Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Gift of a Gingerbread House



For some reason God decided that I was to have a very nice Christmas. Normally I get very stressed out trying to create something that is a cross between a Norman Rockwell painting and Better Homes and Gardens. One thing I do love is watching others enjoy Christmas festivities. Karen wanted to continue the tradition of making gingerbread houses even though I had disbanded the idea after they turned 18 and I kept growing around the hips. Two weeks before Christmas she and I went over to my moms place and put her tree up and decorated the apartment for her. Karen had bought two gingerbread kits at Target and brought them with her. My mom had a blast frosting the roof and putting on the mountain variety of candy that Karen had brought with her. She even called a friend down from 2nd floor to share in the fun. You haven't lived until you've seen two 87-yr-old ladies frosting a gingerbread house and eating licorice whips! It was truly a success! I told her to keep it at her place so she could show her friends her newly built Christmas gingerbread house and I would'nt have to worry about growing any larger around the hips. I told Karen she has a true gift with seniors especially the one she's related to and we would definitely repeat the tradition. Hopefully my mom will be able to enjoy it again next year however every day is a gift when your 87.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Wake Me When It's Over


More snow is in the forecast. Someone commented to me the other day that this winter is referred to as "our fathers winter" because years ago this would be considered a normal winter. I don't remember complaining as much since I was probably playing in it rather than shoveling it and before that I suppose long, long ago there was warm bricks to put at your feet and a fireplace to warm the room kind of like in "Little House on the Prairie" days. Sometimes I wish I could experience that for maybe a day or two and then go back to my normal days today even though there is snow in the forecast and I have no where else to put it. It sure brings out the neighbors, though!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

White Christmas Cartoon Song



This is really fun. Espcially listened to on an IPod while shoveling the MASSIVE amounts of snow that we use to enjoy sliding on but now shovel it, drive through it (if at all possible) and watch it fall out our dining room windows while the snowplow goes by and blocks us in from getting to our cars so we can continue to shovel it and drive through it. I'm going to snuggle under the covers, read a good book, and wait for spring. If I dream it won't be about a white Christmas. Wake me when it over.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Happy Birthday to me... I think.

I always wanted to marry a farmer because I loved horses and being outdoors. I came close since my birthday is in December and parties are always planned around the weather much like the crops. Unfortunately the party this year was cancelled due to a snowstorm. Sometimes we have to roll with the punches even if they come in inches.
Anyway since it is my official day I thought I'd do a Jen Gan*yo and share a list of a few things even my closest friends don't know about me. Daring I know, but I DID say just a few. Here goes:

1. I lost my car once. I was 22 and had parked it downtown. I was sure it was where it obviously wasn't. Long story short, called the cops, listed as missing or stolen. Three days later I had to go to work so I took a bus which ended up being the wrong one and when I got off the bus the driver told me to cross the street kitty-corner and wait for the other bus. When I got off, well, there was the car. It wasn't stolen. As I looked around me I realized that that is where I originally parked it. (And you think losing your car at a mall is bad). Obviously taking the wrong bus isn't always a bad thing either.

2. I'm a published song-writer. I was 25 in a large Christian Community of Catholic/Protestants and was in their music ministry. I wrote a baptism song for my first child and it became popular among many people in the community after that. The community music group played it for my son's baptism. When my youngest was baptised I used it for his by having some people from the church perform it. They crucified it. Not everyone can read music or they suck at it. I used it for a retreat for my church and a lady came up to me and told me I sang very well. I told her I wrote the song, I didn't sing the song. It ended up on a record album the community made and you can find it at any flea market or garage sale. So much for fame and glory. The lesson here is just because Mariah Carey sings those songs, it doesn't mean she wrote the songs.

3. I was once in an accordian band. I took lessons for about 4 years and they had a 35 piece band of kids with accordians. I had alot of fun with it. I use to take my accordian up to my grandparents lake home and sit on the end of the dock and play for the fish - mostly sunnies. I was 10. Every Christmas my accordian teacher would give me one of those lifesaver books with the lifesaver candy in them. I think of her every Christmas when I see those.

4. This last one is for those with lots of faith so be forewarned. I use to suffer from what was medically termed Benign Positional Vertigo. It is hereditary (my mom has it), and it would happen about once a month. You wake up in the morning with extreme dizziness especially if you close your eyes and then open them. The whole room spins back and forth. It can go on for hours. Someimes I wouldn't be able to make it to the bathroom because I would be so dizzy and then end up throwing up before I got there. Anyway I was at a luncheon at some friends homes that were a part of this community I was in. They asked if anyone would like prayers for anything or anybody. I spoke up and asked if they would pray for a healing of my vertigo. My friends gathered around, laid hands on me, and prayed that God would heal me. I have never had an episode since. That was 30 years ago.

In honor of my mother who carried me 9 months and brought me into the world 60 years ago today I post the following picture.