It's That Time of Year Again

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. Burton Hillis

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century.  According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime.

 

Interesting information heh?  I never knew that myself so I thought I would Google it and see what I found out so there you go.

 

I do know that last night the kids and I decorated ours and it has become such a fun tradition in our home and something the kids really look forward to each year, especially Zachary.

 

Because of the farm hours I now have I will admit that I wasn't overly thrilled about having to come home from chores at 7 pm, take a shower, eat and then about 8 pm just begin to decorate the tree but the kids insisted earlier in the week that we do it Thursday night when Dad was at his weekly dart night so we could make as much noise as we wanted, goof around more than usual, play our Christmas music as loud as we chose and not interupt him watching Pawn Stars or some other show.  So I gave into their wishes, made myself an Old Fashion and let the fun begin.

 

The kids were in good spirits and Zach couldn't stop talking about how he literally "gets the shakes" just thinking about Christmas morning and opening all of the gifts he gets each year.

Samantha of course is getting "too cool" and everything to enjoy it quite as much as she has in the past, but despite her coolness she did help out quite a bit and seemed to have a good time.

Lucy our dog was pretty uninterested in the entire ordeal but managed to open her eyes for this photo at least.

But I will admit, to me there is nothing quite as sweet and innocent as watching a little 4 year old place ornaments on the tree.  Luke was focused and so involved in getting the ornaments out and hanging them himself and it was so cute to watch.

It's funny, every year when Christmas is approaching I start to grumble a bit, mainly because it really has become such an expensive time of year for us and then it is over so stinking fast.  You put forth so much effort with all the decorations, the shopping, the baking of cookies and the list goes on and on, and then it's done and you just dread the task of putting everything away.

Last night was fun though.  Before the kids were born I used to make sure our tree had every ornament strategically placed and that all ornaments were in sync with each other so I had a perfect tree, but over the years I've gone away from that.  Reason being we have accumulated a lot of personal ornaments with meaning that have replaced the plain old round ornaments I used to have.  I buy all three kids a new ornament each year and they know exactly which ones are theirs and I already told them that when they move out they can take their ornaments with them.

 

I also have the homemade ornaments from the kids from over the years, and although they may not be the "prettiest" ornaments in somebody elses eyes, I wouldn't get rid of them if you paid me. 

 

Memories were a big part of the fun last night.  Reflecting on every individual ornament, who it came from, what meaning it had and so on.

 

 

 

Zach's little sled ornament from kindergarten.

 

 

 

A string of homemade garland Sam made when she was younger. 

Some ornaments that were given to us a few years ago from my Grandma Dorothy, who passed away about 1 1/2 years ago.  They are on the tree in her memory.

One with our little baby Luke's picture in it.  He's getting way too big too fast!!!

 

Obviously I'm not going to bore you with pictures of every single ornament but I think you get the idea.  Our tree has so much meaning to us.  Ask us about any ornament on the tree and for the most part it will have a story behind it and I LOVE THAT!!!

 

This next one by far is the biggest conversation piece and we laugh like crazy every year when Zach brings it out and reveals it again and we almost always hang it front and center on the tree "just because".  Awww, look at my little angel :)

So, our tree is finished, except for the presents under the tree.  Those won't be there until likely December 22nd or thereabouts because we are famous for waiting until the last minute to do our Christmas shopping.  Why break tradition now?

 

The tree may not look perfect to some people but for me I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanksgiving Thoughts.....from Cows

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So in my last post I touched on how thankful I am for the wonderful things that I have been blessed with in my life and I again woke up this morning feeling an overwhelming sense of peace with my life and gratitude, even if I did have to wake up at 3:45 am on a day when most of the world is sound asleep.

As I was strolling through the barn this morning I took a look around me and saw all those precious faces staring at me...

And it was then that I decided these cows needed to be included in this wonderful celebration and I decided to interview a few and see what they were thankful for.  I mean, really, they must be just as thankful as we are right?

 

So I chatted with this lovely lady first.

As you can see, she looked a little grumpy when I initially asked her and wasn't sure if she wanted to partake in this question and answer session, but after much thought she replied, "I am thankful for hay.   I mean afterall, hay is the bomb!"

 

I nodded at her as it all made sense to me and decided to go talk to some more girls.  Bridget the cow was quite forthcoming with her answer and right there waiting to be a part of this game.

She almost instantaneously said, "My pasture.  I totally love my pasture.  It is a place of solitude for me during the day where I can relax and make more milk for all the lovely people in this world.  Without it I'm not quite sure where I would be."

 

Wow!  I was impressed.  Big words for a cow, heh?

Then I asked this lovely lady here what she was thankful for, even though I already kind of guessed what she was going to say.  And she instantly stated "My baby to be.  See, I'm going to be having another baby soon and I'm very excited to be a Mom again and find out what I'm having.  I'm rooting for a girl of course."

 

Awwww....how touching is that?  See, cows really do have feelings too.

 

And then because I had a lot of work to do yet and I knew "the boss" (my husband) was going to start getting on my case if I didn't pick up the pace I moved onto my last cow for this Thanksgiving Day interview.

 

This is Terri.  She is one of my favorite cows although I will admit can be a total pain in my rear most of the times.  She was full of wisdom and gave multiple answers.

 

"I am thankful for my barn so big and red to keep me warm in the winter and to shelter me from the sun in the summer."

 

She then continued.....

 

"I am also thankful for straw.  Without it my rump would get pretty darn sore and my utter would get real dirty and Lord knows we don't need that."

 

She was full of comments.

 

"And hmmmm....I am thankful, so thankful for being milked twice a day.  I can't imagine how sore I would be if I didn't get milked when I was supposed to."

 

And the best comment she made of all.

 

"I am thankful for YOU and that other guy too (she then winked)."  I then told her, "Diddo!"

 

Interesting heh?  Who would've thought cows had such deep thoughts?

 

What I took out of all of this is the following.  Basically they are thankful for the same things I am, with the exception of the being milked thing.

 

Food to eat, shelter to protect them from the storms life throws at them, a place to sleep, family and friends.  They don't need anything more than that really.  They like it simple, in fact they crave simplicity.  Maybe more of us humans should think the way they do and life wouldn't be so darn complicated.

 

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!!!

Thankful

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
-- Oprah Winfrey

First and foremost, I apologize.  I'm sorry it takes so long for me to post lately.  I have good intentions of getting on here more but then other things happen and I get sidetracked.

 

Not that I want to point blame at anybody for my lack in posting, but if I could I'd have to point it at those three adorable faces up above.  Seriously, they keep me on my toes and they really like to have Mom's attention when I'm not at the farm "hanging out with the girls".

I guess I can't blame them for that, I'm a pretty fun chick to hang out with most of the time.  And I'm also pretty competitive so playing board games with me and playing against me on the Wii can make things even more exciting.  Not to mention our exciting dance-athons in our teeny tiny kitchen.  Our favorite song for those at the moment is Gangdam Style.  Who cannot dance when that song comes on?

 

We've been busy.  Not only at the farm trying to get the Fall harvest complete before that crappy cold/white stuff starts flying, but at home as well.  Samantha had been practicing regularly for her very first high school musical Footloose, which was performed three times this weekend and a big success, Zach had been playing soccer up until a few weekends ago and well Luke, well he's just Luke and keeps me on my toes ALL THE TIME.

There just never seems to be any time left in the day to do much of anything else and I've become very thankful for early departures to my bedroom to sleep for the night.  And also thankful for a break in my day to just sit and watch the latest episode of DWTS on my DVR.  Oh yeah, and my coffee.

For me, life has really become about the little things.  The little things that so many people take for granted so they can get all wrapped up in the greed that has overtaken this country and this society.

Life to me is about the simple things.  These kinds of things.

A good old jump in your pile of leaves.  The kids hate raking them for sure, but to them it is all worth it when they have this to enjoy at the end of it.

 

 

Watching my boys sleep together.  To me there is nothing more comforting and peaceful than these moments.  It makes you feel like you did something right.

 

 

 

 

Smiles on my kid's faces.  Nothing makes me happier, being a parent, knowing that I was able to bring joy to their life in some way, shape or form.

 

 

 

 

I also can't deny a good ol' piece of pizza makes me smile (I think I could eat pizza every day).

 

 

 

 

And some Partylite candles burning in my house.  Still my ultimate dream job if I can ever work it back into my crazy schedule.

 

 

 

 

I am very thankful for God's beauty surrounding us.  Every little inch of it.  Even this morning, when it is rather brisk outside at the farm, the sunrise was absolutely gorgeous.   I will admit when I had an office job I didn't truly appreciate it, I was rarely out in it.  But now, I soak it all in and listen to every little noise from nature.  I breathe in every little scent (good or bad) and I marvel in His creation.

 

 

 

 

 And last but not least, I am thankful for my family.  My husband, my kids, Lucy our dog, my Mom, Brother, Sister, In-laws, our Fathers, little Adam, Nieces, Nephews, Grandparents and everybody in-between who have molded me into who I have become today.  Life is trying, life is tiring and it's not always filled with joy and happiness, but I do believe it has been the trials and tribulations that have made me grow and have made me stronger and for sure have made me way more appreciative of the little things.   God Bless!!!