My Christmas gathering

Friday was spent getting things ready in my home and kitchen for the Christmas gathering I hosted that evening. As I had mentioned in the early fall, our group of pool friends agreed we should see each other once a month or so afterward to continue our conversations and fun, and so far, we are two for two! We had Lee's going away party last month and now this party at my house tonight. Who's up for January? I don't mind going again...

This is Nancy M. and Bill, the nice couple who bought a house next door to the mansion just off our property. He is the brave soul who used the pool last week Saturday.  

Here is a shot of Nancy again with Phyl, waving for the camera as a greeting to Lee, our absent friend. On the table behind us is a lovely bouquet of flowers which Bob brought for me. He was thrilled to see the nice vase I put them in, saying most people would just 'stick 'em in a jar or something'. No, I have this great Princess House vase just begging for an arrangement!

Here is Stephanie G. and Bob, both of whom live on the property in The Villas. Stephanie's husband, a Clay County cop, was working so could not join us. Bob would later walk Stephanie home, making sure she got there safely. Such a gentleman! (When my mom was here in the summer of 2012, he carried her sandles over to the steps of the pool so she wouldn't burn her feet on the hot pavement when she got out.) He came dressed up in his turtleneck and blue blazer complete with pocket square, while his good friend, Bill, came in shorts and a fleece pullover. 

This is Nancy W. and Cindy, both waving for Lee, as Stephanie looks on. Cindy is married to Phyl, seen in a previous photo. She was a teacher at St. Johns years ago when Justin was there, and also taught at OP High School. Our friends cross over between St. Johns and those of my friends who know her from OP High. Her hubby and she hosted the going away party for Lee in November. Of course, Nancy W. is my lady friend who November 1st moved onto the property and is dealing with getting her 3 homes taken care of---selling two of them and fixing up her new one! She is more than a little busy these days!

Here is a photo of Lee and me taken at The Club last March 

My menu consisted of a taco ring which Justin put together for me, since I didn't trust my skills of assembly. I think I could have done an okay job of it, but was glad he took on the responsibility of it. Tasted so good! I made sweet/sour meatballs, and served spinach dip with chips and crackers, plus bought a sausage and cheese tray. Thursday night Betty gave me a very nice tray of cookies so I served those as well some sweets I bought at Publix. Where would we be without Publix?

Some photos from the preschool program

Ms. Karen is taking some photos of some of the little girls in their fine Christmas apparel as Ms. Cindy looks on. There are more than 20 who appeared in their program this year, entirely centered on Jesus and His birth. They sang some songs and even had recitation. 

The projection on the wall helped tell the Christmas story as the little ones did their parts from the front. The parents seemed to really enjoy watching and listening to the program.

I could not venture up the side aisle to take my photos as there were parents in the aisle recording the program. We had wonderful refreshments, cleverly decorated cookies which Betty made and the tasty ones Judy and I brought. That Betty sure does a nice job, but I did a bad job of not taking a photo of them!

Full day of festivities

Ha! As I wrote 'festivities', I nearly typed 'Festivus', which is the un-Christmas celebration started on "Seinfeld". Now, the State Capital in FL must present a Festivus Pole to make up for those who do not celebrate Christmas. Taking secularism to a whole new level. And it all started because George's dad lost out in a tug of war over a Cabbage Patch Doll for his son. That was it!!! No more Christmas for them---time for the 'airing of grievances'!!

Back to business: Justin took my car to gas it up and waited for me downstairs this cooler morning. When I got down there, he had used the seat warmer to pre-heat mine for me. Now that is service! Picked up at the door with my seat pre-warmed...

We headed to Victory, with the cookies along which Justin had baked the night before. He made them to make up for the brownies I'd baked but didn't taste right. I used the Pampered Chef pan where each brownie is autonomous, and I think they were baked too long. Not singed at all, but had a strong burned taste to them, at least to me they did. But then he suggested we take the cookies to Bible study which I thought was a great plan. I had more cookies which I could bake for the preschool Christmas program today so all would be well.

Our cookies were not the only ones present, however, as Suzanne brought some plus Rita stopped for hot, fresh Krispy Kremes on the way in. We ended up taking along the remainder of ours plus those that Suzanne brought. Justin, upon accepting the cookies, asked Suzanne if would be okay if we shared them with the preschool parents and kids. He is so polite and thoughtful!

From our interesting study of Isaiah 9 (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) we drove downtown to the River City Brewing Company for a luncheon hosted by my friend and investment counselor, Diane. Parking was at a premium and we ended up in an auxillary parking area adjacent to their lot. It was a short walk back to the restaurant where the luncheon was being held. Once inside I stepped into the restroom before we headed up the curved stairway to the dining room. 

I made it to the top, and we found the room reserved for us. Only three others were there plus Diane, as we were a bit early. She greeted Justin and me, and asked us to sit at her table. We met and I talked with a lady named Lynn with whom I had much in common, including both us with children in heaven. Her late husband was from WI and they were married in a Lutheran church here in OP over 40 years ago. She is a member of an organization I am planning to join after the New Year, so I am thankful for Diane who arranged this friendship for us! 

We had a marvelous meal, met some nice folks, including a very soft-spoken fellow named Mario who sat to Justin's left. That didn't work out too well for him hearing Mario but they managed to carry on a conversation when they could. The view over the river was a delight and I regret not going there more often. The street layout downtown, especially in this area, is nuts, so I was glad to have my driver who was a bit more familiar (plus had done his homework!) with the streets to get us to our destination, and in good time from the Southside!

Feeling Too Fat

The following essay is one I had read a year or so ago and then forgot where I found it. Often I reflected upon the message in the article, wishing to be able to reference it. Well, it showed up again via Facebook so I nabbed it! 

Now I will have it when I need to remind myself about a couple things, the first of which is to get over it! and the second of which is to remember to live on the front side of the camera instead of just trying to capture what's happening, missing the moment in the process. This is "heavy" for a Wednesday morning but I am likely not the only one who needs these reminders. By the way, it's only a coincidence that her husband's name is the same as my son's name!: 

So You're Feeling Too Fat to Be Photographed...

Listen. I hear you. You're a few pounds heavier than you like (or a 100 lbs heavier than you like). I completely understand how you feel. I get that same blah feeling about myself when I think about booking new head shots or long overdue pictures of me and Justin. Precious, I even picked a career that has me permanently behind the camera rather than in front of it. 

Seeing myself in pictures actually produces the faintest sick feeling in my stomach. Isn't it amazing we can see the beauty in our best friends, sisters, mothers, and aunts without the slightest thought to their flaws... but can obsess for hours on our own imperfections? 

We fixate on our flaws to the point we shirk at any documentation that our round faces and curvy bodies ever walked the earth. No pictures to show how we LOVE, how we laugh, how we are treasured by our families. How is it possible that a double chin can overpower the beauty of a mother cuddling her child? How does arm fat distract from the perfect shot of a spontaneous hug? I swear y'all... how is it that we can put more value on a TUMMY ROLL than the captivating way you throw yourself into a roar of laughter during a shoot?

In our warped minds pictures become frozen mirrors that we can stare at as we pick apart our features over and over again.

I know, girl. I know.

My personal duck-and-cover (or signature "make a funny face") approach to having pictures of myself changed completely when I had a serious car accident last year (and started over). In the flash of a second (or a flash of the text message the young woman was reading) my entire life changed. 

I nearly left this earth with no physical evidence of the goofy, wide open and loud love I have for my life, my husband, my family and friends. I haven't had professional pictures done since our wedding in 2006... always waiting for this elusive moment where I would be thin enough (pretty enough) to have such a permanent record of me. Because, you know, HEAVEN FORBID there be any proof that I look the way I actually look.

So here is the harsh truth y'all. Listen good. Our vanity is no longer enough of a reason to avoid the camera. Life doesn't wait until you "get thin" enough to capture it. Life is happening... it is happening right now and the only moment we are guaranteed is the one we are living. I shudder at the thought of leaving behind no pictures of my life with ME in it. 

My mom says of the accident she is "just glad that we're still a whole family." My gift to her this Christmas was a family portrait showing just that, nine months post-accident... a whole family.

       

Do you know what my mom sees when she looks at this picture? Her beautiful family all together. Do you know what my husband sees? The family he gained the moment he met me (and how much he looks like my dad...) Do you know what my dad sees? The happy family he has worked for every day of his life. Do you know what my brother sees? That he got away with wearing shorts...

Shocker: No one is looking at how fat I look.

Can we agree to put the value of family over the value of fat? Can we just accept that the weight you've been trying to lose for 5 years might actually just be a part of what you look like... and that if this magical day does come when you're acceptably thin you'll STILL regret not having any pictures of you with your kids from ages 5-10? 

Can we acknowledge that the insecurities we have in our heads will never be a part of how our children, husbands, and friends see us? Can we just please let our loved ones remember the YOU they love?

Your children want pictures with their mom.

Your husband wants pictures with his beautiful wife.

Your mom and dad want pictures of the happy, successful, amazing woman they raised (OK, and more pictures of the grandkids while you're at it).

And if you're thinking that high school friend on Facebook will say to herself ("wow she has gained weight") then... news flash you DID. You gained weight. Shed a tear. Read a book. Drink a sweet tea. Watch Oprah. Whatever it takes. Accept this reality... YOU GAINED WEIGHT. 

The truth is you've gained a lot of other things too (a career, a family, some kids, a house, a love for travel, the ability to coordinate your separates...) and that girl from high school is going to spend a lot more time hating on those things than she ever will on your double chin.

So you're feeling too fat to be photographed? OK... but you're the only one who notices. The rest of us are too caught up in loving you.

My Friend Teresa Photography blog

Seems so odd...

...to not have Bible study today, throwing my routine out of whack this way. Pastor has suspended the class until some time after New Year due to the busyness of the season. We were having such a good flow, too, with our Fellowship study, just getting into the application portion of what we have reviewed. Oh well, we can pick it up again next year.

But, I was not without plans as my friend, Kathy, had asked me to lunch. Her mom, Betty, was out with her other daughter so Kathy and I enjoyed our lunch at Koko's. It was quiet, only two tables of hibachi diners while the rest of the folks were having table service on the other side of the dining room. Kathy gave me all her rice and I gave her all my vegetables---fair trade. The chef made me extra onion and in no time at all, I was full. The to-go box would be sufficient for our dinner, with the added food ordered but not eaten from Ming Moon on Sunday night. 

Justin had hauled all the Christmas bins out the night before so we tackled them tonight. Originally my plans were to start decorating while he was at work but time got away from me after Kathy and I got back from lunch. Anyway, he took care of the tree, with me helping him to fluff the branches, his least favorite part of the job. I untangled the star garland, did some dusting and moved my every day pretties to make room for the seasonal stuff. What a team!

With about 6 bins of decorations and one case for the ornaments, only very few pieces were actually incorporated into our decor. It is quite different than how it used to be 'back in the day' when we would entertain regularly. Now, I am gone much of the time and don't usually host unless it's for  the Ladies' Group. I think it's about time to thin out all those ceramic pieces I've moved from state to state and house to house over the years. It seems I am more easily contented with the simple stuff now days!

Sleep in heavenly peace...

This photo was taken during the Lakeshore Lutheran Chorale's Christmas concert at First German in Manitowoc tonight. The weather outside was frightful but the concert was a blessing, according to my mom. Notice how the chorale's robes are the liturgically correct color for the season.

My sister and niece are in the church's choir which also participated, but unfortunately, my niece couldn't make it to the concert due to the inclement weather. As I said to Mom on the phone as I drove to Victory, I am sure glad I am not the one having to plan these events in the upper midwest during the winter months because one simply cannot depend  upon the weather's cooperation. 

This is the table at which I was a guest of my friend, Erica, at Victory's Ladies' Advent Service this evening. One of the members has written a lovely service based on the history of the familar hymns and carols we sing, this being the second time this service was used. One particular line from the narration that struck me was how the Israelites lived most of their lives in the Advent season, awaiting the coming Messiah. Very poignant to me. We are yet in Advent in our lives, as well, as we await the return of our victorious Savior King!

I got my wish!

At the end of summer, I lamented not being able to enjoy time with my friends around the pool. Today, I got my wish and sat outside with three of my friends for an hour or so. It was 84 above zero and just a lovely day. Meanwhile our families and friends were suffering in unseasonably (or unreasonably!) cold weather in the upper Midwest as we appreciated our unseasonably warm, even record setting, temperatures here in N. FL. 

This is the bird's eye view of my friends seated at the pool waiting for me to get home from my morning/afternoon outings today. Bob is in the shade, while Nancy and Bill get some sun. As Debbie and I walked up the building and noticed them out there, I told her I doubted anyone would get in the water....

....but I was wrong! In fact, Bill had gotten in several times before I got down there and several more after I arrived. The teen's pool is 'warmer' because it is more shallow but it is certainly NOT warm enough to swim in. Not too cold for this brave North Dakotan, though. Such a guy!