Ignorance is Bliss

So, apparently I am accidentally celebrating Kwanzaa this year. I picked up a few Christmas decorations a few weeks ago at IKEA, and I thought this little candle light thing was cute, and only $7, so I got it and have been simply and quietly enjoying the Christmassy atmosphere it brings to my apartment ever since. But last night some "friends" decided to smash my naive Christmas Spirit-filled world by telling me that I had Kwanzaa decorations in my apartment. I was immediately freaked out and decided to prove them wrong by googling it today only to find more information that affirms that it is indeed true. Apparently 7 candles represents the "7 Candles of Unity" in Kwanzaa. Whatever. I'm just going to pretend that I never found out and just go on thinking of it as my 7 Candles of Christmas Christ-Centered Cheerful Christmassyness.

How the Grinch made me cry:

Growing up I remember this old VHS tape that my parents had recorded all these classic Christmas shows on. I remember getting super excited about FINALLY being able to pop it in the VCR when Christmas time came around, (because watching it at any other time would have put a serious kink in my universe.)

It had some totally awesome 80's commercials and sometimes the sound would slow down and do that weird whiny thing that old VHS recordings tend to do. It was the best! There was Frosty the Snowman, the classic claymation Rudolph, and of coarse, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I've probably watched it about 50 times.

BUT.... the other day, I just happened to turn on the TV just in time to catch The Grinch attempting to steal Christmas, and while I watched, I found myself overcome with tears! I know, dumb huh? Well, aside from the fact that I cry @ least once or twice a week over MUCH less, the movie really is well, moving (no pun intended, seriously.)

I think it was the combo of nostalgia, the Christmas spirit, and my need to meet my crying quota for the week. (No, I'm not depressed, mostly my tears are over things like touching news stories, little kids with cancer, stories about old people in love, etc.)

This is the part that turned me into a blubbering buffoon this time:

It was quarter past dawn... All the Whos, still a-bed, All the Whos, still asnooze

When he packed up his sled, Packed it up with their presents!

The ribbons! The wrappings!

The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!

Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit,

He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it!

"PoohPooh to the Whos!" he was grinchishly humming.

"They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming!"

"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!"

"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,

Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo!"

"That's a noise," grinned the Grinch, "That I simply MUST hear!"

So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.

It started in low. Then it started to grow.

But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!

It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook!

What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, Was singing!

Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"

"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."

So true, Dr. Seuss, so true...hmmmmm....I think the Dr. must have known about Jesus.

Thanksgiving

I've got baby pictures!!!! (get ready to be jealous, Sister)

Well, Cousin Boothe just had a baby girl the week before Thanksgiving. Also, I am in love. Baby Emerette is a sweet and adorably squeezable little ball of love. FYI: I don't feel this way about all babies (judge me if you must.) Lets be honest, some newborns are just not that cute. All sweet, all loved equally by their mothers and by Jesus, not all cute. This one is:

So, other than sit around and take turns holding the little sugar muffin, we also did a lot of this:

(Nina & Jared)

Watching a lot of football, eating a lot of food, loving life:

Also over Thanksgiving: Cousin Mallory got engaged! Her boyfriend/fiance flew in and surprised her in Nashville. It was such a great surprise! I'm so happy for you, Mal :)

"I simply remember my favorite things...

....and then I don't feeeeel soooo baaad!" - Maria

Question: Why is this considered a Christmas song? I've been listening to a Christmas radio station and heard this song at least 3 times. I mean, I love it. But Christmassy? Isn't the entire movie set in Spring and Summer? Some of Maria's favorite things are kinda wintry, I guess. I just always relate the song to the movie, and the movie is totally not a Christmas movie.

Anyways, the non-Christmas Christmas song got me thinking. I wonder what things I would sing about to calm 7 frightened Austrian children during a thunder storm...jk, jk. This is simply a list of things that I find enjoyable/inspiring/cool for anyone who cares enough to be interested.I also threw in some leftover "what I'm thankful for" things that didn't get used up @ Thanksgiving.

1) Scented Hand Sanitizer from Bath & Body Works If you want your hands to feel clean, but not smell like pesticide, this is for you. It's wonderful. I use it all the time.


2) Natural Life products: My mom, Aunt Teresa & I discovered this at a store in Longview and I fell in like. I really like the pillows that look hand stitched, very cute. I bought this one.

3) The song "5 Years Time" by Noah and the Whale I dare you to listen to this and be in a bad mood.

4) Heifer International. This is the organization that we have chosen to donate to this year for Christmas as a family (Mayfield Cousins) I think it is very fitting considering our farming/agriculture background. If you happen to be a member of the Mayfield cousins and you have not donated your share (ahhem, Trevor), then please see the long list of family emails that you have not read yet and find the link.

5) Clorox Wipes I use these all the time, like the hand sanitizer, but it's ok if these smell like cleaner. I love coming into my bathroom and it smells like Clorox. I'm turning into my mother.

6) Ayala Bar Jewelry This is an Israeli artist that makes the most beautiful jewelry that I've ever seen. It's so colorful and different. I'm inspired by it.

7) Ray Lamontagne His voice sounds kinda old fashioned, which is what I like about him. I like his new album, but it's all pretty good.

8) Sonic. Sonic Drinks. Sonic Commercials I just love me some Sonic. I miss the Abilene Sonic though, the one closest to me stinks, literally and figuratively.

9) Vintage Pyrex. For some reason I've gotten into 50's vintage dishes. Maybe because they are so well made, and cheap. I got a set of casserole dishes at an antique store back home in this same color for MUCH less than the price listed on this site.

10) Scarves. The best winter accessory. I really like the soft snuggely ones. (could this be a serious Christmas hint?)

11) Teapots. Tea is awesome! I can't believe I never drank hot tea until recently. And teapots, what an adorably round and cheerful shape they are! I'm not sure why I'm just realizing this, but lately I've been drawn to any teapot that I run across.

12) Wassily Kandinsky This guy is one of my favorite artists of all time. He used music as the inspiration for his paintings so they are all extremely colorful and full of movement. I think they are incredible.

13) ACU. Every time I go back there, I'm flooded with nothing but fond memories. Since I've been out of "the bubble" for a while, I realize that not everyone gets to have such a great college experience. Wildcatz 4 life.

14) And......last but NOT least, this amazing, exciting, incomprehensible fact.

That's it. Sorry this is so long. Just know that I could have added much more to this list. I like a lot of stuff. Thanksgiving pics to come soon.