I was surfing around the web and happened to find this cool ‘snow effect’ thing. I clicked on it and typed in the name of my blog…and ***POOF*** there it was.
I, being in a constant state of bewilderment these days, do not have any idea where that was. I could not go back there if you paid me. It was just one of those things…a passing ship in the night…etc.
However, since I LOVE to help out a friend…I did find this address when I clicked on it in my ‘compose page’…or some sort of place that I go to occasionally to change things around…you know, when the mood strikes…
At this hour of the morning, with myself being late for work while I am playing on the computer…I am not sure how to link to it…requires much concentration of which I do not have until later in the day….you understand…
I hope this helps…let me know in the comments, and I will do some more digging when I get home from my busy day of work and finishing the Creek House! **************************************************************************** You, too, can have a lovely ‘Charlie Brown Christmas Tree’ . I made a quick stop at Walgreens on the way to work the other day. Had to lay in a supply of chocolates, to keep the teachers I work with happy and motivated. High on the shelf, I spied a box…and inside was the tree…complete with red ball and base. I actually put it together…BY MYSELF, in under 5 minutes! Really…and I am usually not good with carpentry skills and such! Hope you find one!
I tried, I really did….but, there is just something wrong about not having any Christmas decorations at all. So, I got busy….called a friend of mine by the name of Charlie…and he gave me pointers on minimal decorating. He and his friend Linus have this down to a science.
So, here amidst boxes ready to move, is my 2008 tree. What do ya think? Pretty cool, huh? They were a little shy, but I managed to snap a quick photo of Charlie, and his friend, Linus. He said his girlfriend, Lucy, was coming to help…but she was a no-show… I hear she has an attitude problem, anyway.
While looking through some files of things I have saved, I ran across this little essay. I think there is much truth in these words. However, this is not an opinion on whether you should teach your children about Santa or not. That is your business. Personally, in our family,there was never any problem with Santa. It was fun to pretend for a few years, but then it was over.
At the church I attend, I worked with children for about 30 years. Of course the Santa question would always come up. Now, my attitude was (since I have retired from the preschool dept. now) kids get enough of Santa everywhere they go. At church, I felt it was important to NOT show Santa, and to show only the true Christmas story. I feel that at church, everything that is taught should be real. (Therefore, I didn’t do Easter bunnies or any other cartoon characters.) I am not saying we did not do them at home…just not at church.
If asked about Santa by the children, at church, and I was asked many times…here was my reply. “When I come to church, I use my Bible. I know that everything in the Bible is true. When I read about Christmas in my Bible, it only talks about Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. So, that’s what we will talk about and learn about while we are here. ” And then I would swiftly move on to something else. 🙂 Because I believe that it is important to always tell a child the truth, especially when asked outright. And, if a child learns later that some of the things they saw at church were not real, they will wonder what else they learned at church is not real. And that can cause a person much difficulty in sorting things out.
Now I would never tell a child that Santa is not real or that they shouldn’t be celebrating Christmas that way. It was enough that we put our emphasis on the real story.
And that is my 2 cents worth on that! Here’s the essay…
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Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, What’s your name?”
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says “You better not cry”
JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa’s little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison.We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
I seem to be sending out signals to those in a constant state of bewilderment lately. I don’t understand why. Unless, it takes one to know one!
Yesterday, after leaving work, I had 45 minutes to kill before I got a haircut. So, I went over to Big Lots. I love to peruse the aisles and see what goodies I can find. I headed straight for the Christmas decor. Spying a big pile of rugs, I decided to see if there was one I could not live without. I parked my buggy over to one side and bent down…because, of course they were on the bottom row… when I heard a voice very close to my right ear. “Honey, let’s just open this one up out here. I can’t see when you are down on the floor,” it said. Oh, with the luck I have been having…I was terrified to look up at the face that was speaking in my ear. And, before I could turn my head to see who it was…it spoke again, “Now, don’t you bother bringing up any of those tacky rugs, I just won’t have them, I’m telling you. I won’t have them.” Scared of offending this demanding voice, I decided to just bring up the one I was looking at. It was not an expensive rug…just one of those that will last a season, and then get thrown out. We were at Big Lots, after all! (It was, however, in very nice colors…muted deep red and khaki, and brown…2 snowmen looking up at the snow falling.) I stood up and gazed upon a tiny, old er lady who couldn’t weigh more than 100 pounds, about 80 years old. solid white hair. “Whew!” I said to myself, “I can deal with her.”
Or, so I thought. She immediately started in talking to me, “That is a dumb rug. Who would have such as that in their house? Have you ever?” I knew better than to say that I was thinking I may take this rug to the Creek House to put in the entryway through Christmas. “What is it, Mam, that bothers you about this rug?” I said. “Well, what idiots bring snowman rugs to D*th*n? It don’t snow here…why would we want snowman rugs? Dumbest thing I ever saw!” she answered. “You would think a nice store like this would know better,” she continued. I was quickly folding it up,to move on out of the area, when she said, “Well, go ahead and bring out the rest of ’em…let’s see what other cr*p they have.” I did as she asked, and laid open another rug across my buggy. It showed a snowman, and a tree with a redbird in it. “There’s another old snowman…but at least it has a pretty bird on it,” she said, “What else you got?” (I was thinking that I don’t have anything, Lady, I don’t work here, or supply their rugs. All I want to do is leisurely look at the Christmas items…without having another ‘looney’ interaction) I figured I might as well play along…so I put on my best sales lady hat, and continued. “Well, here’s another one, Mam. How would this pretty rug look in your house? No snowmen here, just a birdhouse and a bird. Do you like it?” I asked. “Why is it in such dull colors? Christmas is supposed to be bright! Show me another one,” she demanded. “How about this one, it has lots of green holly and red berries…and its colors are brighter. I bet this one would work for you,” I said. “No, that is just not a purty rug, and you know it,” she said. I pulled myself up to my full 5 feet and still stared down on her. “I actually like this one with the snowman and the bird,” I told her, “You know, I think it is just fine to use a snowman rug even if we don’t have snow. It is sort of like having beachy things to decorate with even though we don’t live at the beach.” “Well, dear, the beach happens to be just down the road, but there shore ain’t gonna be no snow just down the road, now, is they? “she countered. “You’re right”, I said, “I don’t know what I was thinking.” “Just tell me, dear,”she said,”what am I supposed to do for a rug in my living room? You’d think you would have some Santy rugs, or those cute little teddy bear ones, but I ain’t see’d them no where.” “Oh, I know just what you need”, I said. Down near the end of the row they had those rubber backed vinyl door mats in a virtual plethora of Christmas glory. “Look down here,”I said. And, her tiny mouth started to smile. “Yes, Mam, that there’s what I’m a-lookin’ for. I know’d you had ’em”, she said with great excitement.
Now, if you thought this was the end of the story…you have obviously not read my last few posts. “Come on,” she called, “let’s have a look at these, now!” (there were about 75-80) Going against my better judgement, I followed her, and began to pull an assortment out of the huge piles. Her eyes began twinkling. “Yes, yes, yes”, she exclaimed, “here’s the good rugs!”
And, so, we spent about 30 minutes pulling rugs out of piles, and laying them on the floor, and deciding amongst ourselves if they would match her house. She thought I had been there…and I did not bother to correct her. She settled on a group of snowmen holding hands around a fire. I decided not to point out to her the obvious danger in that. She also bought one with a jolly group of reindeer (acting like the Rockettes…complete with pink tutus). And finally, she chose one with Santy and Mrs. Santy sitting in their rocking chairs…Santy with his feet in a washtub.
And both with a bottle of questionable liquid refreshment in their hands. She was now a happy shopper.
“I used to have lots of rugs”, she told me. “And, I moved 8 years ago and I ain’t see’d ’em since.” I said, “Well, maybe you will find them one day.” “Ain’t nobody gonna find those rugs till I’m dead and gone.” Honey, if you ever move just plan on loosin’ half of yore things and you won’t never find ’em. That’s what happened to me. ” (No, I did NOT tell her that I would be moving very soon. I could feel a lecture just waiting to be passed along. And it wasn’t going to be to me…and it wasn’t going to be today.)
“I better get busy,” I said. “Honey, you’s the best help they got in this store. And I’m gonna tell the manager. What’s yore name, honey?” she asked. “Doris”, I replied. “What’s the last name?” she asked. “Just Doris”, I said, over my shoulder. And I beat a hasty retreat to the door without looking back. And, I did NOT buy myself a ‘tacky rug’!
I am a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!
My Boys
"All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be their peace." Isaiah 54:13
Read their stories... Adam Alex Ian
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.