Christmas Leisure Time

 

A tradition around our house at Christmas is to gather round the dining room table and put together a few Jigsaw Puzzles. We did two very interesting and challenging puzzles this year.

 

My son snuck into my computer one day and stole one of my car show photos. They then had it made into a puzzle. It was of very high quality and was not at all easy to do. (1000 pieces)

 

It was, however, fun and rewarding and of course it had special meaning to me. I was tempted to mount and frame it, but only old folks do that.

 

The second and equally challenging puzzle was given to me by my sister. I am sure it was meant to challenge  the old guy and was an attempt to drive him nuts. Every piece seemed to have every colour that was needed for the piece you were looking for.

 

Without the photo on the box, this would have been almost impossible. Strangely though, when we were about 3/4 done, it suddenly got really easy and we were putting in pieces as fast as we could pick them up off the table. As you can see, Andrew fried his brain doing this one. Liam is putting in the last piece, and I was still sane enough to take a photo.

Holiday Joy

 

"And how was your Christmas vacation?" is the common refrain this time of year. It is always a time to look forward to, a time spent with friends and family and a time to relax and do some enjoyable things that are put aside too often during rest of the year.

 

My gouty foot was finally starting to feel almost normal and the early Christmas with our little family was wonderful. In retrospect, by big mistake was attending the Christmas Eve service at church. We attended the last of 4 services where there had been, to that point, about 3600 people crowded into the worship center, they and all their germs and viruses.

 

Two days later I was down with one of the worst cases of sore throat and laryngitis that I have ever had. Today my illness is still in full swing, not getting better, not getting worse.

 

The plans to walk, visit friends have New Years Eve parties, go to some movies, eat out, etc, were out the window. I have not been out of the house since Dec. 27 and I have cabin fever as well as fevers of a viral nature.

 

I picked up a few jigsaw puzzles before the holidays and I chose the easy one first. Two days later it was done. The above photo shows the painting of two little kids gardening. Very nice, not too easy, but fun.   

 

This 'Cabin in the Woods' puzzle is not so easy, in fact it made my cabin fever get worse. It is the most difficult puzzle I have ever done with one exception. I once did a competition puzzle to see how I would fare against the winning time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. It was a close up photo of three zebras drinking at a watering hole in Africa. Five days later, I gave up. It was a blow to my ego to realize I could not even complete it when someone actually finished it so very quickly. Almost every piece, except for the eyes, was black and white stripes.

 

On this puzzle, every second piece is birch bark and autumn leaves. Same thing only easier. As you can see, I start with the easy stuff.

 

I will eventually finish this puzzle. I am that way. Besides, there are no Zebras in it. Below you can see how I have had to fortify myself with various types of relief for the sore throat, headache, stuffiness, and general feeling of malaise.

 

This is one holiday I will be glad to see come to an end.

Here Comes The King

 

It was a time of heavy taxation and an oppressive regime. A downtrodden people, living on the hope of a coming Messiah, did not see it coming. Had He been born in a palace among robes of purple, and clean linens, it would have been obvious. Instead, He was born in a dirty stable amidst animals, and during the hectic confusion of a nation wide census. It was not the rich and famous who were first invited to see him, but lowly shepherds. Can this really be a King?  

 

Time would tell, and after scripture upon scripture was fulfilled, after his short life was lived and his mission was accomplished, He ascended into the heavenly realm where he sits at the right hand of God the Father. As he prepares a place for those who love him, and as he prepares for his return, we must be mindful that this time he will come in majesty and power. Every knee will bow, not just the shepherds. He will come when our lives are in chaos, as they usually are, he will come unexpectedly, but be assured that he is coming. Are we ready?

 

I leave you with a heart warming story from my friend and fellow blogger, Art Martens. "Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward all Men" is well portrayed in this story.

An Early Celebration

 

Five of our family are heading for Disneyland tomorrow so our family Christmas was celebrated a bit early this year. We had a sumptuous dinner last night, Cornish Game Hens with all the trimmings, and then a gift opening and a photo session. The boys mostly received $US for spending on the trip, or things to eat or do on the long road trip. We will miss them over the Christmas Holidays.

It has become a tradition to take a silly photo as well as a serious photo and these have proved to be quite popular with those who view them. I find it somewhat disturbing that most people think the silly one is better. What are they saying? We like the fun ones too as it shows that we are a family that has fun, is comfortable with each other, and we do not mind if our friends see a side of us that is not very flattering. We do not stage these photos and it is curious that we can each be so very different and spontaneous with such short notice.

I appreciate and love my family very much and find no greater joy than spending time with them.  

Puzzling

 

There are a number of things that have to happen before one can officially declare that the Christmas season  is done. Things such as decorations have to be down and put away, all turkey leftovers either consumed or composted, all Christmas gifted chocolate either given away or stuffed into one's face, and the jigsaw puzzle that the family started has to be completed to the last piece and left on the table for a few weeks.

 

This puzzle looks fun and easy, but looks can be deceiving. It was very difficult. Most paintings printed into puzzles are not easy because the lines and patterns are indistinct and when pulled apart, each piece looks too much like its neighbour. After the bit of red, orange, and green were put together, the rest of this one was a nightmare. I am now reluctant to put it back in the box because of the time invested. I suppose it is still worth the effort because of the brain exercise and meditative state doing puzzles can put one into.

 

Now I will have to work a little more diligently on the chocolate thing.  

Christmas at Our House

 

Our cherished hand-made nativity figurines given to me by a client who has since passed away.

 

This Angel belonged to my mother who passed away 11 years ago.

 

Another gift from a client whose job we finished two days before Christmas.

 

Another angel from our eclectic ornament collection.

 

The winter village set up on our hutch.

 

Winter Angel all bundled up.

 

Our tree.

 

Our dinner table before the banquet arrived.

 

Our kids and grandsons.

 

Did I mention that I googled 'dysfunctional' and found this image?

 

C'mon guys, Christmas is serious!

 

Chad loving the warm slippers from his Nana. You know they are growing up when they appreciate something they can wear.

 

Nathan loving his Lava Lamp.

 

 

Nana appreciates the fruity soaps and body scrubber from Nathan.

 

Liam is following in Chad's footsteps with his excitement over his box of Lego.

 

Our family tradition is to open gifts on Christmas Eve, after a wonderful dinner prepared by busylizzy. It was a fun evening, full of laughter, food, gifts, and lots of love. But, we are not yet done. There is Boxing Day with more excitement, and then Saturday when busylizzy's family gets together in Vancouver. And who knows what intrigue awaits us on New Year's Eve?

Christmas Day 2012

 

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I was looking for that defining moment and that it would probably come during the Christmas Eve Service. Anticipation, expectation, and revelation came together and at a most unexpected time. The service had not even begun, and to settle the crowd down, a very cute video made by our Sunday School dept. was played on the Power Point. It was a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem and them finding no room in the Inn. As the birth occurred and the angels and shepherds gathered around the manger, with a real new born baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, I noticed how excited the little actors were, none older than six or seven, but most younger. They were bouncing up and down, cheering, and tossing balloons in the air.

I was overwhelmed by the innocence and sense of joy being displayed and how it contrasts with my jaded attitude toward all the trappings of Christmas.

If the Angels were rejoicing at this God sanctioned event, how can we not also be joyful.

Thousands of years of prophesy was fulfilled that blessed night, God's plan was coming to fruition and in spite of Satan's most valiant attempt, through King Herod, it could not be stopped.

It is truly the defining moment in the history of mankind. A turning point.

Only those who will stand under God's judgement because they refuse to believe and accept, could not find joy in such an event.

 

Christmas Eve 2012

 

A few last minute errands, a trip to the old folk's home to visit with my dad and drop off a gift for some of the staff, a small lunch, and then the earliest of 4 Christmas Eve services at church, dinner here with my little family, and then our traditional gift opening, and I can call it a day.

December 25th was not the actual birth date of Jesus, but because this time has been chosen by tradition, and because the actual time and day does not really matter, I will still find time in the day to dwell on the event. It will probably happen during the service. It almost always does. Ours is a Christ centered and a biblical church, and the music, together with some words from our wise and articulate pastor, will draw me to contemplation, and away from the noise of the season. There is usually a defining moment each year that sets this time apart from the rest of the year. I look forward to it with anticipation, and expectation. I want it to change me.

 

I want it to change the world.  

Thinking Ahead

 

The snow is gone for now, and the sun actually came out late in the day on Friday. The surrounding mountains are dipped in icing sugar and against a deep blue backdrop are just stunning. We went for a late afternoon walk and had difficulty getting a grip on the black ice sidewalks. With my heaviest jacket and a warm felt hat, I was still cold and yearned to be in S. California .... or Mexico .... or Hawaii.

Work is done until after Boxing day, then another break, and as the New Year begins, it will find us in White Rock, back at it for a quick start to 2013. Mixed feelings again this year, about the way things panned out in '12, and what the New Year will hold. I am certainly grateful for most of what came down, but there were also some things I am not so thrilled about. "Give thanks in all circumstances" is easier said than done.

For now, we will enjoy the Christmas season as it rushes upon us in the next few days. It will be, as always, a wonderful time of family, food, memories, and celebrating what has become something it was never meant to be. Perhaps we will find a few special moments in the noise and excitement to reflect on Jesus, who left his home in Glory, became one like us, only to be beaten and cruelly murdered. We do not dwell on that, but rather we want to hear about mangers, angels, shepherds, and wise men. We want to hear about gifts and lights, and trees, and eggnog. We will leave the serious stuff for Easter. The world has corrupted Christmas in a hundred ways. It has become almost everything but the birth of our Saviour.  

 

They cannot do that to Easter. It will do us good to think of Easter this Christmas and realise just what a great gift God has really given us.   

Ladder of Success

 

In the spirit of a 'green' Christmas, and because a real tree is a living breathing thing that should be left for someone to hug, and because an artificial tree is not recyclable, and because I was not using my ladder during the holidays anyway, and because I can just fold it up and put it in the basement, ready for next year, and because it is easier to climb to the top to affix the star, and because I was in a hurry, and because I thought it was just plain tasteful as well as beautiful, and because I believe a Christmas tree should a conversation piece, I present my Christmas tree for 2012.

I expect a call from Martha Stewart shortly.

(I can't wait for busylizzy to get home from work and see it!)

I've Been Kindled

No, it's not anything to do with fire starting. It is an e reader for those of you who have been hiding under a rock during the unprecedented advancements in hand held electronic devices.

For the first time in many years, I could actually think of something other than a Corvette when my kids asked me if I wanted anything for Christmas. I am an avid reader and my eyesight is deteriorating so I thought one of these devices might kill two birds with one stone.

I have to say that it meets my expectations. The font is adjustable and the script is very clear and well defined. Because it is on a flat screen, my eyes are not doing the minute adjustment for distance like they do in a book with a curved surface as it sits in the hands. It is not back lit like a computer screen so there is no eye strain.

It can hold more books than I will read in the rest of my life and I can load them directly onto the Kindle because it is wi-fi. Imagine bringing a half dozen good books on a vacation all wrapped up in a wafer thin device with incredible re-chargeable battery life. I completed my first book, read from my Kindle, (The Hunger Games) and I am already convinced that I will not miss holding an actual book in my hands.

And the Corvette? They tell me I would have received one already had they been able to get it under the Christmas Tree. I believe them because I taught my children not to lie.    

Mistake!

We all have a space within which we are most comfortable. When someone 'gets in our face' we get uncomfortable, but for each one of us it is a bit different. Those who love crowds, for example, do not need much space. I like to keep a bit of distance.

My little trip to the Seven Oaks Mall on Boxing Day was a case in point. As I drove by the Alliance Church parking lot I was wondering what was going on there as the parking lot was full. Nothing, as it turned out, but it had become an overflow parking space for Boxing Day shoppers. The Mall parking lot holds thousands of cars so this was an indication of just how many people were there. I am not a mall shopper at the best of times. I found the masses of people were making me somewhat claustrophobic. It is the various smells of humanity that assault the senses that I find most delightful and most disturbing. As the sensual fragrance of a young ladies perfume makes me take a look around, I am suddenly brought back to reality with a whiff of curry and body odour, a bad combination even in the cold fresh air of a short December day. And there is the stale smell of tobacco on some one's breath, while his buddy counteracts that smell with the aroma of hot coffee wafting from the cup he is carrying. The overall atmosphere is humid and not really fresh as the air conditioning in the mall strains to keep up with all the exhaling. 

"Let me out!" It is the silent scream within me about to burst forth upon the surrounding ear drums. 

And then I remember my mission. I would not have come here without a purpose. I try to walk just a bit faster than the flow, but with there being no passing lane, all I accomplish is a harsh word from the weary shopper ahead of me as I step on his heel and his shoe comes right off. I mutter a not so Christian "Sorry" and rush on toward the avenue that will take me to "The Source", my destination. I notice on the way that some stores are letting customers in only a few at a time. These crowds encourage shop-lifting, probably a direct result of poor customer service and the confusion of too many bodies in a small space. 

"The Source" is full of people and I need to make an enquiry of someone knowledgeable. All staff are manning the cash registers ... except for one lone individual who looks like he taking a breather from irritated and demanding shoppers. I take a direct route to him, nearly knocking over a display of cell phone covers. I see another customer with equal determination, heading his way from the other direction. I pick up the pace and head the other guy off, just soon enough to avoid a tackle. Yes. He seems to know the technical answer to my question and reaches down inside a shelf and pulls out the $30.00 solution to my problem. I then pull out something similar from my pocket, something I thought to bring from home, and ask if this would work as well. Yes, it will work just fine, says he and with a heartfelt "thank you", I turn around and head back up stream feeling much like a salmon at spawning time. 

Mission accomplished. But at what price? I saved $30.00 and in the process endured my first ever Boxing Day at the mall. 

There are some things in life that you only need to do once, like getting married and going to the mall on Boxing Day. Why would anybody in their right mind do that again?     

Angels on My Tree

We have many angels of various shapes and sizes on our Christmas Tree. They are very significant in the Christmas story. It actually started when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her what was going to happen. Later, when the Christ Child was born, it was a host of Angels who announced to the shepherds in the surrounding hills that a very special child, a saviour, was born.

In both cases, the angels had to calm the fears of the mere mortals who were receiving a direct message from God. Today, we see the pretty and innocuos representations hanging on our trees or sitting on our mantles, and we forget that these are awesome beings, God's holy messengers. We do them a disservice by reducing them to crystal figurines, and plastic dolls with protruding lights. If we were to see one tonight, we too, like the shepherds, would be falling on our faces, frightened half to death, perhaps feeling for a certainty that we were about to die.

Our God, who is beyond words, created these beings, and so we must only imagine what he himself must be like. And, to think that He came as a helpless new born baby, lying in a bed of straw, should humble us to the core. By coming as a harmless baby at that point in time, He was telling us, like the angels told Mary and the shepherds, "Do not be afraid". It was not an act of intimidation, but one of pure love.  

Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas

More forbidden berries, but they suit Christmas.

Phase two is completely finished as of 3pm yesterday. We are doing a complete home makeover and in spite of the fact that some of the subs were late in coming, we finished our end of things in time for Christmas. Next spring or summer we will be back to complete the the third and final stage. Finished business feels good at the end of the year. I do not like loose ends.

I came home to wonderful smells of baking and cooking. busylizzy has been busy preparing all sorts of goodies for the festive season ahead, in spite of the fact that three of her kitchen appliances broke down in one day. They were no match for her enthusiasm and energy levels. She is a tough boss in the kitchen. ("Take that, you 20 year old Kitchen Aid. What, you don't like a 20 pound lump of sticky dough all at once?" Followed by popping, banging, wheezing, grinding, moaning and sighing as the machine died of sheer exhaustion in a vain attempt to keep up with its task master's impossibe demands.)

We decided to take an evening walk to the town square where there is a lovely creche and where there was supposed to be a time of Christmas Carol singing. It was all beautiful except the singing. Oh, and guy trying to play the saxaphone sounded exactly like the expiring Kitchen Aid. In a word, it was lame, so we kept on walking, trying to stay warm in the cold night breezes. We did walk for an hour and got our metabolisms revved up. It was not a lost cause after all. It gave me a legitimate excuse to have another cookie when I walked in the door, all rosie cheeked and ravishingly hungry.     

Controversy

This is what folks in New Zealand saw on a billboard recently. It is Mary, the future mother of Jesus, being aghast while holding a pregnancy tester in her hand. It has brought both controversy and condemnation, and praise. For those who are devout and venerate Mary, this would be blasphemous. For those who recognise that it is obviously meant to stir the pot on our attitudes towards unwed pregnancy, it is mildly amusing. I see it as misinformation, apart from the obvious fact that Mary did not have access to a pregnancy tester.

What it most certainly portrays, is that Mary was surprised, and that far away look in her eyes tells us that she is pondering her most uncertain future when she finds out she is with child. But, hold on just a moment. The fact that Mary was pregnant was no surprise to her.

An angel came to her and told her she was most honoured among women and that the Spirit of God would descend upon her and she would be with child. She knew in advance, and the Bible said that she pondered these things in her heart. When it was confirmed that she was pregnant, it was no surprise, but rather a confirmation that it was indeed as the Angel had said. She even knew that the baby's name would be Jesus and that he would be the son of the God most high!  

That is vastly different than a woman being surprised after the fact.

Are these people not reading their Bibles?

The Same, But Not

Every year at this time I start getting that feeling that I want to escape. No, it is not the weather, the cold, damp, dark days that push me into thinking that 'south' is the place to be. That is a different kind of escape. I am talking about escaping from Christmas.

Fast forward just a bit and I am sure you can relate to the way I feel when Christmas Eve finally arrives. The shopping, planning, banquets and all the periphery stuff is finally out of the way. You take a deep breath and if you are in church, like I always am on Christmas Eve, you are suddenly hit by the significance of it all. It is a combination of relief that you survived the mall, or the Internet shopping, and hearing the carols with a listening ear for the first time, even though they have been blaring all of December. You are humbled by the fact, if by nothing else, that this story has endured for 2012 years and is going strong. You are confronted with what is the most significant thing in your life, and that is your connection with God, through Jesus, and here you are, remembering and celebrating with millions of others around the globe.   

These three 'same but not' photos, are like the Christmases that come, one after another through the years. The subject matter is identical year after year, but somehow we see them a little differently each year. Getting back to my desire to escape, I must clarify. It is not the heart of the matter that makes me cringe and want to hide, but the incessant frills, bells, and whistles that are a prelude to the significant moment, that hits me every year.

Now, as a grandfather, I see Christmas through my grandsons eyes. I try to remember what it was like for me at that age, and perhaps try to make it just a bit more significant for them. More rewarding than the food, the fun, the laughter, or the presents, is the one comment from a child-like heart, that shows me that one of them has made a connection to the Christ Child. I can easily escape all else, but would not miss a moment like that for all the world.   

Getting Our Share of Fun

The Christmas busyness begins.

 Friday night was the "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" starring (well, sort of) my grandson Nathan.

Then, Saturday night was a dinner at our home for some extended family.

Sunday morning was the children's Christmas production at church, "The Christmas Spelling Bee" starring (well, sort of) my grandson Chad. His character was a contestant who misspelled a word and was eliminated from the competition and relegated to duty as a Wise Man in the Christmas pageant.

Chad, the Wise Man on the left, right in front of the Angel.

Prior to the musical, all the two and three year olds were trooped onto the stage. I knew my grandson Liam was up there but they had cleverly disguised him as a donkey and it took me forever to scan the rows of cherub faces and finally spot my Liam.

Donkey eared Liam is the 4th from the right, beside the sleeping boy.

He was 'into it', singing and doing the actions, when suddenly he just disappeared from view. He had taken a step backwards and vanished below the 18 in. riser he had been standing on. A 'helper' was right there, got him back on his feet, and he never missed a beat, as he just kept on singing and doing the actions. They tell stage performers to "break a leg" as they prepare for the production, so I guess Liam was just trying to do what he was told. Good thing he failed.

Then it was off to a wonderful lunch at a friend's home with our Care Group friends. Our sweet gals did a cookie exchange and we are now supplied with a wonderful variety of goodies for the next little while.

We went for a long walk in the late afternoon, in the pink glow of the sunset, and met some old friends on the hiking trail. We were having such a good time with them that we almost ended up walking home in the dark.

I ended the day on a bright note, not that the whole day was not bright, but my hockey team, with me cheering them on, defeated the Calgary Flames.

Back to work today.