Abs Tales

Just in case some of you were thinking Abs was only a "creative thinker" at home, let me enlighten you. The children visit almost every weekend. Usually only the 2 older ones, stay overnight on Saturday and attend church with me on Sunday morning. This gives us some bonding time and, hopefully, gives DD-Ko some relief. Abs is busy from the time she arrives until she goes home. I try to keep an eye on her all the time, but...well...you know how that goes.

Abs has 3 rules to follow for church. She repeats them to me before we leave the house, once or twice in the car, before we leave the car at church, and after we enter the church building. Sometimes I just remind her to think of the 3 rules before she goes to the front of the church for the Children's Moment, a lesson held with the children gathered in front of the altar. The three rules?

1. No "picking" -Abs has an ongoing problem with her underwear. No, we don't know what it is. One day her mom bought seven new sets of underwear - different brands, sizes, and styles. Nothing seems to work. Abs pulls at the underwear while contorting her body into some amazing positions. It doesn't matter where she is when the mood to "pick at her underwear" strikes. I just try to keep it from happening at the altar during the Children's Moment. Most people find it a little distracting.
2. One answer, and then only to a question - Abs usually has something to contribute on every subject. She also questions everything she is told and wants to discuss it. This is not a bad thing, unless she happens to be sitting in front of 150 people who can't wait to hear what will come out of her mouth next. Example ...Leader :"We have a direct line to God." Abs: "That's a mess of wires!"
3. Keep your hands to yourself - Abs will try to hug everyone in sight, see what the leader has in the closed box, examine all the items on a tray, and check out everything within arm's reach. She has not yet equaled her sister's escapade. When Em was about 5, she was bored during the Children's Moment. Lacking anything to busy her hands, she got up and began examining her surroundings at the altar. The area around the altar is pretty barren, but at eye level ON the altar, there is plenty to see. She strolled around, just looking at everything. She lifted a corner of the cloth on the table, then let it fall. She looked closely at the closed communion trays. As she reached up and considered removing one of the lids, there was a collective intake of breath from the congregants, followed by a collective sigh of relief as she moved on, deciding against a peek inside. The Leader courageously ignored this activity and focused attention on all the children sitting quietly in front. After church, I took her up, showed her everything in depth, and answered her questions.

Abs has learned not to admit to anything.

Some very young children do not realize that they're lying. They tell imaginary lies which are a mixture of make-believe and reality. Such lies combine children's rich creative playful side and their everyday lives. As children continue to develop and grow, these intricate tall-tales will pass away.

Me - observing about a cup of soft butter plopped in the kitchen sink - "Where did this butter come from?"

Abs - "I don't know. It wasn't me. I thought I heard Em walking around, then a "plopping" noise like peanut butter or something."

Em - getting ready for church after leaving her jewelry on my bathroom counter before going to bed - "My ring is gone. Where is my ring? Abbbiiieeee!"

Abs - "I don't know. I haven't seen it!"

Me - "We will sit here and look at each other until someone knows something!"

Abs - "Fine! I didn't do it, but has anyone even thought of looking in the suitcase [in the other room]? I didn't do it, but it could just be in the suitcase! Duh!"

Me: "Well, why don't you look in the suitcase and see if it is in there."

Abs: "Fine! I will look, but I didn't do it." Abs finds the ring in the suitcase.

Well, you get the picture. Every day is a surprise. Abs is fortunate to have a mother who can, sometimes, see the humor in all this.

Christmas Ornaments - "Three Lanterns"

I think these are really Chinese, but they remind me of the 1 1/2 years my family lived in Okinawa. The first lantern appeared on a Christmas package from my sister one year.

Texas Weather

The weather in Texas is always a good conversation starter. If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change.
We have had a glorious week. It has been in the tolerable 70's, except when we walk at 6 AM and the changing of the leaves is a spectacular show of color....reds, yellows, oranges....I know, I know, you Northerners see it every year. Here in Texas we usually get a little red from the sumac, but the changing leaf color is generally green to brown.
Tonight I heard a mysterious rattling noise at different intervals and was worried I might have to deal with a mouse. Even worse, I was worried a squirrel had taken refuge in the attic. It proved to be sleet on the windows. So we have moved from tolerable 70's to 33.8* with a wind chill of 23*. We don't really mind. We can hold up in our warm homes for a day or two, then we will be back to normal. When there is snow, the whole town shuts down. We will back in the 60's on Thursday and we can almost always count on a warm front on Christmas Day.
Eat your hearts out, Yankees!

Christmas Ornaments - "A Real Lady"

A real ray of sunshine...the giver as well as the ornament. We are "the Three Musketeers" - sharing birthdays in the same year, sharing our religious convictions, and sharing similar losses. We find strength in our friendship....but not much time to share lunch.

Christmas Ornaments - "A Tisket, A Tasket..."

Two birds in cages and a basket to fill with sweets. These are handicrafts bought in Peru. They carry memories of the many happy times we shared while we lived there.

Christmas Ornaments "Wooden Shoes"

From a trip to, where else, Holland, where children put them out for Sinter Klaas to put presents in them (larger ones, of course!)....... oh, the memories they evoke....
The Rijksmuseum...Anne Frank's hiding place...rijsttafel.....the sea wall holding back an angry sea....cold, wet, windy.....cheese market in Edam...."Night Watch"......windmills....Delft..... wrong time of year for tulips....

Keeping up With the Neighbor

Last year, while my neighbor's children were visiting her over the Thanksgiving holidays, they put up all her Christmas decorations. When they left, she was ready for Christmas. Of course, I mentioned this in passing to my own children and their competitive spirits kicked in immediately. They put everything up for me and I gave them free rein. Happily, they were all into it again this year!
The front porch has swags and posts hung with lighted garlands. My bushes are covered by nets of lights. A wreath, made by my mother several years ago, hangs on the front door. I keep thinking I will replace it but it reminds me of some good times. (Thank you, Mother!) A (battery operated) candle burns in the window for Gunner.
DD-Ki, L, and Ky, helped put up the Christmas tree. Several years ago, I bought a tree that has lights already threaded onto its branches and I have never regretted it. No more hours spent untangling lights and checking to see which one is keeping the entire string from working. Those frustrating hours of togetherness are replaced by a more positive atmosphere. L & Ky hung all the non-breakables on the branches as high as they could reach, and helped drape tinsel over the tree. The tinsel covers the bare spots, hanging from the lower branches in happy little clumps.
The tree lacks a decorator's skill and expertise, but almost all the ornaments have a story behind them. DH and I decided many years ago to collect items for ornaments instead of other dust-catchers. As I free each piece from its protective wrapping, I tell the children the story behind it.
It is only fair that I share my loved ones with the other sides of the families, but I will be looking forward to our own celebration when almost all gather here on the 28th.
Then they can take everything down and put it all away. Maybe we can set a precedent for my neighbor.