Ho, Ho, Ho (and Other Things I'm Thinkin')

A sheepish "thank you" to those of you who have dropped a note to ask if my lack of posting means that something is terribly wrong. 

Things are, in fact, terribly right these days--the book is done (DONE, I tell you, DONE!) and it's off to the printer. I'm so giddy with the new-found freedom that I've celebrated by alternately plowing through my reading list and learning to crochet (and by "learning to crochet", of course, I mean "looping  a bunch of sloppy knots, but gosh, it's fun.") The kids are out of school and they're helping me with holiday preparations (and by "helping", of course, I mean "not really helping at all, but gosh, they're cute"). We're staring down the barrel of an especially action-packed holiday season this year--details to follow, once all the dust has settled.

In the meantime, as a very tiring 2009 draws to a close, I find myself feeling a little reflective about this silly blog o' mine. It started as a hobby, grew into a "job," and it's mercifully, gently settling back into a hobby again, for which I'm profoundly grateful. I've learned so much about setting limits this year; perhaps I'll write on it once I grab hold of the right words. Thank you for bearing with me during a busy, chaotic year, and for the frequent doses of encouragement and laughter you've sent me at just the right time.

I just yawned, which reminds me that, yet again, I've stayed up too late, cramming in all the last-minute Things Which Must Be Done. The presents are sloppily wrapped, and the kitchen floor is covered with sprinkles from our (highly unsuccessful) foray into holiday baking today. The kids played too many video games, and the 8yo has been throwing up all evening. I sigh to remember how I was crabby when I should've been kind today, how I was rushed when I should've paid attention. I'm beginning to think my decades-long tradition of falling short at Christmas may actually be by design: if I had it all together, I suppose I wouldn't have needed a certain Baby to come and rescue me from my own messes.

So I'll sit here, picking cookie sprinkles off the bottoms of my feet, and I'll think about the manger. I'll say a prayer for peace and rest for those of you who are fighting hard battles right now--I know there are many of you.  And I'll think on this, by lovely Madeleine:

He came to a  world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

from The Ordering of Love, p. 242

Be merry, my friends--I'll see you back here in the new year.

Comments

[Lainie@ Mishmash Maggie]

Merry Christmas to you Shannon! And your family too. :)

Celebrating with you on the completion of the book but more so for reclaiming balance between blog and life.

May 2010 be abundantly blessed as another adventure unfolds.

[edj]

I love Madeleine l'Engle! Great poem.
Merry Christmas to you and yours :)

[Need A Nap2]

Merry Christmas! I hope the 8 year old feels better and this ye ole blog can be a hobby and a relaxing place for you (and your readers!). :)

[Sandi]

That's a beautiful poem. I just adopted it as my facebook status. Merry Christmas!

[Jo@Mylestones]

Oh I love me some Madeleine. Thank you for sharing.
And as much as I'm delighted to see you back here, I'm even more delighted to hear that things are falling into balance again. You certainly know what is important--may you enjoy those important things (people!) immensely in this season.

[Adventures In Babywearing]

You always know just the right thing to say at just the right time, you sweet southern friend. Your Christmas prep sounds much like mine, much like the rest of us I'm sure. Have a fabulous Christmas!

Steph

[Kim]

Have a very Merry Christmas!!
HUGS
Kim

[MemeGRL]

Congratulations on a job well done. We miss you here but cheer you on in the real life that you graciously share here.
The poem brought tears to my eyes and I fully expect to steal/borrow it (with proper attribution, of course). Thank you for sharing that.
May 2010 bring you and your family blessings untold!

[prasti]

congrats on your the completion of your book!

we are fighting off some illnesses here too (the usual runny noses, congestion, and throw in a fever for good measure).

i hope you and your family have a glorious christmas celebrating the birth of our wonderful Savior and enjoying one another.

[RLR]

Thanks for sharing! I have been lamenting how far behind I feel in my preparations. This sentence - "I'm beginning to think my decades-long tradition of falling short at Christmas may actually be by design: if I had it all together, I suppose I wouldn't have needed a certain Baby to come and rescue me from my own messes." - meant such a lot to me.
Merry, Merry Christmas, and I look forward to more from you in the New Year!

[Llama Momma]

Merry Christmas, Shannon!!

[kay]

Love that you have shared your very human day, but closed your reflections with very lovely sentiments about the One who makes it all ok. Merry Christmas!
Kay

[Robin Sampson]

I know how you feel. Giving birth to a book is a loooong labor. I saw you had 14 weeks to write 18 chapters. WOW. Who cooked and cleaned at your house ;-)

Congradulations and glad to know you are OK.

Blessings,
Robin

[Rhonda]

I have been reading your blog this year, though I haven't yet commented (I don't think). I have truly enjoyed your posts (on everything from your husband scoring your favorite lipstick to that hilarious ralphing pumpkin). I look forward to reading more in the coming year.

I too, never have it together at Christmas. And really, we ALL need that Baby.

A blessed Christmas to you and your family.

[kisatrtle]

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the family!

[mzzterry]

Just dropped by to WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS**~~**~~ THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BLOGGY FRIEND~~**~~** I always feel better after I stop be here....thanks, Shannon!!

[Kim]

Congratulations on getting the book done!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope you have a joyous and fun filled holiday!

[Jamie]

"if I had it all together, I suppose I wouldn't have needed a certain Baby to come and rescue me from my own messes"

What a beautiful way to express this... something that I'm struggling right now- being human and thus flawed and what an awesome gift God gave us because of it all. I'm working as much as I can to be a gracious recipient of that gift this holiday season.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[BlueCastle]

Congrats on finishing your book! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and if you do get around to writing about blogging and your perspective on it and your experience - blogging as a hobby vs. as a job - I would be very interested to read it. Some days I feel very overwhelmed and wonder how other women blog daily while staying sane and being a good mother and wife. My little blog is suffering as I simply haven't been able to juggle it all at the present time. :)

[A Maui Blog]

A blessed Christmas to you Shannon and Family. You've been a blessing to me (yes you through your blog), and I want to thank you for that. I am glad the book is done. Enjoy your family, and see you in 2010 :) Aloha!

Liza

[Lenore Buth]

Congratulations on finishing your book, Shannon. I know how that pushes one to the brink!

You talked about all the Christmas prep and trying to do it all...I never make it, either. (That's what I wrote about in my last blog-post.)I think all we can do is try to live in love and rejoice that Jesus came for us sinners.

Merry, blessed Christ-mas. Enjoy your time with your children gathered around. Sooner than you can imagine on "those" days, they'll fly the coop. (Then you'll have another set of "if onlys.")

[Pam]

So good to hear from you! Have a blessed Christmas and a good rest!

[Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates]

I definitely fall way short at Christmas! Hope you had a lovely and blessed Christmas!

[Fiddledeedee]

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, my bloggy friend. {{{{Hugs}}}}

[Laura Lee Groves]

A beautiful post!

Our lovely imperfections show our need for that babe in the manger.

[Genny]

Beautiful poem, Shannon. Happy New Year to you! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.

[GiBee]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[Pam]

Hope you all had a great Christmas! Thanks for posting an update!

[Sandy]

Darn, I just gave away a "learn how to crochet" book LOL. Congrats, my friend. So proud of you!
Hope you have fun plans for the New Year! (I've decided to not go to Bliss this year):(

[Adventures In Babywearing]

Thinking of you. Hope you had a great New Year's!

Steph

[WackyMummy]

Sounds like our house... I must be in good company!
I'm new here to your blog and just wanted to pop in and say hi.

[Genny]

Just stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year!

[Molly Piper]

I just love you, Shannon. Wanted to tell you that.

[Sadie]

Congrats on finishing your book! What a great accomplishment.

Sadie at heyMamas.com

[Shannon]

The feeling is entirely mutual, m'dear! ;)

[Shannon]

Same to you, my friend.

[Shannon]

I'm not going either--I'll miss our chance to have a nice quiet chat. I'm sad to hear you gave up on crocheting--it's such fun!

[Llama Momma]

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Shannon! I hope this year brings you just what you need. :-)

[Kimberly Hosey (AZ Writer)]

I love Madeleine l'Engle SO much. A (very belated) happy holidays to you and yours, and congrats indeed on the book. That's huge.