How We (Don't Normally) Celebrate the New Year

Steve and I prefer not to make a fuss over New Years. However, we are parents and parents make sacrifices so their children might become more well-adjusted than ourselves. Tonight was the occasion of the last minute,"Um, OK..." Party.

1. Determined not to make a special trip out to shop for the party, we pulled everything together spontaneously. Aren't spontaneous parties the best?! That the house was still decorated for Christmas made it a breeze.

My old standby method to make the table festive, but maintain usable space. Red tea lights from Michaels, fresh balsam snips intertwined with sparkly, beaded garland.

2. Twelve teens; nine girls, three boys and not an awkward moment.

Girls happily stand around the piano and sing Phantom of the Opera. They sing it in a variety of fashions- pretty, silly, deep voice for the male parts, operatically, and so on. Sprinkled with plenty of laughter.

3. I knew having 72 champagne glasses (from daughter #2's wedding) would come in handy one day. We only needed a dozen tonight, but the effect was fun. Sparkling cider in real glass champagne flutes made toasting in the New Year a bit fancier.

4. We live rather far out in the country for some parents to make two trips to drop off and pick up their child, so a few parents stayed and visited with us. I enjoyed their company and it made it much easier for me to stay awake until after midnight.

Best Wishes for Your New Year! May Every Moment Be Abbondante!

It's Not Even That Cold

1. There's a bit of snow on the ground by morning, but most of the whiteness is fog. Every creature must be holed up because it is deathly quiet outside. The moisture in the air makes it very still and void of 'sound', almost like a heavy snowfall.
2. I've become too soft, trying to stay warm all the time. I go back outside in the afternoon and take a deep lungful of the cold, sharp air. I stay out long enough to let the cold numb my ears and chill my face. Frigid winters used to be part of who we were in upstate New York. It made us hearty. Dressed properly, a person can be outside all day in this. I decide to get my attitude straightened and embrace the cold.
3. I skewer a couple of marshmallow peeps and play by the wood stove for a while.

Morning Has Broken, The Range, Evening Treat

1. Skyscapes after a storm are dramatic and stunningly beautiful. Thick, low, gray clouds break open here and there where the sunrise peeks through in shades of pink.
2. Mountains loom up in the distance, their tops frosted with a dusting of white sugar.
3. Fruitcake sliced so thin, light shines through the candied fruit like stained glass. A small sip of eggnog on the side.

8:30 PM. A mom phones me: " S. told me that B. told her that T. told him that there's a party at your house for New Year's?"
Me: "Umm, OK." (begins laughing uncontrollably)

We're Not laughing At Him, We're laughing With Him

Jonathan sports a mustache.

A White (Day After) Christmas, Simplicity, Time Lapse

1. What a surprise to wake up to a white landscape! Sleet tapped at the window throughout the day, giving us perfect excuse to stay inside.
2. After days of eating beyond our routine, a simple bowl of pasta made a satisfying meal for dinner.
3. One of the gifts we received was a DVD of our granddaughter's first year. It was fun to see her first year compacted in time like that.

Predawn Magic, Giving and Receiving, The Future

Marian in her new hat and a new nightie and adorned with ribbon.

 1. Mari and I were the first awake early this morning. We sat together, she on my lap, and shared this wondrous, magical Christmas morning. The lights on the tree lit the room revealing pretty gifts  placed all around. I see that other Santas have been here after me.
2. Thoughtful gifts, fun gifts, gifts with stories attached, gifts to share; our love and caring for one another is expressed through our giving of even the smallest thing.
3. Mari slept in our room last night to be away from the noise of late comers and late night preparations. After I came to bed, I listened to her in her crib, her even breathing and her little mumbles in her sleep. I stayed awake pondering this other little person in my room.
4. Everyone pitched in the breakfast preparations, which I really appreciated. (Breakfast actually ended up being brunch.) Grapefruit sections, Bacon Cheddar Scones, and scrambled eggs. The older kids brought the ingredients for, and made Bloody Mary's. This was a new addition to our menu and I think my favorite item : )

I Can Only Imagine- One Beautiful Thing

I heard a beautiful version of the Christmas carol, "Do You Hear What I Hear". My imagination wondered what it would have been like, to be one of the shepherds on a dark hillside, to see a star unlike any other heavenly body ever in the sky before. The fear and wonder! And then, to hear a heavenly host of angels. I can only imagine. How would I have reacted to that spectacle, alone, outside on a dark night.Well, I can only imagine the privilege to be one of those shepherds and have such news revealed to me in such manner.
This is my reminder of what we are celebrating. The birth of a king! Not just any king, but a Savior. It is so easy to feel celebratory if we stop searching for the 'Christmas Spirit' in the things we do, buy, eat, see, etc. and simply remember what it is we are celebrating. A King has been born. A Savior for all mankind. Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. I wish for everyone's heart to be so full of the joy and excitement of knowing what these shepherds knew, and heard, and saw.