The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalms 19:1
When I look around and see the beauty of God's creation and the reflection of His glory, I am in awe. Austria is such a beautiful place. It takes my breath away.
(I apologize in advance for all the times I will use the word 'beautiful' in this post. I can't help it. Also, the video's will look fuzzy if you watch them in full screen because they are compressed. Haven't figured out how to fix that yet.)
Today, we had breakfast in the hotel's "coffee shop". It is so quaint I felt like I had stepped back in time. If these walls could talk I bet they could tell some fascinating stories of times past.
Good Morning!
Hotel Sacher Cafe
Good Morning!
After breakfast we walked across the Salzach river into "Old Town". The streets are narrow, the buildings are baroque architecture, there is a beautiful cathedral in the center, and shops and restaurants throughout. It has the feeling of an alpine village only more sophisticated. Old Town is situated directly below the Hohensalzburg Castle which is a prominent landmark in "The Sound of Music".
Old Town
See the castle on the hill?
Old Town
I love these narrow streets.
Hohensalzburg Castle
I'm always interested in the local fashion.
Pretty flowers.
Stan being patient while I window shop.
We were privileged to see the Salzburg Cathedral which is magnificent and has quite a history. In 1598 the original church was severely damaged and was ordered to be demolished. At that time a patron who loved Italian baroque architecture hired an Italian architect to build the new cathedral and in 1614 the first cornerstone was laid. The project took 15 years to complete (which is amazing for back-then and the detail that went into it). It is also the site of Mozart's baptism.
The alter.
Ceiling leading to side alter.
Front alter closer view.
Ceiling above the alter.
One of the domes.
Staircase leading to one of the pipe organs.
There are four pipe organs at each of the four columns.
Mozart gets a lot of press in Salzburg since it is his birthplace but unfortunately we did not have enough time to explore the historical places of the famous composer. Next time!
After our walking tour of Old Town, we hopped in Max and drove out to the country. And what a country it is! Our first stop was that infamous spot in the opening scene of "The Sound of Music" where the aerial shots of St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgangsee were taken. It is beautiful!
St. Gilgen, Austria
Opening scene of The Sound of Music
See the church steeple?
Very happy girl.
For years I have noticed the steeple of the church in those scenes and wondered what the actual church looked like. Well today, I got to find out! We took a spontaneous detour and drove into town and discovered a charming little town very similar to Old Town in Salzburg . . . and I finally got to see the whole church. I did not get a picture of the front because Stan was double-parked and I was trying to hurry, but I was able to get the side view.
Church in St. Gilgen
Church side view.
Cute hotel & restaurant across from the church.
Back on the road we came across a beautiful golf course. We had to investigate. We pulled in to the parking lot and found out there is a Sheraton property with a golf course overlooking the lake. Stan is thinking the next "boys only weekend" should be planned at this location.
Boys only weekend destination.
Golf course overlooking the lake. Nice!
Driving on, we ended up in a town called Bad Ischl. It has a weird name but it is another beautiful place in Austria ~ actually, it is a spa town. Gotta love that! I did not know, but Stan had a specific reason for taking me there. Most of my friends know that my absolute favorite dessert is lemon cake. So . . . as it turns out there is a well-known pastry shop called Cafe Zauner which boosts the best lemon sponge cake. In fact, it is said that Emperor Franz Josef used to visit every day for a slice. So, we drove all the way to Bad Ischl for lemon cake. And it was well worth it! Thanks, Stan! The cafe was really cute - right on the water, outdoor seating and a piano player outside entertaining the guests.
Cafe Zauner - piano player.
Lemon cake at Cafe Zauner
On the way home I saw a patch of open field and asked Stan to pull over. I just had to run over the hill ala Julie Andrews and sing, "the hills are alive" at the top of my lungs. Thankfully, no one heard me. I hope. It was hard to run in sandals. They kept slipping off my feet. LOL.
We got a late start today. We had to check out, gas up, get permits, have lunch and we were finally ready to hit the road. Destination: Salzburg, Austria! Yay! One of my most favorite places in Europe.
The drive from Munich, Germany to Salzburg is only a couple of hours. It's a good thing too because Stan was testing out Maximilian's horsepower on the autobahn. I cannot disclose how fast he was driving because my mother is sure to make a phone call, but let's just say Max can haul!
Yes, I named the car. Maximilian suits him, don't you think? We call him Max for short.
The countryside was breathtaking. As we got closer to the Austrian border the mountains came into view and the contrast of quaint towns and farmlands against a backdrop of mountains was so beautiful. I tried to take pictures but it was very difficult to capture anything more than a blur thanks to Max. We did encounter some road construction for a few miles which allowed me to snap a few pictures but I assure you these shots (and my lack of photography skills especially when hanging out of the window) leave a lot to be desired.
Loved the flower boxes on this farm house.
Germany
Farm in Germany
See the red tractor next to the tree on the left?
Forest in Germany
We arrived in Salzburg late afternoon and found our hotel right in the heart of this beautiful city.
From the web-site:
The Hotel Sacher, formerly the Osterreichische Hof, was built between 1863 to 1866 by the hotelier and master builder Carl Freiherr as an "Austrian court" hotel. It enjoyed great popularity due to its position with members of ruling houses, noblemen, high clergymen and artists. With the beginning of the Salzburg festival, the hotel became the social center of the festival, housing great musicians and heads of European society.
In 1988, the Gürtler family purchased the hotel and I believe that is when it was renamed, The Hotel Sacher, however I'm not certain about the time-line. In addition to renovating the hotel while keeping it's original historical style, another interesting piece of history revolves around a torte! The story goes that in 1832 a 16 year old apprentice cook, Franz Sacher, created a wonderful torte dessert at the court of Prince Metternich. It has since become world famous and the hand-written recipe is a well-kept secret of the hotel. You can bet I am going to have a slice!
This hotel is so nostalgic. All the room keys (yes, old fashioned keys on large key rings) still hang on hooks behind the desk clerk and when you go out for awhile, you give the desk clerk your key to keep for you. (I know security bells and whistles are going off in every reader's head, but hey, it's nostalgic.) The porter stands outside by the front door to assist guests with luggage (just like the movies). The valet, Klaus (who was adorable by the way) escorted me to my room and pointed out where everything was - the closet, the lights, the temperature control, bathroom, and my personal favorite . . . he told me my bath coat was hanging behind the door. How cute is that? I love that I have a bath coat!
I took some pictures of my room and I am also posting a few pictures from the hotel's website so you can see where I am. The pictures from their site are a low resolution so they might look fuzzy when enlarged.
The Sacher Hotel, Salzburg
The Lobby
My Room
The Closet
Stan was disappointed he got the pink room
while I got the blue room.
Today was the day we've been waiting for! Today Stan picked up his new BMW M3 Coupe!
The first thing we had to do was figure out how to get from our hotel to the BMW plant on the subway. I wasn't worried because Stan is so good at figuring these things out. I could be of no assistance because reading German is very difficult.
Sign: Hauptbahnhof
Me: "Stan, are we getting on at Hopin Off? Doesn't make sense." (Followed by hilarious laughter because I think I'm funny.)
Stan: Shakes head and tells me I'm silly.
It's so nice not being in charge. (Did I just say that?!)
Ticket to Olympiazentrum
which means Olympic Center
Look Mom! I'm not losing my stuff!
The BMW complex consists of the BMW Welt (World) which is the showroom where delivery is made, the BMW Museum, the BMW Group Headquarters, and the original plant where some models and BMW engines are made. The whole complex is quite impressive; a must see if you are ever in Munich.
We had a lovely, knowledgeable tour guide who spoke English with an adorable accent. The tour of the plant took us through all areas of production: the Press Shop (where the metal is molded, cut and welded), the Body Shop (where all the body parts are put together by robots), the Paint Shop (fully automated and operated robotically), the Engine Shop, Production of Interior Equipment and Seats, the final Assembly Line (where I finally saw humans working on the cars), and the final Test and Inspection Area. It was amazing to watch robots build a car! The tour guide said the process is 97% automated and yet the plant employs 9,000 people from 50 countries. Can you imagine?
The plant was SO clean and organized. I kept wondering how they keep everything so clean when they are building 900 cars per day. All I do is park my car in the garage and I can't keep it that clean!
After the tour and lunch, it was finally time to meet Stan's baby. Below is a video of the car coming off the elevator, circling the delivery level and being staged for presentation and delivery to Stan. Check it out.
Proud new owner.
Stan getting instructions.
H.A. watching Stan getting instructions.
After all the excitement we were ready for a relaxing dinner and some "non-German" fare. We walked to the City Center area and had dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe. The walk back was enchanting. It was drizzling and thundering in the distance and there was a fresh, clean smell in the air. The pubs and restaurants were filled with happy, noisy people and there were street musicians entertaining the crowds for a tip. I loved the cobblestone streets and old buildings and I was so bummed I didn't have my camera with me.
We came across this street sign and couldn't figure out what it meant. We decided it means moms cannot hold their child's hand in this zone. Stan said it is their version of "hands free".
We decided this one means moms must hold their child's hand between the hours of 10:15 and 22:30.
We were greeted at the airport on Sunday by a driver from BMW named Rolf. He was an excellent tour guide pointing out all the points of interests from the airport to the hotel. Instead of taking the highway, he opted for narrow two-lane roads through the farmlands which were lush and green. At one point he asked us if we would mind making a quick stop at a farm house to buy eggs for his wife. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture; it was adorable.
Our first day was all about getting checked in and getting some sleep. Germany is 9 hours ahead of California so our time clocks were all messed up. Poor Stan had been up for 31 hours so he was exhausted.
MONDAY, JUNE 18
Today we had breakfast at the hotel. Our server was a pretty, young girl who informed us it was her first day on the job. So you can imagine my pause when I ordered water as my beverage and she asked me if I wanted my water with gas or without gas. Hmmmm. "Without gas," I quickly concluded. When she left the table, Stan and I had a good laugh. We figured out she meant "sparkling" or "flat" water.
After breakfast we ventured out on foot to check out the shopping district. I didn't take a lot of pictures today because most of the buildings were pretty standard. However, we did see a few that really stood out. (You can click on each picture to make it bigger if you want a closer look.)
I loved this building with flower boxes at EVERY window!
Fruit and flower stands everywhere.
This is Neues Rathaus - Munich Town Hall. This building has so much architectural detail it's hard to take in. The Neues Rathaus was built from 1867 - 1908 for civic offices. There is an arcade at ground level and there are statues on the upper stories of paupers, gargoyles, dragons and kings. Turrets line the gables and a grand clock tower is at the top.
Neues Rathans, Munich
And for all you fashion conscious fellows ~ taken of the Stefano Ricci store window ~ here is a sampling of what the well dressed man will be wearing this season. I dare you.
For some reason a lot of folks were sneezing today which gave me an opportunity to practice my German . . . "Gesundheit!"
The day ended with a luxurious hot stone deep tissue massage at The Meridien Hotel (it was so relaxing) and then a nice dinner with Stan back at our hotel.
Last night Stan and I left Chicago for a 31-day European holiday! This trip is especially exciting for me because Stan made all the plans and arrangements and kept all the details a BIG secret so I have no idea where we are going. That is blind trust, my friends! I was told to limit my suitcase to ONE and given the date and time to show up at the airport.
For those who don't know the background story, back in 2009 Stan told me he was going to buy a new BMW via the "European Delivery" program. He explained that he would be flying to Germany to tour the plant; pick up his car; drive it around for a few weeks; take it back to the plant and they would ship it home to California for him! "Wow! When do we leave?" I asked. We took that trip in June, 2009 and had a blast.
Now, three years later he is trading his car in for a new one and we are doing it again! I never thought I would get to repeat the experience, much less so soon. How cool is that?
I'm hoping to chronicle our trip in this blog so friends and family (especially my mom) can follow along. I am looking forward to seeing where I end up. I hope you enjoy touring the sites with us on the posts that follow.
SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE
I cannot describe how amazing our flight was! We were showered with service in first class on a Lufthansa flight. It was like flying in a living room. When we boarded, we were greeted by the flight staff, there was a red rose on every seat, and from beginning to end we were spoiled rotten! I take many flights between Los Angeles and Chicago every year on Southwest and may I just state the obvious? There is absolutely no comparison!
Just before dinner, my flight attendant brought me pajamas, slippers, a bathroom kit and a blanket and told me I could slip in to something more comfortable any time I liked. After dinner she asked me if I would like her to wake me for breakfast or just let me sleep if I appear to be sleeping soundly. Oh, my.
When I went to the bathroom to change, I was blown away that there was actually room to turn around, there was a full length mirror, make-up vanity lighting and my favorite, a window! Since I was the only female traveling in first class, I took my sweet time in "my" bathroom enjoying the view.
Did I mention my seat reclined (almost) flat into a bed?
I grip tighter. Maybe if I re-group, re-evaluate. There must be a way to make this work. What am I missing?
"Me."
Romans 8: 32 - He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all ~ will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
In my previous post I shared that I am growing in the understanding that by failing to walk in constant communion with God (in every moment, in every situation), I am choosing to rely on my own ability, my own wisdom, my own insight, and my own strength to live. As I have struggled to give up my independence, I am beginning to realize that when I am connected to the Creator of the Universe I don't need anything else! In those times when I feel lack, it is because I am not connecting with God at a deep level. That's when I feel anxious and my mind takes control. I think and plan and worry and stew. I am determined to make things go MY way. I pour all my resources into finding a way to make it work.
Heaven help me! I forget that He is in charge of my life. He has the answer. He is the solution. I am only required to do two things:
1) Let go. Refuse to worry about anything.
2) Switch my focus from the problem to His Presence.
It sounds so simple but it is so hard (at least for me, it is). It is a constant discipline which I have yet to master. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit continues to invite me to come; and when I do, I am never disappointed. To the degree that I submit, I am filled.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we fix our eyes ~ not on what is seen ~ but on what is UNSEEN, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
In my continuing quest to meet God right here, right now, I have been struggling with laying every thing else aside and focusing on Him. One of the roadblocks is my To Do List. (Ah, yes . . . the perpetual To Do List.) It's that running list I keep in my head at all times of all the things I need to do to gain control of my life. The idea is that if I can just cross everything off my list, I will find peace and be able to relax.
The problem is that I never seem to get ahead of my list! No sooner do I make some headway, when a whole new batch of things crop up that need attention. I try harder. Run faster. Work later. There is just no time to meet God NOW and take advantage of my access to His presence.
Isn't that crazy?
If I made time for His presence, He would help me sort out what is important. He would give me the strength I need to face the challenges in my life. He would make me more efficient and effective. Even my failures would be recycled into something good! In His presence I would find the peace I am trying so hard to achieve in my To Do List.
Going back to my previous post . . . I am trying to give up my self-sufficiency and embrace unashamed dependence on Him. It's difficult, but I'm working on it.
I was reading a daily devotional recently and the writer was making the point that, "the PRESENT is where God always awaits you." For some reason those words ~ and that realization ~ struck me. I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head.
I decided to dig a little deeper.
What is becoming a revelation to me is that I am meant to live in the present. Right here, right now. Most people (myself included) let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived. They avoid the present (either consciously or unconsciously) by worrying about the future or longing for / regretting the past. Unfortunately by avoiding the present and failing to meet God NOW, we do not take advantage of our access to His glorious presence and all that that entails.
Why is that so important?
I know I am only beginning to scratch the surface of understanding in this area but what is becoming clear to me is that by failing to walk in constant communion with God (in every moment, in every situation), I am choosing to rely on my own ability, my own wisdom, my own insight, and my own strength to live. Heaven help me!
This was never God's design. Since the garden we were created to be intimately connected to Him. God wants us to give up our self-sufficiency and embrace unashamed dependence on Him knowing that His power is made perfect in our weakness. He wants us to seek Him for the answers we need to even the simplest questions; He wants to be our Source; He wants to guide and direct our decisions and choices; He wants to equip us and train us to maturity; He wants to supply what we need when we need it.
It sounds wonderful. The hard part is yielding my stubborn will to utter dependence on Him. I want to voluntarily learn the discipline of meeting Him in the present and learning to see everything from His perspective. I don't think I know how to actively, consistently do this . . . but I am on a quest to find out.
One of the first and most important truths we should know about choices is that we all GET to make them.
The freedom to make choices for ourselves is a God-given right and He is extremely committed to that right. God is the ONLY being in all of creation who could justifiably CONTROL our decisions, and yet He refrains from doing so. He has carefully and clearly laid out a path for us to follow which will lead to blessing. And He has repeatedly warned of the path that leads to destruction. But in the end, He gives us absolute freedom to choose which path we will walk and He weeps when our choices lead to ruin. God places such a high premium on our freedom that He even shies away from forcing us to do things that would benefit us! He understands that we will never learn to love or respond to Him without that costly freedom.
Awareness of our power to choose and our responsibility for the outcome is the first step in understanding choices, decisions and discipline.
Sometimes a thought gets stuck in my head and I can't shake it. It pops up at random times for no apparent reason at all. It starts as a miscellaneous thought and then begins to develop into an "understanding". That's when I know the Holy Spirit wants to teach me something. I love these moments of revelation because they remind me that He is real, He is present, and He is very interested in me and my spiritual growth. So what happened was . . .
About two months ago, I began to think a lot about CHOICES. It all started in the area of healthy diet and exercise. (I guess I was focusing on making better food choices.) One day in my prayer time I asked the Father if He had any thoughts on the subject and if so, would He please give me some insight.
Note to Self: Don't ever ask the Creator of the Universe if He has any thoughts on any subject unless you are prepared for an avalanche! Oh my goodness! (I thought He might say something simple like "lay off the soda". I wasn't prepared for an entire life lesson. Geez!) Thoughts and insight began to come. All of a sudden I became keenly aware of my choices. I started to realize with deeper understanding how my choices impact my life (and my eternity). And I became more aware of God's participation (or lack of) in my choices. He also began to teach me more about DECISIONS and DISCIPLINE. For the past two months I have been trying to take notes as my teacher (the Holy Spirit) has revealed truth to me. He has had to go very s-l-o-w-l-y as my human, stubborn and sinful mind resists the process of renewal. One thing is certain; this is a very important subject to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) – Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I know this lesson is far from completed. In fact, I have only scratched the surface. I am struggling to grasp the higher ways of God and let go of traditional, worldly thinking. It’s not easy, folks! It’s a process.
At any rate, in the next few posts, I will attempt to share some of the insights I have gained. To some readers, this stuff may be "old news". To others, perhaps this will be a good “refresher”. Or to still others, maybe you will experience a few "ah-ha" moments. Either way I would love to hear your thoughts along the way.
NEGLIGENT: failing to exercise the care of a reasonably prudent person in like circumstances.
Three years ago today, my daddy went in to Las Palmas Hospital in El Paso, Texas for surgery. Because of the negligent, deplorable action of one nurse, he never made it home.
I will admit it is very, VERY, difficult to swallow the pain that chokes me as I remember the 10 weeks following daddy's surgery that changed our lives forever. It's still so fresh. It is so hard to look back on events and not wish for a "do-over". Why didn't we choose a different hospital? Why didn't I take daddy to Chicago or L.A. instead? Why did we leave daddy alone that afternoon and go get lunch? If only, if only, if only . . .
Now, three years later, I must reconcile one fact. Sometimes there are no "do-overs". Only lessons.
Upon reflection, here are a few things I have learned:
I have gained a greater and deeper compassion for others who have suffered an "unfair" loss. Before Las Palmas Hospital, I could not in my wildest imagination fathom the depth of someone's pain at losing a loved one because of a care-giver's fatal mistake.
I have stood before God - sometimes strong, sometimes weak - and learned to trust Him regardless of the pain, anger and disappointment I sometimes feel. I trust that He loves me. I trust that He is the God Who Sees. I trust that He will restore.
I have learned what a great and precious gift "hope" is. The hope of His return. The hope of His promise. The hope of being united together with Christ in glory forever.
I have learned that I am not alone. Jesus understands my pain. Remember, He's the One whose sweat became like drops of blood in the agony of the cross. If anybody undertands trauma, He does. Completely.
Well, these are all good lessons . . . no, great lessons. I just wish I didn't have to learn them the hard way.
I have avoided making New Year’s resolutions in recent years because I don't have a very high success rate. I start out strong, but unfortunately I loose momentum by early February when my enthusiasm fizzles out. I chalk it up to lack of discipline and plain ole laziness!
But this year I believe things will be different. The latter half of 2009 I got my hands on some excellent "self-help" resources and have been s-l-o-w-l-y working through the chapters. It has been a very rewarding, enlightening experience and now I feel I am ready to incorporate some of the things I have been learning into some good old fashioned “Goal Setting”.
Why “goals” instead of “resolutions”?
A resolution implies a promise. It’s pass or fail. It has an inflexible ring to it. A goal, on the other hand, is a specifically defined, reachable result. Reaching a goal is tangible progress on my objective(s).
For example:
Resolution: I will work out 5 times a week.
OR
Goal: I want to loose 8 – 10 pounds of body fat by summer. I will incorporate exercise and activity into my lifestyle that will help me achieve the tangible goal of loosing 2 pounds of body fat per month until I reach a total of 10 pounds fat loss.
Actions I Can Take: I can find a walking buddy. I can join a gym and find an accountability partner to make sure I go 3 times per week. I can set aside 15 minutes (first thing in the morning) 3 times per week to hop on my elliptical to jump start my metabolism. I can schedule at least one 45 minute DVD workout at home over the weekend when I tend to avoid exercise. I can find / join a free on-line support group for encouragement, suggestions, information . . . etc.
So, now the question is, what goals do I want to set? Hmmmm . . . the possibilities are endless! I found an awesome questionnaire on a blog that I follow that gave me lots of food for thought. I haven’t finished answering mine yet, but I thought I would share some of the questions with you in case anyone wants to join me in goal setting. If anyone wants the complete list, leave a comment below and I will email you the entire list. Happy New Year and may you achieve all of your goals in 2010!
Food for Thought Compiled by Tsh @ Simple Mom
I. Personal Growth 1. What character traits would you like to see developed in your life this year? What are some specific steps you can take to develop these? 2. What are some of your learning goals for this year? 3. What books would you like to read this year? 4. What spiritual goals would you like to focus on this year?
II. Physical Health 1. What is one area of progress you’d like to see this year for maintaining or improving your physical health? 2. What are some tangible, daily choices you can add to your life that will improve your health?
III. Marriage & Family Life 1. In what ways can you grow in intimacy with your spouse this year? 2. What plans will you make to pray and/or have “family meetings” together? What books would you like to read together this year? 3. What will regular family time look like in your family this year? 4. Do you have specific planned vacation time in mind for this year? What needs to happen to make this vacation a reality?
IV. Goals for Your Children 1. What are ways you’d like each of your children to grow in the following areas? a. Physically: b. Emotionally: c. Relationally: d. Spiritually: e. Educationally: f. Other:
V. Money Matters 1. What is one specific area of progress you’d like to see this year in your financial health? 2. How much debt do you have? In what ways can you eliminate a portion of it this year? 3. How is your savings account? In what ways can you save more money this year? 4. Are you giving regularly? If not, in what way can you give financially this year?
VI. Relationships Outside the Home 1. In what specific way would you like to grow in relating to your friends this year? 2. What are some ways you can be of service to your immediate community? 3. Who are some specific people in your life that can use some encouragement? What will you do to encourage them this year? 4. Who are some people in your life that you admire? What are some practical ways you can positively use their influence in your life?
I am so blessed to have a house in California! I am especially grateful this time of year when the weather in Chicago is so COLD. Don't misunderstand, I love living in Chicago too. To me it is the most beautiful city in the United States . . . but, not in the winter!
Recently I took a few pictures of my little town in California - Camarillo. I thought I would share them with those of you who have never visited before, or haven't been here for awhile.
Today I went in to the local Subway shop to get a sandwich. The shop is a combination Subway and ice cream place. I didn't eat in - just picked up something to go.
As I was paying at the register I realized something.
The entire shop was completely VOID of Christmas. There were no lights, no Christmas tree, no garland, no holiday music . . . absolutely NOTHING. The realization stopped me in my tracks. I was actually stunned. I turned and asked the kid behind the counter about it and he seemed almost as surprised as I was. It was as if it was the first time he had realized there was not a single acknowledgement of the season. I also asked the girl behind the ice cream counter why there were no decorations and she just shrugged and said, "Oh, yeah. I guess I should put up some stockings or something," YA THINK?
What in the world is happening? Where is the Christmas spirit?
Since my last post I have been trying to adjust my attitude regarding Christmas and I have been reminding myself to focus on the reason we celebrate it. Last night for instance, I devoted my prayer time to giving thanks for the precious gift I have been given in Jesus. I tried to imagine what my life would be like without the gift of salvation, the promise of heaven, and the blessing of being His own. It would be pretty grim without Him.
Okay, I'll admit it. I'm struggling. I'm torn. I have a love / hate relationship with Christmas.
Did I say that out loud?
Oh . . . I guess I don't really "hate" Christmas. That's too strong of a word. Maybe it's more like, "I'm afraid I will not experience . . .
That picture-postcard perfect Christmas with a beautifully decorated (live) tree that fills the house with the intoxicating scent of pine,
Perfectly chosen, perfectly wrapped gifts that no one will re-gift next year,
A crackling fire in the fireplace,
Mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen,
A loving family gathered together around the piano singing Christmas carols in perfect harmony,
A tangible gentleness that settles over neighbors, shoppers, co-workers, friends and strangers who are all on their best behavior in honor of the Christmas season.
In short, am afraid I will be disappointed - AGAIN."
I know what you're thinking. "Really, H.A.! With unrealistic expectations like that it's no wonder you're afraid of being disappointed!"
Well, I can't help it. I long for the ideal. I want to experience the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I want the love of Christ to fill my heart, my home, my family, my friends, my business, my city, my state, and my nation!! I want the miracle of Luke 2:13, "And suddenly to the shepherds there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth PEACE and GOODWILL toward men!'"
I want my response to be the same as those who experienced the first Christmas. Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Zacharias, the angels, the shepherds, Simeon, all basically had one response . . . praise and thanks and blessing and glory to God. The saviour of the world has come!
And . . .
I also want the Norman Rockwell / Thomas Kincaid Christmas. I miss having "traditions" to look forward to. For some reason I have never been able to create them. I don't have a special recipe, an annual photo, a special party dress or an occasion to wear one! Last year my sister-in-law Rosanne decorated the house from top to bottom and believe me it was stunning. Not a single person came over! I tried to pull various entertaining opportunities together but because of the hustle and bustle that attends the holidays, everyone was just too busy with their own plans. It was sad.
I'm not trying to sound pathetic. I'm merely trying to process my love / hate relationship with Christmas.
Maybe this year will be different. Maybe I am being unrealistic. Maybe I've watched too many old movies.
I had a dream about my dad last night. I was being attacked by a snake and he rushed out of the house with his rifle and shot it. I was so glad he was there to save me.
I miss my dad. It has been two years since he passed away and the ache of his loss still squeezes my heart. Unfortunately many of the memories that flood my mind are unpleasant, painful memories of his last weeks in the hospital. I run circles around the “why” and “what if” questions. I go back in my mind and try to re-write the events that transpired and change the outcome. I cry. I shout. I pound my pillow. I grieve.
I can relate to King David.
Psalms 6: 6-7: I am worn out from sobbing. Every night tears drench my bed; my pillow is wet from weeping. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
But thankfully, dawn comes.
And with it; hope.
After a night of thrashing about I am spent . . . and finally the Comforter can get a word in edge-wise.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14, 16-18 And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever! So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
I am comforted. I have assurance. I will see Daddy again and be with him and the Lord forever. I can hardly wait.
Have you ever been faced with a problem that seems to have NO solution? Something that seems totally out of your hands? A problem that follows you around all day - taunting, nagging, distracting you?
Me too.
My type A personality hates those kinds of problems. I'm more of a "jump in and fix it" kind of girl. Standing by the sidelines unable to spring-in-to-action is the worst kind of torture for me.
Psalms 37:7 says, "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."
My friend Janna forwarded me a cool "redneck" email. You've probably heard the "you might be a redneck" jokes by Jeff Foxworthy, right? Well, the email I received from Janna offered a cool twist on that theme. I don't know who the author is but the fine print at the bottom says, "By Design Publishing". Check it out:
"If it never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One Nation Under God', you might be a redneck."
"If you've never protested about seeing the Ten Commandments posted in public places, you might be a redneck."
"If you still say 'Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival', you might be a redneck."
"If you stand and place your hand over your heart when the National Anthem is played, you might be a redneck."
"If you bow your head when someone prays, you might be a redneck."
This date rolls around every year. It must. It's set in stone. It's my birth-date.
Its funny how differently one feels about one's birthday as they get older. I remember anticipating my special day with great joy and expectation when I was a little girl. I loved being the center of attention and getting to be the princess for the day. Thoughts of birthday parties, presents, cupcakes, and outings with friends are still fresh in my mind.
Now things are a little different. I dread adding one more year to the "how old are you?" question. I don't like looking too closely in the mirror and seeing those tell-tale signs of aging. I'm sometimes anxious about how quickly time is passing and realizing that I might not actually reach my goal of becoming a movie star before my life is over! And is it really possible that motherhood will never find me?
Sigh.
But then something sweet and wonderful happens. I read an encouraging email from a dear friend telling me how important I am to them. I listen to a cheerful voicemail of the "Happy Birthday Song" sung by a loved one who can't carry a tune in a bucket but who sings for me anyway. I receive a funny card in the mail reminding me that age is just a number and as long as I still have all my teeth I have reason to celebrate! My mom calls and tells me the story (again) of the day I was born. And most importantly, the precious Spirit of God whispers in my ear, "You are relevant. You have been bought with a price. You are Mine. I love you yesterday (in-spite of your failures). I love you today (as you walk out My plans for you). I'll love you forever (because that is My promise)."
Ahhhh.
So today begins another chapter in my life's story.
