Reid's Favorites

Way to go everyone on the comments! Reading the numerous contributions Thursday stirred up a lot more memories for me. I appreciate those who took the challenge and highly recommend everyone click on "comments" at the end of the December 18th post to hear what others chimed in. I had totally forgotten the faux green crocodile bedspreads at my grandmother's house! Good times. Wish we were all together in one room--singing carols!

Reid and I sat down before dinner and he offered these answers very directly. Glad I asked! He is so easy to please.

1. Favorite ornament: the golden star

2. Favorite tradition: snow in Ohio

3. Favorite gift: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory video

4. Favorite Christmas meal: bean and cheese burritos

5. Favorite Christmas cookie: the gingerbread man

6. Favorite place to be: the family room watching whatever new DVD I get

7. Favorite memory: singing at Borders

got comments?

We must confess, in our zeal to re-invent the Christmas card, we have inadvertently created what Jim is now calling, the Christmas newsletter on steroids! That was not our intent; but it's where we are.....and it's only December 18th. So, at this point, I will take it over the top and give you an assignment. Today's post begs a reply from you.

Beth Moore is my current favorite Bible teacher. She and her daughters posted this Christmas questionnaire and I thought it bore repeating. My mom is infamous for posing a "profound question" at the dinner table which everyone must go around and answer in turn. Since they often fall in the same category as the following, Jim and my jeering response is, "We'll decide whether it's profound or not."

To relieve any pressure, I would simply call these fun for the whole family. You decide how profound you want your answer to be! As Reid often says, "Come on, don't be shy." And as Allie recently told a friend who is fed up with their militaristic soccer coach, "I don't quit." I figure if I can get Jim, Allie, and Reid to reply, that's four more day's posts! Benny would make five. And Christmas is just 7 days away.

Here are mine. Will you give us yours in a comment? Just click on "comments" and share your 7 answers.

1. Favorite ornament

many, but this angel that I've re-glued multiple times because it reminds me of the Neopolitan tree at The Met in New York
2. Favorite tradition

waiting at the top of the stairs at Nana's in Sandusky; my aunts and uncles required all the cousins to do this when we were children so they could turn lights on, put batteries in, start the coffee and get the obligatory photo before we all descended to unwrap presents. The multiple photos capturing it make it all worthwhile in retrospect. (Where are those, anyway?)

3. Favorite gift ever received

cross country skis from Jim because I was NOT expecting them at all and he stretched me to new limits believing my potential for the future; coffee table art books from my mom because they broke from her normally practical nature in a streak of decadence and appreciation of beauty

4. Favorite Christmas meal

turkey with nouveau gourmet variations on the traditional, like brussel sprouts with orange glaze or mashed sweet potatoes and rutabagas or cornbread/sausage/chestnut dressing or pumpkin cheesecake with ginger snap crust

5. Favorite Christmas cookie

powdered pistachio mexican wedding cookies to eat; gingerbread men to look at

6. Favorite place to be

home in our living room Christmas Eve around the fireplace with salade Nicoise each opening one gift

7. Favorite memory

waking up to heavy snow falling outside the windows at the Moriarty's in Chagrin Falls and the exuberant sledding that ensues afterward down their hill

Anticipation is half the fun of any celebration. The other half may be memory.

The Best Things in Life are Free

I love the smell of free, fresh pine. We went to our favorite tree-buying-place the day after Thanksgiving: Home Depot! Not exactly a working farm but we did get another great deal on a tree. Honestly, I think prices are down this year. It was well under $100 which I recall being the threshold last year. The even better deals are the free cut boughs they leave in a bin for the taking. I return again and again to freshen up my table centerpieces, advent wreath, mantel, outdoor lighting, and balcony window boxes. (Good thing I still have a large vehicle and can transport all this fragrant greenery.) In the spirit of our household pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle, I think my Christmas decorating constitutes at least 2 of the 3 R's. I have a personal challenge to recycle every last shopping bag from my garage this year, when it comes time to gift wrap. Jim has always taken this to new creative heights amazing us with the oddest shaped packages.

Now, the point of Christmas is not solely to save money, however I do take solace in the fact that it can be beautiful, memorable, and aromatic without being costly. As I arranged the free greens I couldn't help but think how little Mary and Joseph had to spend on their new baby. Their nursery was makeshift at best. Their lodging cheaper than budget. What a reminder that God's economy is different from ours. It doesn't require any money at all for Him to lavish us with His free gift of salvation, the riches of His kingdom, or the treasures from His storehouse.

Somewhere in our ongoing quest to learn about the brain as it relates to autism, I recall learning that our earliest memories are lodged in the olfactory sense. There is actual credence to the
benefits of aromatherapy. My mom and I enjoyed 3 days at Lake Austin Spa last month (which was not free). Part of the refreshment came from their lavish engagement of all the senses. We took a meditative walk and tuned into diverse scents in their garden from Texas tarragon to pineapple mint. Their treatment rooms are spritzed with citrus linen spray and lavender towels wait outside the eucalyptus steam room. All this costly invigoration was created originally by a God whose sense of smell must be hypersensitive compared to ours.

He created it all for our pleasure, our healing and as storage files for our deepest memories. How many of your Christmas memories are tied to scents? Of seven layer bars melting in the oven, of cranberry strudel when it's ready, of onions and dressing (ok I'm a foodie), of biting icy air at the back door, of your grandmother's scent, of clove-spiked oranges, of peppermint sticks, of burning firewood, of fresh cut pine?

The Bible says we are the aroma of Christ to those around us. And our prayers reach heaven like sweet incense. This provides numerous and novel ways for us to worship Him.