IHOP on Christmas Morn - It Sizzles!

Every one of us has a story to tell every day of our lives. However, on Christmas morning, it seems our stories sizzle. You can almost feel and sense the electricity in the air. The stories either sizzle with excitement; sizzle with mystery; or sizzle with a sadness.

As our family gets older, our Christmases take on a different hue. We no longer get up early and open presents. We sometimes do that later in the day as we will today. Also, presents have taken on much lesser importance in our home.

Our oldest daughter, Katie Lea, was puppy sitting for some friends so was at their apartment last night. Our youngest daughter, Caroline, went to keep her company and this was the first Christmas morning we thought we'd be waking up at home without them here.

After getting up Vann commented that both daughters cars were home. When we went into see them, they commented that their experience was like trying to care for the "cute little puppy" from hell. It didn't help that they were all in a one bedroom apartment.

Anyway, after getting on up, Katie Lea chose to sleep in a little before heading to work and Caroline chose to come with Vann and me to IHOP for breakfast.

We commented that we don't need any entertainment in a restaurant. We are all people watchers to the extreme. We have it down to a science. We can make up the stories about the people at the tables. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they are just downright hilarious. We like to wonder what others are thinking about us, too.

This morning we saw an elderly mom having breakfast with her elderly daughter. They were both bedazzled in their finest Christmas attire. I wonder if they were thinking this might be their last Christmas together.

We saw a very young dad eating with his young son. I wondered where the mom was and what their story was. We saw some larger family gatherings as well. They were loud and rambunctious and seemed to have so much fun together.

Then we saw an older man with a very unruly beard and an odor about him. He was eating with his head down. I noticed he had 13 pennies on the table. I wondered if that was to pay his bill or for the tip. I wish I had paid for his meal. I'm ashamed to say I didn't think about it until we were home.

Sometimes I wish I had one of those big, rambunctious, fun families like so many seem to have. Our families are both very small and far away. I just have my brother and my mom. Vann just has his sister and brother in law and a brother who is going through a divorce.

But then I'm reminded that I have many sister friends that are my family and I'm very thankful. Matthew 12:50 says "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Today I'm thankful for abundant life on this beautiful Christmas day. The birds are singing, Yurtle our turtle made an appearance today, Katie Lea is on her way home with the cute little needy puppy, we'll soon be having shrimp and dressing and God is on his throne.

And...there is no better Christmas gift than Jesus. Thank you, Father.


Happy Birthday, Jesus,
Lila

Christmas Memories

One night at Bunco a few years ago several of us sat around and talked about favorite Christmas memories.

One of the gals declared that she really did hear the reindeer on her roof and even saw Santa. But, of course, she did! I can still hear the bell. Can you? (Have you read The Polar Express?)

The story goes, on Christmas Eve when I was a young 'un, our parents had some friends over. My brother, Bobby and I were already in bed but I couldn't go to sleep. I padded down the hall in my footie pajamas and crawled up in my Daddy's lap and told him I couldn't go to sleep. One of their friends, Mr. Hanbury, said, "Why Susan, you better hurry up and get back to bed! You know, I saw Santa Claus just down the street at the Miller's house just a couple of minutes ago!"

I raced back to bed and buried myself under the covers. Daddy told me he checked on me and I was crying because I couldn't sleep and I knew Santa wouldn't come if I wasn't asleep. Daddy rubbed my back until I went to sleep.

The debate these days seems to be "artificial or real" tree, of course. Ours when we were younger was always VERY artificial. We had a gold aluminum tree. You see the silver aluminum trees from time to time now. We even have one. (Of course we have a regular green artificial tree, too.) They are so magical with the color wheel shining on them. For all these years I thought I must have remembered the gold aluminum tree wrong. I haven't seen one in "lo these many years." However, my brother and I were reminiscing the other night and he mentioned the gold aluminum tree. Guess I wasn't crazy after all.

I was in a store in Foley, Alabama the other day and they had an upside down Christmas tree. Amazing! What do you think of that? I think it's kind of fun. Of course, I'm quirky.

I'd love to hear some of your favorite Christmas memories and your thoughts on an upside down Christmas tree.

Jingle jingle,
Lila

Christmas Memory

I have always, always loved Christmas. This year I haven't exactly been a Scrooge, but I haven't gotten into as much as usual. Our family and friends have certainly had a tough year. I'm sure next year will be different.

I still love Christmas, though. One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child was going to Money and Mac's house. Money and Mac were an older couple who lived in a beautiful old 3 story "mansion" in an older part of Birmingham. They invited our family over every Christmas eve.

Money and Mac were friends of my mom and dad. When my mom had first moved to Birmingham in the 1950's as a young, single woman, she leased a room in their home.

Their old house had such mystery and appeal for me. That's probably a big reason as to why I still love older homes. They had a basement that my brother and I really wanted to see. Mac told us we couldn't go down there because that is where the alligators were kept. We didn't believe him . . . really. Although, sometimes we wondered. Mom told me when I was an adult that maybe he wouldn't let us down there because he may have had a still down there. Well, now, that's a different take on it.

Their house had the tall ceilings, hardwood floors and a beautiful old staircase and a lovely veranda - - not a wrap around porch, but an actual veranda. :)

Money and Mac always had a spread of food on their dining room table. That dining room must have been 25 feet by 25 feet. My favorite unusual food Money and Mac had were the smoked oysters.

They had an old piano and I would play Silent Night a million times and add little flourishes here and there. When I wasn't playing the piano, Money would put music on the victrola. I remember her playing The Andrews Sisters. I would roll my eyes and wonder how anyone could listen to music like that. They weren't nearly as good as the Beatles, I thought.

As other guests would arrive, my parents would start making gestures that it was time to leave. My brother, Bobby, and I were always ready to leave as we didn't want to be out too late. We didn't want to be passed over by Santa if we weren't home.

The ride home was always eventful..usually at least one or two sightings by my daddy of Santa and Rudolph leading the way.

Christmas Eve was one night my parents didn't have to fuss with us about going to bed. We were always ready to hit the hay but not as able to sleep.

I'm so thankful for these good memories. I see today how some of those early childhood memories have shaped me...except of course the part about the still.

Merry, Merry,
Lila

Fa La La-ing?

In the midst of my Christmas-ing this evening, our oldest steps in and nonchalantly tells me that her friend has invited her to go home with her...over Christmas!

What?! You have a home to go to on Christmas, I remind her. Yes, but all of my friends will be gone. This town doesn't feel like home. Two of her three best friends are moving after graduation...in just a few days

She asks if we could do Christmas earlier. I struggle and want to dig my heels in and tell her "of course not!" as it wouldn't be the same.

As we sit in silence, she gets up to leave and I tell her that she should do what she needs to do. She IS almost 24 years old, I remind myself.

Our oldest has always been close to friends. In my head, it makes sense. In my heart, it hurts.

She's just come down again and tells me she probably won't go. I assure her it's fine. (But...secretly, I am a little relieved.)

As I think about all this Christmas-ing stuff, I think about all those hurting now. This hasn't really been a big "fa la la Christmas season" for me this year.

In a few days we'll spend some time with Vann's sister and her husband (whose house burned to the ground a couple of months ago.) There at that same gathering we'll see his aunt and uncle. (His aunt had breast cancer this year) and their daughter who lost her husband of three years three months ago. 2008 has been rough.

I'm so thankful God walks us through the rough stuff. Living life isn't for sissies, that's for sure.

This year at Christmas my focus has been more outward. Not on the stuff I want or want to give. We'll be pretty light on that this year. But I want to give extravagant love. I found this picture of this woman and it touched me.

I sure have a lot of random thoughts tonight. My head is everywhere. That's o.k. God will bring peace.

Waiting,
Lila