I don’t stand a chance of receiving the “world's best” mother, much less mother-in-law of the year award by being a pain - a royal pain.
All this time I thought being royal meant you can have whatever you want whenever you want. Wishful thinking.
My husband has to gently remind me from time to time to “just chill.”
Trying to rally all of my family together to celebrate the glorious season of Christmas can be challenging. Bah Humbug. Tis’ the season to be jolly. Right? Right.
Reminding myself to be mindful of others and to put aside my wants, needs, expectations is an all out feat. It ain't all about me, although sometimes I want it to be. Selfish, I know.
It is important to me that my kiddos foster traditions that work best for their spouse, children and dynamics of their family. Consciously choosing to roll with change will reap huge benefits when it comes to spending time with my precious ones.
Christmas with the Kranks is a 2004 American Christmas comedy film based on the 2001 novel “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham. Despite critics' reviews that the movie lacked humor, I thought it was hilarious.
Award winning neighborhood Christmas experts, Luther and Nora have empty-nest syndrome. They decide to beat the yuletide blues by doing the unthinkable: boycott the holiday and spend their money on a ten-day Caribbean cruise.
At this moment, some of you are wondering if I am contemplating skipping Christmas. I would never. Christmastime is the season of wonder.
Morgan, Tanner and Levi, I do hereby solemly promise to never think about skipping Christmas. Although, a Caribbean cruise does indeed sound wonderful.
Luther and Nora’s unconventional decision sparks chaos and complete uproar in the Chicago suburban neighborhood.
Vic, the leading “Who” of Who-ville, forms a campaign to force the Kranks to free Frosty and decorate their home.
My favorite part is when Vic’s accomplice, Walt, encourages carolers to sing on the front lawn of the Kranks’ home to help revive their grinch-like spirit.
“I think some Christmas cheer would do them good.”
“Really?”
“Why don’t you go ahead?”
“Alrighty then.”
“Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh or the fields we go laughing all the way…”
Caroling, or the medieval tradition known as wassailing, may be falling to the wayside.
There doesn’t seem to be a definitive history behind the tradition of Christmas caroling. It dates back to the middle ages and an older tradition of wassailing.
According to www.grunge.com, during the Middle Ages, there was a tradition called "wassailing." As Arcadia Publishing explains, wassail was derived from an Old Norse phrase ves heill, which loosely translates to "be well."
Wassail was also the name of a traditional spiced drink not too different from our modern eggnog or apple cider.
As The Daily Meal notes, back in the days of feudal lords, the peasants who lived under the nobles' protection (but who didn't own the land they worked) lived pretty hard lives.
It became a tradition for them to go and sing carols outside the lord's house, and receive food and hot cups of wassail in exchange.
While wassailing was done during the cold months (when the poor folks might need food and drinks to survive the winter), it wasn't associated with Christmas.
Time to time mischief on the part of the wassailers presented some difficulty. They asked for a “Dickens of a Dessert” and wouldn't leave until they got some.
In accordance with the old definition of wassail, the songs usually focused on wishing their lord good health and good news, which of course lines up well with the spirit of Christmas.
In modern times, caroling is firmly associated with the holiday. Cheerful carolers are an iconic part of Christmas celebrations even for non-Christians. Most of the people who head out into the cold to sing traditional tunes don't expect much in return.
December 2006 my daddy was in the midst of a life-threatening health crisis. I know in my heart what Christmas is all about, but it was a struggle focusing on what should have been a joyous celebration. The most wonderful time of the year did not feel so wonderful.
I so appreciate those friends that God places in my path of life’s journey. He knows just what I need and when I need it. Mike and Dreama Wade called and asked, “what can we do for your family?”
“We don't need anything for ourselves.” “Daddy loves music. I know he would enjoy hearing some Christmas songs. Maybe you could gather a few friends willing to go caroling.”
“Here we go a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we go a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen.”
Around 5:30 on a frosty Christmas Eve, my ears heard “yuletide carols being sung by a choir.” Lo’ and behold, when I opened the door there literally were “folks dressed up like eskimos!”
Crowded together on the front porch of the home where I grew up were members of the choir from Faith Baptist Church. What a beautiful sight!
Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
Presenting powerful messages of eternal hope, those beautifully sung melodies provided some much needed holiday cheer.
Thank you, Mike and Dreama, for your thoughtfulness. I am praying for you and your family as I am sure that your Christmas gatherings will be different this year.
Cold-weather and three-part harmony sounds like a great way to give your time away. Gather family and friends and go Wassailing. Please-no mischief.
Since Charles Dickens wrote about “figgy pudding” in his classic book “A Christmas Carol,” it must be good.
I bet somewhere out there is a Mrs. Crachet proudly willing to steam and serve up; “Pudding, like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, blazing in half of half-a-quartern of ignited brandy, and bedlight with Christmas holly stuck into the top.”
Figgy pudding is much like our modern fruitcake. I would love some, but not willing to cause a ruckus over it. If you’re lucky, you may get some wassail!
It isn’t too late to recapture the art of traveling door-to-door spreading tidings of comfort and joy.
Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
We all need gentle reminders of how love came down at Christmastime.
“Lights please.”
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men.” (Luke 2:11-14 KJV)
"That's what Christmas is all about."
Oh, what a glorious night!
Be well! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
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