Pay it Forward

So, the hubby and I did some last minute shopping while my dad watched the kiddies. We were on our way home, when we stopped for a quick bite at Arby's. We pull to the drive-thru window and the worker tells us that the lady in front paid for our sandwich and to wish us a Merry Christmas!
There was no one behind us to pay it forward and there was no one in line, so we will definitely be paying it forward tomorrow while we are out.
As we were heading home, I started to cry and my husband asked me what was wrong. I simply couldn't believe it, I know it was only a burger, but I've never been the recipient of random acts of kindness from a stranger.
Granted, I've done it several times, but never have I expected it to happen to me, so I was completely caught off guard and was simply touched by her kindness to a stranger...or shall I say, "Christmas spirit."
We can't wait to go out tomorrow, just so I can find the opportunity to do the same. She really made my night!
So thank you kind stranger...it is much appreciated!


"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." ~Aesop

Are You There Christmas Spirit...

Yes, Christmas is only a few days away and as I was finishing up some of the “homemade” gifts, my hubby asked who those all were for. I told him and to him I know it is not his thing, but I enjoy it and we ended up having a conversation about things and I got a bit bummed about it. Now I have debated on whether or not to give these out to everyone I planned or to those who I know would appreciate it or not at all.
So, last night as I was reading bedtime books to the kids and we were talking about our nativity set, who was who. The kids were asking questions and so we read a book about the birth of Jesus. Then we read the Grinch who Stole Christmas and as the kids drifted off to sleep, I thought where is my Christmas Spirit, do I have Christmas spirit and what exactly is it?

Is it the person who is most festive? The one who outshines everyone with their gifts, their tree, the cards they send out, ornaments, and such? Is it the holiday songs, the giving and receiving as you break your bank account, spending it with family and friends, baking or all of it combined? Do you go about your day a little happier or hopeful? Is it putting differences aside for a day of celebration? Or is the warm fuzzy feeling you get inside, like when you look at someone you love?
If you take away the ribbons, the packages, the trees, and all the other glittery things, what is left? Is Christmas Spirit something that stays year round or only during the holidays? Can it be lost, forgotten, stolen?
I asked my son in the morning…what do you think Christmas Spirit is? He jumps up and down and loudly says,” it is Santa coming and a baby being born and giving stuff”…that is it and not stealing presents like the Grinch. His response made me laugh. I asked my little girl and she says, “it’s being with people you love,” her response made me smile.

I know that it can mean different things to people and perhaps there is no right or wrong answer. As with any holiday, Christmas has become so commercialized that where are the basics? I don’t feel like I’m any more cheery or festive during the holiday, besides saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to those around me. I do see some who are more festive and cheerful during this time of year, so I thought, do I just not have it or do I just not get it?

To me, Christmas spirit isn’t anything different than what should take place during the year…it’s being thankful for your blessings – what surrounds you, but again, I really don't know, I do like Linus' (from the Peanuts) explanation - perhaps that is it.

"Christmas is forever, not for just one day,for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself..."~Norman Wesley Brooks

Christmas Traditions around the World

While we were on vacation, we went to Epcot...the hubs had never really spent time there and neither had I, so we thought we would go and while we were their they were celebrating Christmas Traditions around the world.

We listened to Pere Noel (from France) talk about how the creche is the main focus around Christmas time with little santons that depicted not only the navitiy scene, but also local public figures, which I thought was neat.

He also held up a shoe with a name tag attached, which the kids looked puzzled about..."what does a shoe have to do with Christmas?" Pere Noel explained how the children in France leave shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel.

It was fun listening to him and learning something new....I think it would be neat to experience Christmas somewhere different, perhaps someday.

I remember spending Christmas back in New Zealand with my grandparents and Father Christmas filled our pillowcases with treats and we continued that tradition in our family up till I was about 8 and then I believe someone sent us stockings with our names on them, so out went the pillowcases, which I completely forgot about till now. My kids have stockings, but I remember the excitement I felt as I carried my "huge" pillow case around the house filled with goodies (mostly fruit and socks). And yes, Santa was called Father Christmas and even now occasionally Father Christmas will slip out of my mouth instead of Santa, I will get a look from my little ones, but the kids have gotten used to it, most often he has become Santa. However, I do feel there is a bit of nostalgia attached to Father Christmas, but that could only be because it reminds of me of childhood.

Tomorrow is Winter Solstice and if you were not aware a rare event not seen in 372 years will occur early Tuesday morning. A total lunar eclipse coinciding with the winter solstice, pretty neat.

Our tradition is to make something for the animals (birds, squirrels, etc...) outside...last year we did the peanut butter/birdseed pinecones and I think this year we will do a garland with cranberries. As with any holiday, there are many traditions with Winter Solstice and our purpose in recognizing this holiday is to expand upon the different holiday traditions as well as family bonding. If you catch the luner eclipse...enjoy it, they are also saying there will be little meteor showers! I'm not sure if we will get to glimpse it or not...I hope so.

"Shall we liken Christmas to the web in a loom? There are many weavers, who work inot the pattern the experience of their lives. When one generation goes, another comes to take up the weft where it has been dropped. The pattern changes as the mind changes, yet never begins quite anew. At first, we are not sure that we discern the pattern, but at last we see that, unknown to the weavers themselves, something has taken shape before our eyes, and that they have made something very beautiful, something which compels our understanding." - Earl W. Count

Salt Scrubs and Seashells

Yes, I'm making Salt Scrubs as gifts this year....in the spring I made the Lavender Sugar Scrubs, so I thought I would try a salt scrub this time. The kids are helping me pour the salt and add the other ingredients. They are also taking their seashells that they collected and making christmas ornaments out of them. Each year for Christmas they make some craft to give out and they decided to make seashell ornaments, so that will be our project this weekend.

We are making two different kinds of salt scrubs...a Chamomile Salt scrub and a Rosemary Salt Scrub.
My ingredients are olive oil, sea salt (or epsom salt), and rosemary or chamomile, which I blended the chamomile with a touch of vanilla and it smells great. I can't wait to try them out!!!

Below is the blended chamomile

and the rosemary

And here is the finished Salt Scrub using the Chamomile

And here is the Rosemary salt scrub

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." ~Harlan Miller

Back Home

We went on a mini vacation and came back today...it was a fun filled trip. However, why is it that it takes so much planning and then in an instant it is over...poof..done.

We booked this trip back in August and so looking forward to it for some time, we used the hotel points the hubs had built up, which was great because we only had to pay for two nights during the entire time. This trip was part of the kids christmas present and they seemed to enjoy it. The weather was a bit chilly for Florida, but it wasn't snowing!

We went to Honeymoon Island and Tarpon Springs, which was great...we wanted to go to Caledesi Island, but the day we went it was pretty foggy and they shut down the ferry, so we couldn't get across.

The kids had fun playing at the beach and the kids asked all sorts of question when we looked for shells. We saw dolphins every morning from our room and the kids couldn't believe it. My sweetpea took her writer's workshop papers and wrote about what she saw and did for the day. My little man took his own spin on the writer's workshop papers and wrote letters. We visited some family while we were there, which is always nice and I even got to see an old friend from high school who is living down there now.

We collected several shells that we are going to make christmas ornaments from, the kids are also taking what they collected to their classrooms, so they can share their experience.

It was nice to have a whole week just spending it with the hubby and kids.

It's always nice to return home, but we went to the store to get some groceries everything seemed so mundane and blah. I don't know if it is because we returned home to snow or what the deal is, but we wanted to go back to the semi-warm weather, but alas it is back to reality for now.

"A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia." ~Author Unknown

Holiday Traditions

My kids have been learning about different holiday traditions at school. Most recently they have been discussing Chanukah. The classrooms made potato latkes and today I was a parent volunteer for my little man's class. I have never made potato latkes before, so this was even a new experience for myself and they were rather good, a bit bland, but good.
I have also picked up a couple different holiday books that focus on different traditions, tonight we read Hoppy Hanukkak and afterwards, my wee man says, "I wish we were Jewish."
And my sweet pea, says, "yea, me too, we could play the dreidel." And then she asked how we can become Jewish. Such simple questions, with such complex answers.
I told them that my great-grandmother on "nana's" side was Jewish, but that my nana was not brought up Jewish and so nana was not raised Jewish and neither was I.
Those that know me, know that we are not "practicing" a religion in our home, but we will raise our children to believe there is a higher spirit and to have a knowledge of faith. We want them to be respectful of every person, tolerant and loving individuals and to know that what you put out, comes back.
Will this cause confusion with my children? I don't think it will, but I'm no expert...we live in a diverse world and I want my children to appreciate that diversity, when they are adults perhaps they will find a religion that best suits them, for now I'm happy that they are curious about the different holiday traditions they are learning about. As a parent, I can't just say it...I too have to show my kids, our children aren't born hating others, they learn that behavior, so I try to remind myself..."if my kids were to only copy my behavior, is it something I would want them doing?"
It is easy to get caught up in our own world, but I don't want my kids to be ethnocentric - I want them to see that just because something may be different, doesn't mean that it is necessary wrong or right, but just appreciate the difference.
So, another holiday tradition that we will be adding is making potato latkes and if I can learn how the "how to's" of playing dreidel, perhaps that too. Our holiday traditions may be a mix of christian, wiccan, jewish, and more, but at least it will be interesting to say the least.

What holiday traditions will you be practicing this year? Feel free to share.....

"He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings..." - Buddha

"When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or white children, or children with two-parent families, or children who didn't have a mental or physical handicap. He said, "Let all children come unto me." - Marian Wright Edelman

Every little bit helps....

I came across this blog via a site I follow on Facebook...so I clicked on it and her story pulled at my heart. I simply find it tragic that someone can not only beat cancer, but survive and live life yet be "uninsurable." So any medical emergency becomes a financial burden and that is exactly what has happened to this woman.
She is a local business owner with a small toyshop in Valley Junction, a cute store with unique toys, I've been in there a few times for things.
It's the holiday season, everyone is strapped for cash and we are still paying for the medical bills from my little man's surgery last year as well as my emergency hospital trip, but I feel for this woman. I would hate to see her lose her business...so I made a small donation. It was very small, but I hope that every little bit helps and perhaps if enough people donate, she can cover the expenses.
If you would like to see her story click here

"For it is in giving that we receive." - St. Francis of Assisi