Twas the Day after Christmas

Twas the Day after Christmas

Twas the Day after Christmas and all through the house

Lay tatters of paper and crumbs for the mouse

The stockings were strewn on the table with glee

The kitchen in shambles, seemed hopeless to me

But out from a bedroom came giggles and chatter

That brought back to mind it was well worth the matter

For Christmas had come and its joy was still ringing

In laughter and wonder and children still singing

So I settled myself on the couch and admired

All the wonderful blessings that somehow transpired

And all of these good things were gifts unto us

From Him who came lowly without any fuss

The greatest of blessings from whom blessings flow

Left heaven above and was born here below

The greatest of gifts and the greatest of friends

Keeps Christmas joy flowing even after it ends

So today, the day after, I’ll rest and enjoy

The peace of Lord Jesus, who came as a boy.

A Christmas to Remember

It was a cold and cloudy December night four years ago. Only two more days remained until Christmas, and I had run out of supplies to wrap a few last gifts. I hurried into the dollar store, taking my umbrella along since it seemed the sky would start dumping freezing rain at any moment. While browsing amongst the remaining selection of gift wrap and bows, I noticed a mother with her two children- a boy who looked to be around eight years old, and a girl who seemed to be about ten. As the young girl picked up a little snowman, I overheard her commenting to her brother, “This will be the perfect gift for Becky- she will love it! I only have five more people on my list now!”  

 After wandering around the store for half an hour, I finally decided on my own purchases and headed toward the register. As it happened, I was in line behind the girl and her family. While the cashier was ringing up the mother's items, she asked him if the store had any job openings. Her young son immediately piped up in protest. “Mom, you already have a job!” he said. “I know,” the mom responded, “but we could really use some extra money right now.” The cashier handed her an application, but told her there were no positions available at the moment. After her transaction, she took her son towards the front door where they stood and looked out the window at the rain that had just begun to fall.

Her daughter was still in line in front of me. She smiled brilliantly as the cashier rang up each item she had so carefully chosen. She had her allowance in hand to pay for them, and she was overflowing with excitement. Finally the cashier said, “That will be eleven dollars and seventy-seven cents.” The young girl’s face melted into disbelief. She was more than a dollar short, and she had been so careful to pick just the right presents for everyone. Whose present would she put back? Her disappointment was terribly sad to see, and that’s when I knew I had to take action.

The mother never noticed the girl’s dilemma as she and her son waited at the front door looking out the window. I quickly told the cashier I wanted to take care of the girl’s purchase, and asked her to add an umbrella to the tab. The little girl simply stared at me in disbelief. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable, I said, “Hey, Christmas is all about giving. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and I am sure everyone will love the gifts you picked for them.”
 

As I finished paying for her things and my wrapping paper, the girl ran and gave her mother the umbrella at the front door. The mom had tears in her eyes as her daughter told her what had just transpired. She mouthed a silent “thank you” as she and her kids huddled under the umbrella and turned to walk out into the parking lot. As they were departing, the little girl turned around and said with conviction, “I wish I knew someone like you!” She waved goodbye and the family exited into the cold and rainy darkness.

I do not tell this story to highlight a good deed. I tell this story because it has made an incredible impact on my life, and not a Christmas goes by that I don’t think about it and feel like I was the fortunate one to be in line behind that sweet child.
 

Even though I didn’t have a lot of money to spare, what a difference eleven dollars and seventy-seven cents made to one struggling family that night. I believe one day that little girl will grow up and do the same for another person in need. Christmas truly is all about giving, and I can say that I’ve never felt more blessed than in that moment. I hope this story inspires you to do what you can to help someone else this season. Happy giving!

Originally published in my column, "The Upside," in the Ellijay Times-Courier.

Humor Has It

Have you ever been around small children and can’t understand a thing they are saying, yet their parents can interpret instantly? My kids are growing up- they will all be in school this year- but the younger two still say some adorable things: “Pamingo” for “flamingo,” “menember” for “remember,” “banilla” for “vanilla.”  And I just don’t have the heart to correct them, because I know all too soon their childish language will pass away.

Living purposefully means reminding yourself of what is important, and taking joy in life’s simplest and richest treasures. Kid-speak definitely makes the cut, and my family loves to talk about the funny things they used to say. My teenager, Cameron, has one of the funniest stories involving toddler language, so here it is-  I hope it brightens your week.

I had just picked him up from Pre-K, and I was asking him about his day on the drive home. As usual, I received a one word answer: “Fun!” In an attempt to dig out more details, I asked, “Well, what was your favorite part, and what was the worst part?” He responded with bright eyes, “Swinging was the best!” Then suddenly his countenance changed; “And the worst was when… we hit a girl at recess,” he stated soberly.

               

“You did what?? Cameron, you know that you are not supposed to hit- especially girls!” I exclaimed in shock. He threw his little hands in the air. “Mom, we did it,” he replied emphatically. “That’s even worse” I said, “I don’t care how many people were involved- you never hit a girl!”

                 

Looking in the rear-view mirror, I felt confused. Why couldn’t he understand that his actions were wrong? Why had he given into mob mentality at such a young age? Was the girl injured? My interrogation continued for at least a full ten minutes until he started to cry.

               

“But mom, we hit the girl,” he wailed from his car seat. “You’re not wistening to me, mom, WE did it!” And that’s when the light bulb went off.

When Cameron was 4, he couldn’t say the “l” sound. When he sang “Mary had a little lamb,” it sounded like “Mary had a wittle wamb.” It all made sense now. Lee did it, not we did it. “Oh my goodness- the worst part of your day was seeing Lee hit a girl on the playground?” Cameron shook his head yes. “I’m sorry, sweety, I just didn’t understand you,” I said apologetically, “How about a milkshake to help us both feel better?” He wiped a tear away and nodded an affirmation to my suggestion. “A strawberry one with wots of whipped cream,” he added. 

Photo by: Eliza Adams via Flickr.

                 

One extra-large shake later, and Cameron had recovered. Milkshakes still work to this day to cheer him up. We love to laugh about this story and others when we are together. It makes the younger girls giggle with delight and start thinking about the cute words they used to say. It’s so funny to hear Madelyn, now 6, say, “Back when I was 4,” as if she’s quite the adult now. “I used to say ‘pasketti’ instead of ‘spaghetti’- menember, mom?” she asks. Yep, I menember.

                

Humor can brighten your day quickly, but you have to choose to use it. I hope you have fun thinking back on some of the funny things that happened with your kids, grandkids or siblings this week. Happy reminiscing!

This post was adapted from my column, "The Upside of Downsizing," originally published Aug. 9 in the Ellijay Times-Courier.

               

        

               

Home Alone

Child-free moments are rare in my life, which is why, when my wonderful mother-in-law called and asked to have all three of her grandmonsters, I mean, grandchildren, over for FIVE days, at first I thought I was dreaming. 

  

 “All of them- are you sure?” I asked. “Oh yes,” she replied. “We are dying to have them over before school starts back.” I silently did a spirited happy dance and accidentally slung the phone across the room where it fortunately landed on the couch. Snatching it up, I did my best to sound cool and calm; collective was just too much of a stretch. “Why sure, I think…are you sure?” I stammered before regaining control. “I mean, that will be fine, they don’t have a thing going on,” I said as angelically as possible. Hanging up the phone, a world of possibilities flew through my mind. What would I do with this free time? Should I perhaps run out and purchase some bonbons?

The Button-Pusher.

Whatever I did, I knew it would certainly involve some serious peace and quiet. I love my children dearly, but they don’t share my same appreciation for serenity. My youngest brother Joel and his wife, Leah, have the most adorable and quietest toddler you’ve ever seen. And she even eats her vegetables. Not. My. Kids. The younger girls spend their days arguing, whining, sneaking, and button-pushing. My teenaged son likes riding his dirt bike until dark. The sight of broccoli sends all of them into fits of retching.  I am, as it were, charged with harnessing and directing the incredible passion, energy and smarts of three adorable red-heads. Quiet time just doesn’t fit into the equation.  I wouldn’t change it for the world, but a reprieve is assuredly welcome.

                 

She picked them up last Saturday afternoon, and they were thrilled to go. Later that evening my husband Kerry and I enjoyed a family dinner with all of my brothers, their families and my parents. I ate without cleaning up any spills. I played badminton without the girls systematically stealing all of the birdies and hiding them in a “secret nest.” I even managed to get in a game of cards.  This was the life.

We accidentally slept in until noon the next day. As much as we wanted to do something exciting, we just bummed around and watched movies. We sat on the porch and enjoyed the sunshine and the sounds of birds chirping. We ate left-overs. A day of sheer relaxation was apparently just what the doctor ordered. And it didn’t cost us a thing.

                

Later that evening, I began to miss the kids. Sure they are exhausting, but deep, deep, really deep down I missed the mud-pies and paint splatters. After all, the arguing and whining were always interwoven with giggles and lively conversations. I missed Cameron raiding the cabinets with the voracious appetite of a teenager, telling me all the while about new comics and the latest funny videos on YouTube. Even our dog, who spends a considerable amount of energy trying to escape “dress-up time” with the girls, seemed sad as she trotted in and out of their empty room.

                 

While I  thoroughly enjoyed my remaining days of peace and quiet, I was equally excited to be rejuvenated for the kiddos when they returned. God knew I would need the extra energy to answer the many, many, many calls for “mom” until the next break presented itself. I hope this post inspires you to recharge and enjoy some quiet time every now and then. Happy unwinding!

This post was originally published in my column, "The Upside of Downsizing" in the Ellijay Times-Courier on  July 25, 2012.

Dog Days

The drive back from Jasper with a shivering frightened dog was a bit precarious. We had discussed getting a pet for several months, but when a call came from Kerry’s coworker that he was trying to place a neglected dog, I didn’t feel prepared. Nevertheless, here she was- tiny, stinky, and her throat rubbed raw from a collar that had been on too tight for too long; this was not what I expected.

The kids were staying with their grandma for a week, so luckily we would have time to acclimate the dog, named Chica, to our home prior to their onslaught of excitement. Before we made it there, we pulled into Wal-Mart to pick up some pet food, at which point the dog immediately bolted out of the vehicle into the crowded parking lot. This was a nightmare. With no collar and no familiar faces, Chica trotted between rows of cars, while I imagined the worst. She finally came close enough to me so that I could grab her, and I managed to wrangle her back into the vehicle, but not before she bit my hand.

The vet inspected the dog, told us she was healthy overall, and that the bite was likely due to the trauma she was experiencing. I had serious doubts, but the vet was right. Our little Italian Greyhound mix is the most loving lap dog I have ever experienced. She stays at my side constantly, wanting nothing more than a belly rub and some affection. When the kids came home, she passed the ultimate test. Despite their high activity level, Chica allows the girls to tote her around and make her “fashionable” with accessories, and she loves hanging out with my son while he reads or plays video games. The only one who remains emphatically not on board with the new dog is our cat, Meow; she’s still steamed about the whole situation.

Our cat, Meow, is not pleased.

Owning Chica has without a doubt positively impacted our family. My six-year-old Madelyn spent weeks trying to gain the dog’s affections, and her patience and hard work has led to a blooming bond of friendship that melts my heart. The kids are also responsible for feeding and watering her, and we all enjoy taking her out for walks, or in my case, a bike ride, laughing as she runs at lightning speeds ahead of me; Italian Greyhounds can clock in at 25 miles per hour.

Seeing the joy our dog brought us made me think back to reading that dogs are used as therapy for veterans suffering from PTSD. I did more research and found that:

• Owning a dog lowers blood pressure, and increases levels of feel-good hormones like serotonin
• Dogs have proven to help people cope with and overcome depression and anxiety
• Dogs can improve the overall “mood” of a home and decrease stress
• Dogs help settle children with behavioral disorders
• Having children read out loud to a dog, (because they are non-judgmental listeners who don’t cause embarrassment over mistakes), can greatly improve beginner reading skills
• Dogs provide consistent psychological and physical comfort to their owners
• Dogs are becoming widely used in nursing homes, schools, and therapy sessions

It’s been a while since I last owned a dog, but I am thankful to have Chica as part of the family now. Dogs display the kind of love we all seek; whether wearing makeup or not, whether feeling up or down, whether rich or poor, a dog loves you regardless. Of course there are many considerations to discuss before choosing to take on a dog or any pet, but if you are interested in adopting, call your local pet rescue.

Madelyn loves, loves, LOVES Chica.

Incidentally, the summer ‘Dog Days’ began on July 3 and run through August 11. This period of time received its moniker from Sirius, the bright ‘Dog Star’ that rises and sets with the sun during these few sweltering weeks. Despite the weather, I am looking forward to the times to come, living life to the fullest with our new pet. Bark, bark, woof, woof- Happy Dog Days!

This post was adapted from my column, The Upside of Downsizing, originally published in the Ellijay Times-Courier on July 5, 2012.