"Here we come a caroling....."

 Several years ago, I wrote a blog on my favorite Christmas Song, which happens to be, "Here Comes Santa Claus". You might think of it as a silly, children's song, but contains a beautiful verse about being "all God's children...", which I find very meaningful.  And, as a bonus, it was written by Gene Autry, who is one of my personal heroes. 

Now, I want to tell you about my least favorite Christmas Song. When was the last time you said something was DEE-vine? Probably never, unless you were singing "O Holy Night". The song does more than bother me. It taunts me. It seems like it plays everywhere, during the holiday season, over and over. I know some folks like it. But, I sure don't. I remember one Christmas Eve Service, years ago, when the two soprano solos, one sung right after the other, were both, "O Holy Night". I wanted to run from the sanctuary, screaming. But, then I was just horribly embarrassed for the singers. 

Don't have it sung at my funeral, please. I will forever haunt you. It will not be DEE-vine.

Dear Lord, Give me patience. Teach me to have tolerance for the choices of others. 

A Tasteful Season

 

Egg Nog has finally made its seasonal appearance, in our local grocery store. Over the years I have acquired quite a taste for Egg Nog. Not the fluffy, homemade kind, with real eggs and whiskey, but the Pasteurized sweet stuff you find in plastic cartons in the Dairy Section. I put it in my coffee every morning, add it to pancake batter and "doctor up" most anything that normally requires milk. It's great in muffins, in French toast batter and in hot chocolate. Egg Nog Season, from Halloween to New Year's Day, is my favorite time of the year.

I don't feel the same way, however, about pumpkin pie spice. Yes, I know it's popular, and you can get pumpkin pie spiced lattes, ice cream, etc., but, I prefer my pumpkin pie spice, in pie! And even then, I would prefer apple, cherry or even mince meat before a slice of pumpkin. In my humble opinion, the best thing about pumpkin pie is the whipped cream topping!

Cinnamon flavors many holiday foods. Cinnamon is brown and not visually appetizing. But, cinnamon candy is always red.  I've even been known to add "red hot" candies to several of my recipes. They add great color and zip to apples and sauces.

Peppermint, in its many forms, helps us celebrate the holidays. A peppermint stick, in a mug of cocoa, makes it extra special and festive. And, who doesn't like a good candy cane or mint chocolate ice cream?

Please, take the time to enjoy the tastes of the season.

Dear God. We have so many things, for which to be thankful. It's easy to remember to thank You for the big ticket items. But, we need to remember to thank You for the small things, also. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this day. May I remember to appreciate all of my blessings.

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

 I have a tiny Schneekugel on my desk. You may have several, in your homes or apartments. The finest Schneekugels have always been made in Austria. Erwin Perzy is said to have invented them and his company, now led by the fourth generation, continues to make them.

My tiny Schneekugel, sits by my computer. It was probably made in China, but I can't tell for certain. The print, on the bottom, is too small for me to read. And, the price sticker reads $1. I don't have any trouble shaking the heck out of it, anytime I feel like it. It makes me smile!

Because, they have been around for a really long time, most of us have memories of playing with them or at least seeing them, as they sat high on a shelf, too far away for tiny hands to reach. Our family, while I was growing up, had one, that in my mind, I can still see clearly. It had a black base, it seemed very heavy. The glass globe contained a small snowman, complete with a black top hat, black eyes and a carrot nose. Those memories are over 70 years old.

Scott, the kids and I had, at one time, a really nice Schneekugel, that a relative gave to our family. It was around the house for a few years, until one or maybe several of our sons, broke it. As I recall, I found the hidden bits and pieces, shortly after the incident. It was just a "thing", so I don't remember spending much time being disturbed about losing it. I'm sure I was more concerned about them failing to tell me that they had broken it. I'm sure the culprit(s), will never, ever have fond memories of snow globes. Too bad. They are pretty unique.

Dearest Lord. You are our strength and our salvation. We praise your Holy Name.

Fair to Middlin'

The average person discovers, sooner or later, that life isn't fair. Truly, if you expect to be treated fairly in this world, you are in for a lifetime of disappointment.

It begins when a child is told "no", when he wants to hear "yes". Right then and there, unfairness becomes a reality. How about when teenagers want to go somewhere or do something that parents deem dangerous? They tell them no, and of course Mom and Dad will always get hit with that "unfair" Teenage whine. 

Didn't get that expected raise, but your lazy co-worker got a promotion?  Your doctor gives you some bad news, even though you've followed every "health rule" imaginable! Life is certainly unfair.

Fairness is not what life is all about. Your key to happiness, or at least acceptance, is what you do with your disappointment. God wants us to forgive those folks who have treated us unfairly. He wants us to learn that life situations will not always turn out in our favor. Growth comes from adversity. Our lives will never be perfect, we are not in control. When we take our disappointments and turn them into opportunities, we become winners. 

Faith tells us that God goes with us on our entire journey. Whatever happens, God is our constant and he will not forsake us. 

Dear Lord. We are Your children. Show us how to Live in Your goodness. we are blessed.

Whoops!

 Change is what life is all about. Nothing was ever meant to stay the same. But, as I have stated, many times, change is often difficult to accept. 

I have had people tell me that "giving up driving my car will kill me". Believe me, it won't. No one ever died, from not being able to drive. Not being able to adjust to change, however, could kill someone. Call a taxi, a friend or a relative. Ask for help. Use public transportation. You are still in control, when you make the choice.

Physical limitations are the pits. No one enjoys physical challenges, but not being able to play 18 holes of golf or ride a bike, is just part of getting older. Take up something less strenuous! And, if you can't do that, read a book, work a puzzle or knit. Move. You'll feel better in no time.

Some folks are vehement about staying in their own homes, even when safety is an issue. If you want to live happily ever after, move somewhere safe. Two-story homes are dangerous, if you have mobility issues. So, when you worry about not being able to keep your "stuff", remember that no one takes a U Haul with them, to the cemetery. You have the memories, you don't need the mementoes!

You cannot die from loneliness. It is devastating to lose a spouse or a job.  However, if you choose to moan and groan and feel sorry for yourself, you might decide to quit living...and you will. Instead of complaining of loneliness, do a kind deed for someone you care about. You will feel wanted and needed.

Life is full of changes. The folks who thrive and survive, accept life's changes. Some folks, believe it or not, find that change makes life worth living.

God: You are our constant. With Your help, everything, even change can be embraced. Our trust is in You..

And Beyond.......

 Grace and Beauty are ageless. Today, I was blessed to observe two dear and beautiful friends greet each other, with ageless Grace. Seeing them together reminded me that they had both celebrated milestone birthdays, this past year. They both turned 100 years old.

We have had several other centenarians at our facility. It shouldn't surprise you to know that they have all been women. Anyone who attempts to tell you that females, of our species, are the weaker sex, is grossly misinformed. I have known a great many 80, 90 and 100 year-old women, who are much stronger than you might imagine.

I have observed that women who live to ninety and beyond, have not lived charmed, easy or uneventful lives. But, all of them are survivors. Spend even a small amount of time, with any of them, and they will fill your heart with amazing stories.

They may not have flown bombers over Dresden, in World War II, but many of them worked in defense plants. They flew bombers to airfields for male pilots, or were aides to high ranking officers. They were war widows and war brides. They knitted socks and sweaters in shelters, during bombing raids. They raised children by themselves and they fed them Campbell's Soup Casseroles and tons of Jello.

They are my She-roes.

Dear God. We are blessed. We know You and You know us. We have limitations, but as we age, we are confident that You are always with us, whatever happens. You are our refuge and our strength.

".........................IS FEAR ITSELF"

That quote may sound familiar to you. It's attributed to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and he used it, for the first time, in his 1933 Inaugural Address. "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.", is his signature phrase. I don't think you'll find it on his tombstone, but people recognize it as "his words". (Actually, it appears that it was originally coined by Henry David Thoreau, decades earlier.

Jimmy Carter's signature phrase was, "A Leader for a Change." (An interesting slogan that can be interpreted in a couple of ways.) Barak Obama's phrase was, "Change We Can Believe In." And, of course Donald Trump used "Make America Great Again." It's interesting to remember that Ronald Reagan had a similar one. His was "Let's make America Great Again." Everything old is new again, it seems. 

The slogans or phrases, I like best, are the most original ones. Eisenhower's "I like Ike", was iconic (I couldn't resist the pun). Harry Truman had the best signature phrase, ever quoted, when he forcefully stated, "The Buck Stops Here."

Do you have a signature phrase? Is there something that you find yourself saying over and over, or at least muttering several times a day? Those words could be your signature phrase.

I think mine is  "There you go."  I use it more and more often now, because I am realizing that there is very little left in life that any of us can control!

Dear Lord. You are in control. Remind us to let go and let You lead us and teach us. We are Your clay. Mold us, in Your image.