AuburnChick's Adventures

I missed last week’s Hodgepodge, but I’m joining in this week.  Visit Joyce’s blog to link up, should you choose to participate in this week’s fun!

1. What does it mean to have the ‘holiday spirit’?

Hmmm…holiday spirit…I think what it should mean is being focused on the true meaning of Christmas…the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself to come to earth as a baby.  That’s not what “gods” of lore typically did!

With that said, what naturally follows a grateful heart that is focused on Christ is a generous spirit that manifests itself by giving to others, not out of obligation but out of love.

That, to me, is the spirit of Christmas.

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?

I have a star at the top of my tree.  Honestly, I think I would like an angel, but the Mr.’s tradition growing up was to have a star, so we got ourselves one when we got married.  We’ve been through two stars during the course of our marriage.  I am so glad that Walmart still sells them!

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

I last gave myself a pat on the back yesterday after lunch.  I had been down in the dumps after giving four of my six ninth graders detention.  But I turned something negative into something positive by requiring them to come to my class during detention where, much to their chagrin, I taught them the lesson they had prevented me from teaching them the day before.   Because I am giving them a test today, I wanted to make sure I had time to cover all of the topics.  At first, they were very angry, but they soon settled in, and we had a very productive lesson.  It was a good forty minutes, and I patted myself on the back while thanking God for this answer to prayer.

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

My sense of smell is heightened during Christmas.  Cinnamon and peppermint smells permeate the air, and my nose turns up into the air to every time I catch a whiff of them.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

I have way too many dirty dishes in my kitchen.  My demanding job has led to a downhill slide in the housekeeping department.  I just cannot keep up.

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

We spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Coupon Queen and Grand Pooba’s house.  Coupon Queen cooks a traditional dinner on Christmas Eve so that we can spend Christmas Day focusing on our new gifts.  We don’t really have a breakfast tradition, but one year, when we were juicing regularly, I got up early on Christmas morning and made carrot juice for the entire group.  I’m not always a nice daughter-in-law, but this was one time I think I managed to do something right.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

I am not a big fan of winter.  I do not like cold weather.  However, since becoming a knitter, I’d have to say that the best thing about winter is that I have an excuse to wear my knitted items…socks, hats, and scarves.  There is nothing like the feel of Malabrigo on your skin.

8. My random thought complaint for the week is this:  Why do people offer to help and then complain about it the entire time they are helping?  Ugh.  This really irks me.  If you want to help, do so cheerfully or else don’t offer at all.  What happens is that it makes the person you are offering to help feel badly that you are “going out of your way” to do “something nice” for them.  Nuff said.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge |