MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Life and Death

Now that I have actually realized what I was doing with trying NOT to get in to the spirit of Christ-mas, I am going CRAZY trying to think up things I can do to make up for my stupidity (because that is all it was, really...utter stupidity). I mean, there is PLENTY I could be doing, really. But in the next week? And with Streptococcus in my stomach? I can't do everything possible, so I have to get creative and think of what I CAN do!

On a different note, KIM JONG IL IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!! (Just to make sure there is no confusion, the exclamation marks are those of celebration and joy.)

CHRISTmas

I am resisting Christmas, or should I say CHRIST-mas, this year.

And I am surprised and disgusted with myself.

I don't want to serve anyone but Taiger. I don't want to not give him gifts. I don't want to move my hand from in front of my eyes and see past Taiger! This Christmas is about Taiger! And Taiger ONLY! That is my mantra. I mean, I have been sewing gifts for family members. I bought a gift for one of our friends in China. I don't want everything else.

Or do I.

I hate how I feel about things this year. "I am too busy to worry about anything but making Christmas perfect for Taiger!" I will worry about everything else "later". No time right now! Taiger and I had a special experience of serving someone else...can't that be enough?!

Tonight, I finally forced myself to take a peek past myself and Taiger. But I am still resisting.

I want the Christmas tree (it is our first year to buy our own!!). I want the really special gifts I got Taiger. I want the wrapping paper. I want the decorations. I want the magical feeling.

But what is that so-called "magical feeling"? It is the feeling of "I-Want". The "magic" of getting exactly what I WANT.

So, I push myself down. I throw off the blind fold and I taste the bitter reality. I have to look past my front door, beyond my street lined with twinkling red and green lights. Past the shopping mall and the Christmas tree farms. And into the stable where Christ was born.

I see the starving. The naked. The orphaned. The widowed. The homeless. The sick. The lonely.

And what do I do? What can I do? What should I do?

Where does CHRISTmas settle in my heart? I have eight days to find it a resting place in my heart.

Sad

It's heartbreaking the way one person can ruin the happiness of a home.

Ready to Make A Bear?!

So, I just read THIS and I am already so excited about it. (I am supposed to be doing homework, as I have PILES of it due. Instead, I was looking on facebook and found this great service project, and now I am all psyched about it and HAD to blog about it! I hope my professors will understand...)

Primary Children's Medical Center is an amazing hospital in Salt Lake City. They have served children from the Idaho/Utah area, as well as children from all over the US, and all over the world! We have friends whose lives have been blessed by this wonderful hospital and their caring staff.

My heart goes out to all of the patients at Primary Children's. They endure so much. Their families, too, suffer as they watch their precious children suffer. When I saw this project, I KNEW Taiger and I HAD to be involved.

So, here's the scoop. I guess people make these little teddy bears and donate them to the hospital. The hospital gives a bear to each admitted child. The child then gets to "decorate" the bear. I imagine they draw faces and probably clothes, etc. on the bear. But maybe friends, family, doctors, nurses, etc. could WRITE on the bear a message of love and hope for these children. Anyway, the way these bears could lift a spirit, give comfort to a frightened child, and be a faithful friend who a child may otherwise feel so alone is almost unimaginable to me. BUT...I know I want to make it possible. So, let's get sewing! Here is the process in pictures. You can download the pattern HERE.

Now...I have decided to do something REALLY crazy. (Really.) For every bear that a family member/friend/blog-buddy donates, I will donate one. So, if 50 bears are donated, I will make 50 bears myself to total 100 donated bears. Get it? So, if you make a bear, take a picture of you with your bear and send me the picture or post it to your blog and send me the link. I will make a bear to match your bear!

So, go start sewing! See how late you can make me stay up at night sewing! I hope we get HUNDREDS of these and I am sitting at that sewing machine for DAYS on end! :)

Good luck!

Taiger Baggins

LOOK! Taiger is a STAR!

Thank you, Hue (of Hue and Hum) for hosting this fun little "event" and for selecting my son as one of your top ten! You ROCK! (umm...and paint ;) )

Happy Halloween

I hope you all had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!