The Christmas Angel

Since Jakey was about two years old we've had a Christmas tradition called "The Christmas Angel". It all started when a lady at a yard sale was tossing out a bunch of stuff- put it in a  FREE box and sent it home with my kids. The box had all sorts of junk in it- and one little blue mailbox with Santa Clause on the side of it.  Jakey seemed particularly fond of the little Christmas mailbox and its red flag. So, one night- just on a fluke I put Christmas candy in the mailbox. Sometime during the next day he found the candy in the mailbox and Sarah spontaneously  said "The Christmas Angel mailed you candy, Jake-Jake!!" And that was the beginning of one of our favorite Christmas traditions!

The Christmas Angel comes each night beginning sometime around December 10th  leading up to Christmas- bringing small toys, candy and various treats- usually wrapped up in a scripture verse telling about the birth of Jesus.  The Christmas Angel does not come on Sunday  Morning- because it's a "holy day" and she doesn't want to interfere with church preparations :)

The Christmas Angel is "magical" in that- sometimes.....she leaves a trail of glitter. And somehow-we know that the angel is a "SHE".  There's LOTS of speculation on Jakey's part regarding the Christmas Angel....last year he thought she was very tiny (like Tinkerbell) and she flitted about the world bringing good tidings. This year, he figures that she's VERY BIG and  I quote, "probably can hardly fit in our house because she has to carry Christmas Angel gifts across the whole universe. Probably even Mars!" Other speculations for reasons unknown to me- the Christmas Angel wears a braided bun like Princess Leia in Star Wars. And she has wings- but they stay under a cape. (A cape??? Hey, it's his Christmas Angel!)

This year the Christmas Angel has been particularly forgetful....so forgetful that to cover up her forgetfulness and not disappoint big blue eyes and a believing heart.....Mommy had to explain to Jake that maybe the Christmas Angel was playing a game? Maybe SHE DID COME....but, she wanted Jakey to search for the treat......and mommy had to scurry down the hall and tend to some very quick business!!!!  The Christmas Angel has sent Jake on a treasure hunt three times (so far) this year.   !!!!

 So, this explains our little Christmas Angel tradition. I'm seriously considering writing a children's book about the Christmas Angel and how she comes to homes with the special mailbox to bring Good Tidings of Great Joy....one day....when there's peace on earth....and a silent night...I just may be writing about a little angel that puts the anticipation of the Christ child in the hearts of little children....

Mothering In A Pinch....

Last night the kids and I were getting ready to go to the Fox 8/ Sealy Christmas concert at the coliseum.
Jacob reminded us that last year we went to the coliseum to see the Toy Story 3 on Ice program. He recalled that we bought popcorn, drinks and that we listened to Amy Grant music on the way there....then- he reminded me that I sprayed him with invisible spray.

WHAT? I asked him.  He said, "Remember that I didn't bring my coat with me and it was really cold and you made me wear Rebekah's pink coat and I started to cry because I didn't want to see Buzz Lightyear in a pink coat??"

Oh Yes! The memory was coming back......

He continued...."And you said that you had 'invisible spray' in your purse that would make it so that no one could see the dumb pink coat."

I was grinning from ear to ear at this point.

"Did it work?" I asked.

"Yes! No one ever saw that I had a pink coat on!!"

I now remember us standing in the coliseum parking lot and I pulled a travel size can of hairspray out of my purse and hosed him down with it.....and WAH-LAH.....the coat was invisible!!! :)

And, we enjoyed the show- without tears and without issues. ;)

Channeling Christmas

So, I'm not feeling all that Christmasy yet....and it seems the older I get, the harder it is to conger up the excitement that used to surge through me regarding the Holidays. It all seems so "chorish" now.

Anyhow, I'm not going to droll on about my lack of "Excelious Deo"....and will spare you the Bah-Humbugs. :)  In a true effort to embrace the "Spirit of Christmas Present" I drug my sled (that I bought for only $15 last September for this very purpose!!) and decorated it.  This is the first (and so far- ONLY) sign of Christmas  :/

I've got Christmas music on and sprayed some "Christmas Berry" air freshener.....may the Glorias in Excelious Deo's commence! :)

Shine! 

Cass


UPDATED:  I guess the Cmas spirit is slowly descending upon me....I managed to get a few more things done this afternoon....

Antique milk can makes a handy container for a fake $3 tree freshened up with fresh magnolia and cedar clippings.

Not too pleased with my door garland it needs to be spiffed up, but hey! it's hanging! :)  I have a small container I'm placing in front of the sled which will be full of winter greenery to hide the bottom of the sled....and I still have to put out my Christmas Welcome mat.....for now, this chick's Christmased out.

Family Fun Day

We attended Mt. Calvary's family fun day on Saturday. The kids and I had a great time. Here are some pictures from our afternoon....

A church family hosted the event....here you can see the giant pot of chicken stew he spent all morning cooking over an open fire.

The Fun Day was at the homestead of a family that has farmed the land for at least two generations. There's a lot of history and vintage finds all over the property.

Jakey and I getting ready for the hayride

Instead of Wii's and television the children played on haybales almost ALL day....good wholesome fun!

You can't take the country out of the country! :)

Baling wire hanging from the back of one of the outbuildings.

One of the many beautiful views while we were on the hayride....

The Community Table

I can't believe that I haven't taken the time to tell you about Greensboro's  first annual Community Table Dinner that I was able to attend earlier this month (courtesy of my boss and his wife!)

Howard & Jessica- my generous boss & his wife

The dinner was beeyootiful. At $125 per ticket, I have to say, it was worth every single penny spent....(which is probably easy to say, since I didn't buy our tickets....but seriously, it was absolutely wonderful!)
The dinner was hosted at Summerfield Farms and organized by Iron Hen Cafe and Southern Roots (one of our FAVE restaurants!) The evening started off with music, roaming barnyard animals, networking and conversations over drinks at the main barn.

Then, we were given a tractor pulled hayride through the beautiful grounds and property of Summerfield Farms. The sun was sinking and the evening sun was magically turning everything gold and beautiful...the way the sun tends to do. It was truly beautiful.

The music and serenading continued once we reached our destination. The dinner table was set and glistening with china, silver and stemware for 300 diners. It was fantastical!

 

 

All of the food served was grown and raised in the local community- by local farmers. The menu was delicious with salad, beef tenderloin (raised on the farm), fresh vegetables cooked SOOO deliciously, apple cider from the nearby North Carolina mountains, local grown grapes provided wines from North Carolina wineries and even the dessert was a tasty southern sweet potatoe pie with homemade cream on top provided by the local dairy.

Much of the food was prepared and cooked on site. The dinner conversation was entertaining- most of it was prompted by "Talk Of The Table"  topic cards which were on the table for the guests. The night was enchanted....they even lit and released floating lanterns from the top of the hill....so magical.

You shouldn't be surprised when I confess I was one of the last guests to leave. I loved watching the sun set, and seeing the oak tree lit up with hanging lights, flickering candles and the sweet strains of violin music still filling the night sky. It was a night I will always remember. :)


Shine all your light & Buy Local!!
Cass

We're Going To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

If you have kids- you probably know the Raffi song, We're Going To The Zoo. I can't help but sing it E.V.E.R.Y.T.I.M.E. we go to the zoo, zoo, zoo. ;)Last Saturday we went to the zoo (zoo, zoo...and you can come too, too, too!). I was being especially lazy Saturday morning and Rebekah and Jake we're pulling, prodding and pretty much driving me nutso until I agreed to get dressed and go. I was especially delighted when we called my eldest son Gabe and he agreed to go with us!! Yay! :)

Sarah with her hand on top of a polar bear prints actual size.

With as many trips as we've made to the zoo, we've never had the opportunity to see the zoo keepers give the elephants a bath. This is ARTY the bull elephant. Arty is trained to obey hand signals. The zookeeper instructs him to turn around, come close, lift a foot (to be scrubbed and nails clipped) and to back up with simple hand motions. It was really neat! She even had him lift his truck so that they could clean the holes where his tusks used to be.

Arty awaiting a pedicure.

Kids on the tram. All four of them. Happy sigh. :)

Faith

The substance of things hoped for....but not yet seen.

We all have had trials of faith. Sometimes we have victorious, spiritual moments of complete triumph. No doubt. No fear. No questions. No condemnation. Absolutely overcoming.

And sometimes we struggle with just the simplest concepts of faith. Trust. Blind trust. Putting our faith in what we cannot see...cannot touch...and sometimes don't feel....not even deep inside-where our soul is most sensitive. Our faith is blinded by what we do see.

That's why the above quote from Elisabeth Elliott is so inspiring to me...

"Faith's most severe tests come not when we see nothing, but when we see a stunning array of evidence that seems to prove our faith vain."

Shine. Always.
Cass