Random Ramblings

It's amazing to me how fast a foot and a half of snow can go down to nothing with one good day of rain. One day we had so much snow all you could see was white. The next morning, I can see the grass in our backyard. Bizarre.

Christmas is over, and I hate to admit it, but I'm glad. This year it snuck up on me and I just wasn't in the mood for it. My brother got us gifts, even after we agreed not to, so then we felt bad, so we took them out to dinner. They only stayed one night, though I wish they could have stayed longer. I always have a blast with my brother and his wife, I wish we lived closer together so we could get together more often.

It's currently raining sideways. This means the wind is picking up. Heavy rain and melting snow is a recipe for disaster around these parts. I'm expecting to see "FLOOD WATCH 2008" on the news any day now. Last year the flooding was so bad that there were several feet of water of I-5 down south of Olympia and people were stranded for days and days. Scary stuff.

In other news, I'm having a stretchy day today. If you've ever been preggers, you may know what I'm talking about. If not, bear with me as I try to explain. See, this is the term I've invented to describe the odd sensation that I get every few days in my lower abdomen. It's sort of a cross between a warm, tingly feeling, a bit crampy, kind of tickly, and an overall odd sensation. I decided when I was pregnant with Bryce that this feeling was my lower belly/uterus/baby stretching out and getting bigger. It happens every 2 or 3 days and lasts all day. It makes me just want to lay on the couch and do nothing. It's not painful, just....I don't know, hard to describe. I am 6 weeks and 5 days today, for those of you keeping score.

Merry Christmas to All

My day actually started at midnight last night. I went to the 11PM candle light service at church and sang "Joseph's Lullaby" as a solo (see previous blogs). It began to snow during the Pastor's Homily, which was very fitting. We now have a good foot and a half of snow here. I then drove home at midnight, in the snow, listening to Christmas carols in the car, alone.

I began to cry.

I had to pull over, and just let the tears come.

I can't tell you why I cried precisely. It could have been the culmination of the holiday stress finally hitting me. Or the fact that, despite getting to spend Christmas with my husband's family, I DON'T get to spend it with my own. I always miss my dad at Christmas, and all the crazy things he did and stories he'd tell. And then there was just the realization that God IS ALWAYS here. I couldn't help but thinking about how absolutely perfect last night was. A beautiful candle light service. Beautiful Christmas carols. A beautiful, snowy drive by myself. It all came together at once for me last night, about 15 minutes into Christmas morning. And I cried like a baby.

Can You Imagine?

Every year around Christmas, I end up finding a song that just really...I don't know...

...fits, my mood for the season, or really strikes a chord with me.

This year, it is "Joseph's Lullaby" by MercyMe.
It's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Please listen hard to the lyrics of this song. The video is beautiful also, but can detract from the words:




Joseph's Lullaby

Go to sleep my son
This manger for your bed
You have a long road before you
Rest your little head.

Do you feel the weight of your glory?
Do you understand the price?
Or does the Father guard your heart for now
So you can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my son
Go and chase your dreams
This world can wait for one more moment
Go and sleep in peace.

I believe the glory of heaven
is lying in my arms tonight
Lord, I ask that he, for just this moment
simply be my child.

Go to sleep my son
Baby, close your eyes
Soon enough you'll save the day
But, for now, dear child of mine...
oh my Jesus...sleep tight.


Can you POSSIBLY imagine what must have been going through Joseph's head that night, as he helped birth our Savior? Holding the tiny babe, knowing he is the King of Kings, but so desperately wanting him to just be his little son for awhile? I can't even begin to comprehend.

Thank you, Lord, for such a precious gift in Jesus, and his selfless earthly parents, Mary and Joseph.

Poor Palm Trees...

We moved into our house in July of 2007. At that point, the house was 3 years old, and the head of the family who lived here previously was from Hawaii originally. Apparently, his home state influenced his landscaping choices here. So, we have PALM TREES in our back and side yards. These poor palm trees just do not know what to think of this weather:

I'm not great at estimating depth, either, so maybe you can guestimate how much snow we have now based on these photos.

We're still not supposed to be much above freezing the next couple of days, and they're predicting snow on and off all week. Should be a white, and interesting Christmas!

I'm Back Now

Well, I apologize for the very LARGE delay in getting back to this blog! I seem to have forgotten that I needed an outlet every now and then!

Christmas is upon me. Finally. Every year since my dad passed, I've had a difficult time finding my Christmas spirit. However, usually after a few days of Christmas songs and movies, I'm there. This year, Christmas quite literally snuck up on me, and from the sounds of things around my office, it appears I'm not alone. I've updated my favorite Christmas tunes to include my handful of new songs, and have just decided this year, it's all about the REASON for the season, and not the commercialism that the holidays often bring.

Case in point, all grown ups agreed, NO presents this year. Not enough money, nor the drive to shop, so no gifts. The annual friend Christmas/White Elephant Gift exchange is relegated to re-gifting old, gently-used gifts, or homemade gifts. The nieces/nephews still get gifts, but they are being made with my own loving, patient (and sore) two hands. Brycey and Shayann will still get their usual gifts from Santa, but Santa has advised that he had to lay off some elves, so no one is getting as many gifts as in years past. I understand, thanks to the abysmal economy, we've all had to make sacrifices.

So, Christmas will be simple this year. Just the way I like it.