Christmas Cards

Yes, I am one of the last hold outs who actually sends real paper Christmas cards through the old mail system.  A few years ago our church started a drop box system.  You would write up your cards as usual but instead of mailing them you would put them in a file (A-Z) in the lobby at church.  Then you would check the box to see if any cards had been left for you.  It saved the cost of a stamp and you were asked to donate 25cents for each card you dropped in to go to missions.  Nice idea, but I bucked.  Christmas time is the only time of year anymore where I actually get mail in my mailbox that I really look forward to getting!  Many years ago I had a few friends who would take the time to write hand written letters through out the year, but those days are long gone.  I can't remember the last handwritten letter I received, but thankfully Christmas cards are still coming in.  They are getting more streamlined...  pre-cards with photos printed on them, but at least an effort is being made.

Today, as every year, I sat down with my list of addresses.  I keep a running list year to year of the cards I've sent and those I receive.  Seems every year I drop a few names off of my list.  There are some cards I send year after year, but the other person never sends one back, I can't help but wonder... do they care?  am I annoying them with this yearly card?  Eventually I'll make a call on whether to keep sending them, but I always feel guilty when I drop them...  they probably have no clue!

Next thing I'll do is write the yearly Christmas letter.  I try very hard to make it real.  Honestly... it's just me writing.... not Greg, not the kids.  Letters that I receive that are written in this weird third person voice really throw me.  Why not just say who is writing?  Greg rarely has a clue what has been written in our Christmas letter, and he's fine with that.  I also try not to spend too much time listing every accomplishment of my kids... do you really care?  If you do, you probably already know. Then there is the question, how much bad news? how much good news?  Some letters are all bubbly and life is great...  probably not very honest.  On the other hand this year some bad things happened in my life.  I'll be sending this letter out to some folks who may not want to be reminded of the sad times at Christmas.  There is a balance to be found.  

Then there is the picture.  That's the hard part.  We've tried over the years to make the picture unique and interesting.... but I'm running out of ideas.  AND time to get everyone together.  Hopefully I'll come up with something clever in the next week or so.  And THEN the Christmas Cards will be mailed... through the snail mail... with a stamp, which by the way gets more expensive each year...  And it will be worth it because someone I care about will get a real piece of mail with a real letter and a picture in their mail box.  That makes me happy. 

What also makes me happy is watching Christmas movies.  Fortunately for me Lydia also enjoys watching Christmas movies and she just put one in to watch...   so I'm checking out for now.  Hope you find the time for fun Christmas flicks too!

And we're off!

Over the past weekend I've begun getting ready for the holiday season.  I'm feeling real good about how 'in control' I am right now.  It's not always that way.  Two years ago coming home from Thanksgiving in Kentucky I got a call that Greg was being rushed to the hospital from his plane.  His appendix had ruptured in flight.  I don't remember much about that holiday season.  We were just thankful to survive it... seriously!  Last year Lydia and I were still in recovery mode after the AT hike and we once again made a cross country drive back to Kentucky for Thanksgiving.  We missed several Christmas events last year just because we weren't paying attention.  I'd like to work on that this year.

We didn't return to Kentucky for Thanksgiving.  It may be harder to do that now that we are in a season with both kids in college.  By not traveling this year we were home for the Thanksgiving weekend and able to begin decorating for Christmas.  For the first time in several years we got the Advent decorations up in time for the first Sunday of Advent.  Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the organization!  I thought I'd start posting daily through this Season and see how well I do at keeping my focus on the real meaning of Christmas.  And also to share some of our old traditions and new traditions we are just trying out.

Tonight Lydia and I went to see The Nutcracker.  She claims we saw it once several years ago, but I really don't remember.  If we did it was a local community production, nothing like the Colorado Ballet.  They did an excellent job, though I'm clearly not an expert.  We ran straight from church to downtown in order to get a parking spot and arrived in time to grab a quick lunch at the Performing Arts Center.  I guess it would have been a better outing if the guys had been along and we would have really taken our time and enjoyed ourselves, but we rushed it.  So I'm not seeing it becoming a new tradition.  Though I would like to get back down there and see more shows at the PAC... there's just too much to do in Colorado!

We did however sit down to dinner together this evening, lit the first advent candle and read Isaiah 11.  I decided to read this year from my great grandfather's bible, which of course means the King James Version.  We haven't done that in a long time!  Took awhile to figure out what it was saying.  Then we spent some time talking about our favorite holiday traditions.  Sadly enough it turned in to a list of favorite Christmastime movies.  Not that they were bad... The Muppet's Christmas Carol, White Christmas, A Christmas Story... and of course watching the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy between Christmas and New Years.  However, I seem to be the only sentimental one in my family... at least tonight.  Looks like I'm going to have to work at it to spark up some Christmas spirit this year.  Sounds like a challenge. 

Well Digging Project

Well Digging Project Fundraiser to Benefit Haiti

Location:
Jaz B Studio Art Gallery
719 W 8th Ave.
Denver, CO  80204

When:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Cost:
$30 per person or $55 for a couple

Contact:
Carolyn Eustic
ceustic@gmail.com

Please join us for an inspiring night out, including live music, light Hors devours, wine tastings, a fantastic silent auction, fun door prizes, wonderful art and more.  Mingle with artists and chat with friends while helping us to raise money for our well-digging project in Haiti.  100% of proceeds/donations from the event's ticket price and silent auction will go towards our goal of $18,000 to build a well for a school or hospital in Haiti. 

Since 1991, Living Water International has been an implementer of participatory, community-based water solutions in developing nations.  We have chosen to raise funds for Haiti because an estimated 3.8 million Haitians (46% of Haiti's population) do not have access to an improved water source, and 5.8 million do not have adequate sanitation.  LWI Haiti has successfully completed over 130 water projects in the country, to date.  Through the education of children, a nation's future can be changed from one of warfare to one of peace, stability and security.  For more information about LWI, please visit www.water.cc.

We hope you will join us for this great cause and exhilarating night out in Denver.

Silent Auction will be from 6pm - 8pm (pick up silent auction items at 8:30pm)
Door prizes every hour (must be present to win)

Parking: across from the gallery and off Fox & 8th

--
The Well
Women's Ministry at Red Rocks Church

http://redrockschurch.com/connect/womens-ministry/

We are raising funds to help repair and dig wells for other women in the world through Living Water International.  www.water.cc

Happy Birthday!

Today is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Twenty-seven years ago I experienced my first Marine Corps birthday at Quantico, Virginia. I had no idea! They take this seriously. Marines are very proud of their heritage and I believe, rightly so. That first year the Marine Corps Birthday Ball we attended was in a hanger at the airfield at Quantico.

Over the years I've been to Balls held in fancy expensive hotels and more than one in old airfield hangers. While in Guantanamo Bay back in the 80s the young Marines turned an old hanger into a replica of Tunn Tavern, the birthplace of the Marines. I remember that year General Grey was the key note speaker. That was something special to experience. Hawaii was the first Ball that we invited civilian friends to join us for the Ball. I had gotten to where I took the occasion for granted. Seeing it through the eyes of someone who had never experienced was refreshing.

My favorite thing about a Marine Corps Ball... the chance once a year get to be Cinderella. It was the only excuse in my life to go all out and dress up formally. Of course, that would be Greg's LEAST favorite thing about the Balls. Then there was the ceremony. Everyone stands as the cake is escorted into the room and the Marine Corps Hymn plays. Fallen Marines are remembered. The youngest and oldest Marines are served the first pieces of the cake. One of the few events I've gone to over the years where usually the keynote speaker is actually worth listening to. Then of course the dancing... again, not Greg's favorite part.

Since he retired in 2002 we haven't been back to a Marine Corps Ball and I do miss them. But I'm glad the tradition continues on... because a birthday is worth celebrating.

Happy 234th and Semper Fidelis!

quick interlude

Whine, whine, whine, whine... boy that last post was a downer. I keep meaning to get back and lift the overall attitude of this place, but I've just been so busy.... big improvement.

Right now, I don't have time. We're heading out to snowshoe in the quickly melting powder. But I am going to get back to this... with a better attitude!

Which Gilligan's Island Character are You?

Lydia is in charge of the Netflix queue. It's interesting to see what videos show up in the mail as each of my kids has taken control of the selections. For awhile it was all zombie movies, but then Caleb left for an adventure in New Zealand and the need for the zombie adrenaline rush around here isn't so much anymore. Recently Lydia ordered the first season of Gilligan's Island. She says that she has never seen Gilligan's Island. Wow, I'm pretty sure that is a negative 'mom point' for me. How could I have never introduced her to Gilligan's Island? It's a cultural icon. There are so many references you will completely miss if you don't know Gilligan's Island. Since I've failed her in this area, she took it upon her self to get educated in Gilligan.

We've developed this daily routine over the past few months of taking a lunch break from whatever we are working on and sitting together to watch videos. The other day it was Gilligan. Lydia stuck in the disc and started it up. The theme song began. ...side note here... I'm not a musician, and I have a terrible time remembering songs and words to songs. The rest of my family is amazing! Lydia has a beautiful voice and can sing anything you ask in perfect tune... but not me. This time though, I have a chance. It's the Gilligan's Island theme song for heavens sake... I can sing that! I start singing along. I know all the words... until... "the mov...ie star, the Professor and Mary Ann... here..." Wait a minute... the song is wrong! Did you know that in the first season of Gilligan's Island that the Professor and Mary Ann are left out of the theme song? I was stunned. And of course Lydia is looking at me like 'sure you know the song Mom, right.' I DO know the song!

Can you image Gilligan's Island without the Professor and Mary Ann? The island community would not be the same. It would be incomplete and frankly, hard to watch. First you have Mr. and Mrs. Howell, caricatures of rich people, hardly something you would want to watch a whole show about. Then there is Ginger, the beautiful movie star, on her own, not very interesting. And of course, there is the Skipper and Gilligan. I think Gilligan gets a bad rap. Watching these early shows it's pretty clear that the Skipper is as much responsible for the mishaps as Gilligan, but the lovable, clumsy Gilligan gets the blame every time. The five characters together do not make a complete community.

Without the Professor there isn't a brain among them. The things he could do were incredible! I'm sure given another season he could have invented the internet with that radio of his. He was the logic and without the logic the antics of the others would have never been pulled together into a sensible story line. Then there is Mary Ann, sweet down to earth Mary Ann. Without Mary Ann there wouldn't have been a character with which the average person could connect. She was the girl next door. She was me. (well, maybe not those short shorts) But in that first season neither of them is even mentioned in the theme song. It seems as if the characters had to prove their value in order to be a full part of the cast... to be included in their own song!

I can relate to that. The day before Greg and I were married 27 years ago, he accepted a commission into the Marine Corps. For twenty years I was a Marine wife. They say it's the toughest job in the Corps. Maybe. There are so many things I loved about that life. I loved living in new and interesting places. We lived two years in Guantanamo Bay long before it was the notorious Gitmo... and we loved it. We have friends literally all over the world. I wouldn't trade any of those years or duty stations for anything. There were hard times though. With every move to another duty station there was that period of anonymity. In some ways I enjoyed the first six months after a move. It was quiet. No one knew me, no one called. I could get a lot done as far as moving in and getting settled. On the other hand... no one knew me, no one called. It could be a very isolated feeling.

I can remember so many times walking around the commissary, going to a restaurant, walking around the neighborhood... and worst, going to church and wanting to scream... I AM SOMEBODY! ...there are people who know me, people who love me, people who know my gifts and talents and know that I count, I'm important!!! ...but they just aren't here. And it feels like people are looking right through me. I realize a lot of people probably feel that way but it's something the military families have to deal with every couple of years as they move on to the next duty station. It's probably why the military communities I've been in have been the strongest. We realize you just don't have time for all the junk of proving yourself to others in order to just get to be in your own theme song!

God has also taught me over the years that there are times where He wants me to be still. I can think of a couple of duty stations where I never did really find my place. It frustrated me at the time, however with hindsight I can see that God was putting me in a 'time out'. Giving me a rest time before He moved me on to another place where He had a big plan for me. A place where my talents and gifts would be used. The next place was a place of working hard, full of creativity and a lot of busyness and some of the best times I've ever had. But God knew I needed a rest first.

I'm spending time now wondering where I am. I feel like the poor Professor and Mary Ann. I've lived here for two years and I still haven't figured this out. I've got so much to offer, but doors keep shutting in my face. Why is that? Maybe God has me in a time out again. Maybe he wants me in a new place I've never thought of looking. 'Waiting on the Lord' for direction is a REALLY hard thing! When I think that maybe I'm in a quiet place until the next big exciting thing comes along... it's not so bad. But I sure would like a peek at what's coming next!

The Professor and Mary Ann did eventually get in the theme song... and that's how we all remember it. There really is only one way it can end... "....the Professor and Mary Ann, here on Gilligan's Isle......"

This picture inspires me. You would think as obsessed as I am about organization that this would inspire me to go clean out my cluttered inbox and shred up all my junk mail, but that's not it. This is a picture from an exhibit I saw in DC a few years ago at the Freer Gallery called In The Beginning, The Bible Before the Year 1000. I was fascinated. I saw it three times and would see it again in a heartbeat.

The idea that these monks spent their lives copying the scriptures to pass on to future generations amazed me. So much so that I actually decided to give it a try. I spent my Thanksgiving vacation that year bent over a table intent on copying the book of James. I wanted to try it for myself and well, James is pretty short so I figured it was a good start. Now, I am not a neat writer, often my handwriting is atrocious. But I took my time, slowly penning each letter. It was a transforming way to go through the book. There was no skimming over words and no stopping to study or analyze a phrase. Just one letter, one word at a time, carefully and intently. The words truly just seeping in as I wrote.

In 1896 - 98 Solomon Shechter and Charles Taylor had the contents of the Cairo Genizah shipped to Cambridge to research. That's what is in this picture. When these early scribes made an error or typo in their printing they didn't drop the paper in the recycle bin, or put it in the shredder. They considered these writings to be sacred, therefore they had to be disposed of in an honorable way... which of course takes time. So, like I often do, they procrastined and put these mess-ups in a special room called a genizah. Eventually someone decided they didn't have time to deal with all this paperwork and they just sealed up the room. Centuries later along comes Schechter and Taylor discovering a treasure trove of history.

The exhibit itself was full of these little pieces of paper, written by men who were just a few generations away from Christ himself. But all these scrapes of paper in this picture... are mistakes. Around the next corner of the exhibit were finished books. Gold embossed, beautifully illustrated, perfectly printed and bound. Amazing. Inspiring. Gorgeous works. But the truth is, these scribes who created these awesome works, made a lot of mistakes in the process. (and thank heavens they didn't have a shredder!) I think that's good to know. For me at least. I certainly make a lot of mistakes in the process. Not every word printed will be perfect, not every drawing drawn, not every weaving woven, not every painting painted, not every project planned... I just need to keep going and learn in the process. Who knows, maybe someday, even my scrapes will inspire someone. As long as I don't shred it all in a fit of organization!

mulling things over

I'm in the process of redefining myself... =0) Meanwhile, I found this quote on another blog that I thought was interesting....

"Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones out of our minds, come nitrogen, heat, and very fertile soil. Out of this fertile soil bloom our poems and stories. But this does not come all at once. It takes time. Continue to turn over and over the organic details of your life until some of them fall through the garbage of discursive thoughts to the solid ground of black soil." Natalie Goldberg

I guess I'm still tilling.

God is in the details... and in the big picture

I love a beautiful view. I think most people do. I find when I’m hiking and I meet other hikers coming from the other direction they are always quick to mention if there is a great view ahead. I have so many pictures of Lydia and me standing on a ledge or a clearing looking out over valleys, lakes, rivers, more mountains rolling off in the distance…. Beautiful, breathtaking views.

So I was intrigued recently with a picture. We were hiking at a park not far from home with our friend Heather. This time we were hiking specifically to look at wildflowers and identify them. We started off slow, real slow. There were so many flowers! We’re walking along, looking down so as not to miss any. Lydia had her new wildflower book and was searching for names as we came upon new flowers. I was snapping pictures as we found them. It was really fun.

I happened to glance up and noticed… wow! What a beautiful view. I looked back at Lydia and Heather, intent upon finding the name to a new flower, and called them to look up. The whole situation struck me as so profound, I told them to just keep working and I snapped a picture of it.

It’s my life! I know God has the big picture. I know he has the future covered, it’s in good… no great hands. He knows the plan and where I’m going. What I can’t figure out is… where am I now? What am I supposed to be doing right now? It’s those details. Lydia has graduated, so I’m out of a job after 14 years of homeschooling. I haven’t really found my place in my community or church. I feel like I have so much to offer, I just don’t know what God wants me to do with it. I keep looking at the details, studying it… but so far, I haven’t figured out much.

Meanwhile, God still has that big picture under control. It’s there, I can look up and see it at anytime. So I just keep reading the book, looking for the details.

Here we go...

I started this blog a couple months ago and have sat looking at the blank page since. There are few things more intimidating than a blank canvas. As I’ve entered 2009 I have thought that this is the perfect time for me to begin a blog, taking the time to evaluate where I’m going and where I’ve been. 2009 will be a milestone year for me. During this year I will turn 50 years old. 50 years! Whoa…. How did that happen? Granted, it won’t be until the LAST week of 2009, but still… What have I done for 50 years? What will I do with the next 50?



Second milestone is the end of my career. Fourteen years ago God tricked me into homeschooling my kids. I never planned to do such a crazy thing! But we stepped into it, it seemed to fit and we kept going. Now I’ve no doubt it was the best choice we could have ever made for many, many reasons. But this year it comes to an end. I started homeschooling my son when he began first grade. This year my daughter will graduate. And I’ll be done with a fourteen-year adventure. It was an amazing and wonderful journey, but now I will have to decide what to do with the rest of my life. It’s not like this time has snuck up on me. I’ve been making a list for years of things I’d like to do. Now is the time to start sifting through those ideas to find the perfect nugget… to find where God wants me to go.

So now the empty canvas has been marked up and I can begin scratching out ideas and thoughts, it’ll be fun to see where it leads.