Christmas is a lot of things to me

Mostly it's a celebration of Christ's birth. A reflection of the past year. A look forward to the new year. Time to give to those less fortunate (preferably, without making a big deal about doing so too). Time for family and friends that you don't get spend as much time with as you'd like to through out the year. Baking, caroling, decorating (my family LOVES the decorating).

Growing up I was a preacher's kid, followed by a Air Force chaplain's kid (Yes, I am a PK/CK which is a precher's kid/chaplain's kid/military brat. Since I moved so much growing up, the decorating and the baking were the tangible things that made the holiday, no matter where we were, feel like we were home. The traditions I grew up with...like the celebration of Advent my husband and I have past on to our own children. Another tradition we have is we put up 2 old artificial trees 14 & 12 years old, respectively, every year. Some may think it's excessive, and, yes, it isn't necessary, but the 14 year old one my husband and I bought at Target Greatland in Ft. Myers during our 2nd Christmas together for $29.99 (along with the $1.99 ornaments we bought to fill in the empty space that year, and we still have those ornaments). We've taken very good care of it and it has lasted. A lot of fond memories of friends and relatives who have passed on are attached to that little tree. Most of the kiddos handmade ornaments and ornaments given to them by family members now adorn that little tree. The other tree we bought was a little larger and we bought it the 2nd year in our house. The ornaments on that tree are from around the world, as they belonged to my husband when he was a kid & to me when I was a kid. There are also the ornaments we bought on our honeymoon. The ones that commemerate the births of each of our children. There is literally a story behind every single one. The kids love hearing the stories and putting them up is one of their favorite things to do each year. In a since these trees contain our family history, and it doesn't matter if there's a lot or a little underneath them... it is what they represent to us...family, and all the times and things that God has brought us through.

What are your family traditions this time of year?

Christmas is a lot of things to me

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-is-lot-of-things-to-me.html

Update on my mom & a word of thanks!

As most of you know, my mom has been in the hospital since Monday, July 14th, when she had her surgery. After a slight set back or two, I'm happy to let you all know that she is OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND BACK HOME! She still has some recovery of course, but she is home!

I cannot begin to express to you all how much each and everyone of your kind words, thoughts, wishes, and prayers have helped me and my family. I would love to give you all a great big hug personally, but since that obviously isn't possible I at least want to say "Thank you! Thank you all from the very bottom of my heart!" You've all helped me more than you will ever know and I will forever be greatful for the kindness, concern, and compassion I have been shown, even from those that I only know "cyberly" and not "personally".

Update on my mom & a word of thanks!

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2008/07/update-on-my-mom-word-of-thanks.html

My mom's doing FANTASTIC!!!

Quick update:

Yesterday she was moved out of ICU and into a "Regular" Room. Today they made her do her walks. First one was 25 ft. Second one was 50 ft. The most recent one was 150 ft. The doctors are very happy and if all goes well she should be home this coming Tuesday. (For those following along, that's 1 week and 1 day after major surgery!) I will let you know if this actually happens.

I saw her last night, and she is still in a lot of pain, but not nearly as much as she was when I saw her earlier this week.

I want to thank you all for your kind words, thoughts, support, and prayers. My family also greatly appreciates them as well.

My mom's doing FANTASTIC!!!

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-moms-doing-fantastic.html

Latest Update on my mom

Just got a text from my dad and to quote him "The surgery on {my mom's name} is a miracle! Both surgeons are able to work at the same time! PRAISE GOD!" They were closing her up, according to the text, about 15 minutes ago. I will, of course, continue to keep you all posted!

Latest Update on my mom

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2008/07/latest-update-on-my-mom.html

Interesting Easter Facts . . . How 'bout that!

This is something my mom emailed me the other day...so for those wondering "WHY EASTER IS SOOOOOOO EARLY THIS YEAR" here's your answer.

Easter is special every year, but this year there's even one more reason for celebration. This is pretty neat.

Easter this year is: Sunday March 23, 2008. As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! Only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts:
The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Interesting Easter Facts . . . How 'bout that!

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2008/02/interesting-easter-facts-how-bout-that.html

"WEAK-MINDED"?!?!?!?! or Why I am the way I am. (Originally posted onFriday, September 14, 2007)

I reposted a bulletin on MySpace entitled "My Best Friend", and the response I've gotten in some ways has just shocked me...some people just reposted it...others didn't...others responded to me personally with their thoughts and still others questioned me and my "weak-mindedness". It is the latter of that list that shocks me.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I am a Christian, but they also know (or at least I hope that they know) that I am not judgemental of them. I always try to see things from another person's point of view, AND above all I always at least try to be kind and considerate to others.

That being said, the reason I am shocked is that I simply put out there what I believe and am thought to be "weak-minded"??? I was raised in a Christian home and I am a preacher's kid. It was in that home that I was taught to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. It was also in that home that I was taught that no one is perfect and everyone deserves a second chance. I was also taught to try to live a "Christ-like" life, which I don't even claim to have come close to doing, but I do think I've done well in the being kind, giving and considerate to others department. I have friends of so many different faiths (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu,Wiccan,Taoist) and I work in an environment where people are not easily offended, because they cannot afford to be, and do their jobs properly...if the tone of the post "My Best Friend" came across as preachy, then it is for THAT...that I am sorry. I am NOT, however, sorry for the content.

If I were to go off the handle at someone for saying to me "Blessed Be" or writing encouraging words to me such as "Compromise to please others is not as good as integrity that annoys others. Rather than be praised without being good, it is better to be slandered without being bad. " (a Taoist teaching) Where would my "Christ-likeness" be in that? Instead I just take the encouraging words for what they are...encouragement.

My friends and I have been known to get into discussions about faith where we ultimately decide that we need to "agree to disagree". Now are they "weak-minded" for not further sharing their beliefs...or am I for NOT becoming the stereotypical, tyrannical, fanatical Christian that people fear, but instead remaining the caring Christian person I profess to be?

OK, I'm getting preachy again so I'll back off..

Basically, I'm a preacher's kid who later became a chaplain's kid and then later as an adult had some life experiences that shook me to my core and made me STRONGLY QUESTION my own beliefs...(for more on those just ask...that's another story all in and of itself). The only things that got me through were my faith, my family, and my friends. If what I believe and how I believe it makes me "weak-minded" then so be it! Maybe the world would be a better place if we all were so "weak-minded" that we "agreed to disagree" when necessary...and took the passing on of others thoughts and beliefs as simply them exercising their 1st Ammendment Rights...but there I go getting on my soap-box again...

"WEAK-MINDED"?!?!?!?! or Why I am the way I am. (Originally posted onFriday, September 14, 2007)

http://andthisismypart.blogspot.com/2007/12/weak-minded-or-why-i-am-way-i-am.html