Sweets and Singing

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making candy, fudge and cookies for all my friends and family, and go deliver a nice plate of goodies to them.  As much as I love my family, there is no way I’m driving 3 days just to sing a carol and hand over a plate of yummies… they will have to settle for a Christmas card this year.

However, I couldn’t let that stop this tradition.

Today I worked so stinking hard!  I woke up and got the boys off to school which was a nightmare today.  Then I drove to my favorite grocery store Aldi to pick up what will hopefully be enough groceries to last us the week.  I didn’t get any coupons in my paper this week I almost cried, but told myself it was a blessing because I will save myself some valuable time from cutting coupons, so after Aldi I skipped my usual shopping marathon.

I came home and put away the groceries, did the dishes, cleaned my kitchen, folded and put away some laundry, and through another load in, picked up a couple of toys that are still hanging out at the bottom of my laundry chute, and then told myself I’ll find the rest of Little Princess’s room later… but I did find her snow boots!

Then my little charge got dropped off for me to watch.  He and Little Princess ran off to play with some little trucks, and I went to work on my goodies.

I had a bunch of bananas that were getting pretty brown so I decided that I should make some banana bread with it.  I made 5 cute little mini loaves of banana bread, (banana is really fun to type!)  then went to work of the fudge.  The recipe I have was given to me by my sis-in-law, which was given to her by her Mom-in-law, and who knows where she got it… but it is amazing!  It is so soft and sweet, but not overly rich… it’s a lot like the inside of a truffle.  Heavenly?  Yes!

Finally I had to make choco/scotch clusters.  This is my husband’s family tradition, and I LOVE it.  You melt 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, 12oz butterscotch chips, and 4 tbls. Peanut butter in a large sauce pan, then add 8 cups of Rice Krispies.  Mix it all up until the cereal is well coated with the melted chocolate, then drop spoonfuls onto wax paper.  I put them on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for about an hour.  Anyway, they are simple and delicious, and no your thighs no good.

Once little charge was picked up, and Doc (my hubby) got home we headed out to spread some Christmas cheer in the form of high calories.

We drove around to 6 of our closest friends, and had so much fun visiting with them and handing over the goodies… but first we had to do one of my favorite things… Carol. 

Now… with Little Princess only being 3 years old, I’m pretty much the only member of the family who wants to sing, so the on the way to the first home the boys came up with compromise.   

When we arrived at the first house they boys hid behind trees, or bushes, or even a snowman and when our friends opened the door I started singing, “We wish you…” and the boys would jump out and  sing “A Merry Christmas!”  and then hide and kept jumping back out at  “A Merry Christmas”.  It was so funny and they all loved it. 

I’m sure we didn’t sound like the beautiful traditional carolers

We were more like this:

But, except for the occasional bickering over seats in the van, the night was fun, and today I’m grateful for sweets, and singing.

Music to My Ears

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas and so our church choir had a big Christmas Cantata.  About a year ago I was asked to be the ward (or church) choir pianist.  Intimidated doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings inside. 

I’ve been playing the piano sense I was about 12 years old.  My Dad is an amazing pianist and I grew up listening to him play Beethoven, Mozart, and even Rachmaninoff.  The man could sight read pretty much anything, and some of my favorite memories are of falling asleep listening to my Father play the piano. 

I wanted to marry a man who could play the piano like my father so my children could grow up with a love of music in their homes too.  When I was about 12 or so it occurred to me that very few young men play the piano, and even fewer will ever be as good as my Dad.  The realization came to me that if I wanted to have music in my home in the future; I would most likely need to be the one to provide it.  So, I sat down at the piano one day and from middle ‘C’ started counting up and down the key board until I could associate which note on the music went where on the keyboard.  It took a long time, and I have to admit that with the really high and low notes I still have to count to find my keys sometimes. 

My Dad was very busy and tried to give me lessons when he could, but they were inconsistent, and my efforts with “real” teachers were short lived.  Between running track, cross-country playing soccer and working a part time job after school, finding time to practice was difficult and my teachers grew frustrated with me… and I with them.

I ended up pretty much teaching myself how to play.

I’m decent but my technique lacks.  I’ve learned enough tricks to B.S. my way through most songs… if everything else fails always hit the base and soprano note. 

But I had never played in a rehearsal, so my experience playing in front of people was very small… and whenever I notice someone actually listening to what I’m playing, I start over analyzing, I internally start criticizing my own technique, I get very nervous… and I choke.  I hit wrong notes, when I know I know the song.  It’s so frustrating.

After my first rehearsal with the choir I thought they would release me. 

They didn’t. 

I’ve stumbled my way through many performances, and asked a dear friend to play a few songs that my fingers just couldn’t handle.  I’ve walked into the hallway and cried after messing up… although many swear they didn’t hear it.

I’ve slowly started getting used to playing in front of others.  Although I still get very nervous I’ve come to realize that I can only do the best I can, and that has to be good enough.  I spend hours practicing before each performance so I know that at least I really did give it all I had.

Today I started getting nervous before the cantata, and then while I was sitting in the pew waiting for the choir to be invited to come forward I felt the spirit whisper to me, “This isn’t about you.  This is a celebration of the birth of our Savior.”  I relaxed then and realized that He isn’t going to be looking over my shoulder criticizing my every mistake, and if He isn’t going to be criticizing me… then I shouldn’t be either.

Some of the songs in this cantata are some of the hardest I’ve ever taken on.  It ranged from 2 sharps to 3, 4 and even Oh Holy Night in 5 flats! 

I played my best today.

It was music to my ears… and I hope it was music to His ears too.

Sewing up Smiles.

I would do pretty much anything for my friends.  I have been blessed with the best friends in the world.  It's hard living so far from family, but when you have a few close friends, you really don't feel so alone. 

I met 'Jewel' my first day at church a year and a half ago when we moved to Ohio.  She was the friendliest person I'd ever met.  We clicked right away, and have been stuck at the hip ever sense.  She has two beautiful girls who are about the same age as my boys, and they have the same type of personalities.  We've all definitely been torn from the same cloth.

I've known for a while that Jewel and her family has been pretty tight financially.  We've all been hit by the recession in one way or another, but I think it's hit her especially hard.  It broke my heart when I learned that she didn't have a tree skirt or stockings for her family.  I knew I didn't have much money to buy them all presents this year... but I sure as heck could sew them up a few things.

So... I ran to JoAnn's (I swear I could drop a million dollars in that store!) and spent at least an hour pouring over all their fabric looking for the ones that best fit their personalities... and that blended well together.  After finding some cute prints I went to work and sewed up a tree skirt, and four matching stockings.

Then I had to think of something for her girls.

Hummmm... well... what girl doesn't like having a cute new bag? 

So, I went to work and sewed up a couple cute church bags, complete with crayon holders so they can carry their scriptures, and maybe a coloring book in it just in case they get a little bored.  :-)

I wrapped it all up and stuck them under my tree. 

I knew I was going to be watching the girls this afternoon so Jewel could run some errands.  When they came over they looked at the tree and saw the two presents right in front with their names on them.  They were so excited.  They wanted to open them right away, and I told them to ask their Mom... she said "Yes", so I got too see them open up their little bags.  They were so excited.  They were both pink with pink flowers accenting them, and to make sure they could tell them apart I embroidered their first initial on the front corner of the bag.  I'll try to upload a picture tomorrow... I'm just too stink'n tired to do it tonight.

Anyway, I was glad they liked them. 

This was a great reminder to me that by investing just a little time and effort to help, serve, or create something for someone else, not only makes someone else feel happy and loved... but it sure makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside too.

Today go and see if there isn't something you can do for someone else.  This dishes, a back rub (boy I could use one of those) or maybe just make a phone call to someone.  It will make your heart dance. 

I promise.

Grateful for a Mountain of Laundry?

Not usually, but believe it or not, today it's true!

My little princess decided that she was going to clean her room yesterday.  As I was wrapping a few presents in my room I could hear her and my little charge laughing, and the sounds of blocks being cleaned up.  I smiled and thought to myself, "I'm so lucky to have a little girl who tries so hard to keep things clean."

It didn't take long for me to finish up my wrapping and I went across the hall to check on the toddler’s progress.  To my amazement her room was clean!  No blocks on the floor, no dolls in the bed, and no clothes in a pile.  I was elated. 

This morning I decided it was time to tackle the mountain of laundry that was forming at the bottom of the laundry shoot.  After all, my angels did their part in the laundry yesterday, now it was my turn to finish the job.

As I entered the laundry room the expression, "If something is too good to be true, it usually is" rang all to clear.  There in the laundry, mixed up with the clothes and towels, were my little princess’s books, dolls, blocks, and a few ornaments off the tree.  Of course I was frustrated. 

As I was sifting through the mess, sorting out the laundry from the toys I found a glass baby box that a friend had given me for little Princess’s baby shower.  I LOVE this box... and here it was thrown down the laundry shoot!  I hesitated picking it up, knowing that there was no way it could have survived the fall.  I was shocked and so relieved to find that the box had landed right on top of my mountain of laundry and somehow avoided the cement floor.

Who would have thought that a mountain of laundry could become a saving grace?!

Home for Christmas

Being so far from family can be so hard, especially this time of year.  It is so easy to feel a little home sick when “I’ll be Home for Christmas” comes on the radio.  Every now and then as Christmas draws near, I find myself reminiscing on old Christmas’s when I was a child, waking up early on that special morning (if I was able to fall asleep at all), and jumping on my parents bed at 5:30 singing “wake up, wake up, it’s Christmas!”  We had a family rule that no one was allowed to go downstairs until everyone was up and ready.  Then when Dad was properly ready for us, with video camera hoisted onto this shoulder, we would all march down the stairs from youngest to oldest to see an amazing assortment of gifts that magically appeared during the night. 

            Christmas does many things for the spirit.  One of the greatest things it does is build lasting ties and memories with your family that through all the up’s and down’s that all families inevitably go through; you are still bound together in love.  It’s hard not to look back on your childhood and not find at least one Christmas that shines brightly in your mind. 

            I wish that every day could have the same feeling of Christmas.  That sense of magic, and sense of being loved as someone hands you a present that was perfectly sought out for you, and watching as someone you love opens your gift, and smiles in appreciation. 

            Although I miss my distant family, I realize that it’s up to me now to help my children develop the same traditions and feeling of Christmas that I cherish. 

            Today my boys came home from school carrying two big brown bags each of toys that they were able to purchase at their school’s Holiday shop.  They were so excited as they took turns hiding in my room while I helped them wrap the presents that they bought for their brother, sister and Mom and Dad.  They were so thoughtful in what they bought, and both asked me “Do you think Princess will like this?”  Of course she will.

            I’m so excited to continue some of my old favorite traditions of Christmas, singing carols, making sweets to share with friends and neighbors, reading Luke 2 and “The Night Before Christmas”, and starting some of my own like making homemade donuts on Christmas Eve, and having a fire in the fireplace on Christmas morning… something that we never had in Arizona.  I hope that my children will look back fondly on their childhood years.

As “I’ll be Home for Christmas” came on the radio tonight, for the first time in 6 years I didn’t think, “Oh, I wish I were.”  Today I thought, “Yes, I will be ‘home’ for Christmas”, and I will dance with my family on Christmas morning knowing that we are all so blessed to be home.



Feeling Lucky?

I babysit a little boy who is only 5 days younger than my little princess.  They get along so well and minus the occasional “accidents” he is really easy to watch.  The only frustrating thing about the job is that I never really know when his Dad is going to drop him off.  Sometimes he’s here at 9:00am, sometimes not until noon, and anywhere in between.  What’s worse…? I never know in advance.  If I’m lucky I get a phone call giving me a 15 minute “heads up” that they are on their way.  Other times I hear a “Ding Dong” and know that my shift is starting.

            This makes planning errands complicated. 

            I’ve noticed that on average he arrives at my house usually around 10:30.  And so on days like today when I have many places to go, I gamble.  I drop my boys off at school at 8:45 and with Little Princess in tow I run to see how many of my errands I can accomplish before I get that 15 minute phone call… if I get one at all.  I cross my fingers for luck.

 My first stop was CVS.  Not for a prescription (this time) but to pick up some cereal and diapers that they had on sale.  I picked up a package of “Pull Ups” and 7 boxes of cereal, for $16.27, saving me $32.44! 

            Yeah for sales and coupons!   I did a little “happy Dance” in my heart, and then ran off to the post office.  Coming out of the P.O., I checked the clock:  9:40. After a short debate I decided to push my luck and drive a little farther into town to Joann’s to pick up some fusible interfacing for a Christmas dress that I’m hoping to finish before Christmas (one can dream).  After one more stop at the local grocery store and finding the time was 10:20, I figured I’d pushed my luck far enough.  I skipped my last errand to the bank, and plan to stop by the ATM on my way to taking my oldest son… we’ll call him… Droid (He’s a lot like a smart phone) to cub scouts tonight.

            I drove home and pulled into my driveway, happily noticing that there were no fresh tracks in the snow.  Good… I hadn’t missed him.

            I pulled into the garage, closed the door and as I got my Little Princess out of her seat I hear a car pull up.  I audibly laughed!  Who could ask for better timing?!

            I ran into the house, pulled off my coat, and took off my boots just as the doorbell rang.  I opened the door to my little charge.   Closed the door and did another happy Dance.  I was able to run all my errands with only ONE child today!

Today I’m grateful for when a gamble pays off, and I’m dancing to “Luck Be a Lady” by Frank Sentara!

Dancing off to Dreamland

It is freezing outside, and the school called another “Snow Day”. 

My boys were ecstatic.   I was not… at first.  Then, before I pouted about my grocery shopping day being interrupted, I thought, “How can I turn this into a good thing?”  And then I knew exactly what would make it a perfect morning.

                        I rolled over and went back to sleep.

What made the morning even better?  My children didn’t wake me up!  I don’t know when the last time was that I was able to sleep until I naturally woke up.  It was Amazing!

            There is nothing like waking up to a little bit of sun shine on your face.  Stretching your legs and rubbing your toes against the warm sheets, and hearing your kids playing quietly down the hall… well, they were watching cartoons… but the volume was low and that in and of its self is amazing.  I went in to check on them and there they were all cuddled on the couch in a blanket. 

            Today I’m so grateful for blankets.

As I type this my boys are back on the couch cuddled up asleep with “The Biggest Looser” finale lingering in the background. 

            Blankets in our home are cherished as cuddle tools, but they are also much more.  They are the capes that are tied around super heroes’ necks. 

They are the perfect hide-and-seek cover for a 3 year old.  They are the comforter that goes with them to sleepovers, and holds them when Mom cannot.  They are a bumpy sled that always generates laughs as children bop down the stairs.  They are a prison that boys tie their sister up in… well… maybe that’s not a good thing.  … But at the end of the day, I’m so grateful that as the snow continues to fall outside, I have blankets to tuck my children into.  And the last conscious thing I will do tonight, is let my toes stretch softly against my warm blanket as my mind dances off to dreamland.