Simply Norma

I’ve been trying hard not to rant about Christmas gift exchanges. I’ve had several discussions with one of my sisters who is in charge of our family’s gift exchange this year.

Hard as I tried, I came across an article in the New York Times that talked about this very topic. It riled me up again.

I like the premise of exchanging names for Christmas in large families such as mine. This way, I can focus on one person and get them a really nice gift instead of trying to spread my money over 20 people.

This is the second year that we are participating in the gift exchange. The rules are easy. Pick a name of someone not in your immediate family, ie not a sister, brother, mother, etc. The dollar limit for a gift this year is $35.00. Easy enough.

My sister creates a spreadsheet that has 3 columns next to people’s names. The columns have peoples preferences of things they would like to get. One is not obligated to get a gift from this list but it makes life easier. This list is where it gets interesting.

A lot of things listed are gift certificates such as Target gift certificates, Kohl’s gift certificates, etc.

It feels like we’re just exchanging $35 with each other. I hand you a $35 gift certificate and you hand me a $35 gift certificate. I say we save our gas money and just call it a wash. Why don’t we just get together, listen to some good Christmas music and enjoy each other’s company? It would be less stressful.

Perhaps that’s not the Spirit of Christmas? Hmmm ….

I have what is called atypical asthma meaning that I don’t normally have symptoms unless I get a really bad cold in my chest. Because of this, I don’t use an asthma inhaler every day. I’ve been known to go years without having to use one.

Earlier this year I had asthmatic bronchitis which led me to the emergency room and to my doctor for ongoing appointments.

I have been doing fairly well until we started using our wood fireplace. There are two important things that I’ve learned.

1. Make sure that the wood in the fireplace is no longer burning when you turn off the knob to let air out through the chimney flue
2. Make sure you burn wood that has been seasoned, ie it is totally dry, as it burns more efficiently and doesn’t let out as much smoke. This can take 6 months to a year.
3. Keep the doors to your fireplace closed. It may be warmer if you keep them open (and more dangerous) but more particles are let out into the air if you don’t close them.

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After a record breaking 3rd quarter with hardly any rain, the snow is finally making its appearance in Minnesota. The prediction was for 1 inch of snow or less.

Heading out to our first Christmas performance of the year, there was more than 1 inch already on the ground. We were fortunate that the performance was in Oakdale — a neighbor of Lake Elmo.

The performance we went to see was called “It’s A Wonderful Christmas.” It included the Vallee de Croix women’s group, the Croix Chordsmen Choruses, the Now and Then Singers from Lakeville North High School, a group called Summertime and the Grand Design.

Singing was all acapella. The Croix Chordsmen group sang really really well. They, along with the Now and Then Singers from the high school were my favorite groups.

The Vallee de Croix women’s group was good but the women swayed most of the time and not in unison which made it a little distracting.

Overall, it was a very good performance. Every year on the first Saturday of December, they have this Christmas performance.

I was a little worried when we left the church as when we arrived at 7:30 p.m. it was snowing and when we left at 9:45 p.m. it was still snowing. Slowly but surely my husband made his way to our house.

About a mile from our house, flashing lights could be seen in the distance. As we approached slowly, we saw a car in the ditch. Two other cars had pulled over to help. We continued on our way. Once we turned into our neighborhood it was clear to me that we had at least 3 inches of snow.

Ahhh — time to bring out the snow shovel. My last experience with shoveling snow in the dark brought much delight to me. This time was no different. But I have to remember that we have hired someone to plow our driveway if it snows 3 inches or more.

After shoveling a pathway to the garage, I put the shovel down to leave something for our plower to do. It may be we don’t need a plower since I seem to enjoy doing the work. And we haven’t even used our electric snow blower yet.

It was calm and peaceful. No road noises. No neighborhood parties. It was definitely a “silent night.” The only thing left to make it perfect would have been a clear sky so that I could have admired God’s starry handiwork again.

Now it’s time for hot chocolate. Sleep will come easy tonight.

Looking out the window at 1 a.m., I see many stars — bright, blinking stars.

The neighborhood we live in has no street lights. Some neighbors have decorated for Christmas but their decorations pale to the decorations God has put in the sky.

If it were warmer, I might be stepping outside to enjoy even more of them. But at 18 degrees, I’ve decided to leave it for another day when I am more bundled than just my pajamas.

“… He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We’ll never comprehend all the great things He does; His miracle-surprises can’t be counted … Job 9:1

You are truly a remarkable God!

(Note: Photo courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1977)