This morning on the ride in to work, one of the local radio stations announced "This is a SOUND OF THE SEASON!!!" meaning that a carol of some sort was coming up. Now, I normally like carols of all sorts, the instrumentals, the vocals, rocking TSO and ethereal Celtic Woman. The DH on the other hand gets highly irritated when people take a well known carol, say Silent Night, and "jazzify" it up in some way. You know of what I speak: the crazy arrangements and sometimes even crazier singing.
So, I thought back about some of the sounds of the season that may have been heard in my house since we put up the tree on Saturday. Here goes
-Children fighting trying to get the Christmas stuff out of the attic followed closely by the sound of the DH telling them "If you work as a team it wouldn't be so hard."
-The thunk of the Christmas tree box hitting the floor where I dropped the bottom (oops).
-The rustle of the limbs of said Christmas tree (we have a 7.5 foot prelit-white lights-it's a big tree) as the children and I set up the tree in it's itty bitty stand. The organizationers of the D-Day Invasion have nothing on me trying to get Jared to lift his side and Kiersten to move forward.
-Again the rustle of limbs as they whack me in the face when I pull them down and "fluff" and the ensuing murmuring (with some bad words thrown in) from me. I get a picture of the tree in the Charlie Brown cartoons that always eats the kite except the tree is eating me.
-Another bunch of murmuring from me while I try to find all the plugs for the stupid tree. Finally, I go to Mike who is cooking dinner and say "I can't find the other plug in for that side of the tree, it looks crazy with lights only on one side and why don't they put a longer cord in the stupid thing?! Could you please deal with it after dinner?" He looks upon me with that sweet, patient look and probably sees a crazed lunatic with her hair standing on end and scratches from the limbs mentioned before and takes pity on me. I get the sweet patient look a lot during the holidays.
-As we listen to TSO, the kiddies decorate the tree with their own ornaments. Of course, this year the bottom foot of our tree is undecorated to keep temptation from Sally the wonder dog. There isn't any fussing amongst the family, just looking at the pictures in some of the ornaments and reminiscing about how chubby Jared was as a baby or how much Kiersten has changed.
What other things do I listen for at Christmas? Bells, Christmas movies (although I don't watch them and I hate It's a Wonderful Life. Yes, I know, it's sacrilege to hate that movie but I just don't like it). Mike absolutely howling with laughter watching Christmas Vacation and then proceeding to quote the entire movie right along with the actors. Like he says, everything can relate to Christmas Vacation. Mike telling me at 3 a.m. Christmas morning "let's get the kids up, come on, PLEASE!!!!" The patter of feet not so little anymore on Christmas morning. The sound of hours of wrapping in just the perfect paper being ripped to shreds by eager children. Big and little boys alike putting together toys and the big boys "trying it out" before the little guys can play with it. The sounds of family gathered at mom's on Christmas Day and the madness that ensues. We will be missing some this year and it will seem empty without the younger Ervins there.
What are your favorite sounds of the season?
Peace and love y'all!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Who am I?
I've found myself lately really thinking about who I am as a person, an individual. It all started when I asked DH the other day why he called me "my wife" when he was talking to someone that we both know fairly well. This puzzled me, why doesn't he just say Kristi did such and such? DH's answer was that sometimes he was talking to someone that didn't know my name and it's just easier to say "my wife" rather than explain who I am and it has become a habit. I've also noticed other men that do this and want to ask them the same question but refrain. I've also gotten into the habit of introducing myself as whatever kids mom I need to be in that situation. It's irritating.
Who am I? To the world apparently I'm Joe and Vicki's daughter, Mike's wife, the kids' mom, Anita's SIL. Someone stopped me at church a few weeks ago and said to me "Hey, you're back!". No, I never left, that would be my brother's family. This is a person that has known me for years. This wasn't the first time they had made a comment about me leaving and/or coming back. Am I so forgetable? I know that I'm shy and quiet and fairly low maintenance so I'm overlooked a bit (not that I mind most of the time), and that's part of who I am but not everything.
Who am I? To me, I love being a wife and a mom and that is a major part of my life at this time. However, I'm also a person who has all sorts of interests. I love to read. I'm a beginning knitter. I love to learn stuff. I long to travel. I have a horrible temper. Christmas isn't my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving is). I have a silly sense of humor. I have crazy stuff that runs through my head almost all of the time so if you say something to me and I just get a silly smile, it's usually a stray thought that's gone through my head that I find amusing. I dream in color sometimes. I love to cook. I like Impressionist Art. I'm not one for a lot of drama, it's just too tiring. I love naps. I would love to go back to school and learn Russian and Hebrew and more about Art History. I think Russian history is fascinating. I can't do 7th grade math. I like to learn about other religions. I want to go to Italy just to look at the art and go to The Vatican. I wanted to work for a major museum before my life got a tad sidetracked.
What's the point of this? I'm saying sometimes we get lost in our roles as someone else's whatever (parent, child, wife, husband, daughter) that we lose who we are as individuals. Am I suddenly going to become some drama requiring, it's all about me type person? No, that's not who I am. I am me.
I was thinking over this post while I was knitting at lunch (it's a great destresser, as DFC says, it's cheaper than therapy) and I figured out that the people that matter in my life know who I am and that's fine with me. As for the others that don't really know me as me, just an extension of someone else, maybe eventually they'll learn who I am and I'll get to know them.
Peace and love y'all!
Who am I? To the world apparently I'm Joe and Vicki's daughter, Mike's wife, the kids' mom, Anita's SIL. Someone stopped me at church a few weeks ago and said to me "Hey, you're back!". No, I never left, that would be my brother's family. This is a person that has known me for years. This wasn't the first time they had made a comment about me leaving and/or coming back. Am I so forgetable? I know that I'm shy and quiet and fairly low maintenance so I'm overlooked a bit (not that I mind most of the time), and that's part of who I am but not everything.
Who am I? To me, I love being a wife and a mom and that is a major part of my life at this time. However, I'm also a person who has all sorts of interests. I love to read. I'm a beginning knitter. I love to learn stuff. I long to travel. I have a horrible temper. Christmas isn't my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving is). I have a silly sense of humor. I have crazy stuff that runs through my head almost all of the time so if you say something to me and I just get a silly smile, it's usually a stray thought that's gone through my head that I find amusing. I dream in color sometimes. I love to cook. I like Impressionist Art. I'm not one for a lot of drama, it's just too tiring. I love naps. I would love to go back to school and learn Russian and Hebrew and more about Art History. I think Russian history is fascinating. I can't do 7th grade math. I like to learn about other religions. I want to go to Italy just to look at the art and go to The Vatican. I wanted to work for a major museum before my life got a tad sidetracked.
What's the point of this? I'm saying sometimes we get lost in our roles as someone else's whatever (parent, child, wife, husband, daughter) that we lose who we are as individuals. Am I suddenly going to become some drama requiring, it's all about me type person? No, that's not who I am. I am me.
I was thinking over this post while I was knitting at lunch (it's a great destresser, as DFC says, it's cheaper than therapy) and I figured out that the people that matter in my life know who I am and that's fine with me. As for the others that don't really know me as me, just an extension of someone else, maybe eventually they'll learn who I am and I'll get to know them.
Peace and love y'all!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Finishing Up (Better late than never)
Well all, it's been a hectic but fulfilling November. I'm going to finish up the thankful posts today (only one day late) and then we'll move to something else. This final list has been rolling around for the last few days but I've just gotten a spare moment. So, here goes the final 9 things I'm thankful for....
1. Extended family. After spending Turkey day with a bunch of people that I only get to see a few times a year, I'm so thankful for all of them. From the oldest member of our family to the almost youngest (not counting Connor), we're a wacky kind of family. And of course, the craziest of all, cousin William who thinks I'm just the best thing ever (who am I to tell him I'm not?). Also included in that whole crazy mess is Mike's family and Kiersten's extended family. I love them all.
2. A car. My car is currently in the shop being diagnosed with something horrid so we're borrowing dad's "going to the flea market" van. It's hard to look stylish in the van, but, I'm grateful to have wheels to take us places and heat.
3. Speaking of heat... I hate the cold. I'm thankful for heat in my home, my car and my little electric blanket that Mike harasses me to turn on.
4. Legs. I was thinking that I'm thankful for my legs. I can walk, run, skip, hop and sometimes cartwheel (don't ask to see it-it's not pretty) all because of my legs. Sometimes you take the most mundane things for granted.
5. Prayer. I'm so thankful that I can speak with my Father in Heaven whenever, however and about whatever I choose. His line is never busy and he always listens to me. He knows what I need before I can ask for it, but I do need to ask. Sometimes He's going to tell me yes, sometimes He's going to tell me no or not right now, but He always has my best interests in mind and an eternal perspective.
6. A job. I love my job and I'm thankful to have it. I deal with lots of people in the safety of an office. I work for and with great people. At this time when so many people are jobless, I'm jobful.
7. Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that He took upon Himself my sins, that he suffered so that I wouldn't have to. He is my advocate, my elder brother, my friend. I can't go through the holidays without reflecting on His birth, resurrection and the Atonement.
8. Animal Planet. I love Animal Planet, it's a fountain of knowledge for useless facts. Who knew that primates can't swim because their bones are heavy and they have very little fat? Found out on Animal Planet. It feeds my dog training need (thank you Victoria Stillwell) and gives me all sorts of stuff to talk about with Jared.
9. You. I am thankful for all of you. Whether you be family, friends or occasional passersby, thank you for stopping by my little part of cyberspace.
Well, I think that's it. This has been an interesting little exercise, thinking of things to be thankful for. Sometimes they were serious, sometimes mundane but it really made me think.
Peace and love y'all!
1. Extended family. After spending Turkey day with a bunch of people that I only get to see a few times a year, I'm so thankful for all of them. From the oldest member of our family to the almost youngest (not counting Connor), we're a wacky kind of family. And of course, the craziest of all, cousin William who thinks I'm just the best thing ever (who am I to tell him I'm not?). Also included in that whole crazy mess is Mike's family and Kiersten's extended family. I love them all.
2. A car. My car is currently in the shop being diagnosed with something horrid so we're borrowing dad's "going to the flea market" van. It's hard to look stylish in the van, but, I'm grateful to have wheels to take us places and heat.
3. Speaking of heat... I hate the cold. I'm thankful for heat in my home, my car and my little electric blanket that Mike harasses me to turn on.
4. Legs. I was thinking that I'm thankful for my legs. I can walk, run, skip, hop and sometimes cartwheel (don't ask to see it-it's not pretty) all because of my legs. Sometimes you take the most mundane things for granted.
5. Prayer. I'm so thankful that I can speak with my Father in Heaven whenever, however and about whatever I choose. His line is never busy and he always listens to me. He knows what I need before I can ask for it, but I do need to ask. Sometimes He's going to tell me yes, sometimes He's going to tell me no or not right now, but He always has my best interests in mind and an eternal perspective.
6. A job. I love my job and I'm thankful to have it. I deal with lots of people in the safety of an office. I work for and with great people. At this time when so many people are jobless, I'm jobful.
7. Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that He took upon Himself my sins, that he suffered so that I wouldn't have to. He is my advocate, my elder brother, my friend. I can't go through the holidays without reflecting on His birth, resurrection and the Atonement.
8. Animal Planet. I love Animal Planet, it's a fountain of knowledge for useless facts. Who knew that primates can't swim because their bones are heavy and they have very little fat? Found out on Animal Planet. It feeds my dog training need (thank you Victoria Stillwell) and gives me all sorts of stuff to talk about with Jared.
9. You. I am thankful for all of you. Whether you be family, friends or occasional passersby, thank you for stopping by my little part of cyberspace.
Well, I think that's it. This has been an interesting little exercise, thinking of things to be thankful for. Sometimes they were serious, sometimes mundane but it really made me think.
Peace and love y'all!
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