http://www.kristinnoelle.com/2005/11/29/magic-making/ uncovering life's layers, exploring truth's terrain... Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:46:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://www.kristinnoelle.com/2005/11/29/magic-making/#comment-1196 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 02:34:57 +0000 http://www.kristinnoelle.com/2005/11/29/magic-making/#comment-1196 One of the precious gifts of living in a very rural area of the Congo for three years was to get the feel of Christmas and Easter and some of the other holidays without any external reminders of the season. No radio with the constant Christmas songs both secular and religious, no TV with constant advertising, no stores or malls with their displays of Santas, raindeer, wreaths, trees, gift-wrapped packages, creches, etc. My favorite Christmas ever, we opened gifts as a family on Christmas morning - mostly home-made things, and late afternoon we spent sitting on the back westward porch of our house as the sun was setting and having supper with my family and several friends. After the sunset we sang to someone's guitar and just visited. Relaxed, quiet, and feeling joy. I remember feeling free during those holiday seasons to think about just what was the significance of Jesus without being trapped by the usual busy-ness and noise of the season as we know it here. I share you sentiments. One of the precious gifts of living in a very rural area of the Congo for three years was to get the feel of Christmas and Easter and some of the other holidays without any external reminders of the season. No radio with the constant Christmas songs both secular and religious, no TV with constant advertising, no stores or malls with their displays of Santas, raindeer, wreaths, trees, gift-wrapped packages, creches, etc. My favorite Christmas ever, we opened gifts as a family on Christmas morning - mostly home-made things, and late afternoon we spent sitting on the back westward porch of our house as the sun was setting and having supper with my family and several friends. After the sunset we sang to someone’s guitar and just visited. Relaxed, quiet, and feeling joy. I remember feeling free during those holiday seasons to think about just what was the significance of Jesus without being trapped by the usual busy-ness and noise of the season as we know it here. I share you sentiments.

]]> http://www.kristinnoelle.com/2005/11/29/magic-making/#comment-1195 Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:03:25 +0000 http://www.kristinnoelle.com/2005/11/29/magic-making/#comment-1195 I wish I had written what you wrote. I've have been a decorating nut all my adult life and I'm going to scale back this year--the tree, of course, and a few of the house decorations, but I'm finally just worn out from trying to make magic and make up for a Grinch childhood. My own kids think I'm nuts--except, everyone, even when they don't live here, still think I should get a real tree--forever. Now that you have a child of your own, you will start your own traditions. My kids and grandkids do the advent calendar--and my own kids did the advent wreath. I'll put it out, but rarely light it daily anymore because I don't sit down at table very much anymore. CNN and I have dinner together except when my grandson is home for dinner. I wish I had written what you wrote. I’ve have been a decorating nut all my adult life and I’m going to scale back this year–the tree, of course, and a few of the house decorations, but I’m finally just worn out from trying to make magic and make up for a Grinch childhood. My own kids think I’m nuts–except, everyone, even when they don’t live here, still think I should get a real tree–forever. Now that you have a child of your own, you will start your own traditions. My kids and grandkids do the advent calendar–and my own kids did the advent wreath. I’ll put it out, but rarely light it daily anymore because I don’t sit down at table very much anymore. CNN and I have dinner together except when my grandson is home for dinner.

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