An "Old World" Christmas Gift

A few Christmases ago, my oldest son Christopher surprised me with this ornament of an "Old World" themed Father Christmas/St. Nicholas-ish/Santa Claus ornament.

I say "Old World" because of its theme, design, colors, mood - and because it reminds me of my "Old World," when I was a young mother teaching my year-old son about the spirit of giving, especially during Advent and the Christmas season.

I'd been reading "The Year and Our Children" by Mary Reed Newland, which became the foundation for teaching my children through many experiences how to develop a relationship with God and live the liturgical year.

For Christopher's second Christmas (1983), we moved hanging up stockings from December 24 to December 5, and that tradition has continued to that day.

Sometimes people as parents, "Do you ever wish your children were young again?" For me, the answser is always, "No."

For the sweet reward of the fruit of my parenting labors in the "Old World" is witnessing the adults they've become and the values they embody in this "New World," a world that is is always new every morning  even as we are still growing and becoming.

When I hang this ornament on my little tree in my bedroom, my mind goes back in years to the toddler in sleeper pajamas, to the time our family's faith traditions began, and then wanders through the decades as God sent more children, until I step back and admire this cherished ornament in present time.

Years ago during my homeschooling years, my addition flashcards somehow disappeared. And Christopher, not quite nine years old at the time, gifted me with a new set for Christmas, scarcely containing his excitement as I opened him; he was that thrilled at giving me something he was certain I wanted more than anything in the world.

Decades later, Christopher still selects his gifts that way, as do all my children. And it's always a joy to receive them, especially since, many times, the true meaning and value is known to only the giver and the receiver.

Yes, that's a lot to pack into one ornament. But that's good.

As we plan our Christmas giving this holiday season, let's do more than put ourselves into debt.

Let's choose our gifts with thoughtfulness and care, remembering that the actual gift goes beyond the actual item and the actual cost in dollars and cents.

Happy Monday!

Christmas 2020 Film Festival

For some people, a cherished part of Christmas/holiday season is watching and rewatching the old holiday favorites.

For me, these TV specials and movies were part of my childhood - and there's still a few classics I've yet to see. But none of them were part of my adulthood.

How can that be, you may wonder.

Well, when I was a stay-at-home mom when my oldest children were young and before the advent of home VHS, you could only catch them on TV. And my children's father wouldn't give up his shows for children's Christmas specials. 

But by the time we had home VHS, I had three children under five. So I could pop in a VHS for them to watch while I caught up on housework.

As they grew, God blessed us with three more children. By the time number four arrived, I was already a homeschooling mom. Now anyone who's had a house filled with children and has home-schooled knows there's always one child (not always the same child) who doesn't get his or or her work done, with reasons ranging from overall slothfulness to not grasping the concepts.

So I would spend extra time to make sure the work was grasped and completed. And then I caught up on housework while the kids watched holiday specials. Next year, I would tell myself.

Then I became a single mom and worked two jobs (and for a short time, three jobs). Then I became a married mom who worked two jobs, as did my husband Rob. Then we became a home-schooling family again. You can do the math: two parents plus four jobs taking care of six kids equals little free time.

Those were glorious years, by the way. And they passed very quickly. Watching holiday films was not on my top any number of list things to do.

We were talking about this the other day. Somehow, my kids have memories of me watching with them, most likely because I popped in and out of the room on the way to another room and sat for a few minutes.

But to sit down and watch an entire Christmas show or movie? Nope!

This year I have the time and no family get-togethers, which sounds dismal, right? 

Quick rabbit trail.

Remember back in the 1970s (well, maybe not, if you're a young person reading this blog), when people proclaimed that women could have it all? Well, I believe anyone can "have it all," although the right time for "all" is often not in the same time frame.

Scripture says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." And that is true with our lives.

I've had big traditional Christmases, new calendar Christmases, old calendar Christmases, Christmases full of cooking, and baking, and gift buy, and gift wrapping, and running around town to visit family and friends.

I've had two-parents Christmases and single parent Christmases, and house filled with people Christmases. I've had Christmases where work usurped our traditions. And last Christmas morning, I walked a hot chocolate and my little Christmas tree to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet where a friend from high school with lung cancer was spending Christmas. This year, that same friend is spending Christmas in heaven.

This year, we'll be "zooming" part of our Christmas. 

Also this year, I'm catching up on Christmas movies.

Here's my roster:

Wednesday night: It's a Wonderful Night.

Thursday night: Alastair Sims' A Christmas Carol (my favorite version).

Friday throughout the day: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and (if I can find it) Charlie Brown Christmas. (all favorites from my childhood).

Saturday: Reginald Owens' "Scrooge."

Sunday night: Not sure. I do have a virtual Christmas party with the 5 a.m. writers group that sounds waaaay more put together than anything I did for WriteOn Joliet. Time for me to get my act together.

The rest of the time between then and January 2: I have seen none of these (although I've seen part of the second and clips of the third).

White Christmas

Christmas in Connecticut

Miracle on 34th Street

And everything I didn't watch on the original list before I ran out of time (see above).

By the way, I'm running a special promotion on BryonySeries books in order to help out The Book Market in Crest Hill. 

I've already sent the first batches of coupons (THANK YOU to all who supported this special sale). Find details here: bryonyseries.com/promotions.

You thought I'd forgotten to spam you today, didn't you?

Photo by Timothy Baran

The Best Gifts

When we homeschooled, we typically suspended much of our formal studies from Thanksgiving through Jan. 7 and used that time to decorate about 100 Christmas postcards to send to friends and family and to make Christmas gifts.

Gifts we made through the years included homemade bakery, pizzas, pierogies, slippers, craft projects, original stories, handwritten cookbooks of family recipes, videotaped Christmas productions - and these are just the ones coming to mind.

This Christmas I saw my first "exploding box," a homemade gift Daniel's girlfriend Cindy made twice (because someone at her house spilled water on the first one), staying up all night to do so. Hers was far more elaborate than any I found online, and you should have heard the "ooooohhhhh!" that resounded around the room when he removed the cover.

I made a special gift for my kids (with lots of technical help from Rebekah) accessed a private YouTube link.

The gifts we typically buy are not on anyone's wish list ("I want a FILL IN THE BLANK), but a surprise tied to an interest.

For example, Timothy likes to take photographs, and he likes Chicago. So Rebekah bid on an enormous photograph of Chicago's skyline at a fundraising auction and split the cost with Daniel.

Daniel likes coffee and Dr. Who. So one gift he received a coffee mug with a "moving" Tardis. 

I taught myself yoga out of a book (before it was chic) when I was fifteen and have done yoga ever since. But Timothy's girlfriend also likes to do yoga. She bought me a yoga strap and yoga blocks (didn't even know these items existed) and offered to show me how to use them.

Timothy got me a miniature photo booth with different color backdrops for shooting Bertrand books and recipe photos for The Herald-News and this blog. This to replace (or replace some of the time) the corrugated white cardboard pieces I buy, ruin, and buy again.

Daniel bought me lots of envelopes and stamps, so I have them available for letter-writing (my grandchildren are my pen pals).

Rebekah adores Asian culture and can't wait to visit Japan during cherry blossom season. One year, I bought an art piece of cherry blossoms, and Timothy framed it. But she also bought him a map of Maine (his dream destination), and we framed it for him.

After spending a few days with Joshua, Rebekah found out a few items he really wanted but never has the money to buy. So she shared the information with siblings and significant others, and he received them.

Christopher is 6'10" and is out of work due to illness. He needs new clothes, but it's hard to find reasonably priced clothing that fits. So Rebekah bought him a gift card to his favorite store - and put quite a bit of money on that card.

Last year, I created an interactive game for the kids. This year, I received an elegant necklace in my favorite shade of blue from Rebekah.

This year, we made bears out of homemade bread. And I'm now in the processing of creating a secret Facebook group so the cousins can see each other's creations.

One year, Sarah and two friends made them at her birthday party (our birthday parties were all-age and included friends and family). 

Now kids being kids whined at first about the project because they couldn't envision it. Nothing exciting about mixing flour in a bowl! (Although they did find the bubbling yeast fascinating).

But they perked up as their bears took shape. And all of the kids wore big smiles as they proudly carried their bears to the cars when it was time to go home.

For Lucas, who lives out of state, I sent a link to the recipe. His mother Sarah and his Aunt Rebekah made bread bears with him, too.

Because that was another gift. Rebekah is always a little down around the holidays because she can't see Sarah. Our family Christmas is on Jan. 7 and that is also Rebekah's birthday.

But Sarah's husband's birthday is on Jan. 6. And Lucas is usually back to school by then.

So instead of importing Sarah, we exported Rebekah. Sarah and I split the cost of a surprise plane ticket from Joliet to Raleigh for Rebekah. And back again, of course.

Of course, as fate would have it, Rebekah spent the second day in Raleigh at quick care for type A. flu.

But she did recover in enough time to make bread bears and see the Chinese lantern festival.