A Homemade Holiday

We are going to experience our first snow during the holidays here in Wisconsin. I have to say hearing the Christmas carols near Thanksgiving at least felt more authentic in the frozen Midwest as opposed to the balmy South. Still I hate this rush to move from holiday to holiday. The retail stores seem to lay in wait like a cat ready to pounce on every ounce of holiday sentiment they can wring out of you. It doesn't matter if it is Christmas, Hannukah, Solstice or Kawanza, retailers are equal oppurtunity exploiters. The more holidays people celebrate the more target audiences it seems.

With that in mind, I was almost relieved when my husband had discovered he'd left all of our boxes of decorations at his mother's house. We had managed to get the tree up, but had no lights or ornaments to decorate with. So my oldest son and I got to work. Thanks to some quick searches for printable ornaments we got some neat Celtic designs, some snowflakes, bells and other cool designs. He spent a good bit of time coloring and I did a little coloring of celtic knots myself. Afterwards we found some of our card board recycling and cut backing for the ornaments. With a little glue, creative hole punching and yarn we had wonderful and inspired ornaments. To add a little more shiny to the tree I also pulled out some of our antique cookie cutters and hung them on the tree with yarn.

This is our first tree without some lights and ornaments with "history." We haven't yet hung out strings of popcorn and cranberry, but we've found our own simplicity and satisfaction in decorating. It feels simple, homemade, and not the product of some retail design. My son is very proud of his efforts and has claimed them for his own one day. This is one small way we are bringing more Light back into our holiday festivities!

Do you have Snow-fu?

We are the proud new owners of snow shovels. A big one for Karl and I and two small ones for the boys. So far I have been assured that a snow blower may only be necessary once or twice a year. I'd be happy to hear your thoughts on that, if you have snow-fu. Snow-fu is like Kung Fu only you kick butt with your knowledge of winter.

One day I will too have Snow-Fu. First I must ice on and ice off. Second I must survive one Wisconsin winter. Third I will learn when to plant bulbs before the freeze. There are probably steps I am missing.

I love Eau Claire. Yes, I am a South Carolina girl wondering where you put your shoes when you walk around in snow boots. Do you carry them in a bag?

Ordination

Standing before the world
Standing before the precipice
It is the moment of recognition
The moment of waiting has ended
Ministry is here and now
The hands have touched your forehead
The hands have reached from one to the other
From young to old, large to small - we are reaching
reaching to ordain a person
reaching to the world with another clear call
that there is work to do
that there is brokenness
there is healing in one more hand
one more light
one more voice

This call is a moment in time
but the call echoes onward
to be answered and heeded
and ever remembered.