Wow, another Christmas has rolled around. Right off the bat I can say that this Christmas is definitely better than the last. This time last year I was asleep getting ready to head to the airport for an early morning flight to head back to Jamaica after a five day stay with J in Louisiana. He was going to drop me to the airport then head to work for a 12-hour shift. And two days ago we had just found out that I was pregnant. We didn't know when next we'd be able to see each other again, and we certainly didn't know if and when I would be able to migrate.
Thankfully, this year is a lot different. We're here in our new home. The Munchkin is sleeping sweetly in her room. Her Dad is having a ball playing Star Wars: Republic Commando, a gift from our neighbours. And her Mom is being a kid again and avidly watching Santa's progress at NoradTracksSanta.com. We've got cards, we've got presents under the tree, we've got a poinsettia and holly bed-in-a-bag and we've got my Mom's Christmas punch, but most important, we've got each other all together for our first Christmas as a family.
Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and the happiest and most blessed of New Years, from our family, to yours.
The Mad White Jamaican
Discovered this on You Tube, had me and J in stitches... Let me know whether you think he's really Jamaican or not!
Hevaen and Hell
No, this won't be a deeply theological or philosophical piece, just something that found it's way into my Junk Mail that hit a chord.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. " The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
I've been reading a lot of Medieval romance novels lately and I guess the contrast between then and now that doesn't put modern days in a positive light is that back then people worked together a lot more. I guess it may have mostly been because if they didn't work together they wouldn't survive but from that cooperation I'm sure there were instances where people helped each other and worked together just because of a genuine desire to do so. Today we live in a world - at least in the West - where each individual or family is more likely to be an island onto themselves.
Especially here in America, you can live somewhere and never know your neighbours name. It's bad but I only met my neighbours wife maybe 3 weeks ago and I've been here since June. (Mind you we live in split building type housing.) And I remember at our last base in similar housing, I'd mistakenly received my neighbour's mail and when I went to carry it over and introduce myself in the same go, the man cracked the screen door, mumbled hello, snatched the letter and shut the door in my face.
Such is life I guess, but it's so sad.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. " The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
I've been reading a lot of Medieval romance novels lately and I guess the contrast between then and now that doesn't put modern days in a positive light is that back then people worked together a lot more. I guess it may have mostly been because if they didn't work together they wouldn't survive but from that cooperation I'm sure there were instances where people helped each other and worked together just because of a genuine desire to do so. Today we live in a world - at least in the West - where each individual or family is more likely to be an island onto themselves.
Especially here in America, you can live somewhere and never know your neighbours name. It's bad but I only met my neighbours wife maybe 3 weeks ago and I've been here since June. (Mind you we live in split building type housing.) And I remember at our last base in similar housing, I'd mistakenly received my neighbour's mail and when I went to carry it over and introduce myself in the same go, the man cracked the screen door, mumbled hello, snatched the letter and shut the door in my face.
Such is life I guess, but it's so sad.
Taking Time
My Aunt P recently visited with us for Thanksgiving... well, actually to come and see the little one for the first time. Thanksgiving was just a bonus. I love seeing my AP because she's my Mom's younger sister and it's always nice to hear stories about my Mom, but as my relationship with my Aunt has grown since my Mom passed I've come to love my AP more as her own person. Not sure if that makes sense, but to me it's now more of liking AP for her stories and the way she sees the world and the advice she imparts, as well as her being a link to my Mom.
One of the biggest things she left with me this time (apart from the amazing olive oil tip!) is the value of taking time to look after yourself. Yes, I eat healthy (or do my best to *eyeing cookie box on kitchen counter*) and I get enough rest but my AP taught me the value for taking time for myself. As always, nothing puts things into perspective like having a baby and I suppose it took Moo to make me understand that it's not a timewasting indulgence to pamper myself - and it doesn't have to be in a big way either.
Mind you I wouldn't mind being able to jet off to a weekend spa retreat but part of being a mom is definitely being practical and my AP helped here as well by showing me loads of little things that I can do (to be honest I'm not quite sure she realizes the big impact she had!). So these days my home smells like a delightful mix of McIntosh apples, cranberries, sandalwood and a wonderful Yankee Candle fragrance called 'Home Sweet Home'. In the evenings while J clicks away at the computer, I've stopped staring at his back waiting for him to make conversation, I either initiate talk-time myself, or I snuggle in the couch with a good book and a glass of wine, enjoying the play of the lights on the Christmas tree. And I give myself a mini-spa treatment every bath time with flavours like Mango and Bath & Body Work's delicious Japanese Cherry Blossom.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Isn't this ornament precious? I found it at Dillard's last week :)
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