Reflections

Merry Christmas, ladies of MOPS!  I'm taking a break from laundry, dishes, and vacuuming.  It's clean and quiet here.  The calm before the storm.  I thoroughly enjoyed our speaker on the true meaning of Christmas, and I've tried to focus on Jesus' birthday more that Santa.  I took my 2 year old boy to the Walk through Bethlehem at Shirley Hills Baptist.  It was much more than I bargained for!  We miraculously survived the two hour wait in the sanctuary and made our way through the recreated town.  It was amazing!  Our 'tour guide' took us through a maze of merchants' stalls in which biblical themes were woven into the drama.  We saw many livestock, and even camels!  After visiting the manger, we proceeded on to a sandy hill with a cross.  The volunteers and staff of Shirley Hills did a wonderful job presenting the gospel in a compelling, but loving way.  The announcements on the screens inside the sanctuary communicated that the Nativity is God's gift to us, and its re-creation was the church's gift to the community-- no donations needed or accepted.

I am so glad I went!  We were even given hot chocolate, cookies, and coupons to local restaurants.  I highly recommend putting this on your list of activities next year.  My last Christmas ritual will be attending my church's Christmas Eve service.  This is always the most meaningful event of the season for me.  It's quiet and reflective. I encourage you to attend Christmas Eve service at your local church.

Now, I did participate in some good ole Santa traditions.  We visited him at Bass Pro Shops in Macon.  My tip: visit on a weeknight, preferably a rainy one.  We were 99% sure our kids would freak upon seeing Santa.  They didn't disappoint.  At least we didn't have a long wait.  Another tip:  The elves aren't the most helpful.  See if Mom or Dad can stand with Santa for the picture.  We forgot that upon the first scream. 

Here are my angels in our own awkward family photos!

Merry Christmas, y'all! 

Let's Talk Turkey

What are your memories of Thanksgiving and how do you celebrate?  I think we all aim for the Norman Rockwell moment, and arrive somewhere closer to the exploding turkey dinner in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

For myself, Thanksgiving memories were often made at Holiday Inns and diners along I-95 en route to my grandparents' homes in South Carolina.  Lunch at one home and dinner at the other.  It was hard on our parents, but we loved it.  10 layer chocolate cake at Nanny's and stack cookies at Mamaw's.  Can't beat that.  On Friday, we were off to White's department store for the requisite  "make your list" for the grandmas and aunts.

I made my first (and only thus far) Thanksgiving meal as a newlywed.  Drawing on our oh-so-chic First and Forever William-Sonoma cookbook, I prepared an organic turkey, from-scratch (but dry) cornbread stuffing, creamed spinach, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, salad and rolls.  Since there can never be just one dessert, so I made pecan and pumpkin pie.  I purchased a new tablecloth and served dinner on our just-out-of-the-box china.  I even used the gravy boat.  The gravy was from a mix. I don't think I'll ever have the stomach to prepare giblet gravy.  We had my parents and my husband's parents and brothers over to eat with us.  It was a big success and I felt like I'd entered the fold of married womanhood.

Some years our extended family has gone out to a Thanksgiving buffet or brought in catered dishes.   This is a nice break, but nothing beats a home cooked feast and limitless leftovers.  This year we will enjoy Thanksgiving in North Georgia at our children's grandparents' home.  Our little girl will get to wear the "Baby's First" bib, we'll try to grab a movie by ourselves, and I'm sure we'll have a delicious meal. 

Here's wishing you a wonderful time of thanks, even if you do have to suffer through turkey a la Griswold served with  catnip garnished lime jello.

Now, it's your turn.  Share your favorite Thanksgiving story, whether silly or sentimental in the comment section.  Happy Thanksgiving!