Rocks In My Dryer

Worth Keeping

The passing of the old year into the new year has always fascinated me.  The thought that it can be 2007 one second and 2008 the next--well, something about that seems nearly mystical. 

I was so amazed by this phenomenon that in 1984, shortly before midnight, I took an old pickle jar and scooped it through the air around me.  Then I slammed the lid shut, screwed it on tightly, and wound yards of masking tape around the neck.  I held in my hands The Year Of Our Lord Nineteen Eighty Four, hermetically sealed for all time.  I suppose my 12th year had been a good one, and I thought the day might come when I'd need to go back and sniff it. 

I had a very large closet in my girlhood home, the sort of closet where random keepsakes like fire batons and homecoming corsages and jarred air could multiply at will.  The air of 1984 gradually became buried under other equally sentimental notions, and it wouldn't resurface again until shortly before my wedding, in 1994.  I was sorting through some old keepsakes, and the old jar rolled out of its place. 

I looked at it for a few moments and thought of 1984.  I thought of Final Net hairspray and orthodontia and President Reagan and Square Pegs.  Smiling at my youthful sentimentality (since I was, by then, a wise old woman of 21), I ripped off the seal and took a sniff.  As it turns out, 1984 smelled a lot like pickles. 

There's not really any point to this story, except to laugh and acknowledge that the passing of the year is momentous for those of us with sentimental tendencies.  Here's wishing you many good things (and even better non-things) in 2008.  I pray it's a year so wonderful that you want to stick it in a jar for all time.

Happy new year, friends.

Just Doing My Part To Help You Spend Your Amazon Gift Cards

If I were you, I'd stop reading this post right now.

The truth is, I don't think I'm any good at writing about books.  This is probably because I got an English degree a bazillion years ago.  For me, college was basically four solid years of book reports.  At the end of college I swore I'd never write about another book, ever again. 

But then I started getting old, and my brain, evidently, began to atrophy.  If I don't write down what I've read, with a little note about it, the story will be gone from my head before I can put the book back on the shelf.  (Why-oh-why can't I retain knowledge as easily as I retain water?)

So, more for my own benefit than anything else, here are a few notes about what I read this year.  I didn't include every book, but I tried to hit the memorable points:

Bless Your Heart, Tramp by Celia Rivenbank

A hilarious and quick read, this collection of essays about Southern life would be especially enjoyable for those of you south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss

Lynne Truss should be made a saint.  Anyone who can write about punctuation in a laugh-out-loud way deserves some seriously special treatment.  Do not miss this book, especially if you're the kind of person who's ever used your own Sharpie marker to correct punctuation on a menu.  Ahem.

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas

I love Sandra Dallas.  She writes historical fiction about women, usually in the south or the west.  This wasn't my favorite of her books, but even an average Sandra Dallas book is better than most any other fiction of its type.

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

I do not know how I managed to get an English degree from a southern university without ever having read Flannery O'Connor.  That's just a shame.  Because this woman was a genius with her pen--what a tragedy her life ended just as her writing career was peaking.  This novel (and all her works, I'm told) will absolutely knock your socks off.  This woman understood grace.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

My friend Shalee recommended this book to me, and it was probably the biggest page-turner I read all year.  It was spooky and still somehow heart-warming--that's not a combination many authors could pull off!  I'm eager to try another Koontz book soon.

Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

I'd heard about this book, the story of a group of college girls who grow up and remain close, gathering together each year.  Since I have my own group of college friends whom I love, I thought this would be a fun read.  It was interesting, but the friendships were rather dysfunctional--just not really what I expected from the descriptions I'd read.  But then again, friendships aren't always neat and pretty.  This would be a good summertime pool-side read.

Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Really, could there possibly be anything left to say about Harry?  I've already written about it here, and it's been hashed over a million other places as well.  Truly, this was a remarkable series.

A Song I Knew By Heart by Bret Lott

Ah, Bret Lott.  The man could start writing the backs of cereal boxes, and I'd show up to read them.  He can spin a tale and get inside a character's brain like no writer I've ever seen.  This particular story, a modern-day allegory to the Biblical story of Naomi and Ruth, was compelling.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

So many of my friends really loved this book, and I expected I would too.  The plot was certainly an incredibly original idea.  But I was frustrated by the author's portrayal of this love story.  In some respects, it was beautiful and enduring.  In other respects it was crude and creepy.  The sex was a little gratuitous, I thought, and it took away from what would've otherwise been a beautiful story.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

I do not use the following phrase lightly:  this was one of the best books I've ever read, ever.  The story itself was a riveting page-turner, but the writing?  Oh, it was just like lingering over the richest dessert you can imagine.  You had to roll the sentences around in your mouth before you swallowed them. 

I won't tell you anything about the plot, because I don't want to give anything away, but I recommend this book for anyone.  I can't imagine a soul who wouldn't love it.

Lost Horizons by James Hilton

I read this book because I'd heard that my favorite show Lost was basically a remake of this 1930's era book.  And truly, the similarities were remarkable.  If the Lost writers really are using this book as a guide, then I think I have a better idea where they might be going with the plot.   

It's basically about four plane crash survivors stranded in a very mysterious, supernatural location.  Sound familiar?  I won't say anymore about it to avoid any spoilers.

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I'm about halfway through this book right now.  It's so beautiful it's downright hypnotic.  Part of me can't wait to see how it ends, part of me doesn't want it to end.  I wanted to hurry and read it before seeing the movie.

So, did you read any can't-miss books this year?  I'm already planning my list for next year, and I'm open to suggestions!

Conversation Today

Adam:  Mom, this mouth ulcer hurts SOOOO bad.

Me:  Sorry, sweetie, I know those hurt, but there's not much we can do about it.

Adam: But it HURTS.

Me:  I know.  But the only thing that will heal it is time.

Adam: You want me to stick a clock in my mouth?

Badump-BUMP!  Thank you, he'll be here all week....

It's Not About the Stuff (But the Stuff Is Really Fun)

We interrupt this blogging break to check in and wish you a merry Christmas, and also to report that I may have to spend the rest of my life on my couch.  I have eaten approximately 47 pounds of food in the last five days, and I've warned Hubs that he may just have to roll me places for the rest of my life.

(Although I do think parents should get a pass for eating the Santa cookies on Christmas Eve.  I did NOT eat them because they were delicious and chocolatey and soft, I ate them because my children expected it.  It was good parenting, purely--one of many, many sacrifices a mother must make.  It is not a sacrifice for a father to make, because this mother got to the cookies first.)

Tonight (Christmas night) we opened gifts with my parents, grandmother, and my brother's family.  After planting the children in front of Ratatouille, the adults sat in the dining room to exchange gifts.  We always draw names, so each person gets one very special gift--it's a very meaningful tradition.  My mom drew my name this year, and I think I'm going to secretly engineer it so that she gets my name every year.  She completely outdid herself.  She gave me a great tote bag filled with the DVD of one of my favorite movies, a poetry book I've wanted for years, an amazing sewing book, two embroidery gadgets that are too clever for words, and then...then there was the tattered manila envelope at the bottom of the package. 

I opened it to find a half-finished set of embroidered placemats.  They were started, MANY years ago, by my grandmother.  We were very close--even though she's been gone for 13 years, I still miss her terribly, especially at Christmas.  But tonight, I held that project of hers that was just as she left it, and I breathed in the scent of it (it still smells like her house!), and it almost felt like she was right here.  Included in the package was the original thread, enough that I can finish the project she began.  I think it's the sweetest Christmas gift I've ever received. 

And so, as I sit here all happy and glowy and over-carb-ified, I just had to pop in and say hello.  And merry Christmas.  And please pass the Tums.

...And To All a Good Night!

I'm closing down shop for a while to enjoy Christmas with my family.  I'll be back sometime around the new year, more or less, approximately, give or take a few days.  Precision is not my gift.

Before I head out, I have a few random bits to discuss.

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I know I've already told you this, but I apologize again that so many of your perfectly lovely comments are being blocked as spam.  I've given Typepad a good talking-to and told them if they don't fix this I will take away their Nintendo and force them to take out the trash for a month.  They are trembling.

* * * * * * * * * *

Works-For-Me Wednesday will pick back up on January 2nd.  No theme this time--just dazzle us all with your originality.

* * * * * * * * * *

So, is it ketchup or catsup?  And if it's "catsup", wouldn't this imply that it has its roots in the cat's supper?  And is anyone else alarmed by this?

* * * * * * * * * * 

Just for fun, I'm leaving a few links below to some of the blogs I started reading in '07.  There are some real keepers here, if you're on the lookout for new blogs to add to your list:

Challies
The Country Doctor's Wife
Creative Little Daisy
Design Mom
Holy Experience
Home Ec 101
Keeping Awake
Oh My Stinkin Heck
One Thing
Primrose Design
Prizey
Toddled Dredge

* * * * * * * * * *

Lastly, in the spirit of this very important holiday, let me leave you with this profound and heartfelt message that comes to you via my second-born child (this boy, remember?).  Click text below to hear:

Download 12daysChristmasRap.wav

All my love to each one of you, with my warmest wishes for a merry Christmas and happy new year.  Yo.

Grace In a Manger

Christmas is happy, Easter is hard.

At least, that's how I thought about it when I was younger.

Christmas, I thought, was the cheery holiday that evoked images of a sweet baby Jesus, a manger full of fresh-smelling hay, joyful shepherds, a glorious star and a partridge in a pear tree.

The real theological meat was diced at Easter, I believed.  Easter was about blood, death, and victory won only through the harshest pain.  Easter was about sanctification and propitiation and all those other "-ation" words that my pastor is supposed to explain to me.

And so, in my simple little head, Christmas was happy, Easter was hard.  At Christmas, we could just sit back and not think too hard, sip our egg nog, and gaze at our happy little nativity scene in which Mary looks all clean and regal, not like a scared young teenager who just went through labor next to a cow.

That was then.  I've been around the block a few times now.  I don't see Christmas in quite the same way.

I look around and see homeless people and sick children and crooked politicians and hungry nations and angry young people and bitter old people...and I wonder why on earth Someone would leave Perfection for such a dirty old planet as this?

I know we needed a Savior, and desperately, but to choose to come?  To enter humanity at its dirtiest--poor parents in a barn, of all places--to endure the hardest parts of being human with only the promise of the pain of ultimate sacrifice?

Maybe Christmas isn't easy after all.  Maybe it's as gritty and earthy as the darkest moment on the cross. 

But OH, is it ever beautiful.  It's as beautiful as any Easter sunrise, as victorious as a heavy stone pushed away from a tomb.

In one glorious, cosmic, explosive moment, the God of our Universe leapt into our messed-up world.  Victory wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

Hope nursing at His mother's breast. 

Grace in a manger.

Spam Message?

Typepad is rolling out some new spam filter, and it's been blocking several legitimate commenters.  If this has happened to you, I'm sorry--I'm checking the spam folder periodically to move you back to the land of the living.  Typepad says this problem will be fixed shortly.  Thanks for your patience!

Works For Me: A Christmas-ish Edition

It's the last Works-For-Me Wednesday before Christmas, so in the spirit of last-minute shopping, I'm calling a last-minute, spur-of-the-moment Christmas edition.

(Never fear; if your WFMW post isn't Christmas-related go ahead and post it.  This is just for those of us who are sitting looking at a blank computer screen wondering WHAT ON EARTH to write about.)

I thought it might be fun to share some tips for keeping all the little holiday odds-and-ends wrapped up.  Here's a few things that work for me around here:

::  Store gifts by family groups.  Group 1 (kids' gifts) all are carefully tucked in the attic.  Group 2 (Hubs' family) are sitting in a laundry basket in the garage so that they can travel with us to Arkansas in a few days.  Group 3 (my family) are in my closet.  This way I can immediately put gifts in the proper "stash" so nothing gets forgotten.

::  Wrap gifts immediately.  I know, some of you love the idea of staying up all night Christmas Eve.  Not me.  I wrap stuff AS SOON as it enters my door.  I'd rather spend my Christmas Eve sipping egg nog and watching It's a Wonderful Life.

::  Keep one receptacle for Christmas receipts/packing slips/etc.  I did this a couple of years ago and it was helpful.  I totally forgot about it this year, and it's already put me in more than one little pinch, not being able to find a receipt.

::  Keep Christmas baking simple.  I know many of you enjoy spending as much time as possible in the kitchen.  My hat is off to you, and I would very much like for you to feed me dinner.  I, however, am not a kitchen slaver-awayer, so my baked gifts to friends, neighbors, etc. stay super easy.  This year I made this recipe. 

::  Remember E-Bay.  I am so tickled--I just won these fantastically awesome figurines for $6.  SIX DOLLARS, people:

Okay, so those aren't exactly ground-breaking, but they'll have to do in a pinch.  (Thanks to on-going issues from the ice storms, I've had about 45 minutes of internet access in the last 2 days.)  If you've got some fun tips to share, whether they're Christmas-y, or not, please do so below.  WFMW guidelines can be found here.

NOTE:  This will be the last WFMW of the year.  The next edition will be January 2nd.  No theme, just write about whatever you'd like.

1. Lady Why (Christmas Stocking Tradition) 2. Memarie Lane (Make Husbands Listen) 3. phyllis (keys) 4. Mom Is Teaching (charity gifts kids can make) 5. Ronnica (Sleep Well) 6. PursuingSimplicity(travel size room freshners) 7. Infinity Goods (Christmas ideas) 8. ellen b 9. Summer (Diet Egg Nog) 10. Karla ~ Looking Towards Heaven (time-saving clean up) 11. Alli ~Mrs Fussypants (How to be Loving to your Hubby over Christmas) 12. Jill (Christmas Card Display) 13. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (The Nativity Story) 14. Michelle at Scribbit (Christmas ideas) 15. jennifer- Christmas Brakfast 16. Edi (Tracking Medical Information) 17. Christa @ No End in Site (DIY Christmas Cards) 18. WorksForMom (Holiday Hor\'dourve) 19. Amy @ By His Grace (Walking away the Christmas pounds) 20. Ann Kroeker (keep perspective-it\'s all stuff) 21. Activities Coordinator (Rearranging Furniture) 22. Sarah @ Real Life (Humorous Tips Giveaway ) 23. Shauna (virtual helpers) 24. Ann@Holy Experience (How to give gifts to the Birthday Boy: Jesus) 25. Staci at Writing and Living (Turkey Cranberry Wreath) 26. Stretch Mark Mama (Cereal Bag Cookie Logs) 27. Martie (Martie\'s House) 28. Need A Nap2 (parchment paper and brownie tips) 29. Peggie(stress less) 30. Peggie(gift order) 31. Brenda (scented ornaments) 32. Jes@beautyfromchaos (bathroom order) 33. Jenni 7 - No More Soggy Rice! 34. Tamara (original artwork for present) 35. Stacey (easy christmas casserole) 36. Janelle@NowPlayHappy (stockings & hiding baby Jesus) 37. abrianna (Powdered Sugar) 38. Duckabush Blog (Wrapping Presents) 39. Frazzmom (great Christmas book to read with your kids) 40. Christy (keeping gifts straight) 41. Nichole (VS Coupon) 42. Kristen M. (preserving family memories) 43. margalit (our Christmas day rituals) 44. Nichole (Shopping Trips) 45. Dot (Displaying Christmas Cards) 46. My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving (kids homemade gifts) 47. Emily @ Laundry and Lullabies (get-ready-for-Christmas party) 48. ~Amy (watering a poinsettia) 49. JoAnn (Washing Dishes) 50. Holding Little Hands (Christmas tradition for kids that teaches scripture) 51. Jen Morris (freezing food) 52. Mommy Cracked (Funny Traditions & Giveaway) 53. Tina in Thailand (Harry sings Christmas) 54. Karen (Organized Shopping Process) 55. It Coulda Been Worse (Perfect Bows( 56. Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home (healthy cookies that work for allergies) 57. RandomRamblings (Christmas light storage) 58. Laane (old year tradition) 59. Abel (Unique Christmas Gift Ideas for Men) 60. Shalee (great gift for tweener)

61. Amy (floor cleaning tip) 62. Willa (shopping around) 63. Trixie @ Farm Home Life (Best Ham Glaze) 64. Beth (Buying gifts when you have to travel) 65. Lorraine (Sleep in Christmas morning!) 66. Tiffany (Monster Cookies) 67. Clappy Shoes (Enjoyable Holiday Travel-Great Discipline Idea) 68. Saph (homemade wrapping paper) 69. Amy (Dry Skin Remedy) 70. Dawn @ Baby Addiction (Make Holiday Memories) 71. jennifer -utensil holders 72. twentysixcats (guest room sundries) 73. Amy (Cook for a Crowd) 74. Stop the Ride (gift certificates) 75. Tonsofsons ~ tree after the holidays 76. Brittani (Christmas light storage) 77. Coralie (Organizing and Saving on Groceries) 78. Katie @ Endless Day (Christmas story traditions) 79. Melissa Markham (snowflakes) 80. AmyG (Prayer Basket) 81. Mommin It Up (Reindeer Food) 82. Ornery\'s Wife (eating fruit) 83. Sarah @ Ordinary Days (Christmas Pickle) 84. Britni (Online Cookbook Creator 85. Barb (Epiphany) 86. Milehimama (Pajama Party Christmas) 87. Megret (gift list organization) 88. Gift of Green (Use Holiday Card to Make "Bubbles") 89. Christine (Eternal Christmas Gift Bag) 90. Kristin (sleeping amid chaos) 91. Veggiemomof2 (easier wrapping) 92. Erin (reusing Christmas cards) 93. Reflections. (Christmas Box) 94. The Not Quite Crunchy Parent(Parhcment paper in the Microwave) 95. Peggie(gift order-an oops from 30) 96. Liza\'s Eyeview (C-Card Display & keeping kids busy while you "work") 97. Amy (Christmas unwrapping supplies) 98. Laurie (fabric bags-wrapping paper) 99. Liisa (Preparing Ahead) 100. Christine (linking and scrolling blogrolls! YEA!) 101. Alison (Chocolate Clusters) 102. Amy (easy sugar cookie icing) 103. Dawn (Easy Yummy Cookie Bar Bake) 104. Emily (5 Holiday Tips) 105. Crafty Pumpkin (Simple Sweet Treat & Needle Picker Upper!) 106. Jacquelyn: Because I Said So! (Make your own Sugar Houses!) 107. T with Honey (Annual Homemade Ornament) 108. Jennifer (using old Christmas cards) 109. DeputyHeadmistress (home-made gift ideas) 110. Jen (Hanging a Wreath) 111. Wendy (First timer--free pool table) 112. MemeGRL (great list of stocking stuffers) 113. MemeGRL (tip for hanging lights) 114. Kirstin (Christmas spending and other tips) 115. Sarah (Easy Crystal Ornaments) 116. Melissa (Stocking Stuffer Game) 117. De (gift giving) 118. SAHMmy Says (daytrips/travel with baby) 119. GP 120. Pieces (wrapping idea)

121. RibbonRockStar *Candy/cookie recipe* 122. The Correspondent (\'Tis the Season -- PROPER LINK) 123. Many Little Blessings (Aprons) 124. Amyswandering (Repurposing Christmas Clearance) 125. Wendy Darling (repurposing fudge) 126. Heather (A cheap, quick and easy chocolate gift that looks like you spent a bundle) 127. Texastanya (Toddler Travel Tips) 128. Kara (Christmas pj\'s and other goodies) 129. Amy (cheap & easy homemade gifts) 130. Karla (gift boxes) 131. Amy Jane (Cold weather safety tip) 132. Michelle-Un-Mainstream Mom (gift boxes will save your sanity) 133. Cindy@ ValuesDrivenFamily.com (Christmas in January) 134. Amy W (polish silver in a pinch) 135. Genni (gift for the neighbors) 136. Erica (A Yankee In Jawja) Christmas Decor, Fudge & Memories 137. Melonie @ Momma & More (baby\'s nails) 138. Megan(making Christmas last all week) 139. Smockity Frocks (Heirloom Tree Skirt) 140. Mom2fur (Christmas Folder) 141. Lylah - My Five Year Old Grandson\'s Pictures 142. K :) (Reindeer Food) 143. Melonie @ Workerette (travel tips) 144. Melonie @ Workerette (travel tips) 145. Jeni (keeping track of medication) 146. MomAdvice.com (Cleaning The Stove) 147. Scott (Headband/Bookmark) 148. MrsScotsman 149. Crystal @ Biblical Womanhood (a fun, Christ-centered Christmas idea for young children) 150. Kisses of Sunshine (receipts in order & picture-card storage) 151. Crystal @ Biblical Womanhood (Occupying young children on road trips) 152. Money Saving Mom (Free Glade candles, veggies, baby wipes, and more at Target!) 153. Robyn (Getting rid of the Pacifier) 154. Garvey (make your own wrapping paper!) 155. The Garveys (save on disposable diapers) 156. Shelly (Christmas dessert) 157. The Garveys (save on disposable diapers) 158. Bethany (moisterizer that works) 159. Tickled Pink (10 Ways to Reuse Wrapping Paper) 160. Jo Gram (Pretty Presents) 161. Kerry (Christmas Craft clutter - and an activity idea!) 162. Suzanne (turkey brine recipe) 163. BRC Banter (pie) 164. Parentingskillsonline.com 165. Childlife (GFCF Christmas Cookies) 166. Abbi @Proverbs31Living (Prioritizing) 167. momrn2 (spouse gift, family gift) 168. Sarah (simple Christmas traditions) 169. Deb (photo calendar) 170. Amanda (Best Appetizer for Xmas Party) 171. SAHMmy Says (correct link to daytrips/travel with baby) 172. Simply A Musing (cut wrapping time) 173. The Garveys (save $ on coffee, enjoy it more) 174. Womanly Pursuits (family traditions in a young family) 175. mod*mom (free stuff) 176. Prettylifeonline 177. Donna 178. Sophia Dare 179. Lifeisadare- Journal on gratefulness 180. Leah

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It's Actually a Sweet Post About Rats

Stephen's rat died last week.  It was his first encounter with death, at least in his conscious memory, and the sag of his shoulders and sobs coming from deep in his chest were enough to break this momma's heart.  As I held my boy, trying to will comfort into him, I knew I'd never loved him more than I had at that moment. 

And then Stephen's little brother Joseph, empathetically weeping with his brother, offered to give Stephen his own much-loved rat, in hope of easing the pain.  And I hugged my generous boy close and knew I'd never loved him more than I had at that moment.

And then, a few minutes later, I watched from the warmth of the kitchen as Hubs pounded away at the ice with a shovel, digging a little rat-sized grave.  And I watched his strong arm around my Stephen's shoulders, leaning down to our son's level to hold a little ratty funeral in the frigid, pelting ice.  I knew I'd never loved that man more than I had at that moment.

And yes, I know there is a very odd irony that these precious life moments were brought about by rats--rats, of all things!--but isn't that just the way of things sometime?  The messes mixed in with the joy, the heartache stirred up with the oddities.  Living life is a mixed bag, isn't it?

Some Bits Of Bloggy Business

Voting is closed on the Snow Day Haiku Contest, and here are the final results:

Jacki -- 203
Jane -- 235
Erica -- 87
Gretchen -- 259
Dawn -- 76

Congratulations, Gretchen!  She wins one of these, and if she's really smart, she'll give it to somebody for Christmas and tell them she spent a fortune on it.

Also (and this is an important one, so I'm going to shout it):

THE GIVEAWAY UP AT BLOGGY GIVEAWAYS TODAY WILL ABSOLUTELY KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF.  GO THERE. NOW.

That is all.