10,000 Maniacs - These Are Days [HQ]

This song is a go-to happy song for me--love Natalie Merchant.  While the video is a little lame (it was the early 90's after all), this song brings nothing but good memories to mind.

Joy

Christmas dinners are now officially done and time to turn my brain towards the start of a new year.  So many wonderful things happened this year:  we got our new family member, dd2 found her "place", dd1 had some success in the pool, dh found a job that makes him happy, and although i can't think of something monumental for me, i did get to enjoy all of the above and be pleased for the ones i love.

These last few days of 2011 have been difficult in the sense that there is so much attention focussed on shopping, buying, and having stuff.  It's a full on assault really.  Is it worse than in previous years?  I can't say for certain but what I do know is my desire to be a part of it has never been smaller.  As I wandered through the mall with some Christmas money in my hand, I realized that none of this was bringing me any joy and, in fact, was making me decidedly unhappy.  Now I can't tell you why that is (believe me, i enjoy spending money as much as the next gal) but let's just say that my Christmas money ended up in a much better place, spent in a way that did give me some joy.  As 2011 winds down, I am certain of very few things in life save these:  my family comes first, no exceptions; everyday I have with my parents is a gift; my girl friends are a treasure like no other; and that life is a truly beautiful thing when one can tune out the background noise.

Here's hoping that as you head in to 2012 that you hold firm to your own certainties and enjoy what truly brings you joy.

Eat, Read, and Be Merry

So far this holiday, we have a done a great deal of nearly nothing.  It's been absolutely perfect.  Reading, card games, eating, board games, more eating, walking with the dog, eating, watching junior hockey, eating and of course, more eating.  Pure relaxation.  It's been a tremendous gift.  After years of hosting Christmas, having house guests, planning activities for 13 on a daily basis and generally acting as our family's "julie mc coy", this week of pyjama time has been all sorts of wonderful.
But good-ole-Julie is never out of commission for long....."family fun" (in quotation marks to reflect what I am sure will be DD#1's reaction to my ideas) is on the horizon.  That is, if I can put down The Hunger Games.

Merry Christmas Part 2: Can we return to Christmas Past?

This morning was the day I'd been dreading for some time.  After staying up well past midnight, DH and I were completely unsuspecting that a certain determined DD#2 was still awake and saw us lay the stocking down by her door.  That would explain her lack of enthusiasm in the morning.  When asked why she was so glum, she replied "I saw you and daddy with my stocking" which I mistakenly took to mean that she knew we were Santa.  Mistake.  Huge mistake.  When I later told her how I'd hoped she'd like a certain Santa present, the world almost seemed to stop for a moment and then the wailing began.  And I do mean wailing.  And crying.  And accusing.  So much for our "It's a wonderful life" kinda moment.  And there was no buying of the "Santa is the spirit of Christmas" line.  She felt out and out hurt, betrayed, and very very sad.  Even despite some pretty good presents.  How to manage this plan b style?  I am at a loss however, a good friend gave me a mug which I am using as I type this.  It says "Embrace the Moment" and indeed, I will just keep my mouth shut and give that a try.

Merry Christmas

As I stumble along in my constant plan b world, I am ever mindful that at least I have options and the presence of mind to consider changes.  May we ever be open to the possibilities of life and embrace the simple joys that present themselves to us in big and small ways.  Tonight I am grateful for so much for truly I am richly blessed.  And so are you, if you stop the craziness of life to properly consider things.  May you all have a wonderful Christmas tomorrow.

acceptance

How to explain the way of the world to a 10 year old girl intent on doing her own thing?  That is the question of the day around here.  While I appreciate that she's spunky and has her own "look", unfortunately that look is driving me crazy--hair pulled back, unbrushed, into a knotted pony tail with the occasional slick back with water.  Seriously?  I would rather look at purple hair, a nose ring, or inside out clothing than watch her walk around looking like she just rolled out of bed (or out of a bin of hair gel).  Raising the issue delicately (which, admittedly is not my forte) does not register and as I get more insisting, she becomes more resisting (I forsee nothing good when the teen years come along).  I am not sure why I care so much.  That's not entirely true.  Girls are mean and I can well imagine what will be said about her today and I am frustrated that she's setting herself up for a huge serving of nasty.  She has told me the problem lies with me (having a logical, perceptive child is all kinds of frustrating) and I know she's right but oh man, isn't life hard enough without giving people a reason to mock you?
So, off she goes.  Dressed in her pajamas (have I mentioned it is NOT pajama day?), bathrobe (a compromise from the fuzzy blanket cape she intended to wear), and a big old Santa hat (at least maybe people will assume the hair comes from hat head??).  And as I watch her with my fingers crossed for a good day, I must concede that I love this crazy girl who is intent on teaching me a lesson in tolerance, patience, and acceptance.

Home Stretch

Well finally, shopping is done (family gifts anyway)!  Cookies are underway.  House is half-decorated but no one seems to mind at all, least of all me!  It looks as if Christmas will make it's way here after all. What a relief as the past few days I have been waking up in a state of panic wondering how it will all happen.  Guess my university mantra of "there are many hours in a day" still holds true today and good things can happen to those who are willing to give up a little sleep.

Flash Mob for Christmas

Did I ever need a dose of this today.  This was so beautiful that it moved me to tears.
I miss the old hymns; songs that were sung simply and sincerely like these.  

Slothiness

Well, we had our first wild ride with the puppy last night.  Our first of many I am sure.  While I felt sorry for my poor hubby who was out toileting the dog every half hour from 11pm to 3am, apparently not sorry enough to drag myself out of bed.  Do I feel guilty?  I know I should.  And I do.  A little bit.  In defence of my slothiness (now, I'm sure that's not a word but I like it), I should say that truthfully I didn't even hear the barking half of the time.  I know.  Hard to believe that I, who used to hear my children breathing half a house away, didn't hear a frenzied puppy trying not to soil his crate.  Now that's a real Christmas miracle.

Thought I'd slip in a current pic of Ridley enjoying his first snowfall.

Odds and Ends

I cannot believe what a wonderful day I had today.  This morning, I took the dog for a little crazy dog time in the green space near us and that wore him out for a few hours which, in turn, enabled me to get a little card making done.  yay!  So nice to have finally figured out the secret to productivity with the puppy in the house--run him like stink.  After that minor revelation, I bettered my day even further by having lunch and doing a little shopping in the Village with a very dear friend.  How can a day get any better you might ask?  Well, I rounded out the afternoon with Ridley actually going for a 15 minute on-leash walk (those of you with puppies will understand how monumental that is), DD#2 finding out she will be in one of my favourite musicals, Fiddler on the Roof, and DD#1 actually teaching DD#2 how to do long division with no fighting.  Somewhere, in an alternate universe, some poor mom is living one of my usual days and wondering why everything is so difficult.

Happiness is...

Even I, official hater of winter and all things cold, have to admit that this drizzly rain is dreadful and that life would be better if it were snow.  Thankfully, I have a sure fire way to improve my mood in the gloom.  Beef Stew.  Sadly, my go- to for happy is food and my favourite go-to of all time is beef stew with dumplings.  Just the smell of it makes me happy.  So let it rain.  I am warm, dry and eating stew.  Ah, life is so good.

Jonah Mowry: "Whats Goin on.."

This video has been making the rounds on facebook lately and truthfully, it is haunting me.  I can't stop thinking about this poor boy and it makes my heart ache.  Watch this with your kids and have that conversation you might not otherwise have.

Character Building

My dd#1 learned a few important lessons today.  Accountability.  Even when you feel you've done nothing wrong (or had no idea you'd done something wrong), if your actions hurt someone else that has to matter.  This morning we went to visit a friend to make things right.  On the way, we stopped for flowers and dd#1 offered to pay for them and I let her.  She is becoming the sort of person each one of us would want to know, and indeed displays more character and heart than many adults I know.  I am immensely proud.
Lesson #2:  We are more than a sum of our actions.  Teaching her that while she did something that hurt someone's feelings, she is still a great kid.  We all make mistakes.  She has some concerns that the adults in the scenario will view her differently.  I should hope not.  And would certainly expect not.  We all have the right to make mistakes and to atone for them without them defining us.  She's done her part, the rest is up to the grown ups in the room.  I am optimistic they will be equally as gracious.

Christmas Break Up

Ah Christmas.  You used to be such a light hearted, great time.  Now you feel like yet another hurdle to jump in the constant stream of a busy day and busy week.  If only we could rekindle our loving relationship.  Maybe you could start by not sneaking up on me?  Perhaps if you didn't demand so much of my time or put so many expectations for merriment on me?  I promise to try to embrace your possibilities if you will vow to just take it down a few notches.  Let's try to find our way back to the reason you are here and remember your humble beginnings.  Christmas, you and I just need to cosy up together on the sofa with a mug of hot cider and an open Bible and maybe, just maybe, we can redefine our relationship.