Category Archives: 7 Keep Christmas
Guess what Tristan surprised me with today?
He re-vamped my blog site! I have to learn new things! Meanwhile-you can click on any of the photos and see them bigger!
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !
“How wise the wise men must have been
To find the child in Bethlehem.
He lives again and draws us near,
Christmastime is here.
A tale of love that never dies
The laughter in the children’s eyes.
The child in me is always there.
Christmas is my favorite time of year.
The mist of wonder lies under my tree
The gift of memories is waiting for me.
The day will come and soon depart
The spirit stays to heal my heart
With love for people everywhere
Christmas is my favorite time of the year.”
Merry Christmas, everybody. I have you in my heart…Love, Jeanie (thanks for reading!)
*One of my favorite Christmas songs from a Kenny Rogers album in the early 1980’s: Christmas is My Favorite Time of the Year.
Baby Jesus Remains at Large
Oh, sure. Everybody is just enjoying their Christmas Eve. But how will they feel tomorrow, I wonder, if I refuse to allow the festivities to proceed until the Baby Jesus has been found and returned to His birth stable? Uh-huh. Then they’ll understand the importance.
Update for those behind on the story: The Baby Jesus from the (unbreakable-kid-version) Nativity set came up missing sometime during the Rhoades family Christmas dinner last weekend. There was a sighting (by Hunter) in the bedroom formerly known as Tredessa’s or Zach’s old room. But tips on His whereabouts have not yet panned out.
R E W A R D O F F E R E D.
The Tintinnabulation of the Eve ~ One Day until the Christmas Bell Rings
Come on, Ring those Bells!
That was An Evie song that I solo’ed on in the early 80’s and later our three little girls, Tara, Stephie and Dessa would sing together in matching Christmas dresses with red ribbons in their long hair, delighting congregations and their parents!
Everytime a bell rings, and angel gets its wings.
Famous folklore from the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Sleigh Bells, Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, Church bells.
There are a lot of bells ringing, it seems, around this time of year. It is a bit daunting and I am tempted to yell, like Uncle Leo on Seinfeld, “Would somebody answer that [@#$%] phone?!?
But through crazy-loud-manic-silly-overdone-ear-piercing noise, I am listening. I am listening for that one clear note, that beautifully and perfectly played note away from the fray. I depend upon the tintinnabulation to bring things back into order, to make the world right again, to center my focus and bring some calm.
And while Christmas, the worship of the Savior who came, can get lost amid the piles of wrapping paper and receipts, and can be hard to find after too many parties and rooms full of people, that crystal-clear note is really the sound of the angels on high while a baby takes His first breath in a manger amid the animal dung and feed. The tintinnabulation that rings so clear and true even still is the glorious song those angels sang so joyously and raucously over two-thousand years ago:
“Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men [on whom His favor rests].”
I am always so pleased to hear the radio stations play, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, for lyrically (written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), they are releasing into the air each Christmas season, the solid truth of that particular angelic declaration that rings through the ages and is louder still, even now:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
God is not dead, nor does He sleep! That is the true and reliable tintinnabulation for which I am listening, and endlessly, whether I listen for it or not, it rings on, unbroken by time or space or world condition.
Casting Crowns recorded the lyrics with a haunting new melody last Christmas, a version they are even playing on Kosi 101 this year. Enjoy a live rendition below, and be thrilled again by God’s goodwill toward you! (And, by the way, shhhhh, Casting Crowns has confirmed for Heaven Fest 2010)…
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day ~ Casting Crowns
And wild and sweet the words repeat of Peace on earth, goodwill to men!
Luke is so Naughty…and Nice
Luke, of Heaven Fest, not the Gospels, sent this today:
Is PMS in the Bible?
“Mary rode Joseph’s ass all the way to Bethlehem.”
Initially, I laughed my head off.
But come on – the woman
was in LABOR.
You try riding a donkey in labor, Luka!
2 Days until Christmas ~Too Delightful, Too Sweet!
Keep Christmas.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” Charles Dickens
I have a whole blog category called “Keep Christmas” inspired by this very quote. Keep: to continue, maintain, look after, maintain possession of. Provide and nourish it. Maintain, preserve and enjoy it. And what are we keeping anyway? The Christ Mass, the worship of Jesus Christ. Of course I will Keep Christmas. With all my heart!
The PJ Party
Of all our social engagements during the festive holidays, there is none so important nor more desirous for which to be invited than the PJ Party with the Grandbebes. The Little Prince himself called for this royal celebration this year, already having deemed it a most regal tradition.
This year’s soiree included “Ice” skating at The Orchard where Gemma promptly fell on her “buns” and did not like skating at all after that, telling every stranger who cared to engage her, “I can’t skate anymore, I am too little,” while Averi went at it as if she were born on ice and Guini fell if anyone skated past her within a 20-foot radius, presumably the wind itself knocking the little featherweight down. But she would laugh hilariously and get right back up and the boys? Well they were boys!. Then there was Taco Bell and these 5 can put away the chips and Nacho Cheese like nobody’s business.
Dave had the 2 little girls while I drove Gavin, Hunter and Guini home. We decided to sing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs, in between theologiocal discussions about how God could be everywhere at once and what God looks like and how God was right there in the car blessing Hunter and holding his hand that very second. Somewhere between “Let it Snow” and “Jingle Bells,” just after the kids had happily spotted the giant star atop the Christmas tree at the Brighton City Hall as we passed, Guini, moved by the true meaning of Christmas, led out a strong, rousing rendition of “Oh no, You never let go.” Yes. The Matt Redman song. And they worshipped their little heads off.
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Then…
The annual Reindeer prints: footprint for the head, 2 hand prints for the antlers, the forefinger for eyes and a thumbprint for the nose. These were created to take home for mommys and daddys – a reminder of how much they have grown since last year. Colorful paint and water flew in every direction, but voila! Art!
Then hot chocolate for all and we got in our jammies and pulled the couch close to the TV for watching Sprout and Elf while munching on popcorn.
The Party lasts all night and into the morning.
At exactly 6:13 this morning, I heard the rumble of small feet tear through the house and shrieks of naughty glee and giggles pierced the sweet sleep I so longingly clung to. Capt’n Crunch Christmas Cereal, helping Poppa wrap presents and place them under the tree and early morning screenings of the classics: Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman, our very own film festival! They are making tents of blankets and Baby Jesus is missing. We have sent out a search party, but Gemma announces from the top of the stairs, in that particularly little-lamb voice of hers, “I can’t find Baby Jesus, Poppa. I don’t know where He is?…”
Sandy-the-Dog endures being placed in swaddling clothes, but does enjoy the crumbs and treats the grandbebes leave around the house.
Hunter informs me before leaving that we did not do the PJ Party “correctly” because there were no balloons and cake. He believes with all his heart that a PJ Party must have balloons and cake. {you try, right?}
“Two more ‘sleeps’ until Christmas,” the measurement Gavin and Hunter give to any upcoming event for which they can hardly wait.
Christmas is, after all, coming. In only 2 more sleeps!
Will Baby Jesus be found in time for Christmas?!?
Three Nights Before Christmas
Three nights before Christmas and all over town, there is much to be done and so many sounds…
1. Christmas with my family is pretty loud.
“Christmas at our house was like a Donny and Marie TV Special” (who said that?).
That cracks me up because it is like that for us, too. Rare is the quiet tree-lit silent night, or a room full of heavenly peace for pondering and reflecting. Even now, as I write this (on Monday night to be posted on Tuesday), it is late. And yet, the rooms are brightly shining and daughters have materials and supplies spread everywhere, working on Christmas projects and finishing last-minute gifts. They tease and cajole. They drink coffee and break out into song, filling the air with movie quotes and remembrances in a thoroughly unpredictable rhythm. Just now they are singing selections from the musical “Oklahoma,” for what reason, I do not know. I’d like to tell them to go to their rooms and get to sleep, but am reminded they are here now by choice, a gift to me, something I treasure. Let the madness remain.
2. I really do not like to shop. But at this point, I have no choice.
I power-shopped for more than 10 hours Monday. {sigh} I organized each person’s list according to every different retail establishment I would need to hit. I mapped out a plan, gathered coupons and those “free money” cards I have collected from said establishments (like $10 off a $25 purchase at JCP, $10 off any purchase at Kohls!) into a folder. I made sure to have my Starbucks giftcards for needed strength (did you know there is a company-wide shortage of caramel due to the popularity of the new Caramel Brulee Latte??!?) and most importantly, dedicated myself to having a good hair day because when you are going from morning to night, not having to worry about hair in imperative. Then I told Dave: this isn’t a pleasure trip, you know. The objective is to cross things off my list: quickly.
Several of my girls have asked for vintage/antique-type things so I added 3 thrift stores to my list, all within a short get-it-done radius. When we arrived at the first one and I leapt from the car with notebook and pen in hand and started bounding toward the door at break-neck speed, Dave commented, “There. See, honey? This store was created just for you.” For the big sign at the entrance read: ARC Thrift Store ~ Shopping with a Purpose.
Yes, I am a purpose-driven shopper.
3. I will continue to complain about the weather.
It was too stinking hot. It didn’t feel like Christmas with the weather in the 50’s, which is seriously impeding my glorious songs of old. But today, the temp has dropped! Here is what I want: Maybe the low 40’s with some big pretty snowflakes falling, but not on the streets-just along the sides so everything looks pretty and children can build men…and women. And just cool enough so you can wear the cute hat and adorable scarf set some one has given you (along with the coordinating fingerless gloves), but you don’t really need bulky coats. You know-cool enough that you’d look all New-England-wintry and Christmas-card-ish if you made a quick stop and took a few spins around the ice-skating rink while you were bustling about shopping, but not so cold no one can recognize you due to the outerwear overkill when, if you should fall, you would not, in fact, be able to get back up. Is this really too much to ask for???
Three movies that are not usually considered Christmas movies, but have great Christmas scenes in them:
[1] Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. [2] About a Boy with Hugh Grant and [3] While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock (omygosh, I LOVE this movie!).
Three nights before Christmas, 3 French Hens, Three Wise Men, and three wishes from me to you: peace, joy and love!
pictured: DP, Tara and Hunter’s tree farm adventure a couple of weeks ago.
4 Days Out ~ You Better Not Pout!
Why I love
Buddy the Elf
I’m a cotton-headed ninny-muggins!
Deb, you have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card!
I think you’re really beautiful and
I feel really warm when I’m around you and
my tongue swells up.
First we’ll make snow angels for 2 hours, then we’ll go ice-skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can,
and then
we’ll snuggle.
{SON of a NUTcracker!}
I just like to smile,
{answering the phone} Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?
I’m sorry I ruined your lives and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR.
S A N T A ! ! ! {Omg!} Santa’s coming!
I know him!
I KNOW HIM!
~~~~~~~
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NOTE TO READERS: In case you need to know, and I, for one, do…the days start getting longer again starting today! WINTER! Shorter nights! Thank goodness!
Church @ Christmas
The Celebration Center
Glittery angels.
Three big wreaths (almost 7 foot and 2 5 1/2 foot), draped in rich, royal red.
9-foot trees on tables with very glittery gold garlands.
Giant lighted garland and 16 pots of poinsettias.
The Garage
Flocked greenery.
Twinkling, sparkly snow-draped surfaces.
A seventeen-foot tree laden with clear and white ornamentations and antique gold and silver accents.
5-foot wreaths flanking a wintry, but warm stagescape.
And etc.
Northern Hills was built to be decorated for Christmas. The hallways and cafe and foyers are warm yellows and golds, lending themselves to the perfect background for the reds and greens and silvers and golds of Christmas. Oversized trees and wreaths are a must with such high ceilings. The Celebration Center is decorated in traditional symbols of the season, the jewle-toned colors that make it Christmas. The very dark Garage has “lighted snow” and flocked greenery because anything else would totally disappear. The centerpiece of the display there is a 17-foot tree we created and adorned with hundreds of crystal clear and milky white ornaments, dotted with antique golds and silvers: a shimmery forest feel.
How many thousands of lights? I lost count. How many trees were re-purposed into over-sized wreaths and giant trees)? A couple dozen between last year and this. How many nice people helped? A lot!
The real question is: what makes me, months before Christmas, start sketching designs and pouring over design websites dreaming about what the church could look like at Christmas? Somebody stop me! j/k