Goodnight 2008

Goodnight 2008. How how good you've been to me. Your brother 2007 brought a metaphorical storm that uprooted a half dead tree in our backyard that looked pretty and ornamental on the side facing out, but was half dead and spindley on the side facing in. This uprooting allowed more sunshine and light into our private garden. You helped my soul mate love and nurture me back to health. He was my best friend, my confidant, and the only one who understood. You opened our eyes to the years of famine we had both come to not only tolerate but embrace out of ignorance. We were equally ready to face our failures, and thus equally rewarded for it.

This summer, someone who hadn't seen me in a year looked at my face, cocked his head and said I looked refreshed, as if a burden had been taken off my shoulders. Oh yes 2008, they saw what you did! They saw that the weight I had carried around for many years and had resigned myself to had been lifted. I had no idea it could be read on my face.

2008, you even saved the best for last, because December has been dearest to us yet. I can tell you're opening another door. I can tell the best is yet to come. We're grateful, and our hearts are full.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

sweet christmas day

Highlights of my Christmas:

Sleeping in until 8am and lingering in bed with Jon for an hour. The kids are beyond the age of waking us up early on Christmas morning.

Eating eggnog french toast made by Jon. Eating fried left over mashed potatoes & onions & bacon made by Jon. Eating additional bacon on it's own. You can never eat too much bacon.

Getting some surprise presents from Jon, even though we had agreed to not buy each other anything.

Seeing Jon's face when I gave him a surprise present of a black soft thick wool hat that I knit, the kind like he's always wanted. I began it 2 days before Christmas!

Not having to be anywhere else but in our comfy home.

Learning that you can make a squash easy to peel by boiling the whole thing for about 5 minutes. Brilliant! Thanks Google.

Eating a homemade turkey dinner with all four of us sitting at the table at the same time (rare!). It was all sooooo yummy!

Getting EXTRA dark Lindor chocolates from Jon.

Enjoying my kids enjoying their presents. They didn't care that this Christmas's tree was not over-stuffed with presents as in years past.

Ending the evening with Jon opening a bottle of champagne and making a toast to our sweetest Christmas yet.

“He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Christmas Eve

Dear Diary,

It's Christmas Eve. Tonight we went to our church's Christmas Eve service. Jon thought it started at 6:30pm, but he was wrong. I normally would confirm the time with someone else, but I uncharacteristically didn't. We arrived a half-an-hour late. I'm kinda glad though, cuz even though it was awkward (eeeeek!!) walking in late, it affected me profoundly. Sounds mysterious huh? Let's just say I was reminded of heartfelt prayers I prayed last December. We'll leave it at that.

It was a nice service, but short for us, ha ha! I'm glad though.

We dropped the kids off at home and went to the house of a friend of Jon's, but just for an hour or so. Faith was not impressed. We had just missed the crowd, so it was just family that we hung out with. It was nice. I'm usually not comfortable with people I don't know from Adam (is that a saying?), but I liked being out of my element and just relaxing on their couch while sipping whiskey that we had brought mixed with Diet Coke that they had. My only concern was getting sleepy and becoming useless for the rest of the evening. Two strong drinks and I'm still operational. Phew! Jon and I plan to crack open a bottle of champagne later. How romantic!

Well I still have presents to wrap, and Jon and I plan to watch a movie and eat some shrimp and seafood dip, spicy, even though Jon wanted mild - I like to expand his horizons. Jon likes it when I expand his horizons.

Goodnight dear diary. May I not forget to be tender-hearted this season and beyond.

my december

This December I've really not felt that tingly Christmas spirit. We only just started Christmas shopping on the 19th, and that's just for our 2 kids. We're pretty much done. It's a quick job when your budget is modest. Jon and I can't afford to exchange gifts. We're not buying any gifts for anyone outside of our little family. School tuition eats up our money (and more). Doesn't it sound like I'm lamenting?! You know what though, it's been our happiest December ever! Never have I ever felt more content and happy. Jon feels it too. He's so relaxed and carefree about this holiday. It's not Santa that has a twinkle in his eye in this house, it's me and my baby!

The kids are just as content. They are off school after all. Faith is happy to be baking sugar cookies. She's happy knowing she'll get a few new things tomorrow morning. She's happy to be watching old Christmas movies with me while Jon is at work and Mitchell is playing his PC games.

Tomorrow we don't need to be anywhere so we'll cook our own turkey dinner. I'm looking forward to that more than anything!

This has been the sweetest December ever for Jon and I. The whole month has been very romantic. I'm so grateful to God for this whole year. It's been the most blessed year of our lives. I almost hate to see December end, because God saved the best for last in 2008.

Merry Christmas!!!

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

sex is...

I watched this youtube video posted on another blog. It's great! It's also a reminder that regular teachings on sex is very important within the church. I wonder how many churches make this a priority? I wonder how many are actually equipped to do so? To neglect such a paramount aspect of life is sad! How many married couples suffer needlessly for years? How many teens are ill-equipped? How many people suffer shame when they don't have to? What are we afraid of? An entire book of the Bible was dedicated to the subject, so God must think it's pretty darn important!

The church is not responsible for people's sexuality, but it could sure help by getting people thinking about it and talking about it. Sexual health is a lovely thing! Sexual fulfillment within marriage is a powerful thing! :o)