You'll shoot your eye out, kid!!!

***FLASHBACK***

There was nothing practical or frugal about the Christmas of 2006. The kids decided Ron Burgundy needed the leg lamp.

In the FRA-GEE-LAY box and all!

Now it adorns our front window during the Christmas season.

In all of its splendor.

Yeah, it's really ugly. But oh, have we enjoyed the laughs!

Now how much do you think this kid looks like Ralphie??
No wonder this movie is so close to our heart.

Our own little Ralphie, circa 1992.

Tea today: Republic of Tea Beginner's Mind

Procrastinating

I really need to be getting ready for Christmas. For some things, it's almost too late.

Like baking cookies. Thanks, Mom, you got me covered. Check.

Like shopping. Don't know what to get most of my kids and can't find the stuff on the list for the one who actually gave me ideas. Uncheck.

I'm using Ron Burgundy's computer that has fingerprints on the monitors and food in the keyboard and it takes me twice as long to type anything. Check.

Oh yea, my laptop died and I need to take it in for diagnostics. Now. Uncheck.

I got the Chex Mix made. There's one thing done for the holidays. Chex.

The tree is up. Two things done. Check.

There are no ornaments on it. Uncheck.

I really miss my dad today. Big check.

My dog is sad. He really doesn't feel well today at all. Hang in there, boy. The Bridge isn't ready for you yet. And I'm not ready for you to go. But in true Godwink fashion, I just now got an email from the Rainbow Bridge Kids at Doggyspace. Check.

So this is a quick post as I'm off to the shower, then to the computer saviour (I hope) and then back home to decorate the tree. I will church alone tonight. Check. Tears. Double check.

Ron Burgundy went to a memorial service for the mother of a childhood friend, and I intended for this to be an extremely productive day. I'll check back later and see. Perhaps I'll even comment on my own post.

Thank you, Jesus, for getting me through this day. Check.

Tea today: Bigelow green with pomegranate. Check.

Cleaning my house heart for Christmas

Let me be very clear. I love Christmas. I am not a Scrooge. Sure, I pester Ron Burgundy about the enormous excess of lights and decorations while he feverishly competes with the disordered electrical chaos of Clark Griswold every year, but I also know that's one of the pleasures he finds in the Season, and that it really isn't about "the lights" so much. He considers it a gift to the many who drive by with ooohhs and aahhhhs. (But please, this year, can we put the manger with Sweet Baby Jesus next to Mary and Joseph rather than among the reindeer???)

I really do love Christmas.

And the peace that's supposed to come with it.

But...

I stress over some of the baggage the holiday season brings, and I don't like the fact that the passion of the celebration has moved from the manger to the mall with multiple stops in between. Black Friday. Massive gift lists. Overeating. Time constraints. Getting the house ready (as in the yearly cleaning). It just takes away from the passion of how I intend to celebrate the birth of my Savior better this year.

I'm getting some perspective.... old habits die hard.


Tea today: Green with Chinese flower