I Think I'll Call it Christmas

The following is my current column for the local paper. I have gotten the itch to write again, and usually do a column when I feel compelled about a specific thought or topic. Anyway, I had a couple people ask to see it, so here it is.

The first flakes of the year have already fallen from the skies, and stores are filled with enough glitter, lights and music to tempt the senses of even the biggest scrooge.

This over-commercialized, material world we live in flaunts itself best this time of year. With enticing advertisements for toys and diamond jewelry. With super-sales to convince us to buy things we don’t even really want. With awe-inspiring outdoor light displays and about as many variations of artificial Christmas trees as there are flavors of Jelly Bellies. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the lights as much as anyone else. And I have twice succumbed to frantically searching for the one toy that everyone wants, but is impossible to find. But, I get so tired of the focus on the material. And I am saddened by the loss of focus on the spiritual.

To so many, Christmas is a time of buying presents, decorating the tree, eating lots of food and checking things off of a long list of parties, events and family get-togethers. Nothing is wrong with those things in and of themselves. But if that’s all there is to it, I think it’s kind of like having a big birthday bash and not inviting the guest of honor.

I’m not telling anyone they have to celebrate like my family does, but at our house, the guest of honor is not only welcomed, but revered.

As we decorate the evergreen tree, we will be reminded of the everlasting love that God has lavished on us.

When we place the star on the top, we will think about the star that led three wise men to Baby Jesus 2000 years ago.

When I get my decorations out from the basement storage room, I will set aside a manger scene for my boys to arrange on the nightstand in their room, and take that opportunity to remind them that the baby represented there is the reason we celebrate, and that he is the greatest gift of all.

My boys will excitedly try to guess what is in each of their carefully wrapped presents, but they will first choose gifts to be sent to children on the other side of the world through Operation Christmas Child.

They may get a gift or two from “Santa” and will probably watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on TV, but they will always be taught that the jolly old man is not what this holiday is all about.

And when I go the Christmas Eve church service, I will not just be singing Christmas songs; I will be worshiping my Savior. And if I see you and wish you well on December 25th, instead of saying Happy Holiday, I think I’ll call it Christmas.

A New Tradition?

Corey thought it would be fun to let the big boys sleep under the Christmas tree the night we put it up. They, of course, thought that was super-cool. Decorating the tree with the help of the three boys posed a few challenges (especially from Lewis, my "un"helper), but it was pretty precious to see them sleeping by the tree light.

Legos and Dr. Seuss

Tell me these Lego creations don't look like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. I can't believe Lewis is old enough to play with Legos.

Watching all three boys play together is great fun. Believe it or not, Owen was amazingly patient with Lewis while building this lego house.

Check this out

One of the Harms' favorite people dedicated a blog to my children. Aww, we feel so loved. Check our Mara's blog - Sincerely - and read a bit about my boys. Mara has been watching them for us for a long time. Once upon a time, she watched them while I volunteered at Birthright, stayed and ate supper with us, and then watched them again while we went to Bible Study. We don't have her in our house as often as we used to, but we get her when we can. (I hope you don't mind I added your blog to my list, Mara.)

The First Snow

Lewis liked being out with the boys, but wasn't too interested in touching the snow.

This gigantic snowball later got thrown at their friends' dad.

"Mom, this is the best day ever of the whole month!" That's what Carter said as he sat and ate "snow ice-cream" after playing out in the wet stuff for most of the day with Owen and the neighbor boys.

The Human Tornado Strikes Again

Lewis has decided to try lowering his cholesteral.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and the thing is, I love you" - Harry Burns - When Harry Met Sally

I have decided to use quotes from some great movies to help describe how Corey stole my heart a decade ago.

Rick: Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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These pictures are the first ones my folks saw of the guy who would later become their son-in-law. This mud fight was one of the first things we ever did together. A muddy construction lot across from the apartment building (where Corey lived 4 doors down from me) seemed the perfect place to get dirty. We had mud in our teeth, our eyelashes, our ears...and believe it or not, the idea came from my roommate Rachel and I, not Corey.

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Harry Burns: Repeat after me. Pepper. Sally Albright: Pepper. Harry Burns: Pepper. Sally Albright: Pepper. Harry Burns: Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash. Sally Albright: Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash. Harry Burns: But I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie

This is just a random movie quote that we still say in our house sometimes. It has nothing to do with the picture, unless you consider that it is a silly quote and we had a silly way of getting to know each other. I convinced Corey that he should be in this drama competition that I was going to be in. I thought it would be a great way to have to hang out with each other. It worked. We spent a lot of time together, and Corey even got his picture in the Iowa State Daily.
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Lucy: Peter once asked me when I fell in love with Jack. And I told him, "It was while you were sleeping."

Technically, I didn't fall in love with Corey while he was sleeping. It was more like, while I could not sleep. I had some major jaw surgery, and this is one of two pictures that I allowed to be taken of me. After this photo, my face swelled like a balloon. OHH, I was not a pretty sight!!! But Corey didn't seem to care and he stayed up with me all night at my parent's house when I was a afraid to fall asleep, because I thought I might die. I had so much trouble breathing that I really did think dying was a possibility. He makes fun of me for it now, but that night, he just listened to me and walked me back and forth through the rooms of the house for hours. How could I not love this guy?
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Buttercup: Westley and I are joined by the bonds of love. And you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords.

One year and two days after our first "official" date, we were married. In two days, it will be ten years ago. Three kids, two apartments, two houses and millions of laughs later, I can honestly say I love him more now than I did then.