M wanted to watch Cinderella today which got me to thinking about Christmases past. How in the world does Cinderella make me think of Christmas, you may ask? Well, let me tell you!
There is always at least one something super special you remember from each Christmas, I think. Here are some of my special memories:
Probably the first Christmas I ever remember was the Christmas that Santa brought Cinderella on VHS to me and ET on VHS to my brother. I could care less about ET, but I thought Cinderella was the best present. I remember my brother waking me up really early that Christmas morning telling me Santa had been to our house and we needed to go wake Mom and Dad up so we could see what Santa brought. I also remember wondering how someone we didn't really know got into our house while we were asleep and no one in my family seemed alarmed by that! I knew my Dad always locked our front door and the front window didn't open so I couldn't quite figure it out, but I got Cinderella to watch!
When I was in fourth grade, the second best Christmas present ever was given to me by my brother: a pair of Rocky Mountain jeans! Starting when I was in 3rd grade and my brother in 7th grade, we joined the Future Farmers of America and raised/showed pigs. These shows were a big deal and took a lot of hard work beforehand to make sure the pig was on the top of its game. I MUST admit, though, that probably 98% if that hard work came from my brother. He did so much with our pigs; I was totally there for the fun, not the work! Anyway, at the shows, the showman (that would be me and my brother) needed to look our best as well. This meant, I needed a pair of Rocky Mountain jeans and a great Western shirt, lace-up boots, and that black felt cowboy hat that I got by promising my Dad that I wouldn't date until I was 32 (oops, I broke that promise). Did I mention that ALL of the "pretty" cowgirls wore Rocky Mountain jeans? I NEEDED those jeans, and my awesome big brother gave them to me for Christmas in fourth grade!
One year, Santa left a desk for my room. Another year, a banjo (which I was attempting to learn to play-not exactly the choice instrument for an awkward 7th grader; and yes, I still have the banjo!). One year, another new desk--this one a computer desk for the computer I got as an 8th grade graduation gift. A few years later, in college, Santa brought me a beautiful fur coat. My first Christmas as a married gal, I got a sewing machine! Christmas 2005, my wonderful husband gave me a ring that was identical to the one he gave me on our wedding day. The original ring was stolen out of my purse one night at work, and I cried so much because my wedding gift had been stolen.
Of course, Christmas 2006 was special because that was M's first Christmas that she cried through the entire night. Christmas 2008 was our first Christmas in our house, and that was the Christmas that my mom gave me a special gift: a framed drawing that my Granddaddy drew as a young boy. My Granddaddy always gave us a wooden car that he had made for Christmas each year until his passing when I was in first grade.
Thinking back to all of these special gifts requires me to remember the most special gift I have ever received--the reason we celebrate in the first place. The gift of salvation when God the Father sent his own Son to live on earth with the sole purpose of dying a horrendous death on a cross to save me from my wretched sins. The emotional connection of that gift did not become such a realization until I became a mother. Many nights of rocking my daughter to sleep, I would stare at her and wonder how God could give up his own Child for me. Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice!
I hope some of these memories spark some memories of your own Christmases past, but more than that, I pray that you remember the greatest gift of all. It is a gift for anyone who will take it. If you would like to know more about this greatest gift, please contact me; I would love to tell you more!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Two Week Christmas Break
I am certainly looking forward to having two weeks at home with M! Here are a couple of pictures that her babysitter, G, took of her recently.
M wanted to help feed G's daughter, H.
Another day, M grabbed G's camera and said (multiple times, I'm sure), "Picture me, G!"
Some other things that M has been saying lately that crack us up:
"See you libba lit"--See you in a little bit
"I waaant chicken nunuts; I want frifries; I want choco milk. Madonals"--I want chicken nuggets, french fries, and chocolate milk from McDonald's (We here this almost daily!)
"I no need night night"
"I go church? Libary? Get movie?"
As you can tell, her speech is getting more and more clear. She still leaves out a few words from her sentences, but she'll get them the more she hears us say the sentence correctly. I'm sure you can understand why I have been looking forward to spending the next two weeks with her! I'll leave you with these last two sentences from M:
"Merry Kwimas"--Merry Christmas!
"Hap birday Jesus"--Happy Birthday, Jesus!"
M wanted to help feed G's daughter, H.
Another day, M grabbed G's camera and said (multiple times, I'm sure), "Picture me, G!"
Some other things that M has been saying lately that crack us up:
"See you libba lit"--See you in a little bit
"I waaant chicken nunuts; I want frifries; I want choco milk. Madonals"--I want chicken nuggets, french fries, and chocolate milk from McDonald's (We here this almost daily!)
"I no need night night"
"I go church? Libary? Get movie?"
As you can tell, her speech is getting more and more clear. She still leaves out a few words from her sentences, but she'll get them the more she hears us say the sentence correctly. I'm sure you can understand why I have been looking forward to spending the next two weeks with her! I'll leave you with these last two sentences from M:
"Merry Kwimas"--Merry Christmas!
"Hap birday Jesus"--Happy Birthday, Jesus!"
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
Mickey Mouse is a staple in our house. You could say that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is M's coffee! She thinks she has to watch that show every morning before she goes to the babysitter's house.
Since it's the Christmas season, Disney channel runs special "Movie Time Monday" shows. Last week, the movie was "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas". I, of course, recorded it on DVR so we could watch it later (and again and again). If you've never watched this movie, it's actually 3 short stories about Christmas. One is about Donald and his 3 nephews (Huey, Dewey, and Louie); the second is about Goofy and his son, Max; and the third is based on the story "The Gift of the Magi." Mickey Mouse, while teaching my daughter some counting, colors, and a few other things, has also revealed a few things to me.
First of all, have you ever wondered why Donald and Daisy never get married, but they are charged with the upbringing of the three little nephews? What happened to Donald's brother or sister? Similarly, how did Goofy ever have a son when there has really not ever been a Mrs. Goofy? This also brings me to Mickey and Minnie. Same question: why didn't they get married? As a child, I never noticed this, but watching the shows now as an adult, it seems that Disney is a little inconsistent or confused about the relationships between the characters. This is a silly observation, I know.
Secondly, in the third short story of "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas," both Mickey and Minnie don't have a lot of extra cash, but they want to purchase something extra special for each other at Christmas. Mickey works at Crazy Pete's tree lot. Here's what I noticed: a family with two small children comes to the tree lot. Crazy Pete (who we all know is greedy and selfish, not to mention deceptive and dishonest) tries to sell the family a 10 foot tree that is way outside the family's budget. One of the kids says, "it's even bigger than our house." When the dad pulls out one bill and a few coins, Pete says that's the perfect amount for a down payment and he'll be glad to set them up on an installment plan; just sign here. Pete shoves the clipboard in the dad's hands and Mickey speaks up and shows the family the perfect little tree from the back of the lot. Okay, if you want the rest of the story, I'm pretty sure you can rent the DVD.
Anyway...all that to say that I never noticed before that selfish, greedy Pete does the exact same thing that retailers do to all of us all year! "This is the best product out there; you have to have it." When we try to say, "but this is all I have to spend on such an item," retailers tell us we can just put a down payment on the item and pay for the rest later. Does this infuriate anyone else? At any other time, I probably wouldn't have noticed or cared that this kind of subtle influence is being displayed in my daughter's cartoon. Having gone through certain circumstances over the past year and trying to be better stewards of the money God entrusts us with, the messages that retailers send us practically on a daily basis just flat-out angers me!
Could I give you a word of encouragement whether you have been recently convicted to get out of debt or you don't see what the big deal is about being in debt? The Bible tells us in Proverbs that the borrower is the slave to the lender. As long as we continue to borrow money from retailers, we will be their slave. Isn't that exactly what they want? Who do you want to be a slave to? Don't buy into the message that it's okay to buy it now and pay for it later because you will certainly pay for the item later. Work hard, save your money, and don't spend more than you have! You can do it!
Since it's the Christmas season, Disney channel runs special "Movie Time Monday" shows. Last week, the movie was "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas". I, of course, recorded it on DVR so we could watch it later (and again and again). If you've never watched this movie, it's actually 3 short stories about Christmas. One is about Donald and his 3 nephews (Huey, Dewey, and Louie); the second is about Goofy and his son, Max; and the third is based on the story "The Gift of the Magi." Mickey Mouse, while teaching my daughter some counting, colors, and a few other things, has also revealed a few things to me.
First of all, have you ever wondered why Donald and Daisy never get married, but they are charged with the upbringing of the three little nephews? What happened to Donald's brother or sister? Similarly, how did Goofy ever have a son when there has really not ever been a Mrs. Goofy? This also brings me to Mickey and Minnie. Same question: why didn't they get married? As a child, I never noticed this, but watching the shows now as an adult, it seems that Disney is a little inconsistent or confused about the relationships between the characters. This is a silly observation, I know.
Secondly, in the third short story of "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas," both Mickey and Minnie don't have a lot of extra cash, but they want to purchase something extra special for each other at Christmas. Mickey works at Crazy Pete's tree lot. Here's what I noticed: a family with two small children comes to the tree lot. Crazy Pete (who we all know is greedy and selfish, not to mention deceptive and dishonest) tries to sell the family a 10 foot tree that is way outside the family's budget. One of the kids says, "it's even bigger than our house." When the dad pulls out one bill and a few coins, Pete says that's the perfect amount for a down payment and he'll be glad to set them up on an installment plan; just sign here. Pete shoves the clipboard in the dad's hands and Mickey speaks up and shows the family the perfect little tree from the back of the lot. Okay, if you want the rest of the story, I'm pretty sure you can rent the DVD.
Anyway...all that to say that I never noticed before that selfish, greedy Pete does the exact same thing that retailers do to all of us all year! "This is the best product out there; you have to have it." When we try to say, "but this is all I have to spend on such an item," retailers tell us we can just put a down payment on the item and pay for the rest later. Does this infuriate anyone else? At any other time, I probably wouldn't have noticed or cared that this kind of subtle influence is being displayed in my daughter's cartoon. Having gone through certain circumstances over the past year and trying to be better stewards of the money God entrusts us with, the messages that retailers send us practically on a daily basis just flat-out angers me!
Could I give you a word of encouragement whether you have been recently convicted to get out of debt or you don't see what the big deal is about being in debt? The Bible tells us in Proverbs that the borrower is the slave to the lender. As long as we continue to borrow money from retailers, we will be their slave. Isn't that exactly what they want? Who do you want to be a slave to? Don't buy into the message that it's okay to buy it now and pay for it later because you will certainly pay for the item later. Work hard, save your money, and don't spend more than you have! You can do it!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
We've joined the "blog-o-sphere"
Is "blog-o-sphere" the right word? Haha! We've noticed and have been following several friends from church here on Blogger and began wondering why it seemed "everyone" else had a blog but us. I have also been throwing around the idea of creating a blog in an attempt to sell some craft items/craft classes. So, here we are...
I titled our blog "Musings and Marvels" because occasionally I get inspired to write (the musings) and to document and remember things our precious little ball of energy does and says. For example, here's a musing...maybe it's just me, but it seems that there is something about the Christmas season that inspires people to write. Maybe it's because it's the season of reflection; remembering one's experiences and happenings over the past year and looking into the future of a new year.
How about a marvel? M is about to turn 3 in just a few days! Marvel A-I can't believe she's already 3; marvel B-if you ask her how old she is, she'll respond, "fir da haf. hehe." (usually accompanied by a little hip shake/dance if she's not being held). Oh, by the way, "fir da haf" translated would be "three and a half." We're not sure where the "half" came from but it started out as four and a half. Now, when she counts, she totally skips over four! She's so funny!
My, my, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be ending these entries. I hope these entries are enjoyable for you to read. If you find yourself bored out of your mind reading these, don't tell me! Ha!
I titled our blog "Musings and Marvels" because occasionally I get inspired to write (the musings) and to document and remember things our precious little ball of energy does and says. For example, here's a musing...maybe it's just me, but it seems that there is something about the Christmas season that inspires people to write. Maybe it's because it's the season of reflection; remembering one's experiences and happenings over the past year and looking into the future of a new year.
How about a marvel? M is about to turn 3 in just a few days! Marvel A-I can't believe she's already 3; marvel B-if you ask her how old she is, she'll respond, "fir da haf. hehe." (usually accompanied by a little hip shake/dance if she's not being held). Oh, by the way, "fir da haf" translated would be "three and a half." We're not sure where the "half" came from but it started out as four and a half. Now, when she counts, she totally skips over four! She's so funny!
My, my, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be ending these entries. I hope these entries are enjoyable for you to read. If you find yourself bored out of your mind reading these, don't tell me! Ha!
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