McClellan in the ‘80s get together – and it’s been fun to reconnect with old friends and schoolmates.  Otherwise,  we spend our days being Daddy and Mommy to all the kids in The Shoe (which is how my childhood friend John lovingly refers to my clan) and we are amazed that ten years ago we were beginning to think there never would be any little Eggs running around! 

I’ll close with our traditional Christmas greeting – one of my favorites to remind us of The Gift of Christmas: 

And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans -- and all that lives and moves upon them.  He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused – and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself. 

-    Sigrid Undset

December Daily - December 28

This is the December 28 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Peace and rest at length have come

All the day's long toil is past,

And each heart is whispering, "Home,

Home at last."

                        ~Thomas Hood

Write about the significance of "home" at holiday time.   You know the song:  "there's no place like home for the holidays, no matter how far you may roam...for the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home"  (I know some of you are hearing Perry Como singing it - I, however, have Karen Carpenter's version running through my head).   We have never travelled for the holidays; though there have been years when I wished we had. "Home" for me means "family" - and for a few years, mine wasn't together on Christmas.  My parents lived in New Hampshire for a couple of years (they were here one year during that time, though) - and in Arizona for a few years.  Christmas without my mom, dad, sister and her family, and brother just wasn't really Christmas.  I think that's why I threw myself into making stuff several years when they weren't here for Christmas.  Thankfully, though, we're all here in Central Arkansas now -- and all spend Christmas morning together. 

Photograph some of your favorite places in your home.  I wish I could say I have a "favorite" place in my home, but I don't.  My house is upside down thanks to everything being rearranged for Christmas and having six people living here (four of them little people).  Everything won't be back to "normal" until after the first of the year since we're having the carpets cleaned New Year's weekend.

Our "do" again today is to play games - Go Fish, maybe SkipBo, and - of course - Wii.  By the way, if you have Wii game suggestions, I'm all ears.   We're not making anything because Mommy is busy undecorating the tree!

Recall some of the homes you've spent holidays in. Do these places have special meaning to you?  Of course, this home - the one we live in now - we spent holidays here before it was our home because it was my sister's home.  She brought all her babies home from the hospital to this home.  I've brought all my babies home from the hospital to this home.  This house holds many, many wonderful family memories for us.

December Daily - December 27

This is the December 27 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.  ~Peg Bracken

What is the best gift you received this year?  Why?  As I posted on my Facebook status on Christmas night -- I'm such a mom!  My favorite gift this year is a 7-quart programmable CrockPot!  It's huge, it's programmable!!!!  The reviews I've read for this one are about half and half good and bad - so we'll see how it does Creamy Italian Chicken next week and I'll let you know if it's still my favorite. 

Photo today is of the gift or the giver.  The givers were Brad and the kids.  The gift?  It's already taken up residence in the cabinet and at this point I'm not going to take it out to photograph it - so here's a picture of it from the website (copied to my PC first - not stealing bandwidth)

All of our "do" things right now are to take down Christmas decorations. I'm ready to get it out of here!  We are playing Wii some (we got a Wii the day after Christmas) as well as SkipBo, Go Fish, Sorry! and Trouble.  We're having fun playing games!!! 

Remember some memorable gifts you were given through the years. What made them special to you?  I remember the year that my mom grabbed my arm and said, "When you open your gift from your brother, you'd better LOVE it.  He chose it himself."   He was six.  I was eighteen.  What could he possibly have chosen that Mom thought I'd hate?  They were these big, raspberry-colored, plastic "gemstone" earrings (clip-on).   She said he kept going back to them on the table at Dillard's saying I'd really like them because they were purple.  She kept trying to redirect him and he was adamant that I'd like these.  So, she bought them.  And you know what?  I loved them.  And because my baby brother chose them himself, I loved them even more.  I also got a navy blue wool sweater that year that had multi-color flecks in it -- teal, green, and...raspberry.  The big earrings went *perfectly* with the sweater and every time I wore the sweater (which I had for years) I wore the earrings.  Eventually, the sweater was way too out of style to be worn any longer - and the clip on the earrings broke.  So, I stopped wearing both.  However, the earrings are still in my jewelry box because they are still precious to me and if I could get the clip fixed...I'd totally wear them!  They scream 1980s but I don't care.  :)  They're FUN. 

December Daily - December 26

This is the December 26 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

How long do you keep your holiday decorations up?  I start undecorating as soon as I possibly can - usually on Christmas night. However, I was so tired this year, I didn't start decorating until today.  I haven't started on the tree yet - I'll start on it tomorrow after church.

Photograph what you're up to on the day after Christmas.  I went shopping early this morning - bought a new tree for next year (7.5' prelit - decided against the 9' tree so maybe we won't have to totally rearrange our family room to put up the tree).  We also pooled some of our Christmas money and bought a Wii.  I ironed while Brad and the kids played.  I played for a bit and then had to get ready for Lions' Night Out.  I didn't take a photo of shopping, I didn't get a photo of us/me wii'ing - so you get a photo of me at LNO with my dear friend, Kim.  I've known Kim since we were in elementary school.  Always have a great time with her.

Remember:  Did you have any decoration take-down traditions as a child?  People have decoration take-down traditions?  I didn't.  Don't have any now beyond "get it down and out of my way!"  :) 

December Daily - December 25

Merry Christmas!!!  This is the December 25 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.  ~Margaret Thatcher

Describe your Christmas Day in detail.  I'm blogging the detail as asked so it's documented for us later...  I went to bed sometime after 1:30a.m. after getting all the gifts together, boxing and wrapping what needed to be boxed and wrapped, and putting all the stuff in stockings.  It was a little bit difficult and took longer than it should have because Harrison had gone to bed at 7:00 and then woke up at 10:00 - apparently thinking he'd slept all night.  I was having to try to keep him out of everything while I tried to wrap.  He finally went and got in bed with Brad at about 12:30 (Brad had been in bed for about 2 hours by that point and I think he was already asleep)  Thankfully, the big girls slept until a little after 7:30 - then they came into our room, "Mommy! It's Christmas morning! Merry Christmas!!! We celebrate Jesus' birthday today! Merry Christmas!"  Annie was still asleep, as was Harrison.  We told them they couldn't go into the family room until I was ready with the camera and the two little kids were awake.  One of them woke Harrison and Elizabeth actually carried Annie into the family room (yes, I have a picture of that).

The big girls had originally said they wanted to open all their gifts at Boop & Paw's house. I knew that wouldn't last - and it didn't.  Brad wants the kids to open their gifts in an orderly fashion so that everyone sees what everyone else gets.  They open them one at a time, taking turns.  Elizabeth started, then Nin, then Annie, then Harrison - and so on, until we got to the last gift for each - then we went in reverse age order so that Elizabeth opened her luggage last.  After opening gifts, we did stockings - which is a free-for-all.  Everyone does their stockings at the same time.  Then we all got ready to go to Boop & Paw's house. 

We arrived at my parents' at 9:30 - my sister and her family, my brother and his family were all already there and had almost finished eating.  We wolfed down breakfast and then opened our "stockings" from my parents and the gifts from other family members.   We cleaned up the mess, loaded back into the van and came home.  Once everything had been put away here, I went to bed and slept for four hours.  And that...was our Christmas in a nutshell.  I'm sure I've left out significant parts!

Our do today is just to celebrate the day, do What God Wants for Christmas and have a fun family day.  We've played Trouble and we're eyeing Sorry! :) 

Remember: What special Christmas Day rituals do you always have?  (food, clothing, gift-giving, visits, etc)   Now that we have several children, each child opens one gift starting from oldest to youngest - and we go through all the gifts that way until everyone has opened all their gifts.  If we get any gifts early, we typically hold those until Christmas morning.  I love being able to really see each child's reaction to each gift.  Makes for a very fun time - and some great photos! 

December Daily - December 24

This is the December 24 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Even as an  adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve.  Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age.  ~Carrie Latet

Our Christmas Eve traditions:

Our traditions have evolved as our family has grown.  When it was just me and Brad, we went to Conway to celebrate Christmas Eve with my biological father's family.   When I was pregnant with Elizabeth, I started having contractions on Christmas Eve.  On the advice of my OB, who didn't want me having my first baby while he was out of town, we stayed in Little Rock (even though Conway isn't far away) and went to the Christmas Eve service at church.  Since then, we've typically gone to the candlelight service at church.  One year, we came home from the hospital with a new baby on Christmas Eve!

Photograph something that means warmth - we need all the warmth we can get today. It's rainy, nasty, wet out there!  How about a photo of all of us in our Jingle 'Jammies?  Well, technically only Brad's are Jingle Jammies from Old Navy...but the phrase is cute and I'm using it.  :)    

We're not really doing or making today - just getting ready for tomorrow.  We were going to go to the candlelight service at church tonight; however, the weather today has shut down so much of Little Rock, we're staying home. 

Remember: recall some early morning holidays: excitement, sleeplessness, anticipation, rituals.  I remember the years my mom would tell us "go back to bed!"  because we'd gotten up so early (and she'd been up sooooo late!).  As we got older, the rule became: "No opening gifts before 7:00!  Do NOT wake us before then!!"  So, my sister and I would get up early to fix our hair and do our make-up (prideful much?)  We didn't want to go down in history with bed-head and no make-up - taking all the fun out of Christmas morning photos! 

December Daily - December 23

This is the December 23 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Love the giver more than the gift.  ~Brigham Young

Wow. There's actually something Brigham Young said that I can agree with.  ;) 

Do you hang stockings? Does your stocking have special meaning?  My mom made my stocking 29 years ago (she put the date on it). I made Brad's stocking while we were dating.

Photo:  Stockings (hung up or close-up of details)   Here are the kids' stockings - as you can see (a) Harrison's portrait still needs to be framed (b) Mine and Brad's stockings aren't hung up (never are) (c) I never got my mantle decorated for Christmas because someone in my house said, "I'm not getting the boxes out of the attic" and it's that person's job - so...no mantle decorations. 

Our "do" for today:  We're supposed to go look at Christmas lights tonight but...I'm not sure that's going to happen.  I am, however, about to get my sewing machine out and we're making paper bag albums for the kids if they get their bedroom cleaned up.  Finally!!!

Remember:  What traditions do you have relating to stockings?  What normally goes in them? Anything unexpected?   We don't really have any traditions, per se,  relating to stockings.  We put small gifties in them - always a package of tissues, some candy, some lip balm, a notepad, and a pen or pencil.   I don't think there's ever been anything unexpected in the stockings. 

December Daily - December 22

This is the December 22 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Christmas Day in the comopany of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive. ~Robert Lynd

Name one holiday ritual you practice because it reminds you of childhood.   Driving around looking at holiday lights is probably the one thing we do that most reminds me of childhood and since I did it and loved it as a kid, we do it with our children. 

The photo today is supposed to be of the ritual or an object associated with it.  We won't be driving around looking at lights until tomorrow (12/23) so I'll have to take this photo later.

Our "do" today is Annie's little party with friends and we're going out to dinner to celebrate her birthday.   We'll be making Annie little birthday cards. 

Remember: what specific recollections do you have about your childhood ritual that stand out in your mind?  I remember always going to the state capital to see the nativity scene.  Not sure they even have it there any longer - we'll have to see tomorrow night!  And driving through downtown Little Rock to see the Worthen bank building with the Christmas tree in lights - they put a green coating in certain office windows so that at night, when those lights were left on,  you see a tree.  Loved that when I was little - and they still do it.  Only it's not the Worthen building any more.  Or was it Union?  One of those...  :)

December Daily - December 21

This is the December 21 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side  and his quiet home!" ~Charles Dickens

What is the significance of light during the holidays?  Well, let's see...this is the time when we celebrate the Incarnation of the Light of the World (John 8:12).  The angel appeared to the shepherds and "the glory of the Lord shone around them..."  (Luke 2:9)  The star brought the magi from the East to see the young child (Matthew 2:2).  The incarnation is full of the mention of light (assuming that the glory of the Lord is light since it "shone" and typically, we speak of light shining).  So, it's only fitting that stars and candles fill our celebration of Christmas.

Photograph holiday lights - we are going to go out looking at lights either tomorrow (Tuesday) night or Wednesday night.  We haven't decided yet - and it'll be up to Annie since tomorrow is her birthday.  But, when we go out, I'll take photos.  I also need to take photos of our house with the lights on.

The girls got Sorry! (the game) as their Advent calendar gift today and we'll be having family game night tonight.  That is our "do."  Our "make" is cupcake for Annie's birthday.  We're having Annie's two best friends, their siblings and mommies over for cupcakes -- a total of 14 children and 3 mommies.  It will be fun!!! 

Remember:  Do you have traditions relating to light? (lights, candles, fire, etc?)  No, no traditions. 

December Daily - December 20

This is the December 20 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.  ~W.J. Cameron

Write about something you feel incredibly blessed and grateful for.  Oh, that's easy!  My family, but especially my children. It's not that I don't feel blessed with the husband I have - or that I'm ungrateful for him - but I didn't long for him like I did for our children.  And honestly, I'm at a point in life where I need to remind myself how long I waited and how I yearned and how I cried and prayed like Hannah for Samuel.   By the time Elizabeth Jane was born, we'd waited 9 days shy of 10 years for her!  What a joy.  And when each baby was added, we were overjoyed - and yes, overwhelmed.  But oh, what sweetness they have brought into my life.  I laugh at things I never thought I'd laugh at.  I've said things I never thought I'd say ("get your finger out of your brother's nose", for instance). I've done things I said I'd never do (why, yes, that is an inflatable snowglobe in my front yard, thankyouverymuch).  :)   I hear my mother in my voice - saying the very things that used to make me roll my eyes.  Well, since I'm being honest here - they still make me roll my eyes only now I'm doing it at myself because "I can't believe I just said that, I sound just like my mother!!"  Yes, my children - I am incredibly blessed to have them and grateful for them.


The photo today is "smiles, hands, hugs, laughter, or the thing you're grateful for"  How about a sample?  I love this photo of Harrison-boy - asleep in front of the tree:

  
Do - we are having Annie's birthday party today so that's our "do" - what fun it will be.   No "make" activity today.


Remember:  If you're a parent, how have the holidays changed since you've had children?  Do you celebrate differently now?    I've changed the way I decorate the tree - and this year, there aren't any ornaments on the bottom third of my tree since Harrison pulls everything off that he can reach.  This is actually the first time I've had to do that!  All decorating is different, definitely more child-friendly.  And we've added a "yard ornament" with our big, inflatable snowglobe.  :)   There's the added fun of buying gifts and hiding them (which is getting to be difficult!!).  We hang a "Santa key" on our front door - it only works for him.  We put out magical reindeer oats (oats and sanding sugar).  We leave a plate of cookies and a can of Dr. Pepper out for Santa (bet you didn't know Santa likes Dr. Pepper, did you?).   I jump at every noise after the kids go to bed, afraid someone is going to walk out while I'm wrapping gifts - not so much that they'll know about Santa (two of them already do) but that they'll see what they're getting.   I view all the decorations through the eyes of a child - and the more Clark Griswold-y it is, the more they love it -- and that, my friends, makes it FUN.  :)

December Daily - December 19

This is the December 19 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Christmas gift suggestions:  To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.   ~Oren Arnold

Write about an object or holiday item you inherited.  I think when most of us think "inherited" we think someone bequeathed it to me when they died.  In that respect, I've not "inherited" any holiday decor. I have recently been given some ornaments that my husband's late grandmother made - pinecones made out of large gold sequins and styrofoam balls. They're old, handmade, and I love them.  I also love the "bling" they add to the tree!  When I married, my mother let me take all "my" ornaments that had been hanging on our tree when I was growing up.  One of those ornaments is now valued at about $500.00, which is insane if you ask me! But apparently some people will pay that much for it!


Photo of the day - my "item" on display.  My Frosty Friends ornament isn't on the tree this year - after putting the kids ornaments on the tree, I wasn't left with much space (I didn't have as much tree to decorate this year...had to leave the bottom third pretty much empty).  However, Grandma Egg's ornaments are on the tree and I'm having a hard time photographing them.  I'll try later today with natural light coming in the window.



We're finishing up getting ready for Annie's birthday party tomorrow and have to run out to my parents' house to drop off some stuff.  While out there, we're going to get the ornaments for the tree in Harrison's room and we'll decorate it tonight - the girls did their trees last night.  It should be fun!  


Recall a specific instance in connection with your inherited item. What makes it significant to you?   My husband loves seeing his grandmother's ornaments on the tree.  I can only hope that when the time comes, my children will love seeing ornaments their grandfather painted on their trees - as my mother-in-law has recently given me some balsa wood ornaments that my father-in-law painted.  They're not fancy, but that's what is so great about them.  :) 

December Daily - December 18

This is the December 18 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

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.  ~ Longfellow

Write about the idea of "good will" and its significance at the holidays.  To me, the "good will" of the holiday season is the "good will of God" toward mankind through the birth of His Son. Plain and simple.

Photograph something that exemplifies the idea of good will or giving.  Hmmm...I'll have to think on that one and share it later, perhaps

It's another "no daddy day" in our house; however, yesterday we got a great gift from some friends - "A Charlie Brown Christmas Game" and we're going to let that be our "do" today.  We are going to play it.  Looking forward to it!!   I'm going to start working on Annie's birthday cake so that's our/my "make' today. 

Remember: Recall a time when you felt what you'd call "the spirit of the holidays."   The year I made everything...while I worked full-time and prepared for the Y2K doomsday! :)  Had such a great Christmas that year.  Would love to be able to get back to that again and we're going to start toward that end in January resuming our Family Craft Days.  Can't wait!!

December Daily - December 17

This is the December 17 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, an you know that they about and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.  ~Charles Dana, editorial in NY Sun, 1897, to a letter

Do you have traditions related to Santa Claus or other holiday visitors?  Yep.  Already had that conversation here and don't really care to rehash it.  Santa is not the end-all-be-all of our holiday celebration. Santa isn't the reason we celebrate Christmas.  He's just part of all the doings.  We don't avoid Santa. We don't tell other children what we know to be true about Santa. When cashiers in the store ask, "Are you ready for Santa?" we politely nod, smile and brightly say, "Yes!"  We don't feel the need to pontificate. 

Photograph today: an image of the visitor that comes to your house every year.  Is this where I put a photo of an exhausted Mommy & Daddy?  {smile}  How about a shot of the adorable ornament I got this year?  I love the swirly hat and beard, the housetops along the bottom of his coat, the gift in his hand, and how happy he is.  Cute little Santa.

Our "do" today - it's a Wednesday - is simply to work on AWANA verses and get ready for AWANA Christmas parties tonight.  Our "make" was thanks to my friend Jennifer...we had scones for breakfast this morning. They. Were. Yummy!

Remember:  Recall preparations you made for Santa or other holiday visitors.   We always left cookies and milk for Santa.  And Santa always ate them.  Always "drank" the milk  He actually poured it back in the carton as my dad is allergic to milk...eventually we stopped leaving milk and told Mom to make him a pot of coffee.  Had to go to bed early and once we were old enough, we didn't have to go to sleep, we just had to STAY in our rooms.  While Santa was a big deal (Santa WAS the holiday in our house when I was a kid), preparations for Santa weren't, really.

December Daily - December 16

This is the December 16 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.  ~Hamilton Wright Mable

What are you most excited to give this year?  Hmmm.  Different things for each child, of course -- We got Elizabeth a three-piece set of hot pink luggage.  She's asked for "big girl" luggage a couple of times.  Thought this would be great since she's hoping to spend some extended time with her grandparents in late spring/early summer.   We got Katherine a great little Vera Bradley purse (hello...SEVENTY PERCENT OFF...when Crabtree & Evelyn closed)  I think she's going to love having her own *real* purse to carry to church.  Annie is getting a Tag Junior reader for her birthday and we're piling on the books for that for her.  She's going to *love* it.    And sweet little Harrison loves books.  Loves. Them.  We're giving him books, too - especially a new copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear because it and Are You My Mother? are his favorite books at the moment.  He's literally torn up the copy of Brown Bear that we had because he's carried it EVERY where.  Books don't like sinks and showers very much, you know.  :) 

I'm supposed to photograph a close-up shot of wrapped gifts - but there won't be wrapped gifts under my tree until Christmas Eve...because I have a toddler!  Can't do it.   I'll take one, though, and put it on my page for today when I scrap it.

Do and Make - we're going to spend today getting ready for Annie's birthday party on Sunday.

Remember:  Do you have any gift-wrapping or gift-giving traditions? How have these influenced the way you wrap and give now?    My mom used to put lots of ribbons and bows on our gifts when I was a kid (still does) and I love to do that for my kids as well.  I think it adds to the festiveness of the day.  And really, tons of curly ribbon is tons of fun!! 

December Daily - December 15

This is the December 15 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. ~ Agnes M. Pharo

Write about the idea of "hope" as it relates to the holidays.  The Advent of Christ - which is what we celebrate at Christmas - is the very definition of hope fulfilled.  The hope for Messiah - for a Savior - was delivered at Christ's Incarnation.   In I Timothy 1:1, Jesus Christ is referred to as our Hope.  And now, we hope for the second Advent - we live expectantly and looking forward to the possibility that it will happen any minute, any day.   So often, "hope for the holidays" is related to material possessions - or these days to the economy.  To me, that's not what hope is really all about.

Photograph something that represents what you hope for.   Hmmm, not sure how to photograph my hope for the second coming or my hope for Heaven.  So, how about if I share a photo of something I've hoped for in the past and seen that hope fulfilled?  This actually represents two things.  Children, of course, and a renewed relationship with my husband's parents (which was strained for 10 years)

The girls have to go to Girl Scouts tonight, so that will be their "do" - and they're having an investiture ceremony so it's a big deal.   We do have to wrap a gift for the troop leader.  These "last X before Christmas" things have sneaked up on me and I've got to get things together!!!  Because we have something scheduled that will take us out of the house, we won't do a "make" today.   Maybe Thursday!  I'm still holding out hope that we'll get paper bag albums made. 

Remember:  Has your idea of the promise of hope at the holidays changed since you became an adult?   Absolutely, but that's because I understand hope in a way that I didn't when I was a child. 

December Daily - December 14

This is the December 14 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis


Who do you typically celebrate the holidays with?  Christmas Eve is usually spent at church, if things aren't too crazy around here that day.  We have a candlelight service early in the evening.  Christmas morning is spent with my parents, my siblings and their families at my parents' house.  The rest of Christmas day is spent at home since Brad's family is out of state.

Photo for today is the smile of a loved one.  I'm choosing this photo of Annie, that I used in our holiday letter because it is typical Bitsy!  Love it. 

I don't have anything scheduled to do or make because the Monday after the church Christmas concert is usually one where we're all really tired.  We'll do the Advent calendar but that's it. 

Remember:  Recall the "usual holiday crowd" and then some exceptions.   We used to spend Christmas Eve at my aunt's house in Conway.  After she and my uncle divorced - the typical crowd included my biological father, my half-brother and sister, their spouses and kids, my grandmother, my aunt, my cousin, his wife and kids - and if they were in town, my other cousin, her husband and kids.  One year, however, the guests included my uncle.  And I don't mean my aunt's ex-husband, I mean my mother's brother - that uncle.  My mother's brother was dating my biological father's sister.  Ugh.  Entirely too much family-tree-intertwining for my tastes (and I'd said as much).  They didn't date for long, thankfully.  Though when I talk to one they still ask about the other; and my aunt has now remarried her ex-husband, which is a good thing. 

December Daily - December 13

This is the December 13 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~ Larry Wilde

Write about the importance to you of your holiday tree.  Real or fake?  Thanks to allergies (mine) our tree has to be fake.  This is the last year we'll be using our current tree - it's a 9-foot pre-lit tree and some of the lights are not working, enough that it's an issue and is time to replace the tree. I love having a 9-foot tree, especially this year since I can only decorate the top 2/3s of it thanks to a toddler who loves to take ornaments OFF as quickly as I put them on!  I have collected Hallmark Ornaments since I was a kid, plus my kids each have a series AND they each get an ornament from my mom  so I need a lot of tree! 

My photo today is of our tree - droopy branches and all.

Our "do" today is attend worship in the morning and our choir and orchestra's concert this afternoon.

Depending on what time we get home this evening.  We'll either work on Christmas paper bag albums or we'll work on gingerbread village.  Not sure which.


Remember: Do you have rituals or traditions relating to your holiday tree?   Brad usually sets up the tree while I'm out on Black Friday.  The tree skirt we use is one that I made for Brad's tree when we were dating.   He wants me to make a new one.  He wants to trace the kids' hands on felt each year, embroider the year (and initials) on the felt tracing and then sew them onto the skirt.  He's wanted to do that every year since Elizabeth was a wee one.  I wish I'd started it when he first suggested it.  Wouldn't it have been fun to watch our family grow - physically and in numbers!  Something I definitely want to do.  Just have to find my tree skirt pattern and find a good tone-on-tone that I can use for it.  And decide what color!  (not white or cream, that much I know)  Beyond that, I can't think of other traditions we have regarding our tree. 

December Daily - December 12

This is the December 12 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.

Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? ~ Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life

Write about your favorite holiday movies or shows.  Funny that the quote for today is from It's a Wonderful Life.  I've never seen that movie.  And honestly, I've never had a burning desire to see it.   The "must see" holiday movies for me are:  A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, the Santa Clause movies, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story (I triple-dog dare you!!!), and all the claymation shows like Frosty, Rudolph, and especially The Year Without a Santa Claus.  Christmas of 2005 we had our own little Heatmiser...
Isn't that funny?  Her daddy, the nurse in the mother/baby unit, and her Mimi all pointed out to me with that wild hair, she looked like Heatmiser.  Poor baby girl.  :)

I think our "do" and "make" today are the same thing - we're building our little gingerbread village.  Mom gave it to me to use for the advent calendar and it was their gift today.  We'll do it today after lunch.  Our photo today will be of the kids watching Charlie Brown.  I have some Christmas shows on the DVR. 

Remember: Did your family have any must-watch shows as you were growing up?  No. We never did gather together to watch any holiday shows when I was a kid.  I think my dad suffered through them until we were old enough to have a tv in our room and at that point it was "go to your room to watch that!"