RazNoggle

As kids we used to accuse our Dad of being like Scrooge or the Grinch. He took it in stride and playfully fulfilled his role as we all bounced off the walls full of Christmas excitement as we decorated the tree, listened to nothing but carols over and over, and snuck around with mysterious secrets hidden around the house.

He wasn’t really a Grinch or a Scrooge though, and was and is one of the most generous givers at Christmas. Still, he doesn’t want to go out on Christmas eve to buy “Hobbs’ loot” and who could blame him for that?

This year I have discovered why the Grinch really stole Christmas. Here’s my hypothesis:

The Grinch used to love Christmas a LOT. The nostalgia of the season, the anticipation of gifts, given as much as received, the lights, the traditions, the treats. Then the Grinch got married and had kids.

Life changed and the Grinch now had a lot of responsibility. Now the Grinch has other motivation for making Christmas wonderful, the kids. The kids need to have amazing Christmas times, and get lots of special gifts, and eat and help make treats and wrap gifts, and learn to sing carols. The only problem is, the kids are wild, crazy hoodlums.

Instead of having nostalgia making experiences decorating the tree, there are nuclear meltdowns because the ornaments “won’t stay!” Hmmm… perhaps try placing the HOOK over the branch. Yeah. So the Grinch packs up most of the ornaments just to remain calm, and the tree is still festive with the “shatterproof” ornaments. However the Grinch can’t wait till all of them can be put away again since they are frequently redecorated, and rolling all around the house every day.

The treats to make together and eat while laughing yuletide magic, never get made because the Grinch has little people who hang on legs, and spill things everywhere, while whining and fussing about any and all “difficulties” that can arise while such projects are going on. And the mess to be cleaned up by the Grinch certainly chases away the Christmas spirit. The Grinches attitude gets less and less Christmas-like with every attempt to “do” Christmas.

The Grinch has had enough of stepping on legos, and putting away toys, and in general cleaning up messes that the Grinch didn’t make. All of the kids toys go into storage since they won’t exert enough responsibility to pick up after themselves. Now the Grinch dreads the opening of gifts and the ensuing chaos that will be Christmas Day.

The Grinch is starting to dread Christmas. The Grinch gives serious thought to dressing up the dog Cisco as a reindeer and sneaking into “whoville” to take all the presents, and trees, and trimming, and roast beast and hurling them off of the tall cliff. That’s what REALLY happened to the Grinch, I’m pretty sure.

But in all seriousness I’d like to yell in Charlie Brown style, “Doesn’t anybody know the real meaning of Christmas?” And I’d have to ask myself as much as anyone. I’m doing some serious Christmas-reconsideration lately. I know that right now my kids are small, so some of the Christmas “nostalgia” is just not really going to happen. When they are bigger and will be more responsible and helpful, THEN we can make treats and have fun through the making AND clean up. THEN we can go caroling and pass out goodies to the elderly. THEN we can put the fragile ornaments up on the tree.

But until THEN, I’m going make Christmas more simple. I think in upcoming years we are going to set some boundaries for Christmas giving, and really focus as a family on blessing others through giving gifts that matter and make a difference. And that’s something we can start doing NOW instead of waiting till THEN. And perhaps this particular Grinch’s heart can grow 3 sizes each Christmas.

Here is an article of one family’s Christmas traditions begun, surprisingly, by their 5 yr old. No family will do things the same way, but this is an interesting take on celebrating Jesus’ Birthday.

“Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Movie” Have you seen that quote? It floats around on pinterest. I’d have to agree with it. I seldom completely enjoy movies that have been made from stories that I have read. I can handle it okay if it’s the other way around and I see the movie first. But my active imagination builds such detailed characters and places from books that I read, that the movie is bound to be a disappointment on some level because it won’t match what has gone on in my head. Also, not sure if it’s a blessing or curse, but I remember nearly every detail of stories that I’ve read, especially if I’ve read it more than once, and the movie can never capture EVERYTHING that an author can put in a book, ya know? I try not to get my hopes up, and I’m able to watch several movies from books with just a teeny shudder now and then. BBC’s Pride and Prejudice I can watch and enjoy. The newer version I don’t like as well, but it has fond memories attached since I saw it with my hubby as a newlywed over our first Thanksgiving together. Awwwww!

Yesterday I finally watched the BBC rendition of Jane Austin’s “Persuasion.” Stu gave it to me for Christmas last year, because it was one I had asked for. I think it took me so long to finally watch it because I was nervous about it “ruining” the story. LOL! While I did cringe at certain changes in the story, I mostly enjoyed the movie. It won’t become one of my “top 5” I imagine, but it’s a nice chick flick to have on while folding laundry.

My biggest disappointment with it was the actress that played Anne Elliot. Anne is the deepest character of Jane Austin’s writings. Elizabeth Bennett is a wit, but Anne Eliot is a sage. Ha ha! Unfortunately the gal who played her seemed to have but one outstanding ability which was to make her eyes bug out of her head at every other scene. So that was a little difficult, but as far as the story goes, and it’s a pretty detailed and complicated book to put on a screen, I think they did okay. I will watch it again sometime, but I’ll still get more enjoyment out of reading the book.

So if you’re looking for a wholesome show to watch with some romance and a little adventure in it, go ahead and give this one a shot.

We got some sad news today. Our friend who worked with us during Camp on Wheels in Canada, Heather Burrill, has stage 4 brain cancer. She had a large tumor removed from her brain nearly 2 weeks ago. Heather has 2 little boys the oldest is 2 and the other is just a baby.

It hit me kind of hard today when I read the update on facebook. It’s not that I didn’t expect that the outcome would be cancer. They had pretty much been told that it would be. But when you read “stage 4” and “15-18 month life expectancy” it kind of hits you in the gut. I had already figured in my mind that she would fight a battle with this cancer and win and go on to see her little ones grow up and bless so many more hearts with her sunshiny smile.

Heather is one of those bubbly people that just make you feel happy to be in a room with them. She is so full of life and energy! She has a servants heart if I ever knew one, and a burden to help people know Christ. I know that she is not going to shirk from the road that is before her feet. I’m struggling with it though.

I wish it didn’t have to happen. I do know that God’s ways are not ours, and I can’t understand. It breaks my heart that those 2 little lads are never going to know the amazing person that is their mommy! It hurts me to think that her husband Kevin is going to be a single Daddy and likely have to leave his current ministry in order to have help bringing up his boys. I don’t understand ways like this. I had a hard time tonight singing my own lads to sleep knowing in my mind that this friend of mine will not have many more opportunities to sing to her own babies.

But it’s not about me. I can rage in my head all about how it’s not fair, or it doesn’t seem right. In the end though it’s my responsibility to submit. No, I can’t understand and never will this side of heaven. Even though it breaks my heart that there can be so much WRONG with this world, I still know, beyond any doubt, that God is good. Someday when I can see Him face to face, I don’t think that all the stored up “why’s” will be the first thing on my mind. In fact, I doubt that I will ever get around to asking them. The whys aren’t going to be important because of who He is and all that He has done for me!

Even though my heart hurts and will through this life, I know that Heaven will be a little brighter when I get to meet Heather there again. We sorrow not as those who have no hope!

Please pray for the Burrill family. Especially in the next few days as treatment options are discussed and many decisions have to be made for their little family. Thanks!