As a Christian I find it interesting that I love planning and executing my Passover / Seder dinner. Last year R and I have 23 guests for dinner, that means two dinning rooms tables set together in the great room. Since I had enough china and sterling the only thing missing was the glassware for wine, water, tea etc. That accounts for at least 4 glasses per person hmmm 4 multiplied by 23 is 92, do you have enough stemware for 92 friends? I'm sorry I don't. What is a girl to do? Why set the table with Spode Blue Italian, Towle Chippendale silver and the Dollar tree glassware. Honestly, if anyone noticed they didn't say a word. My philosophy is if you mix and match with the good stuff i/e/ Spode then no one will notice the cheap stuff. LOL Or so I tell myself.
So all that said, to say I have sent the invitations for my friends to save the date for this years Passover. Yes I a Christian, however, I firmly believe that All Christians should be celebrating a Passover dinner, think about it, Christ died after he celebrated Passover. Shouldn't this be part of our tradition?
I love this time, probably as much as I love Christmas. I look forward to the event; the friends, the meal; the planning, and the significance of the time and the meal. I love the prayers throughout the meal, the commemoration of the original Passover. Why don't Christians celebrate this event. Why are we ignorant of this event?
In the coming weeks I will share the planning and preparation of this meal/celebration along with pictures to show wonderful china and silver and Shabby chic glassware.
Think about having your own Passover /Seder dinner. Friends will love you for it and all information can be found on the net.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
In Rememberance of a Sweet Lady Dear Elsie
When I was a little girl, my parents had two friends that I adored. As a family we would go to Elsie and Eddie's house for visits. It was a grand house as grand as anything I had ever been exposed to. The first house that I remember which had a "Formal" living room. The furnishings were elegant, tasteful and refined. Something out of the movies, her house could have been given a spread in Southern Living.
My parents loved them and they likewise loved mom and daddy. Never to have children, why I don't know mom and daddy gave Elsie an Eddie the choice of selecting my name. I'm not sure why or where they came up with Christy; but the middle name of Lee was Eddie's. Maybe that was the start of the strong bond I have always felt for them. Elsie told the story of when in my infancy I was croupy, fussy, she and Eddie would come over after dinner and take me for long rides around town. Yes I was one of those children who was chauffered around town in the days before car seats to be soothed. Why did Elsie and Eddie do it? So simple really, they had the car!
When we went for visit on Saturday evening, the visit would always end with a grand finale and that would be Elsie giving an organ recital and the last song played would be daddy's favorite at full volume, The Battle Hymn of the Republic; played loud enough to shake the pictures on the walls, wake the dead and convert the sinners : )
I remember getting to go for extended visits in the summer and spend time with Elsie's mother Mrs. Shad. Mrs. Shad was one of the lovely southern ladies who had a wonderful scent that was inherently hers, lilacs and gardenias. A tiny little woman who I can still see in my minds eye teaching me to add spoonfuls of batter to muffin cups a little at a time, "because you see it is so much easier to add a little rather than take some out" . It's funny there is not a time when I make muffins or bake that I don't hear her voice.
When I moved back to Louisville in 2007 Elsie and I would chat on the phone, I particularly remember one evening when she lectured me strongly not to be like her. I can hear her voice as if it were still echoing in the walls, don't live in the past, it's true your husband died and I am sorry and I know you miss him, but Christy Lee do not live the rest of your life alone, this was the only time she ever spoke sternly to me. She knew what she was talking about, Eddie left this life in the early part of the '70's. Elsie never married and only in last 10 years did she have a suitor. I promised her I would not cordon off my heart and I would live life fully.
Why am I remembering all of this? My dear Elsie died this past November and for many reasons that I can't begin to explain I only found out today. My heart is breaking that I was not able to pay my respects for my dear sweet friend. I am grieving, ashamed and embarrassed that I did not call more often to check up her. Or that I did not ask her to post my name and number somewhere so someone could call me in the event that she needed me.
I know that where she is she has forgiven me, I pray in time I can forgive myself.
Please please people if you have elderly in your life that you love, find a way for events in their lives to be passed along to you.
My parents loved them and they likewise loved mom and daddy. Never to have children, why I don't know mom and daddy gave Elsie an Eddie the choice of selecting my name. I'm not sure why or where they came up with Christy; but the middle name of Lee was Eddie's. Maybe that was the start of the strong bond I have always felt for them. Elsie told the story of when in my infancy I was croupy, fussy, she and Eddie would come over after dinner and take me for long rides around town. Yes I was one of those children who was chauffered around town in the days before car seats to be soothed. Why did Elsie and Eddie do it? So simple really, they had the car!
When we went for visit on Saturday evening, the visit would always end with a grand finale and that would be Elsie giving an organ recital and the last song played would be daddy's favorite at full volume, The Battle Hymn of the Republic; played loud enough to shake the pictures on the walls, wake the dead and convert the sinners : )
I remember getting to go for extended visits in the summer and spend time with Elsie's mother Mrs. Shad. Mrs. Shad was one of the lovely southern ladies who had a wonderful scent that was inherently hers, lilacs and gardenias. A tiny little woman who I can still see in my minds eye teaching me to add spoonfuls of batter to muffin cups a little at a time, "because you see it is so much easier to add a little rather than take some out" . It's funny there is not a time when I make muffins or bake that I don't hear her voice.
When I moved back to Louisville in 2007 Elsie and I would chat on the phone, I particularly remember one evening when she lectured me strongly not to be like her. I can hear her voice as if it were still echoing in the walls, don't live in the past, it's true your husband died and I am sorry and I know you miss him, but Christy Lee do not live the rest of your life alone, this was the only time she ever spoke sternly to me. She knew what she was talking about, Eddie left this life in the early part of the '70's. Elsie never married and only in last 10 years did she have a suitor. I promised her I would not cordon off my heart and I would live life fully.
Why am I remembering all of this? My dear Elsie died this past November and for many reasons that I can't begin to explain I only found out today. My heart is breaking that I was not able to pay my respects for my dear sweet friend. I am grieving, ashamed and embarrassed that I did not call more often to check up her. Or that I did not ask her to post my name and number somewhere so someone could call me in the event that she needed me.
I know that where she is she has forgiven me, I pray in time I can forgive myself.
Please please people if you have elderly in your life that you love, find a way for events in their lives to be passed along to you.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A little off
On the off chance someone follows this attempt at blogging, I have been feeling "off" this week, not sure what it is, maybe an ear infection? I feel like my brain is sloshing in my head.
Off to the doc on Monday.
Off to the doc on Monday.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Decisions Decisions
How do you make decisions? I mean big decisions, not the decision to buy or not buy the shoes in every color - no decision there!!
R and I are contemplating a major decision and I am between the proverbial rock and a hard place. There are wonderful pros on both sides, there is one glaring negative on each side. Does that make sense?
No I know not making sense, so let's start over. Both of my daughters live in North Carolina, R and I live in KY. While we have my sister and brother and their families, our church families live in the same city, they're not my girls. We're very close to our church friends they are more like family than friends. Both R and I have individual Bible Studies that we love and look forward too along with a couples Study with dear dear friends.
So what is the decision? I would like to be closer to my girls and their husbands, to be close enough for weekly dinners, to help when needed. To one day be a grandparent. Lately it has been my dream to be the kind of gram that is involved in the child's life and help when we can.
Also, now that my health has dramatically improved I have been yearning for a small yard. A chance to play in the dirt, plant pansies in the fall and watch their happy faces.
That means selling the condo in KY and buying something in NC.
There are lots of what ifs
what if daughters move for employment reasons at some point in the future and we won't be close; do we move again? Is this a wrong reason to move in the first place?
what if we can't find the Church family we feel good to be in
what if we can't get the price for the condo due to this current market
Am I over thinking this?
what if what if what if
What to do? We have been praying for God to guide us, to show us what He wants. God leads us where He wants us to be. We just need to be quiet and listen.
R and I are contemplating a major decision and I am between the proverbial rock and a hard place. There are wonderful pros on both sides, there is one glaring negative on each side. Does that make sense?
No I know not making sense, so let's start over. Both of my daughters live in North Carolina, R and I live in KY. While we have my sister and brother and their families, our church families live in the same city, they're not my girls. We're very close to our church friends they are more like family than friends. Both R and I have individual Bible Studies that we love and look forward too along with a couples Study with dear dear friends.
So what is the decision? I would like to be closer to my girls and their husbands, to be close enough for weekly dinners, to help when needed. To one day be a grandparent. Lately it has been my dream to be the kind of gram that is involved in the child's life and help when we can.
Also, now that my health has dramatically improved I have been yearning for a small yard. A chance to play in the dirt, plant pansies in the fall and watch their happy faces.
That means selling the condo in KY and buying something in NC.
There are lots of what ifs
what if daughters move for employment reasons at some point in the future and we won't be close; do we move again? Is this a wrong reason to move in the first place?
what if we can't find the Church family we feel good to be in
what if we can't get the price for the condo due to this current market
Am I over thinking this?
what if what if what if
What to do? We have been praying for God to guide us, to show us what He wants. God leads us where He wants us to be. We just need to be quiet and listen.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Who Knew
My daughter and son-in-law had an unwanted chicken coop in the backyard of their new home. No chickens just the coop, the pen and an old door.
It looked like this
and this
Not really the look they wanted for their outdoor environment. Not me So what to do? Craigslist to the rescue. I placed an add at 3:30 and immediately I had emails. Not just one or two but 12!!! It sold the next morning with over 17 inquiries. I had emails asking specific questions about the coup, beyond the normal questions of size and age, I was asked what type of chickens, how many chickens could it hold, who knew?
OK we all know I am a city girl, but who knew it would go that fast.
The question is . . . did I under price it or is there that much demand for chicken coops?
It looked like this
and this
Not really the look they wanted for their outdoor environment. Not me So what to do? Craigslist to the rescue. I placed an add at 3:30 and immediately I had emails. Not just one or two but 12!!! It sold the next morning with over 17 inquiries. I had emails asking specific questions about the coup, beyond the normal questions of size and age, I was asked what type of chickens, how many chickens could it hold, who knew?
OK we all know I am a city girl, but who knew it would go that fast.
The question is . . . did I under price it or is there that much demand for chicken coops?
Monday, February 21, 2011
I'm Doing the Best that I can
His mom is 91, suffering from chronic COPD. She calls her lungs greedy, they steal from the rest of her tiny body. She weighs in twice a day, monitoring her body's needs as she monitors the barometric pressure. The higher the pressure the harder she struggles to breathe. She holds her oxygen tubing in her capable hands making it seem more like an exotic string of pearls than her life line. She holds it, twists it and I think of Loretta Young.
She battles bladder cancer and has astonished the docs with her outlook and perspective. She tells them in her quiet southern voice that chemotherapy is not the best option for her but she thanks them just the same. They don't get it or her . . . really . . .if they were honest. They always ask her how she is doing and she always answers "I'm doing the best I can" and for her that's enough.
Would that ever be enough for me? Could I ever be that gracious?
She battles bladder cancer and has astonished the docs with her outlook and perspective. She tells them in her quiet southern voice that chemotherapy is not the best option for her but she thanks them just the same. They don't get it or her . . . really . . .if they were honest. They always ask her how she is doing and she always answers "I'm doing the best I can" and for her that's enough.
Would that ever be enough for me? Could I ever be that gracious?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Do you have one afternoon?
Do you have one afternoon to read a truly amazing little book? I strongly suggest you take the time to read Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.
I love this book and wish I could buy a couple dozen to hand out to folks who are skeptical about there faith, about what happens after this life. It is or has been # 1 on the New York Times Bestseller. This is a little boys astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back, it will fill you with wonder, you will laugh and cry at the same time. Please get it an read it.
I love this book and wish I could buy a couple dozen to hand out to folks who are skeptical about there faith, about what happens after this life. It is or has been # 1 on the New York Times Bestseller. This is a little boys astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back, it will fill you with wonder, you will laugh and cry at the same time. Please get it an read it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)