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Written by natalie
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Monday, 28 December 2009 |
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Today on my way to the gym I drove past two churches. Our recent snowstorm had caused large drifts of snow to pile up on the sidewalks and parking lots of most of the downtown buildings. These churches were no exception.
At the site of the first church, a plow and a team of snow removal experts shoveled out the lot and the sidewalk surrounding. These guys had their company name on their trucks and their coveralls - working quickly as a team to get the church ready for the morning service. I doubted that any of them attended the church but feel confident that they were hired, contracted, to get the job done.
On the second church's sidewalk, a long janitor pushed a snow shovel through the drifts, tossing the snow along the side of the walkway to make a path. He worked rythmically, technically, and quickly. His breath was a fog in front of his face. He looked lonely.
This afternoon in my neighborhood most of the families were out shoveling their walkways and driveways. The plow had come through our street and the drifts from the plow needed to be moved. Neighbors helped neighbors. Those with snowblowers helped those without. My three sons had their mini-snow shovels and worked on the sidewalk - in front of our house first and then down the street until their cheeks were pink and their mittens soaked through.
And from what I saw today, in each of these three snippets, "church" only really happened once.
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Written by natalie
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Saturday, 26 December 2009 |
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Christmas is supposed to be for the kids.
I was pretty convinced of this. I LOVE buying, wrapping, and handing out gifts to my kids every year. The delight on their face as they open items from Mom and Dad, grandparents and Santa is SO FUN.
And I don't expect much. I really expect nothing.
On Christmas eve my husband and I take the kids shopping to pick out gifts from the kids to each parent. We do an elaborate swap - he takes two kids to purchase for me while I take the other to purchase for him. There are lots of whispers and secrets and silly ideas for gifts that the kids think up. And while I knew I'd get some special trinkets from the kids this year, it was all I really expected.
Boy was I wrong.
My husband suprised me with some amazing gift cards to some of my favorite (and his favorite) stores ;) I also received perfume, lotion, earrings, a heart rate monitor and the small gifts from the kids. While I was already overwhelmed with all of the gifts, he handed me a small ornament shaped package. Inside the ornament was a gorgeous wedding band with 10 diamonds! Originally I only wanted my engagement ring, but in the last few years I'd mentioned wanting a wedding band. He surprised me with the perfect ring!
Later in the day, we were at my parents for presents/dinner/games and my mom presented me with a small envelope. Inside was some cash and a note that Brandon's dad and my parents had teamed up to fly Brandon and I to the East Coast to spend five days in January with some dear friends! Not only will we get to spend the time with Paul and Brooke but also see friends Pat and Katie in DC and Zac and Alex who are driving up to see us from North Carolina. I was blown away - so excited to travel and see some dearly missed friends.
Christmas IS for the kids. But this year I was spoiled beyond belief! I LOVE surprises and am so blessed by all of those who worked together to surprise me this year!
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Written by natalie
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Monday, 21 December 2009 |
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"Mom, does Santa ever die?"
"I don't think so son. He's magical you know."
"Well if he doesn't die, does he get to go to heaven ever?"
"I have no idea. I've never thought about that. What do YOU think?"
He sits and thinks. For quite a while.
"I think that, in the summer, when he's not working, Santa gets to spend his vacation in heaven."
And I think you're creative, and brilliant, and amazing, sweet little boy.
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Written by natalie
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Thursday, 10 December 2009 |
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Love Regina Spektor. And thinks she might just be more honest than a lot of people you call "friend."
When I first heard "Laughing With" and caught these words
"No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious"
was the time I realized that often our mouth contradicts itself when the situation allows. And Regina called me out on my hypocrisy. And now the song makes me tear up like I just got a paper cut.
And when she sings "That Time," I think it is more about our lives than we want to admit. Whatever your vice, whatever your situation that just keeps biting you in the butt and whatever your wake up call may have been or might be.... her words lend a certain familiarity to the human experience. This is a screwed up journey sometimes. We don't even begin to have it perfect. And we're still failing even when we're trying our best.
So it was fitting tonight that Coldplay sang "Fix You" when I was writing this. Because I think that's what we all strive to do. Fix eachother and maybe, in the process, fix ourselves.
"Hey, remember that time..."
"I promise you I'll learn from your mistakes."
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