Get Some Perspective

 Happy Monday everyone! Last week was a crazy week. Full of the magic of Disneyland, Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, Christmas baking, a women’s study, even a baby shower, present wrapping and of course those necessary elements in life… working, cleaning, cooking, laundry. Why can’t life just stand a little more still this month so I can do the proper thing – sit by the dim light of the fire and Christmas tree listening to “O Holy Night” and reflecting on the wonder of our savior. 

But alas, time marches on relentlessly. Only eight more days to go. 

I determined that Cory and I would dedicate our evenings this week to do just that, in addition to watching a few of the Christmas movies that we have not gotten to yet. We always seem to put off “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the last few days. This is due to the fact that the older one is, the harder and more real that story becomes. We just sit there, cuddled on the couch, and cry together. But you have to do that. It makes you all the more grateful for the blessings you have, the one who is holding your tight, and the grace of our Lord.

There are some things in life that may seem silly or frivolous, but they should be seen as a discipline. If you are one of those who have not watched this movie in a long time, do it this season.  Thankfulness and happiness will well up inside of you. And then when Harry lifts his glass to toast his brother, “the richest man in town” you may just burst out crying like I do. 

There are many ways of being rich, and financially is the least of these. I am rich in so many other ways that I wouldn’t trade for all the money in the world. Seeing George Bailey’s journey and feeling his pain is a great reminder of your own personal wealth. It’s a matter of looking past the small house, the mediocre car, last year’s style of shoes, and realizing that what you have is worth far more than any of those things. 

Five Christmas Movies on Friday

Well apparently it is link up week for me. Either I am not inspired on my own or perhaps I've been deriving such inspiration from others that it cannot be ignored. It could go either way.

Here goes five things I am loving this week in the form of must see Christmas movies. there are definitely other great Christmas movies  that I do watch every year (i.e. both versions of Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas in Connecticut) but I had to narrow it down to the top five (if for no other reason than we are running out of time!). I'm afraid that "A Christmas Story" is not on the list, much the chagrin of my husband.

1. It's a Wonderful Life. It's a classic. It's painful and beautiful at once. This will give you some real perspective on the difficulties you are facing in your life and about what truly matters. 

2. A Christmas Carol. Nobody speaks of the heart of Christmas as well as Dickens. The next best thing to reading his brilliant work is watching a brilliant portrayal of it. 

3 The Santa Clause. This is such a fun one. A modern classic. I laugh every time. You just gotta watch it. And for a bonus watch Santa Claus 2... good, clean hilarity.

4. Family Man. This one always leaves me with a little tinge of sadness. Sadness that we could always wish for the greener grass and then miss out on the blessings of the moment. Yet another wonderful story which demonstrates what is truly important in life.

5. White Christmas. I love this musical. I always assume everyone in the world has seen this movie but I'm continually shocked by how few really have. This is such a fun and touching Christmas story. Plus, great music. Watch it.

Make yourself some peppermint hot chocolate and snuggle up with your hubby for a Christmas movie night. Now that is a fun holiday date.

Looking Back

This week I happened upon a charming blog that had a very charming idea. In anticipation of the New Year, they are having a weekly link-up to reminisce about the year we will be closing shortly.

I happened to have had an AMAZING year, and would relish the opportunity of taking a little jaunt down memory lane. And so today I am linking up with Ashley over at A Thousand Words. 

This week’s time frame is April, May, and June.

This chunk of my life was INCREDIBLE. In fact, I started this blog, and wrote my first post, because of these months. 

I have a little list of things I want to do, experience, or accomplish before settling down and raising babies. And this was a big one. My husband and I took a trip of a lifetime. We saved and planned for a year, and in May we were off to Europe. For five weeks. 

April was spent in working, planning, routing our course, and booking hotels and train rides. I remember trying to enjoy the anticipation that whole time, because I was afraid how quickly the trip would come and go. 

May came and we were on a red eye flight to England. What a wonderful stay we had with some old friends as we explored the beautiful country. After leaving them we took a cruise around the Greek islands. That was a blast. So many beautiful islands! You can read about our hilarious donkey ride on Santorini here. Then we were off to Italy. This has to be my favorite European country…. It has Venice and Rome. Two wonderful cities. Finally, we closed our journey with a visit to the romantic city of Paris. Our hotel was a two minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and we walked there every night to sit and enjoy the lights.

June came and, in addition to the fact that we were still traveling, God took the opportunity of showing us his power and love by blessing us abundantly. While we were in Paris Cory’s boss got a job contract that would start five days after we got home, and the check would make up for the weeks he had missed of work. Only God. Amazing. I also started my first online class as teaching assistant at Ashford University a week before we got home. The beauty of online. In fact, I sent my first e-mails to students while snuggled up in a little “bed and breakfast” in Florence. Funny story about that particular bed and breakfast here.

Although Cory and I had been married for two years prior to this time, I remember feeling that while on this trip we got to know each other in a different way than we had ever known before. We experienced so many wonderful things that will bond us for life in a new way. Additionally, we were with each other, and only each other, all the time…. For five weeks. That alone will teach you something in marriage. In fact, I was inspired by this and jotted down a marriage post while snuggled in bed on the Aegean Sea. 

This was a wonderful time in my life, and I will look back on it fondly forever. Thank you to the girls over at this link up for the opportunity to think about it today!

The Things You See at Disney

Many of you must think I am a little over the top with Disney lately… but it really is a big part of our family this time of year. I have been cheating on these wordless Wednesday link-ups. Obviously, this is not so wordless. 

As I have already ruined the wordless bit, I will point something out about Disney love. I was just commenting to my sister this morning, as we were walking through the Disney gates for a little shopping and coffee on Main Street, how happy the place makes me feel. I know that sounds cheesy… but really, the thousands of people having fun, the Christmas music, the ambiance, the cheery employees, it is just a wonderfully happy place. If you don’t agree, just go there sometime with the anticipation of being happy (at Christmas time preferably), get yourself an eggnog latte (or whatever beverage you prefer), sit in central park and watch the castle, the Christmas tree, the happy people, the characters… you will understand. 

End of my little soap box moment.

Today’s theme is Christmas character encounters; a perfect theme to have after our trip to Disney this week. Now… onto the wordless bit.  

 

You Don't Feel It???

While surfing the web a little yesterday I discovered, to my utmost despair, that many writers of the blogs I was reading… wait for it… WERE NOT in the Christmas spirit!!! What a sad place to be.

Because I am full of Christmas cheer, and a self proclaimed Christmas-cheer-bringer, I decided it was my duty to share some tricks with the blogosphere. Maybe someone who is not feeling jolly will try one of my tactics.

Here is a little to-do for Christmas cheer list....

1.     Make homemade hot chocolate (extra chocolate-y) and add a little drop of peppermint extract.

2.     Wrap presents.

3.     Watch one of the Christmas Carol movies (I prefer George C. Scott or the Muppets version, both are excellent).

4.     Listen to Faith Hill’s “A Baby Changes Everything” loud, over and over. That will rock you with the true meaning of Christmas. Seriously.

5.     Write a Christmas list. 

6.     Bake snickerdoodles. 

7.     If you read my previous post, then you probably expect this one: wear a Santa hat. Those things possess the magic to make you feel full of Christmas cheer.

8.     Say “Merry Christmas” to everyone you come across. 

9.     Make hot apple cider and sit by the fire and/or Christmas tree.

10.   Bake and deliver Christmas cookies to your neighbors. 

11.   Decorate something in your house that you do not usually decorate. Get creative with red, silver, gold, and green.

12.   Learn all the words to Muppet Christmas Carol’s “It Feels Like Christmas” and sing it to yourself. That song has all the words to get you into the spirit.

13.   Put lights up on the outside of your house. Or better yet, have your husband put them up while you offer moral support from inside :)

14.   Dance around to the song “sleigh ride” just like a little kid. Don’t forget to slap that booty at the getty-up part. Very important. 

15.   Drive around and look for Christmas lights to admire.

16.   Christmas shop. Whether in the comfort of your home with a computer or out with all the other shoppers. Start searching for the perfect gifts for your family members. What fun!

17.   Read Luke 2.

18.   When others are in the car with you, sing “The 12 Days of Christmas” together. 

19.   Make Christmas cards.

20.   Throw a Christmas Party.

21.   If you can get some snow… go sledding, have a snow ball fight, go sleigh riding (I wish) or something snowy.

22.   Make gingerbread houses.

23.   And, if you are in really bad shape, fast from all music outside of Christmas music, and all movies outside of Christmas movies. That will cure you!

If you want to enjoy this wonderful Christmas season to the utmost, and yet you can’t seem to get your jolly meter up, try couple of these. You will be a little mini Santa before you know it.