MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Happy Holidays...Christmas 2008. I think we all have visions of homes enveloped in a blanket of snow, children building snowmen and fireplaces all aglow. Well...maybe up north, but not in South Texas. It could happen three days before Christmas, or the day after, but today it's going to be 75 degrees and sunny in San Antonio, or so they say. Like the weather changes, so do our Christmas celebrations and traditions. We have our traditions of Christmas holidays past and, as I contemplate this 2008 Christmas, I think about those memories and how, like the weather, they have changed, will continue to change, and new traditions will be made bringing along our heart to store all our new memories. Christmas is a time to celebrate with people we love and care about and who are important in our lives. This year my youngest son, Sam's theme was: "Less Stress." Whatever we can do to lessen the stress and simplify things. So, whether by choice or by happenstance, this year Christmas will be more simple and less stressful. I'll be spending time with family and with friends but at different times and different settings. I'm setting aside obligations, work and worry and as I write this I think of friends who have brought me peace, happiness and also, people who energize me, inspire me and make my life an interesting journey. Who brings me a smile, a good cry or makes me laugh? Who perplexes me and never ceases to surprise me? Who do I bring smiles and laughter to and who do I energize? I'm sure I perplex no one, nor do I surprise anyone. People are our real gifts in life as opposed to presents in brightly wrapped packages. Of course, we have obligations to some but I love to reach out, without feeling obligated...it's a good feeling. As Mother Teresa said: "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." Christmas is celebrating God's great generosity to us and God asks us to be generous with others. We've probably all seen the movie "Pay it Forward." Wouldn't it be a gentler world if that really happened...the pay it forward part. This week one of my favorite ladies in the whole world, a doctor, who is also one of my bosses, was looking in my office at My Wall of Sayings. It's a small collection that started because one of the doctors had a real slip of the tongue one day laughing over something I was doing. He said: "We've never had anybody obsessive enough to do that." Don't even know what it was but I was taken aback. Me...obsessive? He later came back and said "Obsessive people can be successful people." So in my office is framed: "Obsessive People Can Be Successful People...Author Known." Another is: "Find a Remedy, Not Fault." So after looking at my office wall, she decided she was going to frame several for small Christmas gifts. Her saying, borrowed from...well, I don't remember: "Do Something for Someone Else Today." Reaching out, taking time for someone other than yourself. Isn't that a cheerful thought? I think it's easier than most of us think...but...do we think? What better reason for the season. Since the very first Christmas, and our relationship with God, hasn't there also been another dimension? That people are part of the reason...part of the whole celebratory event? Okay, we probably all have a Scrooge in our family and people can complicate the holidays with stress, but genuine heart-to-heart caring and honesty is at the core of our relationships with our family and friends in order to grow closer to each other. It requires setting priorities with your time and being select with whom you spend time with at Christmas. It doesn't have to be all crammed into one day...why not have it all of December...in fact, why not just a little more attention paid to our fellowships all year long? In putting these words to print, and thinking these thoughts, I definitely think it's something I want to do in the future. To spend quality time with those I care about - maybe a night at our favorite cafe, or Christmas cheer (okay let's face it...in San Antonio it's likely to be a Margarita) or grab one of the goofy holiday movies that will be "Now Playing." So like the weather changing, I want to improve the way I spend time with those I care about...spend more time. But speaking of the weather and its changes...I have friends that had snow in Houston last week! A Kodak moment to prove it! My dear friends, the Mayne's.

I had the opportunity to spend the night with my little sister, Janell, this past week and we laughed, I cried ( I do that sometimes ~ happy and sad) while she cooked dinner and I wrapped a big Christmas present. We talked non-stop until I crashed and went to my room. Janell and I have a new chapter being added to our life scripts within 4 months apart this upcoming New Year. We are both going to be a GranMa this upcoming spring and summer. I'm thrilled beyond belief, as she is, and seeing the love and delight that other friends receive from being the "Grand" at this stage...I know it's going to be wonderful. Check out my new baby countdown...New Baby will be due on July 4, 2009. It is exciting...new life that will bring new celebrations, new traditions and lots of memories. There will definitely be new traditions and memories, mixed with the old and with a new blessing from Heaven. There is no better time than now to look for opportunities to do simple acts of kindness and evaluate fellowship priorities with Christmas purpose in mind. People priortizing and how do we best spend our limited energies? It is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. Is it time to reconcile with someone in our life? Perhaps for some. Recent dinner with friends brought up the subject of forgiveness and I've been thinking about it. For me it's a gift that we can give and should give to ourselves. If we can forgive, can't we grow, leaving more space in our lives to be the kind of person God designed us to be? I think I can. But, as I mentioned at dinner. Ann Landers once wrote: "It's okay to forgive, as long as you forget what it is you are forgiving." Something to ponder as we wonder into a New Year and for most of us, make New Year's Resolutions. One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the beautiful paper. Wrapping paper, paper tags, cards and now, Christmas bags for those who don't want to wrap. That makes Christmas a bit simpler and I am all for a Simple Christmas. My wrapping closet...talk about making it simple. It's like I have my own Hallmark store! I like to have all my Christmas gifts wrapped in one color. Everything matching. But who was it that said "Perfection is Needed for a Perfect Holiday?" Nobody I know. Another one of those self-induced, unrealistic expectations I set for myself but always feel "squared up" when it's all shiny and bright under the tree. I used to wrap each son's gift with the exact same wrapping paper but gave them either a red bow, or a green bow, to tell them apart. Here's one of our Christmas photos where I tried to "ease up" a little and wrap Tag's gift in a different color so Sam wouldn't be opening a chew toy! Tag always gets a gift. Doesn't everyone's pet? My son and his wife's boxer, Tag, is a wonderful pet and this year Tag gets an ornament: "Hi, My Name Is Get Away From The Christmas Tree, What's Yours?"

Break for a phone call ~ I just found out Tag is in route to San Antonio! He's coming home for Christmas. I try to ease up a bit on all the perfection and organization from time to time. Well, maybe not so much the organization...I mean doesn't everyone label their Christmas Rubbermaid containers of decorations? Sure makes it easier for me. For some, I think we simply need to adjust what our peception of perfection really is. Maybe it came from childhood. Everything seemed perfect then. But then...what did we have to do? I sure didn't cook. That was Mom's and Mama Rush's doings. Magically, it just happened. As you know from my Thanksgiving blog, now I realize how much time and energy they put into those meals. I just remember that it was "all about us." Meaning the little ones. Wanting a stuffed animal, a certain doll, (not Barbie for me...she never could make up her mind what she wanted to be when she grew up though she had a wonderful shoe collection, a record album...then, of course, my piano). Now that was a wonderful Christmas. I learned to play the piano, even played at church in the Sunday School Dept. until I got in trouble for jazzing up the Christmas Hymns. Of course, the pastor's son was right there on the bench with me. I think that's when they brought the choir in!

Christmas didn't seem to be about grown ups, except for the cooking. As I grew up and I became a Mom, it still seemed about the kiddos...except...they were mine. Perhaps that's when the perfection perception came in but I'm going to take it down a notch. I'm going to give myself permission to feel okay about changing my expectations. Only God can achieve perfection, it's the celebration and the fellowship that are important. Having said that, I did put out my Christmas decorations from the dusty attic this year and I've really enjoyed seeing the change in my home. Even my friend Rosette said: "Wow, you must be happy." Is it a sign of happiness? For me, I think Christmas decorations are a sign of peacefulness and wanting to share the small collections of things given to me over the years or things I've made. It's that paper thing, you know! So, I wrapped the stairs, put out the wreaths and put out the snowglobes and nutcrackers. Didn't even feel bad because I didn't get to the tree. It's 9' tall, a little much for me to handle so I just displayed my Mom's glass Christmas tree and a ceramic tree made for me by my friend, Karen, a very talented artist, several years ago, along with a couple of mini-trees with their cute little minature ornaments! Christmas at Home, 2008:

The stairs all green and shiny with a favorite painting I did when we three lived in Galveston in 1979 and the boys and I went to the beach. A complete stranger wanted our photo, next thing I knew, I was painting it in classes I took at a local gallery. Wouldn't part with it for a billion dollars.

Our Christmas stockings - - Mine on the left (I used to be an avid runner and Sam picked out this particular stocking when he was about 6) and his stocking.

Steven's stocking is now joined next to his beautiful wife Lauren's stocking...elegant and in need of glitter...to be done.

I have many favorites in my collection of Christmas decorations, things that people have given me, treasures I made and have had for many, many Christmas' but probably my favorite is my ever growing collection of snow globes and nutcrackers. Snow globes being so shiny and bright and my nutcrackers standing at perfect attention.

My Coastal Santa came to me one Christmas from my dear friend, Carol, who (at that time) lived on Galveston Island. He is so heartwarming since I am from the coastal bay area...a barefoot Santa...only from Galveston Island.

A tradition since I was a new mother, back in 1975, was a letter to Santa. I would write to Santa all kinds of wishes for family and friends. I know he listens, I've seen my wishes come true and will continue this tradition for my grandchild. Of course, his/her letter will probably be sent to the North Pole.

There's a special little corner for my Mom's Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause, as well as one given to me by my sister, and sitting in front is a basket of pine cones that I collect every year in December that have fallen from the pine tree near my mother's resting place. Its a gentle reminder of all the fun Christmas' we had in her home.

Knowing that we were made in the image of our Creator means that we are different from animals and all other creations. Being a man and woman made in God's image means we share a likeness with the most creative Being ever. So...no matter who you are, what you do, what talents you possess, you have the inherited ability to be creative. We each have the ability to learn and grow and to create original expressions of who we are, what we are about and what message we want to send to others. That's a wonderful thing...use your creativity to do something for someone else for Christmas, especially with all its potential adornment.

I make many of my own handmade cards, all of my own wreaths and am now into doing Christmas ornaments that light up to go UNDER the Christmas tree. They always seem to bring a special smile to the recipient. I not only enjoy the creating, but I enjoy the results. It helps me think outside the box and leaves my mind open to many possibilities. With all the boxes that I put myself into of work and even, unfortunately, with play, creating things has no boundaries. It gives me permission to "color outside the lines."

I was recently talking to fellow creators and the subject of Santa Clause came up. Where did he come from and what does he stand for? Seems as though we each our a version...all three not too different from the other. But to set the record straight...a little bit of trivia.

Our Santa Claus (a dutch-language version of St. Nicholas) is a modern characterization of fourth-century bishop of the Christian church in Myra, a land of "green hills, warm sum and soft sea breezes" in what is now, Turkey. According to A Gift from St. Nicholas, Cjrostome Bolley says that "St. Nicholas understood that life's real treasure is found in doing what is right in the eyes of God, and he discovered that joyful peace comes from loving others. He is remembered fondly for his anonymous efforts to give away his inherited wealth."

This is one of Karen's beautiful pieces of ceramics. I also have SNOW and JOY...they are all very special, as well as the ornaments she has made for my tree.

I recently took a photo opp on one of my many journeys around South Texas and ran across this beautiful church. As you can see it is the oldest Polish Catholic Church in the U.S., founded December 24, 1854. It is a beautiful church and these photos do not do it justice. Take a drive there someday and see for yourself.

PANNA MARIA, TEXAS Panna Maria (meaning Virgin Mary in Polish) was established in 1854 and is the oldest permanent Polish settlement in the USA. Father Leopold Moczygemba founded the historic Polish community of Panna Maria. He came to Texas in 1852 to serve the religious needs of German communities that had already been established. In letters to his family in Silesia, he spoke of the possibilities of an improved life for them in Texas. News that was shared by his family with friends. In 1854, about one hundred families made the journey to Texas and the new Polish community of Panna Maria was born from their courage, fortitude and desire to find a better live. Father Leopold Moczygemba (1824-1891): The son of of Leopold and Ewa (Krawietz) Moczygemba, Father Leopold was born on October 18, 1824 in Pluznica, a small community in Upper Silesia area of Poland. In 1843, the young Leopold made the decision to take on the devoted life of a Catholic priest. His early service was in northern Italy and then Bovaria before his calling took him to Texas in 1852. Today, Panna Maria's population has dewindled to less than the original numbers that settled here. In the year 2000, less than one hundred citizens were still living in Panna Maria. The symbolic "old oak tree" near which the they built their church remains standing as a historic living reminder of the first settlers. The church itself has been rebuilt.

Silent Night, Holy Night. Angels we have heard on high...Gloria. Let us adore him. Let us rejoice. The good news is that we have been given the perfect gift for making the best Christmas ever - - Christ. As we remember the simple birth of the Savior, we can give thanks for the miracle of His life. We can also give hope with each gift we give for a renewal of His Spirit in the lives of those we love. Simply remind them of the blessing of the Miracle, the hope and the wonder of Christ's life and death, and the impact on our lives. Worship Christ, renew old friendships, revive or start new personal and family traditions, and give gifts with joy, receive them with heartfelt gratitude and let the light of Bethlehem shine over you and all of your celebrations this year. And Good Night To All ~ Babs