Today

The Red decorations are down, and the tree is in pieces by the trash in the back yard. I am soooo over Christmas. Love to get that taken down ASAP.

Tonight at dinner, we lingered by the candlelight, long after we'd finished eating. We were drinking a really excellent white wine, since fish was the main course. I love fish. Tim is a great cook. Have I mentioned that I have not cooked dinner once since being married? I am way spoiled.
We lingered because we were talking. Tim and I get into these robust and vigorous conversations that escape the clock. We talk for the longest time.
I'll tell you, I love being loved by this man. He makes me feel like an exotic treasure.
But the friendship is one of my favorite elements here. He seems to genuinely like me, and that makes me feel like a Person. He acts like he thinks I am smart, and funny, and interesting. Maybe he does. Weird.
I'm liking this a lot; This relationship is a blast. Do you know, we still haven't argued? We've been married only 4 months, but we've been friends for nearly 3 years. I love that we don't fight. It's peaceful and effortless to be Us.

We're shopping for carpet. Our bedroom is in need of something fresh upon the floor, as our canine has a vomiting issue. We got samples of carpet today from the Home Depot. I was trying to talk him into hardwood flooring. I have always wanted it, myself. We got the price quote, though, and we both said, "I love carpet, actually!" Wood is pricey.
So, now it's a question of color. We both like the chocolate brown, and also the dusty blue. I'll bet we go with the brown.
We are also toying with a patio enclosure. That would go so nicely with the new patio heater, and also with the cigar smoking.

I'm happy. You know? Happier than I ever dreamed of being.
Pinch me.

Emanuel, God with us

Some mornings it seems that God peels back the merest corner of the fabric of Heaven to allow the light of His Shekinah to illuminate the mundane details of my life. I catch my breath at the revelation of the landscape in such perspective.
These four children entrusted to me by my Creator, are important in the face of Eternity. My housework becomes Holy, my love for this husband becomes worship. My life is infused anew with Purpose.
It is true every day, though I am not always mindful of it.
How beautiful it is, how powerful, to feel the weight of Providence upon my plans for the day.

We spent our first Christmas together yesterday. As a blended family seeking unity, we gave a great deal of thought to new and old traditions. Our planning bore fruit!

We cautioned the children not to wake us before 7. At 7:03 there were feet on the stairs, and wispers in the livingroom. Tim had never done stockings for his kids before; I had four grotesquely overstuffed stockings laid out before the hearth. The children each scooped up their loot, and came to open them on, (and in), our bed. We lingered with two adults, four children, and lotsa stuff, for the longest time. All of the children were laughing and anticipating presents to come, and Tim and I sat there sipping coffee with hearts full to bursting.
The presents were perfect, the livingroom littered with paper.
Michael got lacrosse stuff, Faline got a camcorder and a bike, Don was on an Xbox 360 theme, and Aaron was thrilled with Legos and Nerf guns.
In the afternoon, we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, which I loved.
By evening, we were all mellowed out, and content to eat leftovers.

Now, I am jonesing to put away all the Christmas clutter, and take down the tree!

In which I offend only Liberals

My baby sister is graduating from college tomorrow. She will hold a degree in Nursing, and I am extremely proud of her. We love her so much that we're going to sit through one of those long commencement exercises. You don't do that for just anyone. We like her, though. Plus also too, Mother is taking us all out to lunch after.

Today was the Christmas program at the elementary school. I pulled out my cell phone and recorded Aaron and His Personality, as he gyrated to the music. Oh, that was a happy boy. He was on stage....with an audience....and it's his birthday. What could be better? I have to figure out how to post that to this silly blog so you can giggle at his antics. I was laughing so hard at one point that Tim said he might not allow me to go to the next school program.

I'm relieved to have all the household birthdays behind us. It's been a non-stop party around here for the past week, and I am just ready to settle down to Christmas.
Tim is older, Faline is older, Don is older, and Aaron is too. Does that mean that Michael and I are younger?

O, and... The title? I was just being random. But next time I might offend someone on purpose, you never can tell.

Did you hear?

One of the downfalls of blogging, is that one can not adequately communicate tone. Which is unfortunate.
Mother loves me, and my total confidence in that is the reason I joke about her "hating me." She doesn't hate me.
My sisters and I frequently joke about who is the favorite, based on who is talking to her more. I, for instance, hardly talk to Mother since being married. She razes me about this, but it's all good teasing.
If something was genuinely wrong between mother and I, I would certainly not blog about it. Seriously, what kind of person do you think I am? I write about snippets of life that I find amusing. Then, people comment, which is likewise amusing. Usually more so than my original text.
Our family has lots and lots of love. Granny has no favorites. Mother has no favorites. I, however, have favorites. I'm not telling who they are.

Badly

Mother hates me. She told me that I am "not even funny anymore", which in Mother language means that I am out of favor.
I called Mother this evening. This was approximately the second time I've called her since being married. (I even told her that I'd been listening to Rush Limbaugh....did that restore me? It did not. I only listen to Rush because Tim is a conservative radio junkie. Personally, I think that Politics are stupid. I should be president.)
So, I called Mother. My new daughter asked to speak to Mother as soon as I got on the phone, which made her the favorite instantly.

Does your mother have a favorite?

Mother always says that she never has a favorite, but she always does. Usually it's Dani, because she keeps having cute little babies.
Next week it'll be Andi because she is graduating from college. I am never her favorite anymore. Sometimes my husband gets to be her favorite, because he is handsome and retired, and he gives her that smile. She loves him then.
I was going to tell you something of substance about that phone conversation, but I forget what.

Can we talk about Tiger Woods? Seriously. Do you know how many confessions of infidelity I've heard on the radio, or TV, since his flagrant adultery has come to light? Is it really so common to betray one's spouse in such a way? You'd think so. I feel so bad for his wife.

Did you know it's really bad grammar to say "I feel badly"? That implies that you are somehow ineffective in your emotions, rather than having sad emotions. I feel "badly" that Mother hates me, which is to say that my emotions are not up to the task... I'm no good at feeling.
I feel "bad" when I'm not Mother's favorite, which would be more accurate.
Deep down, she will always love me best.

I'll always be Granny's favorite. And that's something, after all.

My flow of thought is non-existant. I feel bad about that.
Time for bed, I guess.
G'night

A moment to myself

Between this moment and the celebration of Christ's birth, I plan to host 5 birthday parties, celebrate one graduation from college, and throw a rather large Christmas Eve Dinner. My head is spinning. No one should be allowed to be born in December. It's very inconvenient.
Mostly, I love people born in this month. I'll bet there is some astrological nonsense about that.

I haven't had a lot of time to just think for a while. It's thinking that is so good for blogging. That, and amusing associates. When one knows amusing people, one has so very much material. I haven't had a lot of time to just think...that was really my point. I need more thinking time.

So much has changed in my world,and it's more than circumstances. My whole reality has changed. Every single person I talk to comments that they never talk to me anymore. It's true. I am always with my husband, or in the car with various children. Life is so sweet right now, and I know that I am blessed beyond measure.

If I had time to think, I would revel in silence. I would read. I would listen to music. I would sit, and just be.
And then, I am sure, I would write.

I thought I'd say "hello."
Hello.