Day Seven

Peanut Jesus 2.0

Sunday was a special day for the littles in our class. Yes, it was the first day of advent, but it was also the return the peanut Jesus craft. Peanut Jesus 2.0 is what I’m calling it.  No actual peanuts were used because, you know, allergies, but it’s a good name.  

Why do I love peanut Jesus crafts? Because it’s so hilarious. Even without the googley eyes. And I love hilarious children’s crafts.

As I was preparing for this amazing craft opportunity, some well meaning adult mentioned that we might have baby Jesuses in the resource room. So I checked. The resource room is an interesting place. It’s full of craft supplies from decades of Sunday school crafts. Some of them are fun, some of them have not aged well. 

Case in point. I did find the aforementioned baby Jesus figures. But... blonde baby Jesus? I mean... ok yes, there is a whole  James Taylor “Some Children See Him” vibe, and I do have a pretty blonde Sunday school demographic but...

Y’all do know Jesus isn’t white, right? 

So nope, not going to use the baby Jesus figures from the resource room. Instead I glued wood beads together and made ‘peanuts’ for the littles to use for peanut Jesus 2.0.  I used a variety of colors to better match our demographic. Then Sunday morning I put the bead peanuts out and let the children pick which ever one they wanted. Yes an argument can be made that I’m overthinking this. That I’m putting too much brain energy into this. 

You could make that argument, but one of my littles said “this one looks just like me.” So you make your argument, but I’m going to ignore you. Being seen, being recognized, being represented, that’s important. It’s also something the real Jesus would do.

Do me a favor? Recognize the diversity in the world we live in.  

Day Six

When do you hang your Christmas stockings? Do you hang them as soon as you decorate for Christmas? Do you hang them only on Christmas Eve? Do you have stockings for your pets? Do you omit family members who won’t be there on Christmas morning or just the ones on the naughty list?

A better question might be where do you hang them? I know that tradition says from the mantle, over the fireplace. Does it surprise anyone that more years than not we find other places to hang them. Not doing Santa frees up some of that traditional space. We’ve hung them on bedroom doors, from curtain rods,  on stair rails, backs of chairs... Why do we have stockings if we don’t do Santa? That’s a valid question. Kathleen says it is because she didn’t know how to fit into my secular Christmas world. Ha!

Last year we defied our tradition (or conformed to everyone else’s tradition) and hung stockings on the fireplace. I admit that I left these hanging up for much much longer than I should have. It made me smile every single time I looked at them, so I left them up until Kathleen couldn’t stand it any more.

What’s so special about these stockings? Well they are not the ones Kat cross stitched when we were newlyweds, they aren’t the ones she made in ‘93 or ‘95, or the needlepoint ones great aunt Becky made the boys. The ones we hung last year were simple tan and cream stockings Kat got off amazon for like $20 for 10.  Why so many? My sister Jenni and her three kids were here for Christmas, plus my family of 4 + our bonus son. I just figured matching stockings for everyone would be fun. Plus the neutral colors matched my beach house Christmas theme. 

I hadn’t planned on decorating them, but then I had the younger kids at the house a few days before Christmas while Jenni and Kathleen were at the store and everyone was absolutely dying from boredom, because it was soooo boring at my house. So I busted out some colored sharpies and let the kids write their names and decorate the cuffs. First it was just Christian, Naomi, and Paul (because he’s a good sport). However before long Matthew, Keenan, and even the Bonus Son had grabbed some markers and were personalizing their stockings.  Getting those three to stop video gaming and do anything family related can be next to impossible! It wasn’t the most complicated craft, or the most detailed but for almost 20 minutes I had all the children acting like children together, and it made me so happy. 

So, could there be prettier stockings? Sure. Would I trade these for anything? Absolutely not!  I love those kids so very much, and I absolutely loved having them here, laughing and being a family. Do me a favor? Do something together with your family if you have the chance.

Day Five

Some of you may have noticed I only got to 18 days last year. It’s true, I fell short, way short of the 25 days. I had good intentions, I even had planned day drinking and crafting videos, an unboxing video, a haul video, and a decorate with me video. But yeah, didn’t happen.

I was on a roll, and then this negative thing happened, and it sorta knocked all the wind out of my sails. What could possibly have sidelined my season of merriment you ask? I really struggle with this, and admitting it is tough, but... I got blocked on Instagram.

How could such a thing happen? My sentiments exactly! Why would anyone block me? I’m lovable! And funny! It seems hard to believe but it’s true, it happened.

Picture it, Sicily 1908... I mean Oklahoma City 2018... I’m scrolling through Instagram and one of those home decor influencers posted a video story about how she styled a coffee table scape for the holiday. To be honest, the design steps she employed weren’t all that original or creative... use items in odd numbers, vary the heights of items, something green, or made of wood to reference nature.  I mean, I know that stuff, even Matthew knows that stuff, so I just assume everyone knows. 

What I liked about the video was that I thought I could reference it with a Day drinking and crafting video where I did my version of it.  Like where she said to start with something important to you, I was going to use empty alcohol bottles. For a touch of whimsy, I was going to put a copy of my advent book. I thought it was a great idea.

So, before I did anything I checked too see if we had any mutual connections. We did! Like someone I actually know in the real world, a former coworker I have stayed in touch with. So I reached out to my friend to see how this ‘influencer’ would react. Would they think it was funny? Flattering? Lame? My friend suggested I reach out to the ‘influencer’ directly and ask.

So I did. I sent what I thought was a very nice, respectful message, saying who I was and that I wanted to film a humorous video referencing what she had done. Then I waited. Waited. Waited... and figured out that I was blocked, Blocked! On the Instagram. Me? Blocked.  I was shocked.

And I had already emptied (drank) 3 bottles of alcohol. Then wrapped one in twine, put a ‘dear Santa’ letter in another. I was committed to the process. And all I got in return was Blocked!

Do me a favor? Have a sense of humor this season?  

Day Four

I want to show you some pictures today.

Take a look. I shot these a few days ago when I was crafting my whole ‘ease into Christmas’ thing. These pictures gave me a chance to show off some pumpkin crafts, (Wednesday’s with littles means lots of crafts, and pumpkins were a recurring theme). I liked setting the pumpkins out on our buffet with my family’s antique china. I always say it’s 50 years old, but that’s when I forget that it was 50 years old when I got it 25 years ago. The shot also let me show off table linens and napkin rings. I staged it with an assortment of cookies, with party plates and platters in the background, as though I’m ready for an impromptu gathering of friends. 

They are great pictures, instagram worthy. In fact I did put them up on Instagram and it’s possible I posted #blessed and #thankful along with #chinatureen. I enjoy sharing this picturesque, idealized image of whats going on in my life. 

The problem is that it is not reality. Look at this next picture, you can see that just a few feet away from the buffet table is the disaster that is our dining room table. 

This is what my reality is. A big mess. I can manage to pull it together and give you what I think you want to see. I mean, those pictures are great. I’ve got that casual, down to earth, elegance vibe for sure...”cookie? Help yourself from the antique tureen on the buffet” But. It. Is. Not. Real. Taking two steps back from this picture perfect image you can see the chaos. Also, we didn’t use those tureens for thanksgiving, I didn’t know where they were an hour before I took these pictures. The cookies came from a tin and went back in the tin after the pictures because my stomach hurt, and I didn’t want to eat them. The party plates and platters? They have literally been sitting on the buffet since last years Christmas party because we have so much of this stuff it doesn’t have a real home. Pretty, but not real.  

If you are like me, you can go through life looking at the idealized images people show of themselves and their lives, and feel bad because you know your life doesn’t look like that. I can’t tell you all the times I compare what my life looks and feels like to the idealized images I imagine my friends lives are like.  It is tough.

Except... I have some really good friends. People who love my family and me, probably more than we deserve, and they love us enough to let us into their real lives, their messy lives, their sink full of last nights dishes, the trash needs to go out, laundry on the couch, lives. 

My life isn’t perfect. My family isn’t perfect. We are going through stuff I wouldn’t wish on people I don’t like. But in the midst of our messy, complicated, painful lives, I have some hope, because I can look around and see that I have friends who are struggling to get their lives together too. 

What does any of this have to do with anything Christmas related? Look, if I’m going to blog for 25 days and show you idealized versions of my life and my memories, I want you to know that you only 

have to take two steps back to get a clearer picture of what’s going on on the perimeter of the idealized vision I’m giving you. 

Do me a favor? Be easy on yourself. You don’t need to compare yourself to anyone. 

Day Three

Sunday was Advent Sunday, the first Sunday of the advent season, the Sunday of Hope. How did you honor it? Did you feel Hopeful? As usual we were with our littles Sunday school class.  We talked about Hope, and our bible point was “God is our Hope”. 

In recent weeks two different littles have shared with me that Christmas is about more than presents and Santa, it’s actually about Jesus birthday.  I asked one of the littles if they maybe had learned that at church, possibly in Sunday school. They pondered thoughtfully and then said “No, but honestly, you should maybe teach about that in our class, it’s important.” 

Wait, what?!?! I’m pretty sure that Kathleen has at least touched on it in class. But apparently it didn’t make a lasting impression? At least they are getting it somewhere right?

Our church honors the advent by having different families light the advent candle at the start of service. This year 2 of our littles are part of the family that lit the Hope candle. Because of this we took the whole class for the begging of service and to watch their classmates participate. 

Now if you have never taught a class of 3-6 year olds you might not realize that “behave in church” is open to a very broad definition. Now, Kathleen is quick to tell me, and the parents, and really, anyone who will ask, that our littles always, always, always behave in a manner that is 100% age appropriate. The only issues that ever arise are when age appropriate comes into conflict with adult expectations. So, when we go to big church we always practice what is expected.  Normally I remind them that we will walk quietly in a single file line, we will sit quietly until it’s time to stand, and we will not, no matter what, run to our parents if we see them in church. Then I take a page from Amy Powell’s imaginary book of childcare, and I remind them all, that if one of us decides to break the rules and get rowdy we ALL have to go back to class, and we do not want to be the ONE that ruins it for everyone do we?

Now, not once have we ever taken them out of the service, no matter how loud or squirmy they get, but I do think they take it seriously because they often shush each other, loudly, and remind each other not to ruin it for everyone else.  My favorite part is when we get back to the room and they give notes on how the children’s sermon and the music at the beginning of the service could be improved. Typically they want shorter talking, and less spooky piano, which is what one of our littles calls the organ. She confided in me a few weeks back that spooky piano in the dark and candles is how you get the ghosts and we don’t want the ghost. Then she waggled her finger, raised her eyebrows and said “no ghosts.” I’m not going to argue with her.

This week, because I suspected the decorations and Christmas music might be extra distracting I tried a different approach. I told the children we needed to be extra careful because grownups are easily distracted. The grownups need to be paying attention in church so they can learn about Jesus. Some of the littles were quick to interrupt that they already knew about Jesus, because, “you know, Sunday school.” (See? I knew we had talked about Jesus). 

I agreed, but grownups, sometimes you have to tell them things over and over. This got lots of little heads nodding in agreement. So, on our way to big church, we won’t talk to the grownups, we won’t wave to the grownups, when we get to church, if we see our parents we won’t wave to them and run for them. I told the littles we are a class of very cute children and it’s very easy for grownups to be distracted when we go into big church, so we needed to try and not distract them.  I think this worked pretty well. I mean yes, they shushed Mister Brad, the minister for discipleship when he spoke to them on our way into the sanctuary, and they shushed Ariel Koerner, who was leading the music when she sat down next to Kathleen and greeted the children.  Also, one of the littles confided that her Dad smiles and waved but she did not wave back, so he could pay attention to Jesus.

Honestly, the littles make me laugh every week. I don’t know if that is the hope in the advent or not, but it is certainly joy. Do me a favor? Enjoy the littles in your life? 

Day Two

What did you do today? 

Kathleen and I snuck out and went to the movies. I’m not sure what it says that as adults we have to sneak out to see a movie, but there it is. If we do the thing where we ask who is home, who has to work, who needs a ride, bing, bang, boom, our time and our cars are suddenly gone, or spoken for. So we snuck out.

We went to the Harkins in Bricktown. There is some sadness because we no longer have sons who work there, or nieces, or even a wayward nephew, so our free movie hookups are long gone. Although we did have free movie passes today.

Anyway. While at the theater I grabbed one of the promotional postcards for the “throwback movies” on Tuesday night.  As in the past; every Tuesday night at 7pm, and every Saturday at 10am Harkins is showing a classic holiday movie. Bonus part is that the movies are only $5. If you haven’t paid full price for a movie lately, trust me, it’s a bargain.

What movies are showing this December you ask?

12/3 7pm The Wizard of Oz

12/7 10am The Holiday 

12/10 7pm Elf

12/14 10am The Polar Express

12/17 7pm Christmas Vacation 

12/21 10am It’s a Wonderful Life

12/24 7pm A Christmas Story 

I don’t know it will turn out to be just today, or if there will be more sneaking out to see movies this holiday season, but I’m hopeful. Do me a favor, watch a Christmas movie with a friend? Share a laugh and some overpriced popcorn? 

Day One

Here we are again. December 1, the first day of advent and the return of my annual 25 days of Christmas blog. As is the tradition I have a brain full of ideas, and plans to start early but I don’t and then here we are looking at a blank page wondering where to start. 

Let me ask this question? How do you get ready for Christmas? I know so many people who spend this weekend, the one after Turkey day in a joyful rush to get ready and start decorating and shopping.  Many years that is us. Well not the shopping, uggghhh to that.  I know my sister Jennifer already hung her family’s stockings. Other friends are posting pictures on social media of their decorations. I at least know where mine are this year. 

This year we are taking a more leisurely approach. Taking some time to catch our breath and ease ourselves into the season. It sounds idyllic right? I’m picturing a crackling fire, cozy blankets, and my family cuddled up on the couch, laughing, and eating popcorn.   Yeah, no. Kathleen had a craft fair today, so another long day of selling fudge.  All three boys had to work their jobs at various points and I’m not feeling well. So it was a juggling act of boys and cars and helping set up and back and forth.  The typical chaos.  Now everyone is tired, but not everyone has quite made it home. We have lots going on. So much going on. So. Very. Much.

I had the conversation with one of my boys, that maybe this year we just take a pass. I’m not saying full on John Grisham Skipping Christmas, but maybe since our lives and our hands are so full, just maybe it’s better not to add to the chaos by decorating, and blogging, and parties, and cookies, and gifts. Especially since collectively, we are tired. Except I’d miss it. I’m not sure I have it in me to skip all those things that add to the chaos. We do enjoy all those things, it just seems like adding to our messy lives is a bad idea.

The flip side is that I am fully prepared and capable of doing the thing where I just drag all of us through the season, some of us kicking and screaming and fighting me the whole time. With enough apple pie moonshine, cookies, and leftover turkey sandwiches I’ll make it through till I collapse around New Years with a sinus infection or bronchitis. When this discussion was had the aforementioned son looked at me with a combination of “Pops, Relax!” And “why do you have to be so extra?”  I suspect he thinks he’s to big to drag.  I said to big to drag, not too big to be IN drag. (Side note: where are those pictures of when Katie Powell dressed him up as a princess?) either way though...

So I’m going to ease into the season.  In years past when I’m doing the things people usually want to jump in and participate, so maybe that old Christmas feeling will kick in. Or I’ll just grumble about doing it myself while my family rolls their eyes. My life is messy, most days I’m not sure how I got here, but I am surrounded by people I love. 

Do me a favor? Love the ones you’re with.