I have eaten way too much - but it's been another memorable Christmas Eve.
All of my girls and all of my grandchildren, with the exception of Andrew, are sleeping out at the Barber house. Andrew, his first Christmas, is sleeping here with Charlie and me. Isn't that funny? But think about it...he doesn't know the difference - and is completely content here at my house - so here he is. Mary Ann is at a motel where she can get some peace and quiet. Charlie and I are relaxing.
Our family ate a delicious meal tonight following our Christmas Eve service at church. The service was short and well done. We took, partook of, we did...the Lord's Supper. Our dinner menu was Steaks by Charlie. Very good - but the wind and rain have been fierce. Especially the wind. The lights threatened to go out every once in a while - but they didn't.
I suppose all are tucked in, except parents who still have much baking and wrapping of gifts. And I'm guessing children everywhere are struggling to go to sleep, with the thoughts of Christmas morning so close - and here in Scottsboro, the wind outside is rather noisy.
Merry Christmas.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
New Look Until I Decide to Tweak It.
I'm going to go with this for a while - I like the heading Kate found for me, she gave me several choices which communicated this blog and this is the one I landed on. Now...about today...
It's Charlie's birthday! 57. Happy Birthday to Charles.
He was born in 1952 in Gulf Port, Mississippi. His parents brought him home to 3 siblings, Guy Neil who was about 5, Mike who was about 3, and Amanda who was...are you ready?....11 months! That would be almost like if Ann was bringing home a baby right now from the hospital to join Andrew, Luke and Ellie. I ponder that and am amazed...regarding his mom, especially...and that all of that.
And speaking of babies and not-so-easy circumstances...I also ponder the fact that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem with Mary riding a donkey, and she was due to deliver the Son of God clothed in flesh. But for her, she was due to deliver a baby - seems like that would have been the bigger reality to her at the moment. But I'm thinking as Elizabeth thinks who lives in the 21st century and I haven't heard a distinct voice of God's angel telling me about the Savior to be born. I just don't know what all was going on with them - and the angel did confirm it with Joseph who did not appear to be believing Mary's story about God telling her she was "with child, born of God", since he was planning to break off the "betrothal" quietly - but the regular people of their community didn't get that message. It had to have been that only a minority of people trusted her story. God's the male parent of her baby?? The whispering that must have "gone on". So to ride that donkey, pregnant, with Joseph walking beside her - and all their relatives going to the same place to be "counted" - and then no place to stay - she had to have felt early labor signals going on. There's a lot to consider in this story and I don't think we get the full picture. We've glamorized everything - even if we do put Christ back in Christmas - still we fluff it up a bit - and we shape him into an innocent baby which he was - very baby and very pure - even as a man he was pure because He was God.
Still - Mary - Joseph - Jesus about to be born - Donkey Ride - No place to stay - Crowded streets - animals everywhere - unpleasant scents - cows - sheep - donkeys - hay - troughs which we call a manger - swaddling clothes - so that tells us she traveled with preparations to deliver a baby in case. No pampers - No wipes - no desitin - no sterile medical scissors to cut the cord - what did they use? How did they clean up and dispose of stuff - No warming lights - how did they clean up the baby Jesus after he was delivered? How did they travel with so many cloths for cleaning and swaddling - I guess the donkey carried their packs and Mary. Wow. Thinking about all of that. So glad the Son of God had His mother's warm body for heat and milk to feed Him and Joseph to take care of both of them. (I forget that we're not positive about the climate and season at the time of His actual birth) And the Sovereign God/Father Who had thousands of angels and the Holy Spirit - well - the Trinity was there protecting and guarding and overseeing. All the Creator of the Universe was present in that stable.
I haven't looked up scripture for all of this - I'm just going on my feeble memory - so there are probably facts I'm leaving out or twisting. Still - infinitely beyond our grasp regarding the conception and birth and life and death of Jesus, the Son of God.
It's Charlie's birthday! 57. Happy Birthday to Charles.
He was born in 1952 in Gulf Port, Mississippi. His parents brought him home to 3 siblings, Guy Neil who was about 5, Mike who was about 3, and Amanda who was...are you ready?....11 months! That would be almost like if Ann was bringing home a baby right now from the hospital to join Andrew, Luke and Ellie. I ponder that and am amazed...regarding his mom, especially...and that all of that.
And speaking of babies and not-so-easy circumstances...I also ponder the fact that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem with Mary riding a donkey, and she was due to deliver the Son of God clothed in flesh. But for her, she was due to deliver a baby - seems like that would have been the bigger reality to her at the moment. But I'm thinking as Elizabeth thinks who lives in the 21st century and I haven't heard a distinct voice of God's angel telling me about the Savior to be born. I just don't know what all was going on with them - and the angel did confirm it with Joseph who did not appear to be believing Mary's story about God telling her she was "with child, born of God", since he was planning to break off the "betrothal" quietly - but the regular people of their community didn't get that message. It had to have been that only a minority of people trusted her story. God's the male parent of her baby?? The whispering that must have "gone on". So to ride that donkey, pregnant, with Joseph walking beside her - and all their relatives going to the same place to be "counted" - and then no place to stay - she had to have felt early labor signals going on. There's a lot to consider in this story and I don't think we get the full picture. We've glamorized everything - even if we do put Christ back in Christmas - still we fluff it up a bit - and we shape him into an innocent baby which he was - very baby and very pure - even as a man he was pure because He was God.
Still - Mary - Joseph - Jesus about to be born - Donkey Ride - No place to stay - Crowded streets - animals everywhere - unpleasant scents - cows - sheep - donkeys - hay - troughs which we call a manger - swaddling clothes - so that tells us she traveled with preparations to deliver a baby in case. No pampers - No wipes - no desitin - no sterile medical scissors to cut the cord - what did they use? How did they clean up and dispose of stuff - No warming lights - how did they clean up the baby Jesus after he was delivered? How did they travel with so many cloths for cleaning and swaddling - I guess the donkey carried their packs and Mary. Wow. Thinking about all of that. So glad the Son of God had His mother's warm body for heat and milk to feed Him and Joseph to take care of both of them. (I forget that we're not positive about the climate and season at the time of His actual birth) And the Sovereign God/Father Who had thousands of angels and the Holy Spirit - well - the Trinity was there protecting and guarding and overseeing. All the Creator of the Universe was present in that stable.
I haven't looked up scripture for all of this - I'm just going on my feeble memory - so there are probably facts I'm leaving out or twisting. Still - infinitely beyond our grasp regarding the conception and birth and life and death of Jesus, the Son of God.
Under Construction
Kate and I are sporadically working on my blog - the look of it - in between Charlie and me making out a grocery list and Ada wanting Near and Charlie's attention - and phone calls and "other stuff". We're not done.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday Before Christmas
With things to do - not much else to say - I'll post images of how Christmas is looking around my house 3 days before December 25, 2009.
1. Little Andrew - he's the newest little ornament this year.
2. Charlie brought home this huge jar of the most delicious peanut brittle. Somebody he works with gave him a jar and also gave a jar to the office. Look how it's disappearing. We can't resist it. It was full yesterday when he brought it home.
3. 2 Christmas necklaces saved from childhood days of one of my girls. Remember the gold bead garland and the colored Christmas light bulb with a bow and a face painted on the light bulb? Put together with a glue gun. and voila - a Christmas Necklace!
4. Our gift tag station in the dining room.
5. The dining table used for wrapping gifts.
6. This year it occurred to me, at the last minute, to put the childrens' pictures on their gifts - since they can't read - well, Ellie can recognize her name - but not Luke or Ada - so now they can see their pictures and know it's their gift.
7. Then I decided to do it for the adults as well....and let the children hand out the gifts from around my tree. This one is for Ann.
8. And this one is for Scott.......
9. And for my sister, Mary Ann, and so on and so on.....I think the kids will enjoy it. And us adults can laugh at each other's pictures. Some of us, well, it was hard to find really great pictures. Mine and Charlie's are rough - but it will be fun.
10. Meet some of my ornaments. This angel is looking up, up, under the glow of lights and ribbon and needles on the tree.
11. And this Christmas Ornament is floating through the tree, carrying a clear globe, filled with a treasure for someone.
12. Another beautiful Christmas angel.
13. and then we are back to the gift tag station, green ribbon and a box of old photos, marked "christmas"....for anyone to look at and reminisce.
14. My treasured Nativity.....collected over many years.
15. Mary gazing at her baby boy, along with Joseph.
16. An angel purchased so many years ago at the Village Square Gift and Frame shop...remember that? It was on the square.
17. And an old angel candle given to mom by a friend in Troy, AL - and Mother gave it to me. It is very old.
18. My bowl of Christmas Cards - my treasures.
19. Plenty of disposable cups purchased at Wal-Mart, today. It's either that or we all should be hooked up to IV's - considering the consumption of diet cokes/crystal light/water/coffee that will take place....oh, and "appy juice" - but that's served in a sippy cup. :-)
20. My metal Candy Cane sign.
21. My embroidered Merry Christmas sign done by Mary Ann so many years ago.
22. And last, and yes, least....can anyone tell what this is? Ant bait....All the rain, we're guessing, sent them up to our drier and "sweeter" counter tops. They showed up for the holidays on Saturday. Had to get this bait on Sunday afternoon - and it does the trick everytime. But I have to leave them out for the latecomer ants. So they are adding to my Christmas decorations...not very festive...hmmmm...wonder if an ornament has ever been made out of an old round ant bait disc. I bet someone will do it..not me.
1. Little Andrew - he's the newest little ornament this year.
2. Charlie brought home this huge jar of the most delicious peanut brittle. Somebody he works with gave him a jar and also gave a jar to the office. Look how it's disappearing. We can't resist it. It was full yesterday when he brought it home.3. 2 Christmas necklaces saved from childhood days of one of my girls. Remember the gold bead garland and the colored Christmas light bulb with a bow and a face painted on the light bulb? Put together with a glue gun. and voila - a Christmas Necklace!4. Our gift tag station in the dining room.5. The dining table used for wrapping gifts.
6. This year it occurred to me, at the last minute, to put the childrens' pictures on their gifts - since they can't read - well, Ellie can recognize her name - but not Luke or Ada - so now they can see their pictures and know it's their gift.
7. Then I decided to do it for the adults as well....and let the children hand out the gifts from around my tree. This one is for Ann.
8. And this one is for Scott.......
9. And for my sister, Mary Ann, and so on and so on.....I think the kids will enjoy it. And us adults can laugh at each other's pictures. Some of us, well, it was hard to find really great pictures. Mine and Charlie's are rough - but it will be fun.
10. Meet some of my ornaments. This angel is looking up, up, under the glow of lights and ribbon and needles on the tree.
11. And this Christmas Ornament is floating through the tree, carrying a clear globe, filled with a treasure for someone.
12. Another beautiful Christmas angel.
13. and then we are back to the gift tag station, green ribbon and a box of old photos, marked "christmas"....for anyone to look at and reminisce.
14. My treasured Nativity.....collected over many years.
15. Mary gazing at her baby boy, along with Joseph.
16. An angel purchased so many years ago at the Village Square Gift and Frame shop...remember that? It was on the square. 17. And an old angel candle given to mom by a friend in Troy, AL - and Mother gave it to me. It is very old.
18. My bowl of Christmas Cards - my treasures.
19. Plenty of disposable cups purchased at Wal-Mart, today. It's either that or we all should be hooked up to IV's - considering the consumption of diet cokes/crystal light/water/coffee that will take place....oh, and "appy juice" - but that's served in a sippy cup. :-)
20. My metal Candy Cane sign.
21. My embroidered Merry Christmas sign done by Mary Ann so many years ago. 
22. And last, and yes, least....can anyone tell what this is? Ant bait....All the rain, we're guessing, sent them up to our drier and "sweeter" counter tops. They showed up for the holidays on Saturday. Had to get this bait on Sunday afternoon - and it does the trick everytime. But I have to leave them out for the latecomer ants. So they are adding to my Christmas decorations...not very festive...hmmmm...wonder if an ornament has ever been made out of an old round ant bait disc. I bet someone will do it..not me.
Merry Merry Merry Christmas on this Tuesday before the big day.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
I am very ready!
Sunday night!!
This is the week!
What is everyone doing? What are you preparing for?
I actually, in a surprise, spontaneous moment - completed my shopping. I can't tell how or why or when - but it happened - now - tonight when Charlie gets home - we just have to go over the "food" list.
Today is Sunday - It's hard to imagine the word being taught better, oops, here I go, or as well, as I heard it this morning. I could have sobbed at so many points - but I'm the pastor's mother-in-law and I don't need to make a scene.
The following are the verses he taught from - and then from there he cross referenced ... of course.
14 And athe Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
It was heart wrenching - what we know and can grasp - but living as though we don't. As Ada would say, "Oh, Mam!"
Well - tomorrow is Monday - Mondays are infamous, and famous - for the bad and the good. I like Mondays - but I have great expectations for my mondays... Christmas or not.
I want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed ALL the Christmas Cards I have received. I love Christmas Cards...and I don't always get them out promptly - but I wish that I was that person who did. I thought I was going to do that this year, but alas - did not - well, for some I did. It was sporadic. All the looking up of addresses and collecting them. I plan, I plan - and have already begun - to have my list for next year - but I don't know. I thought I did that last year and I can't find it.
Anyway - love my bowl of cards I have displayed for anyone who wants to look at them.
I think that is all....Kate arrived safely.....always so grateful for safe arrivals. So grateful.......
Merry last Christmas week!!!!!!
This is the week!
What is everyone doing? What are you preparing for?
I actually, in a surprise, spontaneous moment - completed my shopping. I can't tell how or why or when - but it happened - now - tonight when Charlie gets home - we just have to go over the "food" list.
Today is Sunday - It's hard to imagine the word being taught better, oops, here I go, or as well, as I heard it this morning. I could have sobbed at so many points - but I'm the pastor's mother-in-law and I don't need to make a scene.
The following are the verses he taught from - and then from there he cross referenced ... of course.
14 And athe Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
It was heart wrenching - what we know and can grasp - but living as though we don't. As Ada would say, "Oh, Mam!"
Well - tomorrow is Monday - Mondays are infamous, and famous - for the bad and the good. I like Mondays - but I have great expectations for my mondays... Christmas or not.
I want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed ALL the Christmas Cards I have received. I love Christmas Cards...and I don't always get them out promptly - but I wish that I was that person who did. I thought I was going to do that this year, but alas - did not - well, for some I did. It was sporadic. All the looking up of addresses and collecting them. I plan, I plan - and have already begun - to have my list for next year - but I don't know. I thought I did that last year and I can't find it.
Anyway - love my bowl of cards I have displayed for anyone who wants to look at them.
I think that is all....Kate arrived safely.....always so grateful for safe arrivals. So grateful.......
Merry last Christmas week!!!!!!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
4 or 5?
is it 4 or 5 more days?
well,
4 whole days.
Then, it's Christmas.
Am I ready? Well, not totally, but better than I've been.
I still have to get something for Luke and Ada - but I know what I'm after....oh, and one more adult gift - and I know, too, what I'm after - so then I'll be done - but there's also the grocery shopping and stocking of the pantry.
We moved Sarah home yesterday!
She is done. She is graduated from Auburn University!!!! Yay!!!! Kate is done with this semester and will be home on Sunday. When Kate returns to Auburn in January, she'll be going into her final semester. Can't believe it!
Today I have been wrapping gifts, completing a few more homemade ornaments - updating my picture ornament collection. Had to have 2009 pix of the grandchildren on the tree.
I hear that Scott, Laura Beth and Ada will be here on Tuesday. Mary Ann will arrive on Wednesday - and then we'll head into the final celebration of this Merry, Holy Season.
well,
4 whole days.
Then, it's Christmas.
Am I ready? Well, not totally, but better than I've been.
I still have to get something for Luke and Ada - but I know what I'm after....oh, and one more adult gift - and I know, too, what I'm after - so then I'll be done - but there's also the grocery shopping and stocking of the pantry.
We moved Sarah home yesterday!
She is done. She is graduated from Auburn University!!!! Yay!!!! Kate is done with this semester and will be home on Sunday. When Kate returns to Auburn in January, she'll be going into her final semester. Can't believe it!
Today I have been wrapping gifts, completing a few more homemade ornaments - updating my picture ornament collection. Had to have 2009 pix of the grandchildren on the tree.
I hear that Scott, Laura Beth and Ada will be here on Tuesday. Mary Ann will arrive on Wednesday - and then we'll head into the final celebration of this Merry, Holy Season.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Keep Scrolling.....
I notice that people. really cute, creative people, blog and talk about all the things they make. I always plan to do that, but then I don't. Mine isn't really that sort of blog - in which I show people what I've made and then they want to go out and make the same stuff - plus I can't take these really cool pictures of my stuff which would make it even more desirable to try to imitate. I just go on and on and on about my day and about memories and random thoughts - it's more of an editorial page kind of blog, I suppose.
But....
on this day when I have run out of things to "talk" about and I want to perpetuate this blog, and I don't need to keep putting up pictures of my grandchildren, because that's for their moms to do, ....... well.....I'll just show pictures of my projects.
Go to Laura Beth's blog to see the mantel and stockings I made for her - not by her request - but when I saw what she wanted from Etsy - well - who can't tear fabric and tie knots, if they don't have a toddler/preschooler in tow? I did have to use her sewing machine which is at my house. www.adaupdates2.blogspot.com
This is my one "Tutorial"...I have chosen to put copper cup hooks underneath my mantel. YES! I have drilled a hole into that fine, stained hardwood - so that at Christmas, I have a way to hang my garland WITHOUT rearranging my entire mantel. Noone has ever noticed them during the other 11 months. They are always there. 
I made these gift tags, per Ann's request because she was swamped with just getting the teacher gifts together. I remember that stress.
Oops! how did that picture get in on this post!!??
....and....wish I had my camera so the reader could see these very hydrangeas dried out and the vase filled with Christmas Balls - with the dry hydrangeas sitting in this very vase. Nice Southern Christmas touch, I think! I would call that a project....the growing, cutting, and drying of hydrangeas - oh - and turning them into a Christmas arrangement.
That's all.
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