CHRISTMAS CATCH-UP

It's been weeks since I last posted anything.  That's not because there's been nothing to tell but, in reality, lots of little things that seem to me too unimportant.  That's my Facebook personality coming through!!!!

So...let's do a little catch-up of what our life has looked like these pre-Christmas weeks.

Shopping

It seems the shopping has no end.  Most of you know, I'm not really a shopper so doing it for all the adults and the little boys and extended family is really a job.  We've done much online (as usual from each person's Amazon list) but have also been out many times, both on foot (!!!) and in the car.  At this writing, all presents are bought and wrapped for another year!  Being in a new home means creating new habits and routines so I'm sure this will be easier next year.  The sunroom became our "storage" unit!!!

Advent

As a Baptist, we never celebrated "Advent",  the four Sundays before Christmas, formally.  But Nikki has always done it since being an adult and has taught me about it (and then at ACP we also celebrated it in church).  This year Nikki decided to put together some Advent Boxes and sell them on an Etsy sight.  We talked about what might be good items to put together and, as always, her creativity and faith blended beautifully to create a nice little way to celebrate Advent.  Of course, I bought one (I told her I should get a discount since I was consulted as an advisor!!!!) and found a little "sacred space" I think she calls it to place it.

My "sacred space"

This is in the sunroom (that is absolutely freezing!!!) on top of my desk.  The flower pot I bought to plant the "hope" bulbs that were part of my box.  Each week she has a written devotional along with the Scriptures for that week.  And, then, there are little "odds and ends" for fun.  Beads for a simple ornament or bookmark, journal for recording thoughts or verses (I noted Romans 15:13 and have been memorizing it), a tiny jar filled with confetti for joy, an origami peace crane.  There are just lots of little things to help make these weeks more spiritually meaningful.  In this season of busyness (especially when we're still adjusting to our new home), this has been a quiet place for me to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.

Snow

We knew moving to Kansas City was going to be a weather experience for us since we've spent the last 27 or so years in Texas where snow is minimal.  Already it's snowed a couple of times.  Early on, though, it was just a light covering.  However, last Sunday it snowed 4-5 inches, and it was soooo beautiful.  We sat in our cozy, little apartment watching it fall over the trees and buildings we can see from the sunroom.  My grandmother lived many of her last years in Lake Tahoe in an apartment that overlooked the snow-covered mountains and she loved it.  Like her, we don't need to get out if we don't want to so we can cozy up, watch a movie and enjoy the beauty of it.

"let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

Feeling Parisian

A couple of times these past few weeks, I've felt very Parisian.  Strange, huh??!!  The first time was a day that was really cold, like 20 degrees, when I went out shopping for David's Christmas.  I could have driven to the Plaza and parked, but that seemed ridiculous when we're right down the street from the main drag.  So I bundled up in my coat, boots, scarf and gloves and off I went.  The wind blew around the corners of the streets but, like a Parisian, walking was the best transportation for accomplishing my task.  Parking can be difficult (although there were plenty of spots in the lots close since not many people were out) and walking is easy (though for me painful!).

Anyway, as I was walking into Barnes and Noble a homeless lady asked me if I would get her a hot chocolate.  I looked around to see where I could buy one and she told me there was a cafe inside B&N (I didn't remember that).  So after my shopping, I picked up a large hot chocolate AND a chocolate chip cookie (one goes with the other!!!!) and gave them to her as I left.  That also feels very Parisian.

The other time I felt a little Parisian was one evening when David and I were out strolling and a saxophonist was playing on the corner.  Now, you know we frequently saw musicians in Paris as we walked around and I loved that.  Here, at least now at the holidays, there are occasionally small groups of musicians or individuals playing.  This guy was really good and, unlike many of those in Paris, had the "accompaniment box" with the backup music.  It's always worth a few dollars in their jar to hear the music as we walk.

Street musicians are my favorite

Drew's Visit

Drew came for his first overnight visit a week ago, and we had a wonderful time.  Dinner at a restaurant, Rye, just down the street from us then a stroll through the Plaza.  We baked some Christmas sugar cookies but they didn't turn out very good.  Oh, they tasted good but they didn't look very good.  I think there was a "poor measurement" problem ingredient-wise...Drew and I are just out of practice baking together!!!!  It was more about the experience of baking together...and we could eat the cookies I just wouldn't want to give them to anyone!!!!!

On Saturday the three of us went to Church of the Resurrection's Christmas program.  We all enjoyed it, but I, honestly, was a little disappointed.  This is a mega church and I expected an over-the-top performance.  But I think Drew enjoyed it and, again, it was something we could share.

Unexpected Visitors

Without going into the specifics, the Friday we picked up Drew we got a phone call from my niece asking if she and her 2-yr. old daughter could stay with us for 4 days.  Of course, we said yes.  Oh, my gosh!!!   It's been a loooong time since we had a 2-yr. old in the house.  And we are too old!!!!!!  She's darling, though, and I did enjoy it.  I know God has a purpose for us here and maybe it's for times like this...."...who knows but that you are here for such a time as this.." (Esther).  I polished her nails a Christmas red and blow-dried her hair after a shower.  Can't do those things with boys!!!!!

High maintenance begins early!!

Fun times with "Ded"!!!!

She and David ran errands while Jennifer and I did a little shopping.  They stopped at Panera for a hot chocolate and a cookie.  She called David "Ded" (like dead).  When he'd leave, she'd go through the apartment calling "where's Des?"  Really cute....but exhausting!!!!!

A chocolate chip cookie is always a good idea!!

Early Christmas

My younger sister and her husband came over for an early Christmas celebration.  We shared dinner (potato soup and French Onion sliders), read the Christmas story from Luke (like we've always done with our families) and opened presents (which Abbe loved!).  And then, of course, we had a final picture taken of "the girls".....

From the left: Abbe and me, Tracey and Jennifer

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night........

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Years ago David and I went on Christmas home tours with his Aunt Virginia and Uncle Claude (his mother's sister and husband).  It was something they did every year and, for some reason, one year they invited us along, and it became a holiday tradition we continued for several years.  We would go to their house and drive to where the tour began, tour several decorated homes then return to their house for homemade soup and sandwiches (Virginia always made the best soup).   It was always a lovely evening and a fun way to begin the Christmas holidays.

This year David had seen an historic home along one of his walks advertising a Holiday Candlelight tour.  We checked it out and decided to go.

1855 Harris-Kearney House

Again, it was a cold night and, surprisingly to us, there weren't many people attending.  I remember standing in lines when we did it with Claude and Virginia.  Anyway, it's the 1855 Harris-Kearney House, the oldest brick residence in the city.  This mansion was built as a replacement for the 1845 Harris House, a log cabin inn owned by Col. John Harris and his wife, Henrietta.  The inn was considered integral to the neighborhood as an outfitting point on the Santa Fe Trail and had provided lodging for explorers, trappers, Union soldiers, gold miners and politician.  It burned down in the late 1840s.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

Our tour started here with a dulcimer group playing Christmas carols

I loved the soft candlelight throughout the house.  I stood in each room thinking how different, for better and worse, life would have been then.  But there's something about the simplicity, non-technical, aspect of the life that certainly appeals to me.

You know I share my mother-in-law's love of dishes so I loved seeing this table setting

All the candlelight makes me want to eat dinner every night by candlelight!!!  And what about this lace tablecloth???  How beautiful is it??  I'm sure this setting is for the holiday, not everyday use, but still...

The stairway to the bedrooms

This couple was "practicing"  Christmas carols and we got to join in with  "Silent Night"

Here they depicted getting ready for Santa

This was a child's room and "Mother" was getting presents wrapped for Christmas Day.  Here she's reading a letter that was written to the children from Santa.  Don't you love their dresses??  Maybe not in Missouri summer, but I'm sure the summer dresses were lighter fabrics.  I'm a real pants girl, but this does have some appeal to me.

Rolling cotton

Here she is taking picked cotton and rolling it into strands to be used.  She asked if I wanted to try rolling it so..why not???  It wasn't quite as easy as she made it look (isn't it always that way?) and I'm not particularly craftsy (is that a word??!!).  It's a good thing I wasn't responsible for doing this for my family!!!!!!

Here's my strand...

Fine and Dandy

I think he's learning "Joy to the World"!

The evening ended in this "reception room" where they had cookies and hot chocolate.  This little band, Fine and Dandy, played and entertained the guests.  The man in white playing the violin was the lead and the man is the red shirt played the dulcimer.  He's a retired pastor and theology professor.    He took volunteers to try the dulcimer and David got volunteered...by me!!!!!  Like other things, he made it look easier than it actually was.  It's all in the touch!  But it was fun!  Their last song we all were given an instrument to play along (I had jingle bells).

It was a fun night and brought back sweet memories of a time past.....



ps -just an update - we're still in the church hunt.  I think it's narrowed to two.  I'll keep you posted!

THANKSGIVING KANSAS-CITY STYLE!

Thanksgiving this year wasn't very different from some other Thanksgivings we've celebrated in the past.  When the kids were growing up, we rarely (if ever) went "home" to spend the holiday with our families.  It was too far to go then and then again at Christmas.  Sometimes family came to us, sometimes we were alone, and other times we invited someone who also didn't have family near.  One year we even invited a serviceman who was on a base near us and had no where to go.

So...this year Deb and Mark came (David's sister and brother).  Deb lives in Maryland so she flew into Des Moines where her son lives then drove down to us and Mark lives in Kansas City.  We had decided to go out instead of doing all the cooking.  This year, having just begun settling into our new home, is was just easier.  I do love all the cooking and preparations, but not this year.   We did, however, bake a pumpkin pie and some Chex mix!!

Everyone needs a good sous chef!!

So we all went to Cooper's Hawk where we had a lovely dinner (actually, lunch since we had reservations at 2:00!!).  Surprisingly, or maybe not, there were quite a few others celebrating early.

We're smiling because we hadn't stuffed ourselves yet!!!

Voila!  Thanksgiving dinner!!

We came back to the apartment for a little while then Mark left.  Later that evening David's cousin (on the Finkelstein side) who lives in Lenexa, Kansas,  texted to see if we wanted to drop by.  We'd been in contact with them trying to work out a time to get together and we didn't think it could work.  So the three of us bundled up (it was pretty cold outside) and drove there.

Sid and Sue (David's cousins) were very kind to us as a young couple.  We had dinner several times at their home in Prairie Village, they helped David's mom doing our Rehearsal Dinner and then after the wedding/reception we went to their home for sandwiches.  They're in their eighties now, and we enjoyed so much seeing them and catching up.  Their daughter, Ann, was a little girl the last time I saw her and now she's a grandmother (to a darling little girl).  How the years fly!!!  She follows Nikki on Facebook so we chatted about that too.  It was a fun end to the day.

When we got back to the Plaza, we stopped and parked before going to the apartment.  The Christmas lights had been lighted earlier in the evening so everything was beautiful.  It was cold and quiet and we took a few pictures.

Deb left Friday and we went out doing some more shopping.  Right this minute I couldn't tell you  what we were shopping for...it seems the shopping never ends (I'm sure David would agree with that!!!).  Now that may sound great to some of you, but those of you who really know me know I like buying not shopping!!!!!👠👠👠

Anyway, we bought four pre-lit trees -  a large one for the living room, a smaller one for our bedroom and two little ones for the guest room and study.  I wanted a real wreath for the front door,  and we wondered if there were Christmas tree stands somewhere.  A Christmas miracle...we passed one as we were driving!!!!  It was the Boy Scouts so we stopped and bought a fresh wreath and some miscellaneous garland.

Our little Scout was in 6th grade (like our Jacob and Brady) so we could relate to him

We spent the evening fluffing the trees (I do hate that job!!) and getting them ready to be decorated.  I have to admit I felt sadness decorating this year.  When we moved to Paris, if you remember, I parted with anything that wasn't "close to my heart".   I have wondered if I parted with too much.  Furniture-wise I think we made pretty good choices.  When I think of the few pieces I did love that I let go, I can't imagine where we'd put them.  I think, perhaps, it's more about "starting over" yet again that makes me sad.  I expected Paris Christmas to be a different experience but coming back to the US I guess I expected things to go back to "normal" and that's not what has happened.  There is no "normal" in Kansas City.  Yet.  Everything is new again.  Seriously, I am too old for this!!!!!!!!!!😉

Now...we begin getting ready for Christmas!