Traditions for a new era.

Our holiday tree. I let go of my control issues, and let the kids decorate it entirely on their own this year.

Happy holidays!

This time of year, my thoughts seem to naturally turn to both the spiritual and traditional aspects of the holidays we celebrate in my home. For a very long time, I tried hard to be someone I'm not, and although it greatly impacted our daily existence, it took an even larger toll on how we observed nearly every holiday. Part of me regrets those 7 wasted years, yet another part acknowledges that it was time that shaped how I view the world so that's ok. 

Love in a Hopeless Place

Image courtesy of Newtown Photo Memorial Project.

How do you tell your children about the deaths of children in their age range? Can you reconcile this atrocious theft of innocence for an entire community with the idea of a God who cares, and is just and good? How many parents like me have likewise hid their tears and sorrow for strangers if only so their own children won't be frightened?
The massacre at Sandy Hook School has impacted so many. I live in CT. Somewhere deep in my heart, I always felt my kids were safe, if only by virtue of living in a tiny state. Tragedies like the loss of these precious kids happened in the great land of Elsewhere. Not here. Not to ours. Evil was for places like New York, large cities so unlike any here.

Standing up for Santa

Belief in the big red guy is a rite of passage for many American kids.

Growing up, I never really gave Santa a second thought. He just was. Once I became a parent, it also never crossed my mind for even a moment to not share the magic of Santa with my own children. It wasn't until a few years ago that I even realized that there are people who are against letting their kids believe in jolly old St. Nick for a whole multitude of reasons.

Is there truly a "War on Christmas"?

This gem has been circulating around Facebook lately.

It's December, a lovely time of year to celebrate many things: the birth of Christ, the miracle of God's provision, the change of the seasons, the strength of one's culture and heritage, the hope of rebirth and renewal, amongst many others. I should also add that many of our country's non-believers enjoy a robust holiday season as well, full of joy and meaningful traditions. In America, roughly 76% of adults identify as Christian in faith. That statistic is why I have such a hard time with the media-hyped "war on Christmas".

What A Beautiful Life!



The Princess at 12 weeks gestation. Sorry for the blurry picture of a picture.

The Princess at 23 months.

My friend's daughter at 9 weeks gestation.



Miss N at almost 1 and a half.


 

I don't think I've done a post on my change of heart from pro-choice to pro-life. It's a difficult and heated subject to talk about. The overwhelming majority of the people I know are very passionate about it regardless of which side their personal stance falls on. In my opinion, abortion affects us all. I have no idea about the actual stats on it, but I'd imagine most people either know someone who has had an abortion or has had one themselves. This post is not about judgment. It's about my private struggle that lead to me believing all life has value.

Wherein I lost my religion, but found my faith.

"Jesus loves the little raptors..."

Religion has always been a mixed bag for me. I never truly understood how so many people worldwide could adhere to such things for a lifetime. I have long been a fickle sort of person. Just one of my many charming characteristics I suppose.
I was raised more or less an atheist. My father was at that time a staunch non-believer, although from what I heard he died a Mormon. My mother was raised Catholic, but rebelled against much of what she was taught. From Dad, I would get lectures on the foolishness of believers and from Mom, I would get lectures on how just being a good person is good enough for God. I'm not sure about my younger brother, but given his cross tattoo, I'm gonna guess that he is some flavor of Christian.
In my teens, I became a Christian...sort of. It didn't last very long, and I never felt as though I fit in with the church-going crowd. By the time I was 16, I was following a Wiccan path. I continued to be a solitary practitioner until my early twenties. Motherhood seemed to wipe out any time I had to enjoy any sort of spiritual path. That changed when I was about 24 or 25. I found Christianity again, and dove in whole hearted.