Slow Down, World

I've been so overwhelmed, I don't know where to start.

Of course, the obvious, is Christmas. Shopping (what little we do), decorating (which is much less than what we used to do), a Christmas tea that Daughter decided she wanted to be the sole decorator for (using my stuff, but it will someday be her stuff, so it doesn't matter), a Christmas solo for me, getting sick and unable to hit notes on said song, thank you God that our piano can be lowered by two steps with a touch of the finger!, doing my part for Christmas dinner (Daughter and I made the dressing, coleslaw, deviled eggs and ice. Well, we didn't make the ice, the refrigerator did), doctor appoints for Mother, doctor appointments for Daughter, my yearly blood work and discovering everything was "wonky".

Wonky, you say? My liver enzymes were high. My triglycerides were WAY high. My ding dang blood sugar was just high enough I may be a diabetic.

Whoa, right there. Doc said he didn't think I was a diabetic, but that something else was causing everything to be off. He was most concerned about my liver. 

So, off I go to have an ultra sound. Which couldn't be scheduled till after one p.m. And I had to fast for at least eight hours. If you ask me, if I was a diabetic that woulda kilt me dead, right there.

Anyway, my liver is fine and dandy, which leads me to suspect that something went awry with my blood. Either my body was pulling a practical joke, the lab mixed my blood with someone else's or I was having a " high " day. Danged if I know.

Now I'm on medicine for my high triglycerides, which I'm not sure I need; and eating semi like a diabetic. Doc said, "Just don't drink soft drinks, eat sweets or pasta." I said I could live with that as long as he didn't mess with my potatoes. He said I could have a potato. 
For my birthday. Crazy guy, my doctor.

Of course, I'm more worried about Daughter. Just say a little prayer that she'll get better. 

She has a solo Sunday, but she doesn't know what she's singing yet. If this were me, I'd be a blubbering idiot, but she's cool about it.

Also, I have been accepted into the "First Families of Gilmer County" by the Genealogy Society. They are in the process of preparing a manuscript for a book about this. I've been scurrying around to find pictures, birth, death, marriage certificates and stories about people I remember to go in this book.

Oh, yeah. There was a book signing, too. Thank you for all who came, and thank you to those who continue to purchase the book. 

My  hope is things will calm down this week. Today was spent digging out from under mess. I have sat down a time or two and contemplated as I looked at our Christmas tree. In this cloudy weather, the lights show beautifully.

And you wondered why I hadn't blogged.

A Bunch of Nuthin'

Between strange diagnoses due to wonky blood work, continuing to take many, many trips with Mother to the doctor and Daughter having a medical issue, and decorating for Christmas, and shopping for Christmas, and having a book signing!, and singing and preparing to sing, you may have noticed I haven't blogged in a few weeks.

You may also have noticed the above is a run on sentence.

Who has time for making more than one sentence?

More later.

Things I Now Know Are Not True

When I was a child, I believed a lot of things that I now know are not true.

1. Our house was not dirty and needed paint. It was really gray. The other houses in the neighborhood were white, so you can see how I reached my conclusion.

2. My face will not freeze like that.

3. My eyes won't get stuck and be crossed for the rest of my life.

4. All dogs are not boys, nor are all cats girls.

5. Christmas (or summer) will never, ever get here.

6. I have all the time in the world.

7. People I love will live forever.

8. Bad things happen somewhere else.

9. I will never grow old like everybody else does.

10. If a praying mantis spits in my eye, I'll go blind.

                         Okay, maybe I still believe the last one.

Christmas Day

Another Christmas has come and gone.

This one was a hot, wet mess as far as the weather was concerned.

I don't remember the weather ever being this way on Christmas, but maybe it has been and my memory just blocked it out.

We had lots of good food at Mother's, and presents to one another before then. Santa was good.

The sweetest thing was when my niece, Jesse sent a text to my other niece, Mandy, before everyone arrived at Mother's. 

Mandy's four year old son picked up her phone. He is eager now to read every chance he gets, as he's learned a few words. Seeing the text was from Jesse, he handed the phone to his mama and said, "Jesus just texted you."

I guess he isn't reading quite as well as he thinks he is.

Hope all ya'll had  wonderful Christmas, counting your blessings and thanking your God for the day.

Angels We Have Heard on High and They are Singing Bass and Tenor

This has been bugging me for years.

Why, oh why, have we feminized angels? The Bible speaks of angels, Gabriel and Michael. They are warriors, not nannies.

Raphael (God Heals),  is an angel mentioned and accepted by Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans, coming from a part of the Bible that is no longer included in the standard Bible we use at church, being Baptists.

All three of these are male spirits.

Interestingly, anything I've ever read about people seeing angels, usually near their death, they are always very large - bigger than male humans - usually blond, for some reason, and male.

So why can't I find a tree topper that is male?

And Cherubims? They (and Seraphim) aren't cute little chunky babies with wings. They are fierce animals that have many jobs; one being flying around the throne of God singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy!"

I've complained about this for years. In fact, one of the people with whom I used to work found a male Cherubim tree ornament (he had all his plumbing) and dared me to hang it on my tree, which I do every year. But he still looks like a baby, not a fierce animal with a man's face, a lion's face, an eagle's face, etc. I ain't scared of him a'tall.

I think we've feminized them for several reasons. Men are afraid of emotions, and for some reason, the word 'angel' stirs up a sweet, feminine emotional being in our heads. These messengers from God are anything but.

Don't get me wrong, women have very strong and important places in the church today, as they always have. But men are failing to do their part, fill their place, a lot. So, church is becoming more "feminine", too.

It would be just as wrong, just as bad, just as skewed, if women starting dropping out of church as men have done.

Lopsided either way ain't too pretty.

I know that God made male and female in His image. I'm as much like him as Husband.

But God has made himself a father figure because the male by nature wants to protect, provide and lift heavy stuff.

They're just made that way. That's a good thing.

Woman are different, not less, not more.
I don't want to be a man.

So, there.

At any rate, if you can find me a nice, masculine angel to decorate with next Christmas, let me know.

I'll go all girlie on you with thanks.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Do you ever find that some of your favorite things are tied in together somehow?

I have a (copy of) a painting that I really love.

My mother-in-law asked me to pick out something I wanted for Christmas, as she was no longer able to shop. This was the last Christmas she had on this earth.

I didn't want her to spend a lot of money, but I knew she also wanted it to be a good gift. I had had my eye on this print for a long time, so I brought her the catalogue and showed it to her. She was delighted to purchase that for me; she loved the picture, too.

Now, that print is very precious to me for more than one reason.

Of course, the obvious one is who bought it for me and why. I had the best mother-in-law on the planet, and wish she was still here. And she was one woman who absolutely loved giving presents.

The other reason is the painting reminds me of my favorite book in the whole wide world; "Tom's Midnight Garden" by Phillipa Pearce. I first read that book when I was in the fourth grade, and it is not an exaggeration to say I've probably read it a dozen times since.

The book is about a little boy who has to go live in a flat with his aunt and uncle for a summer. His brother has the measles and his parents don't want him to catch it. He is really disappointed because he is leaving the country and his friends for a dull summer in the city with adults who know nothing about children, with nothing or anyone to play with.

Then one night the old grandfather's clock in the foyer strikes thirteen and Tom can't stand it, so he goes downstairs to find everything...transformed.

The house has become what it once was, and he finds a delightful friend in a little girl named Hattie.

Hattie doesn't stay little, rather sometimes she is younger than Tom and sometimes a good bit older. Toward the end, she is even a young woman who is going ice skating.

It is Victorian times, and she is dressed as you might imagine, with ice skates in hand, ready to join in the fun.

The painting my mother-in-law purchased portrays a young woman in Victorian garb, holding a pair of ice skates. She is standing in the snow, with a pensive look on her face. She is at the edge of the pond. It is entitled "Winter - Shall I?"
Painted by E.. J. Gregory.

When I first saw the painting, I thought to myself, "That is exactly how Hattie would have looked - knowing she was growing up and Tom wasn't - and if she had to grow up, she would lose him.

It's a wonderful book. You ought to read it. I cried the first time I read it and I even get tears in my eyes now. It's the first book that completely surprised me with the ending.

Maybe it's because I was nine years old and it was written for such a young, tender heart as mine.

Or maybe that book really is magical.

I believe it has to be.

Christmas Present

Other Brother called about two weeks before Christmas and wanted to know if I, along with Brother of Many Surgeries, would be willing to go in together and buy Mother a Kindle for Christmas. One of his twenty-something co-workers suggested that when Other Brother was whining about what to get Mother, who needs absolutely nothing.

Even though I saw my life pass before my eyes, I said yes. You see, I cannot recall many presents Mother has received in my lifetime that was met with approval.

I knew this would be a perfect gift: her vision is poor due to age and Macular Degeneration (although, thank God that has remained stable for years).  The Kindle is back lit and you can enlarge the font for easier reading.

She was gracious about it on Christmas Day, but she didn't fool me none. No sirree bob.

I took it back home with me to download some books I thought she'd like, adjust the font, etc. Because really, never having one myself, I didn't know much about them either. (Side note, I got one for Christmas too!)

With dread, I took the loaded Kindle back to Mother. I explained she didn't need to know but a couple of things. Before I could even finish the sentence, she started a run on. "I can't remember what  you say, I'll never be able to do this, I can't read anymore anyway, my mind won't stay focused, you all have wasted your money, blah blah blah..."

I glazed over. When she finished ranting, I made her push the button to turn it on. I had already adjusted the back light to the brightest setting, so I didn't mention it. I showed her a couple of font sizes and had her chose the one she liked best.

I picked a book, opened it, showed it to her. Then I had her turn the Kindle off. Then turn it back on. I explained that's all she had to do, when she turned it back on, the book would be wherever she had left it, and she could resume reading.

She informed me she could never remember all that.

I do believe real steam came outta my ears.

"All you remember is one thing. You push the button for on and the same button for off."

"I can't even remember what I just read."

I blinked. "What did you just read?"

"Something about Carol talking to her daddy because her sister had told on her."

Sheesh.  The thing was only on, like, ten seconds.

It's too bad she can't read anymore.

I vowed to never, EVER mention the word Kindle in front of her again.

A few days later she called and said she couldn't turn it off. After much discussion, I realized she had left it on without turning a page and it had gone to "sleep". Instead of trying to explain it to her over the phone, I went to her house and showed her what had happened.

She began a run on sentence. See paragraph #6.

She told me the other day she just had not had time to read much, but I charged up the Kindle anyway, as it had been used a little.

Will she succumb to the ease and joy of reading on this thing that will make it easy-peasy?

Film at eleven.

That way you won't have to read about it.

Thinking Back...

I have a blouse that is at least thirty-one years old.

I still wear clothes that are older than Daughter.

So, sue me. As long as they don't have holes in them, and I still like them; I don't really care if they are "out of style". If I'm going to spend money, I want to spend it on house stuff, if it's for me.

Anyway, I actually wore this blouse the other Sunday under a Christmas vest. The blouse is made from the green and red plaid cloth that everyone is familiar with. It has a high collar and a bit of ruffle down the placket in front.

The reason I smile every time I see this blouse is because of this little story:

Husband and I had been friends for a while. After my horrific divorce, he called me a few weeks later to say he was sorry. Someone from our work had called him to tell him about it. (He was living in a different town). We talked a couple of times, even went to the mall and got muffins.

But our first "real" date was to the movies.

I wore that blouse because it was close to the Christmas season. I put on a pair of my good jeans and waited for him to arrive.

He knocked on the door, I threw it open, and there he stood.

In a button down shirt, made from exactly the same green and red plaid cloth my blouse was. He had on his good jeans, too.

We stared at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Deciding what the heck, we went dressed just alike, calling ourselves the Bobbsey Twins. (If you don't know who they are, you are too young to be able to read).

Of course, his brother-in-law and nephew were there. I'd never met any of his family. I wonder what they thought about our attire...

His shirt is long gone. I think he outgrew it.

But you know what?

I think I'll wear that blouse every Christmas season until I can no longer fit in it, or it just plain wears out.

Memories are a good thing, no?

Alone

I usually don't blog on Sunday.

I am never alone on Sunday, but today I am, so there you are. I thought I'd blog.

Husband and Daughter are at church. I am missing Husband's - what I'm sure will be stellar - performance in the Christmas play. He is a "middle-aged farmer" and if that ain't stretching the truth, I don't know what is.

I started feeling sick night before last, but I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the dust on the tree we had brought up to decorate. I'm allergic  to household dust, which usually just comes in handy for an excuse not to be able to dust.  If it isn't stirred up, it doesn't bother me.

But then, as the day drew longer yesterday, I got sicker and sicker. Ran a fever last night.

I think I have a raging sinus infection.

Yay, me.

No problem that we have a Sunday School Christmas party right here at the house this afternoon.

Thus far, I have missed the Thanksgiving service at church, which included a meal and communion. I have missed several church services and Bible studies lately. I  missed a play we had tickets for. I missed the WMU Christmas dinner.

There are probably other things to add to the list, but I stopped keeping track.

At this afternoon's party, I shall just be quiet and good and smile a lot.

This, too, shall pass and I'll be well again.

But for now, I'm alone.

On Sunday morning.

It's December .... Already

So today is the first day of the last month of 2014.

You may be asking: how the heck did that happen? How did we even get to 2014 in the first place?

I dunno.

My baby brothers turned fifty years old today. I don't know how that's setting with them, but it's setting pretty old to me.

Christmas will be here in a flash, and I can barely move. If I don't stay over this mess with my sacroiliac, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I think I'm better and WHAM it's like I've been hit with a baseball bat. Twice.

Daughter is having finals this week, so you can figure the mess she's in.

Husband is going to see a man about a dog tomorrow.

No, really.

I don't know if we will get it. We all had high hopes we'd go as a family to look at the pup, but with my back and some commitments I have, I know I can't do it all. And Daughter, as I have said, is having finals this week.

What the situation is, is this: someone somehow has to get unbusy, unpained enough to put up the dang Christmas decorations.

Any volunteers?

Only one string attached:

You got to clean the house first. I ain't having no decorations put up with nasty underneath.

Gimme a call if you're interested.

Top Secret

I apologize in advance for the world's stopping it's turning because I haven't blogged in two days.

Many of the reasons are super top secret that I can't share with mere commoners.

However; I have a logical explanation for most of it. In fact, I have several of them.

Some people would call them excuses.

You decide.

For instance, I just got through eating my half of a piece of red velvet cake topped with white chocolate cheesecake.

I had a Christmas party to go to last night.

Saturday I didn't feel well and was exhausted from all the never gonna get finished Christmas decorating.

I swaney, with as long as it's taken us, you'd think we'd decorated the Taj Mahal, and done a darn good job of it.

I've also been reading a really good book. I go from one book to another like eating popcorn, sorta.  Some bites are better than others, though.

I've been wheelin' and dealin' about book sales and such, so much so that I haven't had time to write on the novel I'm working on.

I've had to eat out several times during all this, because who can cook being as busy as I've been?

Of course, there have been the usual  naps and directing Husband about what to do here and there.

I don't know what he'd do without me.

And I don't know if I mentioned this, but I need a haircut, too.

Guess I better close for now and call Friend Who Cuts My Hair.

See ya!

Merry Christmas!!

May this Christmas you feel

As much trembling awe as the shepherds,

As much joy as the heavenly host,

As much reverence as the wise men,

As much tenderness of heart as Mary,

And as much love as Our Father above.

May this Christmas be as wonderful as the first.

k.h.h.  2010

The Christmas Closet

One morning, January of this year, my husband, David, and I were drinking our early morning cup of coffee. He had to get up and take out the dog, and while he was gone, this short story "fell into my head". It's really that simple - or that complicated - depending on which way you look at it, I guess.

In less than 2 minutes, there it was, and all I had to do was key it into the computer and tweak it a little.

I don't begin to understand how this kind of thing works, but many times I truly feel as though I am being used, the vessel, so to speak. If you are a writer, I'm sure that it happens that way for you, too. At least some of the time.

The Christmas Closet is a favorite of mine. I think it's a good story, and it brings back memories of my 1960's childhood. At least it's holding the attention of all the fifth graders at the middle school (after I tell them who Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were, of course).

THEY DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem.

So, that story plus three others and a handful of poems make up, what I hope to be, a great little gift book for this Christmas. "The Christmas Closet and Other Works". You can find it here in Ellijay at Interiors, or The Christmas House, whichever you prefer to call it. And in Canton, at Yawn's Books and More, right on Main  Street.

It's also in my car being toted around.

Your kid got a teacher to give a gift? You drawing names in  your club/church group? Have a friend with whom you exchange 'cheap' gifts? (price, not quality, people!)

BOOK SIGNINGS: Friday, November 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Yawn's Books & More, Canton
AND Saturday, November 17 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Gilmer County Library, Ellijay

This Year's Christmas Card - part 3 of series

O Star whose light was brighter than

Any ever seen by man,

To lead them all to see the sight,

Of manger meek and miracle's night.

O Shepherds! He chose you! Come, See!

Because He Himself, One destined to be,

Will take up His Staff and lead us - free!

O Tiny Babe with lamb at side,

Who became The Lamb died, crucified,

For any and all who'd come to Him,

And in His Holy Truth abide.

Above you see  my husband's art work and to the right my poem, which is on the back of the card. This is the third in a series of a limited edition of Christmas cards that we are selling! They'll be at the book signings, but are on sale now for $1.00 each (card/envelope). 

The first year is  no longer available, but last year's, which depict the manger with angels surrounding it, is still available in a very small quantity. I'll have them at the book signings also, or you can pick them up now. The price is the same.

Some folks are framing them and using them as part of their Christmas decor. 

There will be two more in this series, a card for Christmas 2013 and 2014.

More soon on the book signings!