Remember December: O is for " Over Their Flocks"

For JBelle

I received this nativity set for Christmas one year when I was a child. I picked it out in the Sears catalog and I still set it up each year. We figured out tonight it has helped me celebrate at least forty-five years of the birth of Jesus.

This is the verse I always think of when I unpack it and set it up on the piano. My friend JBelle has an amazing collection of nativities that you can view here. Just scroll down to see all of them.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. "Luke 2:11

Sibling Assignment # 85: Watering the Horse

Raymond Pert gave the sibling assignment this week. Silver Valley Girl's lovely piece about shepherds is here and Raymond Pert's will be posted soon.

"Over the last month, I have been studying ancient and medieval Asian poetry with my students. In particular, the Japanese Kokinshu poems have been on my mind. They are poems of brevity, sometimes seasonal. They anticipate the haiku. Robert Bly often wrote poems in this style. Since we are all getting hit by a winter storm, I'd like us to each write a reflection on this winter poem of Bly's:

Watering the Horse

How strange to think of giving up all ambition!

Suddenly I see with such clear eyes

The white flake of snow

That has just fallen in the horse's mane!"

--Robert Bly

Winter is a time to slow down and take inventory of your life. I think the natural darkness and weather gives us reason to hibernate and think. It also provides time to open our eyes to the simple things that are around us. Bly illustrates this in this poem. During this time of year often our vocations/jobs take up endless time. For many preparation for the holiday season is also another endless list of to-dos that take up time. What Bly's poem does is suggests that we take time to notice things around us with eyes wide open. Whether it is the white flake of snow on a horse's mane or a roof of snow on a picket fence, we need to give up our ambitions and just be still. That is definately a challenge in a holiday of world of "shoulds" and " need to's". I absorbed Bly's words today and carried my camera around in very cold temperatures to open my eyes to the world around me. This is what I saw.

Remember December: N is for the Natural Beauty of Winter

Today I tried to capture the natural beauty of my surroundings with my camera lens using another point of view. I moved inside the warm, fragrant greenhouse and viewed the winter wonderland from the windows surrounding this structure.
It snowed about eight inches and this afternoon the gray sky had a look of snow. It is evening now and no more snow fell, but the temperatures are dropping as we move into night.

Perhaps tomorrow the greenhouse will be a place to enjoy if it gets as cold as predicted! Enjoy the natural beauty of winter from the windows of the greenhouse.

Photo Hunt: Favorite

"Love is like a rose. When pressed between two lifetimes,
it will last forever." unknown

Even when frost had doomed many flowers in the gardens, this America climbing rose hung in there and had one more bloom for the Thanksgiving bouquet. This rose climbs up the back side of the house which is very protected. Here is my husband JEJ, the favorite person in my life holding the last rose of the growing season. For other Photo Hunts using Favorite go here.

Remember December: M is for More Snow

the back pond is frozen and surrounded by snow

It started snowing here today about 9:30 a.m. The more excited my students became with the big flakes falling, the more apprehensive I was about driving home. The weather people are predicting up to a foot of snow in the next twenty-four hours in my area, then temperatures will be dipping below 10 degrees. Shelby decided to assist me with the camera tour.

We found the oil lamp, propane lamp, more candles, and flashlights. JEJ hauled in more wood and shoveled the roof of the portable garage. Living in a rural area prepares you to always have enough food to feed a family of eight for a month! Alas, I think we are set for what might come. Now we can just grab a book, a warm drink and sit in front of the fire.As always the snow does bring a beauty along with the travel restrictions and power problems. I grabbed my camera before it got too dark today to catch images of the first part of this snowstorm. Be careful out there in the Inland Empire! Stay home and keep dry, warm, and safe.Annie and Shelby didn't last long outside when they knew that warm fire was right inside!

Remember December: L is for List as in Grown- Up Christmas List

We all remember the Christmas lists we would write out for Santa when we were younger listing a baby doll, a tea set, or as we got older a Nancy Drew mystery or go-go boots. Just today in class I had a student ask to write a letter to Santa from the point of view of a "naughty little boy". It was very clever. One song that I have loved since it was first recorded in the early '90's is Grown- Up Christmas List. Often this time of year we reflect on our own wishes for the world such as feeding the hungry, providing clothing for a family, or praying for world peace. The chorus of this Christmas song stays with me all year and how I wish the list would come true!

"No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list."

Such a lovely list. David Foster composed this song and made a recording with Natalie Cole helping with vocals on a non-Christmas album. Amy Grant made it more popular on her Christmas album, but it has been recorded by others such as Kelly Clarkston, Michael Buble, and Monica. I chose the simple David Foster/ Natalie Cole recording for this post .What would be on your grown-up Christmas list?