Let it go. This too shall pass.

Our little family has been struggling with some tough challenges in the last few months. Details are unnecessary, but I'll just say that both Randy and I have been fairly stressed out...sleepless nights, panic attacks and ulcer-inducing stressed out.

During this time, I've been lucky to find comfort in small blessings and unexpected places. Today, a high school friend on facebook posted a scripture from Proverbs: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." My friends have been such a strength to me, and their faith has upheld my faith in many ways. The fact that my relationship with Randy is weathering this hurricane of trials is a huge blessing in and of itself. Then, there's the humbling thought that I have a warm, comfortable home and food to feed my family every day, and a JOB. Many, many people don't even have that.

One of my unexpected comforts today came from--of all places--youtube. I was looking for footage of the earthquake in Haiti (p.s. keep everyone there in your prayers) and I stumbled upon this video. (Youtube won't let me embed it, so just click on the link.)

Yes, pretty quirky. No, it's not like it's Mozart. But this made me smile and put things in perspective for me today. Plus, I quite enjoy videos by OK GO.

"You can't keep letting it get you down, and you can't keep dragging that dead weight around...LET IT GO. THIS TOO SHALL PASS."

Reveling

HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Tonight was a quiet celebration of the new year for us. Carter went to bed around 11:15, and Randy followed soon after. So it was just me...watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN (by the way, who thought they would make good co-hosts? She just says foul things while he giggles in self-conscious horror) and swilling the Martinelli's.

I have to say I had a calm, happy moment at the turn of the year. I could hear fireworks and noisemakers and cheers outside, so I stepped out onto my porch, robe and slippers and all. I found a surprising number of other people out, too, celebrating the hope of a better year to come. (Because let's be honest, people, 2009 SUCKED THE BIG ONE. Everyone is hoping for a better year.) It was snowy and strangely quiet and peaceful in between the random shouts and fireworks, with the full moon lighting up the neighborhood. It was beautiful. It made me feel confident that good things will happen in the year to come.

So happy New Year, one and all! May 2010 bring reparations for all the crap we've had to deal with in 2009!

(And thanks for the glasses, Renae! Glittering them was the highlight of Carter's evening...ok, that and playing Wii with Randy.)

Music, for me, is an essential part of Christmas. It distills all that is good in the season: the glory of Christ's birth and life, the good feelings that exist at Christmas (though they're sometimes hard to find the rest of the year), the yearning for peace and happiness, and the beauty and simplicity of truth and pure faith. Some people can listen to Christmas music all year, but for me it would cheapen the effect. So the day after Thanksgiving, I break out our Christmas music and listen pretty much non-stop for the entire month of December.

This year Carter has gotten into the spirit of the music. He has alternated singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "Jingle Bells" at the top of his voice since mid-November...until I've wanted to rip my hair out and hide under a pillow. But one thing I am beyond pleased about is the fact that his new favorite song (i.e. his replacement for my Regina Spektor CD) is "Angels from the Realms of Glory" performed by MoTab and Sissel. We've been listening to it on repeat for about two weeks now. He likes the part about the shepherds.

Tonight we pulled into the garage and as I started to shut off the car, he said, "No, Mom. Let's finish the song." So we sat in the dark garage looking at the muffled calm of a fresh snowfall and listened to this gorgeous song. I know the words almost by heart now, but tonight in the car I really thought about them. What an amazing song of joy and praise and rejoicing! It really needs to be shared. So here is our favorite Christmas song this year, lyrics first and then the video of the performance. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a very merry Christmas!

"Angels, from the Realms of Glory"
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang Creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth!
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.

Shepherds in the field abiding
Watching o'er your flocks by night;
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the Infant Light.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.

Sages, leave your contemplations:
Brighter visions beam afar.
Seek the Great Desire of Nations:
Ye have seen His natal star.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear:
Suddenly the Lord descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father's throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Ev'ry knee shall then bow down.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.
Gloria! In excelsis Deo.
Gloria, Deo!

Buyer Beware.

I love my husband.

Even when he looks like this:



This is a sweater of Randy's own design, constructed in honor of his company Christmas party which was held earlier this week. He was on the organizing committee for the party and convinced his co-workers that the evening wouldn't be complete without an ugly Christmas sweater contest; and that naturally he should be an example and set the bar high for the other contestants.

He planned and schemed for weeks. WEEKS. I'm not exaggerating.



Here's the kicker: he planned all along to sell it on ebay when he was finished. That's right, my friends. You, too, can bid on this one-of-a-kind novelty Christmas sweater! It's as easy as clicking on this link.

It's the perfect gift for that special someone....who happens to be on the naughty list this year.

Eat your heart out, Stephenie Meyer.

Ah, the joys of.....

....the stomach flu.

Carter has it.

He was fine until we got to Hancock fabric. He kept saying he was tired, but it was his naptime so I didn't think anything of it.

Until I said to the nice girl behind the cutting counter, "I'd like two yards, please."

That's when I heard the wierd gurgling noise and looked down to see a large brown puddle spreading across the table.

And his coat.

And his shirt.

And his shoes.

And the floor.

And he's been puking steadily every hour or so without reprieve ever since, Sprite and Phenargen be damned.

And here's the thing: these are the days when, from the outside looking in, being a mom is so not fun. BUT--if you're the mom who's actually in the trenches, you have a totally different perspective.

I just want my little boy to feel better. I will wash all the sheets in the house, and bathe him as many times as necessary to make sure he is clean and comfortable. I will sacrifice my favorite throw-around quilt if having it around him means he will be comfy and warm. (It's washable, so who cares?) I will clean up puke over and over and over again, and I will do it without complaining. I just want to be there to rub his back while he's retching so that he knows I will do whatever it takes to make him feel better, even if it means I get hit in the process.

Would I do this for any other kid on the planet? Heck no. Okay, maybe. But I would not do it quite so willingly. He's MY kid, and I love him, and I will be there for him when he needs me, no matter what. And I am happy to do it, puke and all.

Gotta run. I hear another wave coming.

Hallelujah.

I didn't think it was possible for me to love Handel's "Messiah" any more...until I saw this.