Showing Some Christmas

I can't show you our decorations or any special ornaments we have as the Christmas tree is down and back into the bag.  Everything is waiting to be hauled back to the attic for another year of rest.  I didn't do as much this year.  I didn't put up my nativity scene, we didn't bake cookies, or doggie biscuits, I didn't put up any breakable ornaments afraid of what Kelsey would do to the tree and she did give us a few scares.  I had to throw my brand new tree skirt in the trash - It seemed that nothing was going right so we just left it simple.  But, I can show you a little something!

We usually start out the Christmas season with Jacob's biological grandparents.

Jeremy and I open gifts and have our big meal on Christmas Eve the way my family always did.  I like to go to church but, in the last few years that hasn't happened.  I prefer the midnight service but, I'm not willing to subject myself to the torture of keeping a 5YO up until midnight!  (The mortar and bucket are for a retiling project in front of my fireplace - we're replacing the broken terracotta tiles with slate).

And this was my Christmas.  I caught one heck of a bug and spent most of my time here.   Oh - this is our new furniture in the den, by the way.  We gained 6 seats by getting rid of 2 pieces!  Can you tell that it's comfortable?  And that Kelsey has claimed it?  I will never have another couch with reclining ends!

And our cookies, chocolate milk and carrots for the reindeer.  The runner was my Christmas gift from Jacob's Grandma (and I just noticed that the date on my camera is off by a few days).  The dishes I bought many moons ago because they were so stinking cute!  They store in a little hat box, that says "Cookies for Santa", and it's tied with a red ribbon!

And in the true spirit of the season, Jacob and I came home on Christmas Eve day to a package on our front door (some of you may remember from Facebook - I'm still offering that reward).  It was a cloth bag with mini M&Ms, a cookie ornament, and a little fire truck (miraculous in that it was one that we don't have) in it.  No card, no note - no nothing.  But it was on our front door so we know it was someone who hasn't been to our house before.  We suspect a certain fire chief...

Christmas Day - Santa comes on Christmas morning.  And we also do our stockings on Christmas morning.  Typically we have munchies - the last 2 years we've gone to Jeremy's parents to have our Christmas with them.  This year - everyone was there!  All of the grandkids even!  It was really great - and I felt like crap!

Left is Jeremy's eldest sister, Anita, then Jeremy (he's the baby, like me) and to his right is his sister, Liz, she's the middle child.

And all the kids - back left is Sloane, Alanna, and Bobby, they're Anita's kids.  And in the front (from left) are Natalie, Zoe (in the bride dress up outfit), and Alex - they're Liz's kids and on the end is my Jacob.

I hope all of you had a truly wonderful Christmas season, I hope Santa made all of your wishes come true.  ;)

Here we go again!

Remember this post?  Well folks...we have another.  Unlike the one one he had on his face, this is on his back.  He's already scratched this one off once and it's grown back - bigger!  It's kinda freaky looking...it's almost like one is growing right on top of the original.



Jacob wiggs anytime we try to look at it and certainly we are NOT allowed to touch it!  He says that it doesn't hurt but, I think his shirts do irritate it some as I see him kind of making little adjustments.

I did get him an appointment with our Dr. during the week after Christmas, who did look at it and he again said it is a Pyogenic Granuloma as he suspected the one on his face years ago.  He doesn't know if they're genetic, or how best to remove it, or if it should be removed, or if it is removed - if they'll continue to return.  We've been referred to a Pediatric Dermatologist to get some answers.

Happy 2011!

I wanted to take a little time to think about what 2011 was going to be about for me, or at least what I hope it will be about, before I acknowledged that it was really here.

I have seen many comments in regards to 2010.  "Goodbye 2010 - you were a real bitch".  "Let's hope 2011 is better."  "2010 SUCKED!!!!"

2010 was really a good year for me.  I finally shoveled out from under a bunch of shit that I thought I had to carry for everyone else.  I found myself and who I wanted to be not what was dumped on me or that I was sucked into.  I also learned how to protect myself from being sucked in and dumped on.

I found a lot of new things, new experiences and new people in 2010.  I also found people that I'd always known but, now I see them differently.  I like that.  I hope they see me differently as well.

I don't know what 2011 has in store for me.  Sure, it's the 10th anniversary of meeting my husband, the 10th year we'll have lived in our house, you know - big milestone things.  I'm curious to see what One Small Soap brings to me this year.  I'm curious what Aromatherapy does with me this year.  I'm curious what my son accomplishes this year - when he finishes preschool and starts Kindergarten.  I hope to come here more often.  I hope to get back into the swing of being a regular blogger again.  We'll see where these 'hopes' lead.

I have hopes.  I have things that I want to do and see or try.  I'm not the type of person who makes resolutions, so I won't.  I know I won't stick to them.  I came across this poem and this is how I want to live and the kind of person I want to be in 2011.

JUST FOR TODAY

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes what Abraham Lincoln said is true: 'Most folks are about as happy as they make their mind up to be.' Happiness comes from within; it is not a matter of externals.

Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is; not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse or neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do someone a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two chores I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, speak diplomatically, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate or improve anyone.

Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests: hurrying and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half hour by myself and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Particularly, I will be unafraid to be happy; to enjoy what is beautiful; to love; and to believe that those I love, love me.
--- Copyright © Sybil Partridge

I hope your 2011 is full of peace (that was the 2nd time I typed 'peach'), health, love, light, joy, and happiness!

Dear Abby - on the loss of a child

I read Dear Abby every day.  Sometimes I smile because I relate.  Sometimes I don't finish the article because I can't believe how ignorant some people can be.  Sometimes I save and article for future reference (intending to blog my thoughts or share a laugh with you later).  Today's article hit me like a ton of bricks.

You can believe what you believe but, I believe that unborn children are still children.  I believe the loss of an unborn child hurts just as much or maybe more.  As a mom who has experienced countless losses, with friends who have experienced countless losses, this really hit home for me.   In the 5 years since Jacob came to us, in the years since we quit actively trying to conceive, I haven't forgotten what it feels like to lose a child - to lose hope, to lose my dream, to lose my faith, to lose out on those sweet little souls - part me/part Jeremy, that I never had the chance to meet...

I thank God everyday for my beautiful son.  Maybe not as much as I should on the days when he's being a typical 5 year old boy but, it's taken a long time to heal my hurts.  It's taken me a very long time to accept that my purpose in this life was to be Jacob's mom.  I wasn't meant to carry a child.  I was meant to love this child.  And I do.  I do with all that I am and all that I have. 

PARENTS WHO LOST A DAUGHTER ARE NOW IN A DIFFERENT PLACE

DEAR ABBY: My beautiful 20-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident. I am writing this not only for myself, but for all parents who have lost a child, and to all of the wonderful people who asked, "What can I do for you?" At the time there wasn't much anyone could do to help, but after two years I have an answer: Accept me for who I am now. When Rachel came into my life, it changed me profoundly. Losing her did the same. Her father and I work hard to honor her memory, but we will never "get over it" to the degree of being who we were before. I am different now. In some ways -- I think -- better. I am kinder, more patient, more appreciative of small things, but I am not as outgoing nor as quick to laugh. I know people mean well when they encourage me to get on with my life, but this is my life. My priorities have changed. My expectations of what my future will hold have changed. Please extend to me again the offer of "anything I can do" and, please, accept me as I am now. -- DIFFERENT NOW IN RIVERVIEW, FLA.

DEAR DIFFERENT NOW: Please accept my profound sympathy for the tragic loss of your daughter. I hope that your letter will help anyone who doesn't understand that the death of a child is the most devastating loss parents can suffer and that the experience is life-changing. They may get beyond it, but they never get "over" it. To expect that they would is unrealistic, because it's a wound that may become less visible but never goes away.

Thank you my friends, who have accepted me for who I have become.  I could have never made it this far without you!

Birkenstocks and wool socks?

Somehow, somewhere, I've become more in tune with my eclectic side.  I don't know how it happened, when it happened or why it happened but, it did happen.

I think it started with a little Reiki, got encouraged by some soap, and now shoved over the edge by a small class on essential oils that I attended with the intention of improving my soap line.  Small soap lesson in 3...2...1 - the soap I currently produce contains fragrance oils which is a synthetic oil, or man made oil.  It's cheaper, more versatile, and can be made into any scent you'd like.  I'd like to get more natural and use some essential oils which are plant derived and open up my customer base just a little wider.

So, I'm in this class and I'm sniffing all of these oils, Clary Sage, Terragon, Nutmeg (which smells nothing of the nutmeg we think of) and Helichrysum (pain reliever).  Thinking to myself - this reeeeks!  Like this!  YULK!  I bought a few oils, took a few notes and went home eager to try these in some soap.  No big deal.

Only now, I don't just want to make soap with them.  I've been thinking about these oils and their amazing abilities.  I've been thinking about making candles with them.  And I've really been thinking about taking the Aromatherapist Certification class coming up in May.  Something is pulling me really hard in that direction!  I'm not a chemist - by any means!  But, I want to try so many things like what's the recipe for heartburn relief?  Is there something for Psoriasis or Eczema?  Athlete's foot?  Acne?  Digestive dramas?  And yes, there is one for baldness!  Can I put these in soap?  Shampoo?  Can I make a candle that burns away all of your stresses from the day?  I want to find out.

For now, I'm sticking to my brown loafers and athletic shoes, but if I do happen to end up a little overboard and you catch me in Birkenstocks and woolen socks, please send for help!

Candy Cane Lane

Jeremy took me past Candy Cane Lane once when we were either first dating or first married, I can't remember but for years, we didn't go back.  We brought Jacob down last year but, I didn't take any pictures - I seem to remember that it was COLD!  We finally made it back again without rushing through.  Though, I forgot how difficult it is to take pictures at night without a tripod (it's in the front hall - I remembered the camera at least) but, here's a few!

The rest of the year, this "castle" is a fountain.

"Mommy?  Can you take my picture with Rudolph?"  You can't see his red nose with Jacob's red coat.


Oh...and I found a new heaven!  It's called Sticky Toffee Pudding.  If you ever see it, never mind there are dates in it.  Just try it!  If you have tried it, tell me what you thought of it.

Festive Friday Nights

One of the little things that amaze me in our little city is this 'Festive Friday Nights' thing they do every Friday night of December in the weeks up to Christmas. 

We took a ride in a horse drawn buggy.

Have I ever told you that I love the smell of horses?  It reminds me of my Grandpa.  And the sleigh bells - oh, there's NOTHING like that sound!

We saw Santa.

Santa showed us how his elves make toys.

Our beautiful theater - all lit up.

And these hang from all of the trees downtown.  Aren't they pretty?