A Few of My Favorite Things Christmas Edition

So....it's two days after Christmas and I'm a little bored.  Not really bored...let's just say unengaged.  So why not hang out here with you?

The activity has slowed down and we are on day #3 of pretty much hanging around the house just the five of us...and I love it.  And because I don't want to be accused of being too strict, I am allowing one of my cardinal Christmas rules to be broken as I type.  I agreed to let Scott and the kids watch a non-Christmas movie.

Hence why I am bored.  I just can't join them.  Not only do I not want to watch the movie they've chosen, but I also don't want to break the Christmas feel going on in my soul that comes from watching only Christmas movies, reading only Christmas books, and listening to only Christmas music from Nov. 29 until....well, when the time is right.  No one really knows when this day will come.

That said, here we are.  I thought I'd share with you some random pictures I've taken the last few days with limited commentary on some of my favorite moments and fun facts from Burtis Christmas 2013.

These are neither chronological or organized.  More broken rules.  I feel like a Christmas rebel and I'm not sure I am ok with it.

1.  Favorite snack.  This is what I'm presently enjoying. Three of my favorite Christmas cookies and a Golden French Toast K-cup. Have you tried this flavor?  After some investigation, I have discovered that unfortunately, they only come in holiday assortments. In other words, you can only get them this time of year.  That stinks!  The mapley smell is amazing. So good. I hope you can find some.  Let me know if you do.  I definitely want more before next November.

2.  Favorite Christmas food.  I pine for them all year long. They are cod fish balls (pictured before and after cooking). Now before you say "ewwww" and make that grossed-out face - allow me to describe. I grew up on them.  Every single Christmas Eve - yummmm. It started with my grandmother and now my mom keeps the tradition alive.  It's a deep fried delicacy.  Wegmans pizza dough rises all morning.  Then small pieces of dough are torn of and flattened.  Then you put some flaky white fish in the middle, rollup and fry to a crispy golden outside and soft yummy melt in your mouth dough on the inside.

Oh.My.Word.  To die for.  Don't knock it til you've tried it. We also make some that have raisins in the center.  These are for the in-laws, those who have married in to the DeFrancis family (not to mention some wimpy grandchildren) who won't give the fish a try.  Because we are creative, lastly we make some with fish AND raisins. Didn't see that coming, did you?  A salty sweet treat.

These are meant to be for dinner, I think, only sneaking one or two ahead of time, but my Dad broke that tradition years ago and my brother, sister and I devour a good amount straight out of the fryer - long before dinner.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's my appetizer AND main dish on Christmas Eve.  And breakfast the next day.  Then for a snack.  Also lunch.  Afternoon snack. Then breakfast the next day if there are any left. Repeat until they are gone. No wonder we only do this once a year. No wonder all my jeans are tight.

3.  Favorite chef.  I don't know when it happened, but Scott has become the designated fry-er.  He stands in the garage and cooks them all.  Doesn't eat them mind you, but does a great job cooking them to perfection.  He is appreciated.  I think we will keep him.

4.  Fun fact - I like to have company and set the table.

We hosted three meals in two days over the weekend.  I tried to set it a little differently each time.  I like tablecloths too.  And red dishes.

5. Favorite craft project.  As I was contemplating how to set the table this year, I got an idea.  I embellished these clear glass vases with the sleeves of two old sweaters I've been planning to repurpose in a crafty kind of way.

Then I sent Scott out into our snowy yard (before that untimely heat wave/meltdown we had to endure for too many days) to find three different kinds of winter greens.  He did it - and enjoyed every minute, I'm sure.

6.  Favorite one.  Here's a close up and look at those fun greens.  There are little pine cones on them! Can you stand its cuteness?  For you crafty friends - because these sweaters are felted wool, there is no need to sew, they don't fray.  Just cut off the sleeves and slide on.  My kind of project - quick results!

7.  Favorite change.  Have I mentioned the dining room is my favorite room?  The day after all the family gatherings were over, I dreamed this new configuration of furniture up and I L-O-V-E it.  Even Scott agreed that when all the leaves are put away the table should face this way.  Woohoo! 

8.  Favorite weather.  The day after Christmas it (finally) snowed.  A lot.

9.  Favorite outdoor festive sight.  These are my little Pinterest trees. Also known as tomato cages upside down wrapped in lights then staked to the ground.  A little known fact is that Scott Burtis is not a fan of outdoor Christmas decorating (at our house).  Over the years, he has been talked into not much more than a spotlight on the door so this is BIG! 

10.  Favorite thing to watch them do. The snow is not only pretty, but it gives these three dudes something fun to do together. Yes!  I dig this.

11.  Fun fact.  I like to go shopping the day after Christmas. Not the day after Thanksgiving, mind you - that is reserved for Christmasing.  But the day after Christmas I am up and out long before everyone else and I load up on next year's supplies - at 50% off.

Here's my stash.  1,100 new lights ought to do it for 2014.  We will all be so delighted when decorating the tree(s) next year and some of the used strands don't work. They will all congratulate my fortitude and future planning, not to mention wise budgeting.

Beside mine is Drew's collection. This is the first year anyone has come with me at 6:45am for this outing.  Drew was on the hunt for lights for his summer wedding reception.  He beat me by about 2,000.  I think 3,100 should serve he and Brittany well.  Maybe Scott's clone is a little like me after all.  Ahhhh, I need to let that sink in a minute.

Well, the forbidden movie is almost over and you are likely wondering how in the world you made it this far, so here's the last one.

 12.  Favorite Christmas gifts (some of). Scott is not a gift giver at heart, but at Christmastime he really shines.  He always gets me books - good ones. Here's this year's haul. The only problem - I just don't know where to begin.  That's my kind of problem.

I hope your Christmas has been as random and happy.

Maybe tomorrow I'll post some of the pics from today's impromptu amateur family photo shoot/walk around the neighborhood.


Stay tuned....

Miracle

"As long as you are breathing, He is always your miraculous answer."

Good morning.  I'm seeing and hearing a lot of 'talk' by friends who are too busy with preparations or too burdened with hurts to fully enjoy Christmas as they want to deep within.

My heart hurts when I watch friends and even strangers go through difficult times.  None of us are immune, are we?  It just may or may not be our turn.

So in light of that, I want to share some happy thoughts with you.  Miraculous ones today in hopes to cheer you the way they have cheered me.

Considering Advent - the season for waiting and watching for our Messiah to come -

"He will prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord....You don't have to work for the coming of the Lord - you don't have to work for Christmas.  The miracle is always that God is gracious.  You don't have to earn Christmas, you don't have to perform Christmas, you don't have to make Christmas.  You can rest in Christ.  You can wait with Christ.  You can breathe easy in Christ.  Open your heart to the miracle of grace.  He will prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord."

All you have to do is come as you are.  Isn't that good news?  Just come as you are.  Right now - with toddlers hanging on your legs, flour all over your hands, bills stacked on the desk, family drama on the horizon - just come.

Like Zechariah the priest awaiting his time to serve in the temple, "Your name has been drawn.  Come to Him just as you are.  Give up trying to be self-made: this is your gift to Him - and His gift to you.  Simply come. The miracle of Christmas is that you get more than proof of God's existence.  You get the experience of His presence."

Are you, like me, looking for a miracle this Christmas, my friend.  Good news - "You always get your Christmas miracle. You get God with you.

God gives God.  He withholds no good thing from you.

And the good things in life are not so much health, but holiness; not so much riches in this world, but relationship with God; not so much our plans, but His presence - and He withholds no good thing from us because the greatest things aren't ever things.

He doesn't withhold Jesus from you.  Christ is all your good, and He is all yours, and this is always your miracle.

No matter the barrenness you feel, you can always have as much of Jesus as you want."

This sacred echo keeps coming back to me over and over this Advent season....If He gave me His only Son to save me, will He not give everything I need? (Rom 8:32)

What do you need from Him today?  Ask for it.  Expect the miracle.  Come as you are.  Jesus is the miracle and you can have as much of Him as you want.

We get God with us.  So good.

This is why I love Christmas.  This concentrated period of time to remember, reflect and ponder that God, knowing our greatest need, sent His Son to meet that need and invites us to receive it.  To receive this new life, eternal life, the only life worth living.  The one that gives hope that eclipses this world's pain and trouble - because He is coming again.  And it will be so worth it.

*All quotes from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

The Half Way Mark

Have I mentioned that December is my favorite month?  Most everything about it is festive and fun.  In October and November I was so eager - counting down each day.  Now I find myself trying to put the brakes on.  How can it be half over already?

Who knows, but here we are.  I haven't been posting much for a few reasons.  1.  I have been kind of busy in a relaxed sort of way - enjoying each day in lots of ways.  Like drinking out of this cup.  Isn't that straw the best? 

AND 2.  I think this laptop is getting ready to bite the dust, which is going to be a real problem for future blogging or communciation of any kind.  It takes hours to upload pictures, it constantly shuts off when I'm in the middle of something and it makes me want to say bad words.  Note how Scott is trying to prolong its life.  You know what they say about duct tape.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Still, since we've reached the half way mark through the month, I thought I'd show you a little of what we've been up to.  If it posts anytime today, Sunday, December 15th you'll know there's been a Christmas (computer) miracle.

The first week I stayed close to home because we let Ben take our second car back to school with him.  He had one week of basketball games to complete before his Christmas break started.  Halfway through the week we got the call, "I got hurt tonight." followed by these pictures.  This is what happens when you chase a wild pass and slam into a cement wall.

Talk about cankles.  All I can say is 'nasty'.  These pictures don't really even detail how huge and bruised it was on three sides. Thanks to technology (sending pics via email to one of our family nurses) we were advised to get x-rays.  Much to our surprise and delight it was not broken.  Diagnosis - a bad high ankle sprain - and crutches.  We were also grateful that Ben was already planning on bringing home another player who lives in our area, so he was able to drive Ben home.

Since his arrival he has pretty much camped here - and I've gotten to take care of him.  :) No complaints.

Ally has been busy with her new job at Rite-Aid (her whole life she has aspired to running a cash register - so this is a big deal), choir concerts all around town and many Christmas parties.  Nothing like ugly sweater night at youth group.  Since we couldn't find a sweater too ugly, a talented friend of mine made her some gaudy jewelry to embellish. 

Drew and Brittany finish up classes and exams this week so we will see them Thursday. 

As for Scott, well, he's begun a part time job as a basketball referee.  After coaching many seasons, he now knows what it's like to be 'on the other side of the ball'.  He looks cute in his uniform too - bonus!

As for me, I've been making lots of gifts, trying to remember things, eating too many sweet carbs for which I'll hate myself come January 1, and watching our favorite movies - with my buddy Ben.

This is where each day starts - early in the morning before anyone is stirring.  I sit here by the tree giving much emphasis to Advent as I've written about in previous posts.

Here are a few of the favorite things (random quotes) that have brought me hope as I look for the Savior each morning.

• Brilliant people don't deny the dark; they are the ones who never stop looking for His light in everything.  When we have an agenda for God, we can't see the gifts from God.
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• Joys are always on their way to us.  When your Father's hand isn't readily apparent, it's only because He is readying gifts.  Gifts always come out of the unseen and hidden places.
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• The Light never comes how you expect it.  It comes as unlikely and unexpected - straight into Bethlehem unlikely and the feed trough hopeless, and Christmas whispers there's always hope. 
  
  
  God favors the darkest places so you can see His light the brightest.
  
  
  And once the light of Christ shatters your dark, shadows forever flee your shadowlands.  There's no going back and living in the dark; you live in the impenetrable, safe Light of light, and Christmas never ends for you.  A Christian never stops living Christmas.
  
  
  It's Christmas that dawns on you, and you only really believe in Christmas when you really live it.  When you light a dark world and the unexpected places with a brave flame of joy when you warm the cold, hopeless places with the daring joy that God is with us, God is for us God is in us; when you are a wick to light hope in the dark - then you believe in Christmas.  When you really believe in Christmas, you believe there really is hope for everyone.  When you get Christmas, people get hope from you - they don't lose it.
  

Feel free to stop reading for a few minutes to let all that soak in.  I love it so much!!  This must be why I have a Christmas thought every single day of the year.


Now did I mention the music?  One song, new to me has captured my attention.  I can't get enough of it.  It goes along with a truth Scott preached last Sunday, also noted above.  God is in us, God is for us, God is with us.  (Sacred echo?)

Every time I hear it I think, "THAT is everything.  He is IN me, He is FOR me, He is WITH me.  What more do I need?" 

If you're looking for a song to cheer you this Christmas or a download for your ipod - this is your song.  Take 4 and 1/2 minutes and  listen to it here.

I triple dog dare you to listen to it...and not to cry.  It is so beautiful.  Talk about comfort and joy - it's both.

See why it is called the season of joy?  No matter what storm may be raging around us - joy is also surrounding us.

10 days until Christmas.  I hope yours are full of joy.

PS.  I didn't even mention the snowstorm we got yesterday.  Perhaps tomorrow.  

*All quotes from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

Goodbye Thanksgiving...Hello Christmas

And poof!  It was over just like that.  This morning I sit in a very quiet house.  Both boys have gone back to college and Ally is at school too.  Truly it was a glorious weekend and I have much to be thankful for.  Not the least of which is that the letdown after Thanksgiving is nothing like the end of December, because well, Christmas is coming and everyone will be home again Lord willing for an even longer amount of time.

First thing Friday morning, the house transformation began.  Ok ok...I did cheat a little the week before - like decorating my patio, which is in essence my dream front porch.  You've got to work with what you've got.

But I waited for most of it.  And yes, it did begin with MercyMe's Christmas Sessions blaring from the kitchen and yes, they each completed their special assignments.  Here's a snapshot.

We start  by putting all the Fall things away.  That's a job in itself.  It's not really a fun one so I tackle it before they get up.

To begin, I gave the boys two tedious jobs.  I don't do tedious.  I like to dream them up, but to execute I need help.  Scott is also very good at tedious and makes a lot of my ideas reality - like hanging garlands on every doorway inside and outside on the brick walls of our driveway.  It started back in the Fall when we decided to rip down all the vines.

So glad he put them up a few weeks ago when it was warm.  Because you never know when the snow is going to come and you want to be ready. See what I mean? Gorgeous!

Back inside.....

Ben's job was a Pinterest idea.  He tied fishing line to about 30 small ornaments and then hung them in the kitchen window at various lengths.  He said his fingers were too big, but look at how festive it looks.  Just like the picture.  I love it.

Then Drew tackled our village.  We haven't unpacked this in a few years.  He made sure they all had lights that work and the cords were hidden.  Tedious. 

The end product is perfect.  I'm sure it will be up all winter.

I'd like to live there.
Then Drew and Ally unpacked and set up my ever-growing, much loved Nativity collection.

This was my grandfather's.  It is so old and fragile.  My favorite.

Here are a few more.  Two from Kenya, one from Peru, one from Costa Rica (courteous of mission trips) and one from my women's ministry team at NSBC. 

Of course, the tree.  Well, the big one anyway.  Drew had wanted me to teach Brittany how I put the lights on but since she wasn't with us I taught him.  It's a marriage-building exercise.  We put on all 1,100 together.  I think he'll make a good husband even though I'm sure he rolled his eyes at least 1,100 times.

A very satisfying moment came when we pulled out the ornament box.  Last January (or was it February?) when I packed these up, for the first time I separated the ornaments.  Everyone had their own bag since they each receive one every year.  Best part was when Ally said, "Why do the boys have so many more than me?"  Um.  "They've been alive longer."  "Oh yeah."

It isn't easy being Ally.

And watching them do this never gets old.

I especially love that it is no longer necessary for me to rearrange and spread them out after they go to bed anymore.  Young mothers - this day will come!

It is finished!

I may or may not go a little crazy for trees.

This is another favorite space.

Come join me for a hot cup of whatever you like and a snack?

Collections seem to be a part of Christmas too.  Like these.

And these.

These are a few of the things I will grab if we ever have a fire.

It was a wonderful family and friend-filled weekend.  Some came for dinner.  Others stopped in for coffee and pie.  Others met us for Sunday lunch.  We also enjoyed many hours with nowhere to go and nothing to do but hang out with each other.  It was so happy.

We ended on Sunday with a trip to the Carrier Dome to watch Ally's high school football team win the State Championship for the 3rd year in a row.  We dug out all the blue and/or Spartan wear we had.  I must say, football is much more exciting when you're at the game.  And you know the players.  And your team wins with four seconds to go.  By one point. It goes a lot faster in person too.  Another bonus.

Oh before I let you get back to more important things - like your life, there's one more collection I want to mention.  This one.

Now that every room in our house has been transformed to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, it is time to focus on our hearts.  Because that is the transformation that truly will make all this preparation worthwhile.

The baby Jesus came to save us, rescue us, change us and give us hope of life in and with Him not just 2,000 years ago, but also today.  I don't know about you, but I need a refresher course every December. 

So Merry Christmas to you and your family.  Happy Advent.  Do take the time to invite Jesus to show up in your Christmas and then as you expectantly wait for Him, keep your eyes wide open.  He never disappoints.

The Day I've Been Waiting For

It's here!  It's here!  The day I've been waiting for.  Arguably, my favorite day of the year.  Yes, even more than Christmas Day or my birthday.

For many years now, I have loved Advent.  I can't really remember how it started but I know it will never end.  It is the focus that makes Christmas as special as it is meant to be.  If you've known me for any length of time, you know that I dig just about everything about the season (minus a few songs like the ones by Wham, Paul McArtney, Elton John and any version of Santa Baby). The food, the decorations, the movies, the music, the gifts (of course) and all the noise but it's the Advent that keeps me coming back for more.

Advent is the coming.  The waiting.  The anticipating.  The looking for the Savior to appear.  The expectation of how He will "show up" this year.  In the Old Testament days, the Israelites were waiting for a Savior to come and rescue.  And one starry night in a stable He did.

Today we continue waiting for our Savior to come and rescue us again.  One day He will.  In the meantime, we must be on the lookout.  We must be aware of our need for Him and our want for Him.  I am there and it's never more highlighted than in December.

Each year, I seek out a guide to help me, an Advent devotional.  This year there was no question this would be the one. 

I received two of these brand spanking new books from two thoughtful friends who get Advent and get me.  I wasn't sure I could wait for today to dive in but did because after all it is about anticipation.  I opened the book early this morning.  It did not disappoint.  Advent 2013 has begun and I'm so excited!

If you've never intentionally engaged in your own Advent celebration, do it this year.  Take time each day to be still, quiet, to listen for God.  He will show up and meet you there.  You will start each day with excitement and discovery as you find Him in different ways throughout your day.  I have journals full of the ways God has shown up and delighted me with more of Him.  I believe He wants to do the same for you too.

As the old carol goes, "Let every heart prepare Him room."  Would you make this a December to remember?  I guarantee you won't regret it.  How can I be so sure?  Well, the Scripture tells us this:

"If you seek Him, He will be found  by you."  2Chr. 15:2
"...those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Ps. 34:10b
"Blessed are they....who seek Him with all their heart."  Ps. 119:2
"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." Jer. 29:11
"...He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Heb. 11:6b

Need I go on?  It's good enough for me. Truly this is the greatest gift of Christmas.  The gift of His presence and attention.  He's waiting for each of us.

If you need a guide to help you, I think after just one day I can highly recommend Ann Voskamp's new book but there are many more out there.  Here are some I've used over the years.  Or you could read slowly through the Gospel of Luke and passages in Isaiah from the Bible.  They are all good.

Before we're done, may I share a few nuggets from today's reading?  It's so good!

• He gave up the heavens that were not large enough to contain Him and lets Himself be held in hand.
• The mystery so large becomes the Baby so small, and infinite God becomes infant.
• The Giver becomes the Gift, this quiet offering.
• He grafts you into His line and His story and His heart, and He gives you His name, His lineage, His righteousness. 
• Christ comes right to your Christmas tree and looks at your family tree and says, "I am your God, and I am one of you and I'll be the Gift, and I'll take you.  Take me?"
• Each day of Advent, He gives you the gift of time, so you have time to be still and wait....Sometimes the heart waiting for the Gift...is the art of the Gift.
• The theology of the Tree, of the Cross, always seeks the presence of God in the belittled gifts of the world. 

And that's just the introduction and Day 1.  We still have 24 more days to go!  Woohoo.

I wrote this in my journal today - maybe it is what's in your heart too.

Of course, we are waiting on Him for our next ministry, our next job, our next paycheck.  But it is Him I want more than anything else.  More of Him.  More of His presence.  More of His Spirit.  I want to be so acutely aware of His great love for me.  Smothered in it.  What else matters?  

Lord, I'm beyond excited to sit in silence and wait for you this month.  

Come to my heart, Lord Jesus.  There is room in my heart for Thee.

I would love it if you'd join me on this journey to Christmas, this Advent season.  Let's share what we discover together.