We’re celebrating Christmas with the kids and grands early, so this week is wrapping week…not my favorite activity for these ten reasons.
10. I grew up trying to force reused, wrinkled wrapping paper that was always too small around boxes that were too big.
9. Next we topped the wrinkled paper with old bows, all of which had lost their sticky.
8. We always ran out of Scotch tape before we were done.
7. When we ran out of Scotch tape, Mom showed us how to use masking tape rolled inside out to hold the wrapping paper together. This tactic worked approximately 50% of the time.
6. She told us to use rolled up masking tape to stick bows on the packages, too. That worked approximately 25% of the time.
5. All of the above traumatized me, so I now avoid wrapping paper whenever possible.
4. So I’m in a catch 22 situation: If I seek immediate treatment for my wrapping paper phobia, I will not have time for wrapping presents.
3. Plus, as a result of the tendon I severed 2 months ago, my left thumb has a bad case of oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) and is in therapy, too. Which means even less time for wrapping presents.
2. Though gift bags are the obvious solution to my gift wrapping issues, I am too much of a cheapskate to buy them. So I’ve developed this habit of saving gift bags from year to year and store them in a big drawer.
1. Every Christmas season, when I open the drawer and see the big pile of wrinkled gift bags, I realize that I’m more like Mom than I want to admit. And I thought Christmas was designed to gloss over harsh realities like that.
How about you? Do you love or hate wrapping presents? Tell us why in the comment box.
So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2: 14–15
Children’s programs.
Decorations.
Parties.
Gifts.
Santa Claus.
Too often our favorite holiday traditions hide the truths of Jesus’ early years like frosting on Christmas cookies. Only by scraping away colorful layers of fluff are the stark and frightening realities of the season exposed.
A young and very pregnant Mary riding a donkey to the strange town of Bethlehem.
Joseph walking beside a woman whose baby is not his.
An innkeeper without room in his inn or his heart.
The Son of God born in a dirty, dark barn.
A newborn lying a manger filled with hay.
Smelly shepherds gawking at the sight.
Smellier sheep bleating and creating commotion.
Once the small family is more settled, after the arrival of the Magi–visitors who recognize the importance of Jesus’ birth and give Him gifts worthy of his royal lineage–Joseph receives a warning from an angel in a dream.
“Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
Matthew 2:13
Joseph heeds the warning and flees with his wife and Son. They escape just before Herod, the ruler over Bethlehem and surrounding area, sends soldiers to slaughter every male child two years old and younger in an effort to eliminate a little boy he believes will one day seek to depose him. In verses like those, the dark side of Christmas is exposed.
Teen mothers.
Reluctant fathers.
Babies born into poverty.
Political maneuvering and dirty tricks.
Genocide.
Refugees fleeing for their lives.
The Light of the World betrayed by believers in His own country. Forced to beg sanctuary from strangers in Egypt until the darkness ended and the world made sense again.
In mid-November, terrorists in Lebanon and Paris committed craven acts. Not the indiscriminate slaughter of babies, but terrible nonetheless. The dark side of humanity was exposed again, tempting us to shut doors in the faces of present day refugees.
As Christians, we must wrestle with the truths of our faith as we consider how to respond to the plight of refugees forced to beg sanctuary from strangers until the world makes sense again. The questions before us are these.
Will we trust God’s promises and stand on the eternal security we have in Christ while seeking wise ways to welcome these lost refugees and share His hope? Or will we succumb to fear and abandon compassion toward the people Jesus, the Light of the World and the hope of Christmas, came to save?
Egg bakes are so yummy, but because of their high dairy content, they’re often off limits to people with dairy allergies. But this egg bake, served by my daughter-in-law at our Christmas brunch, is not only dairy-free, but also delicious. So delicious it received the coveted Hiram Seal of Approval, which may have something to do with the pound of bacon on top. The original recipe can be found at All Recipes. Below you’ll find the modified dairy-free version.
Directions: Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside. Add the mushrooms and onion to the skillet; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent and the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.
Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Place potatoes in bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon, then add the onions and mushrooms.
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the milk. Add the garlic. Pour the mixture over the casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until set. This casserole can also be baked immediately after it’s prepared. In that case reduce the baking time to 45 minutes.
A month long version of Camp Dorothy begins tonight, which means CD HQ is buzzing this morning. So far the camp director has:
Moved her wardrobe, bedside reading materials, and toiletry items to the upstairs bedroom and bathroom,
Reminded the Man of Steel to do the same,
Changed bedding for the camp’s namesake,
Checked to make sure the Uno, Skippo, and regular card decks are ready to go,
Pulled a meal from the freezer for supper.
Next on the list is to:
Make sure the TV is turned to Wheel of Fortune’s channel,
Put extra blankets on the camper’s bed because she is always cold,
Decide whether to be magnanimous and give the celebrity camper the good ottoman or the makeshift one for the duration of her stay,
Create a comfy nest on the couch, complete with extra pillows, pencils, and tissues.
Once all that’s done, it will be time to:
Drive down to where the camper lives,
Take her for a pre-camp physical at the doctor’s office,
Check to be sure she packed some of the new shirts and sweaters she received as Christmas gifts instead of the old, dingy ones she can’t part with,
Load her, along with her walker, cane, suitcase, bath chair, purse, crossword puzzle books, and library books into the car,
Be very thankful the camp provides linens so there’s no need to pack a sleeping bag, pillow, and towels, too,
Drive to CD HQ.
Upon arrival at camp, the director will be wishing for a Wheel of Fortune marathon to occupy the camp’s namesake while:
Unloading the car,
Unpacking the camper’s clothes,
Running to the store to purchase someone’s favorite snack items,
Fixing supper,
Sending apologetic replies to all the emailed ignored on the gala opening day of Camp Dorothy,
Reminding herself how blessed she is to have these days with the camp’s namesake because one day, perhaps sooner than later, Camp Dorothy will be a thing of the past.
10. Not paying an arm and a leg to fill the gas tank on the way to visit rellies over the holidays.
9. Fixing hearty, hot meals that include mashed potatoes and gravy because winter is about food like that.
8. Catching up with family and friends when their Christmas cards arrive.
7. Celebrating Eternal Optimist Day on December 21. Because for the next 6 months, the daylight hours keep increasing. Yes!
6. Stringing Christmas tree all over the house to make it feel like Eternal Optimist Day is arriving early.
5. Continuing our tradition of watching the Lord of the Ring movies throughout Christmas break.
4. Enjoying the heated seats in our new car on the chilly drive to Wisconsin this weekend.
3. Watching our grandson’s eyes light up when he opens the ukulele his Papoo made for him as a Christmas gift…one of the perks of having a papoo who makes guitars!
2. Going to Des Moines for supper and a movie with my sweetie…in our new car with heated seats.
1. Singing Silent Night at church during the Christmas Eve service at our church. A holy moment that moves me to tears each year.
