addendum to "christmas traditions" post

I would love to hear what your traditions are, too! Share them here in the comments section; it's always fun to read what others do.

christmas traditions

Inspired by a conversation with Kate yesterday (the Chicago mom's group talked about traditions and what they will do with their own families), I wanted to write out what mine were/are.

Growing up, Christmas held so much awe and wonder, like it does for most children. My parents always did so much to make the holiday season meaningful. A few of our traditions were decorating together as a family, even through high school. It was always delightful to unwrap our boxes of ornaments (Shannon and I had our own boxes), reminiscing about particular ones (the glass blown angel purchased on a Colorado trip) and questioning others ("WHY have we kept the Hamburglar ornament we got in a McDonald's Happy Meal in the 1980s!?"). With Christmas music blasting, we set up our fake tree (I have terrible mold allergies, so I have never had a real tree in the house; fun fact about me), put up other home decor, and helped dad untangle all the lights (possibly the most dreaded yearly job) to go on both the tree and the outside of the house. We often drove around looking at holiday displays (back in the day when most people put up lights) while singing carols. When we were old enough, we started drawing names for stockings and would fill that person's with all sorts of goodies. Unfortunately it was always clear who's name dad had drawn, for that stocking would hang lifeless and empty up until, oh, Christmas Eve. :) This tradition continued past high school, until we all moved away. Also, every Christmas my mom would give us each a new ornament and a new Christmas book (only one of these, just to share as a family). Oh, how we loved to chose our new ornament and sit next to the basket of books by the fireplace and read our favorites throughout the month of Christmas! We especially loved A Cup of Christmas Tea, The Berenstain Bears' Christmas, The Innkeeper's Daughter, and all the ones with flaps we had broken over the years, or scratch 'n sniffs we had long worn out. Also, after Thanksgiving, our "Christmas Jar" would be placed in a common place, where we would daily dump our excess change and at the end of the month, we would count the money and give it to someone in need or a charity. We always did some research as to who we wanted to give our money to. One of my particular favorites was through Samaritan's Purse, where you can look through their "Gift Catalog" and buy a goat for a family, or supply a family with a bicycle or grain for a month (there are dozens and dozens of choices!). This was a powerful and tangible way for us to see where our money was going. Click here for more info.

Yearly, we had an Advent calendar, and Shan and I opened one every other day (one of us had "odd" days and one had "even" days of the week...we fought alot, so this was mom's compromise :), following the story of Christmas until the 25th. We also celebrated Advent every Sunday of the month, using an Advent book I made in preschool (mom still has it!). It was wonderful to sit around the wreath as a family, share Scripture, quietly refelct, sing a carol, and light a candle. And of course, we would attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service at church, and read the Christmas story.

I have kept many of my family traditions going, but also have added to the list annual candy making and in the coming years, I want to help pack shoe boxes with Samaritan's Purse. Aron and I were able to do this for several years with our youth group kiddos in CA and it was a meaningful experience.

Isn't this season delightful? I hope you all are able to rest as much as possible and enjoy God's goodness. It's so easy to get caught up in the busyness. May this season be spent in enjoyment and reflection of all He has done for us.

wordless wednesday

We went to OKC this weekend and I took this shot of M in Aunt Peggy's antique high chair. The other one was from our visit in August (at 8 months old). How her hair has grown! :)

children's reading corner

I realized recently I haven't put up a new post in this category in over a month! For this month, I recommend the book listed to the left, Crossing by Philip Booth. With beautiful illustrations, reminiscent of the 1940s, and delightful rhyme, the book displays a train crossing, people watching, counting cars, and making mental notes of what the train is hauling. I enjoy this book, too, because it's not a typical book I would buy for Maggie, and yet, I like to introduce her to things we don't normally have around the house (i.e. we are not train aficionados). Although it might be geared more toward boys, I still say buy it if you have a girl; M seems genuinely captivated by it each time we read it. I think one reason I am drawn to this book is because in some ways it reminds me of the book my mother read us in childhood, The Huff and Puff Express.

As a side note, I love bargain book hunting and find Ross and Marshall's great stores to purchase children's books at discount prices. However, for hardbacks that are in *pristine* (and I do mean pristine) condition I recommend Tuesday Morning. Their selection is diverse and you can easy grab several books for the price of one hardback at say, Barnes and Noble. No book is over $5.99.

weekend

Tonight, we are headed up to OKC for a brief over-night and Saturday with my family. My grandma finally joined my grandpa in the assisted living center on Thursday. This is a huge praise and a huge relief to all involved. Grandma has been in a nursing home/rehabilitation center since the middle of August, allowing her ankle to heal and doing PT several days a week. It's been extremely stressful and difficult on all involved. My grandpa has been residing in assisted living for about 1.5 months and has really thrived--his meds are given on time (he is a diabetic), he is eating 3 solid meals a day, is making new friendships, has activities to do, etc. We are hoping he and Aron can play a few games of pool.

I'm looking forward to seeing them, although it will be a short trip. We will go back up once all my family come to Texas for Christmas. I'm looking forward to the drive with Aron, time with family, stopping for fried pies across the Oklahoma border, and hopefully, having my aunt (who is an amatuer photographer [she just won 2nd place in a photgraphy contest in the state] take our Christmas card picture. I have our outfits all picked out, so hopefully the weather will cooperate with us somewhat (rain is predicted most of the day tomorrow).

Maggie is taking several unassisted steps daily now, it's fun to see her progress. She is liking more and more foods, lights up when Aron comes home (says "Dada!" and gets all giddy), enjoys tossing Tupperware from her drawer in the kitchen, makes it a habit of daily de-shelving all of her books, meticulously choosing which ones to stop and look at, and likes to "cluck" her tongue. I especially love how she reaches for me everytime I come into the room.

5 household cleaning tips

Actually, more than 5 were shared on the Today show this morning, so to read up on these and more click the link here:

1) Getting rid of kitchen smells
2) Keeping drains unclogged
3) Removing small dents and dings from wooden furniture
4) Getting rid of red wine on the carpet
5) Keeping bathroom tiles sparkling longer

5 surprising bargain-hunting tips

Just in time for the holiday season, these tips were shared today:

1) FruCall: 888.DO.FRUCALL--sounds like a great number to have on hand. Basically, if you are in the store, debating buying a flat-screen TV (or any number of other items), you can call this number to see if you are getting a good deal (compares prices elsewhere). Who knows? If the price is better elsewhere, maybe the sales clerk will match the deal.

2) Online coupon code: simply Google the store name of choice and the words "coupon code" or "promotional code" after it and see what comes up. You can also check these other sites: keycode.com, currentcodes.com, slickdeals.net, findsavings.com

3) The Freecycle Network: www.freecycle.org
Like Craigslist, except everything is free.

4) Out-of-order hotel rooms: booking a room this season? Ask about aforementioned rooms and see what kind of price discount is offered to you. These rooms typically have a small stain on the carpet, a broken lamp, etc., so small enough to still be totally usable (nothing large like "no hot water" or "bathroom is broken"). Savings good be quite significant.

5) Dynamic pricing: a computer trick to help lock in the best price on an online item (read up on it below)

Click here for more information.

5 life-changing investments

Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money" shared these places to invest your money:

1) Natural gas
2) Seeds
3) Video games
4) Brazil
5) Canada

Click here to read more; I thought the last two were pretty interesting!

5

5 phone numbers that will change your life

That's their title, not mine. :) Yesterday, on The Today Show, they shared 5 phone numbers, you probably have never heard about.

1. Traffic congestion relief: 1.866.MY.TRAFC
After listening to a 10 second add, you use voice recognition software to say your city and state and street location and are given more accurate information about your drive than those every 10-15 minute updates on the radio. Even alternative routes are provided!

2. Bar bet hotline: 334.844.4244
Ok, it's not really a bar bet hotline (it's the "Foy Information Hotline"), but that's how they described it on the show. You know how you are chatting with friends and someone says: "The Civil War ended in 1880" (because everyone talks history! :)). You disagree, but at the moment, aren't even sure you know the exact date of the Appomattox Courthouse armistice. Call the above number! It's actually based out of Auburn University's Student Union. I excitedly told Shel last night about this and after my long diatribe, she informed me that both she and her sister, Karen, answered phones when they were in school! But, in the early '90s before everyone had Internet, they had to consult giant notebooks filled with information, and peruse dictionaries, encyclopedias, and National Geographic. Matt Lauer called yesterday during the interview and asked the girl, "What is Barbie's real name?" and in less than 1 minute, she came back with the answer: Barbara Millicent Roberts (named after the designer's daughter). At Life Group last night, we called and asked why the Academy Awards statuette is called "Oscar." To find out why, give them a call (Lauer called them "the original Google")! Or, look it up on Wikipedia. But, for all those times you are away from the Internet, keep this number handy.

3. San Fransisco Sex Information: 415.989.SFSI
No, no, it's not that kind of line! This group has been around since 1972, provide trained counselors, psychologists, and therapists, and will answer questions you have, and you can remain completely anonymous.

4. Ohio Tobacco Quit Line: 800.QUIT.NOW
Pretty self-explanatory: trained counselors provide those trying to quit with needed support.

5. Golden Oldie: 866.411.SONG
This one is right up my alley! Next time you are going insane, because you can't think of the title of that song, call this number, hold the phone up to the song for 15 seconds as it's playing, and the service will send you a text message with the title and artist. First one is free, after that each one is 99 cents.

Click here to read more (again, it's short!).