O CHRISTMAS TREE

The Grinch!
Originally uploaded by RocketCityPoet

"You really are a heel! You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel.....Mr. Grinch! You're a bad banana with a greasy, black peel!!" Dr. Suess: How the Grinch Stole Christmas


Everyone who knows me, knows my life pretty much revolves around my kids. When I had my first daughter, my husband and I decided I would be a stay at home Mom with our children. That meant a certain amount of sacrifice....which I gladly gave. Later, I was called to homeschool, which required even more dedication....and I love it! I love spending time with my kids, even if it is carting them around to PE, drama, recital practices, library duties and story time and all the things that kids are involved in. When it comes to my kids; I am one committed mom!

Well....in most cases.......Here is my confession....Uh.....I mean.....story.....

All my friends say, "I can't believe this about you, Jill! You are such a good mom in every other way!" Yes, it is true, I am a Grinch of a mom when it comes to Christmas trees! I am not proud of it. I didn't intend it to be this way. It all began because I was trying to be a good steward of our finances back in the early days of me staying home! Honest. Really. Really-really.

The year after my oldest daughter was born, I went to Michael's Crafts after Christmas and bought a bunch of Christmas decorations at something like a million percent off. So, my tree always looks the same. Beautiful off-white, matte balls, pearl garlands, gold grapes, and a gorgeous gold and cream colored angel to top it all off. It is the picture of elegance! Year after year.....perfect elegance. The reason it stays perfect year after year is I never let my kids put any ornaments they make on MY tree. Doesn't match. Did I mention that even my wrapping paper matches the tree?? When friends give us gifts, I hide them in the back so the paper doesn't clash! Bad, I know. Just wait.....

I am the kind of mom who loves for my kids to do, do, do, do. I find they discover much more when they do things themselves and embrace the lessons learned much longer than if I just fed them information from a text book. And it has been great teaching my kids that way. They are all bright and independent learners. So many people are surprised when they hear that our reasons for homeschooling are not noble reasons after all. It is because I had a fear that my children would be students of some crafty teacher who would send home 5 handmade ornaments a year that I would be expected to then hang on MY tree.

Three years ago, my little ones begged to have a part in decorating the tree. I let them hang the garland. Two years ago, I even let them decorate with the ornaments....though I changed it all around after they were in bed. LAST YEAR, I should've received Mother of the Year....I let them decorate AND I didn't change a thing. Then the pleading started and they begged to hang some of the non-matching ornaments. I had to say no and ban them from tree decorating until they have moved out and own their own trees. But after seeing all my friends' trees with their kids' ornaments all over them, I began to feel guilty. So, I did what every other selfless mother would do. I bought them their own 6 foot, fake Christmas tree and put it in the family room. My generosity doesn't stop there....I even let them pick out their own ornaments. I believe there are even some homemade ones on there, too. Good Mommy.

So, before this public confession, I had confessed this very minor flaw in my mothering to my "friends". Actually, it came out because we were all at this lovely tea our friend threw for us and our daughters and there was an ornament exchange. They only had one ornament that matched my tree....so of course, I had to steal it and protect it with my life. My friends then teased me about my "mall tree". I don't care.....I think it is STUNNING! This year, I even bought pearl star ornaments and some gold accent ornaments. Really....it is beautiful. So, ANYWAY.....I open my home to these so called friends.....SEVENTY people were in my home and the girls and I baked for two whole days beforehand.....and do you know what those "friends" did???!!! They made HUGE paper chains in PRIMARY COLORS, tied RED POLKA DOT bows on candy canes...and hung them ALL on my tree!!! I made sure that the teens at our get together took as many candy canes as they wanted. But nobody would take the paper chain.

When the last guest had left, I went to take the chain down. and something strange happened. I couldn't do it. I stepped back and looked at my tree and laughed and laughed. All of the sudden.....the tree was wonderfully lovely with that garish chain encircling it! Do you know why? Because when we moved to Colorado a year and a half ago, we didn't know anyone. My closest friend moved in February. Last Christmas, she was my only friend out here who knew me like a sister. But this year, as I stood looking at my tree and thought of all my sweet friends fiendishly plotting to sabotage my tree, I realized that God had blessed me already with a more beautiful spectacle than my tree. My friends. The ones I didn't know as well last year, and who were not close enough last year to tease me about my "mall tree". Now...here were some of my best friends....and they were all laughing with me! God is so good. Last Christmas I was so sad to be losing my heart's sister (and I still miss her and her family immensely), but this year, the Lord provided the best Christmas cheer!

Now, several of my friends are coming for Christmas dinner. They don't know it yet, but I am only feeding Theresa.....she ended up giving me the ornament that matches my tree from the ornament exchange. But, I will make sure the rest of my buddies have a great view of my tree with it's beautiful friendship chain circling it.

Merry Christmas!!!

BUZZZZZZZZZZZ

"To infinity.....and beyond!" Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story

Just a little update on us.

While I have been enjoying the time since Sam has come home...there is no denying that any adjustment, good or bad, can be difficult to manage. This week was a real turning point for me. For seven weeks, I felt like I was treading water. Sam had been sick since we brought him home and I was beginning to realize the toll that was taking on me. I was really beginning to worry. Was it asthma, TB, my dog? He was waking at night often and I was sleep deprived. The Tim factor was a major stress for me....and let us not forget EVERYONE was sick and Daddy was traveling! Ugghhhh. I felt like I was going down for the last time, when......

We finally took Sam to a pediatrician. She diagnosed him with a sinus infection and put him on antibiotics. In a week's time, there were no more rumblings in his nose, throat, or chest! I am thinking that is what he has had since he first came home! He was sleeping better and even became MORE happy, if you can imagine! I felt like a new woman. The schedule we were trying to make work for the past five weeks....actually fell into place! I only spent one day in my pj's last week and that was because I was sick!!!! I have been able to catch on all my duties and grocery shop for more than one day! My family is so happy!!!

Now, with everyone well, I am seeing that Tim is coming out of his jealousy funk....in time for Sam to now be jealous and demanding of time with Mommy and Daddy. Again, I think this is a good thing at the root....Sam realizes that he is our son, too and as such, has equal rights to the lap! We are working on the sharing thing, but are so glad to see Sam attaching so well, and Timothy able to practice a little self control.

Sam, as I said, now knows he is part of the family. He is be-bopping around the house and starting to let go to stand on his own more and more. It is only a matter of time before he is toddling by himself. At first, he didn't even notice when he was standing on his own....we would clap, and he would fall down. Now, he does it just so we can watch and clap! I loved his wild man hair cut....but that kid's hair grows like a weed and I had to opt for a buzz cut. I think it looks really cute on him. Next time, I think I will leave a few sprouts on his forehead....but for now, he has a "Daddy" cut. He now calls Carl DaDa and means it! Yipppeeee!

Tim turned three in November to NO fan fare. Poor guy. I got a cake and invited our friends...then I got the flu. Party cancelled. He was a trooper though, and a few days later, we were able to have his friends for dinner and cake. He is REALLY into cars right now. He always has been, but these days it is more, shall we say, obsessive! He rev's his cars so much, that even Sam makes car noises now. We have moved on to the letter B, now. Tim has made bread, and created a bean picture, and sorted beans and today will make a double B treat with Ji-Ji....banana bread! Next week we are on to bears and bird feeders! More and more he tries to include Sam in his play and I am convinced in a short time they will blossom as buddies.

Carli has really matured in the eight weeks Sam has been home. She helps so often without being asked. She and Tim have forged a bond that was never there before. She is smart.....bonding with Tim has insured that she always has a playmate, even if her sisters are busy. She is really enjoying helping with Sam, as he completely lights up whenever she is nearby! She is also enjoying her art class very much, though she is really showing a talent for directing and acting in her own productions!

Joss is a BIG help now that Sam is home. He just loves her, and some days, she is all that guarantees I can get a shower or even dressed. He is happy to be with her and she keeps a good watch on him. Babies are her favorite, so they are just made for each other right now. She has sacrificed quite a bit of her own time so that Catey can be involved in her many activities, and I still can help with Sam.

Catey, as I said, has been very involved in outside activities since Sam has come home and it just about killed us. But they are dying down, and she is EXTREMELY understanding of our need to be home more now. She missed her formal Thanksgiving banquet because we all had flu EXCEPT her. She handled that with all the grace and understanding of a young woman. Tim is now very, very bonded to her and she has taken on some of the teaching him, which couldn't make him happier!

Carl plugs away at work. Traveling to CA almost every week. He is very blessed to be able to stay with his mom and get in some time visiting with her.

I, like I said, am ecstatic to report that pj's past 9 am are quickly becoming a thing of the past and I am able to actually BATHE! And I am back to being consistently prepared for my co-op geography class. For the first few weeks, I strapped Sam on to teach. This week, however, he has become so comfortable in his home that he doesn't want to be restricted. So.....I left him upstairs with the other mommies in my co-op while I taught downstairs. He had a great time cruising and flirting.

We love having Sam home. More than that, we love that we are really a family now, and finally a FUNCTIONING family!! We get around pretty well, now.

The only downside right now is that my Gramma passed away yesterday morning. I will not be able to attend the funeral as I can't take Sam and I can't leave him either. It is hard to want to be in two places at once and I find myself needing to focus on the new life God has placed in our hands, and not as much on the old life that has passed from us.

We continue to praise God for being our strength and refuge in the times that were hard. He is our Rock and has brought us out of those hard times and is restoring our joy fully. What a blessing it has been to DEPEND on Jesus for everything....and I mean EVERYTHING, these past few weeks. He never fails. Life is good!