sixweasels’ Neighborhood

Jace's bedroom - still needs trim, doors, and light fixture.

Jace room carpeted Dec 18.jpg

Cody's room - still needs trim, light fixture, chair rail, numbers on the yard lines, and doors.

Cody room carpeted Dec 18.jpg

Toy room - needs doors and trim

Toy room carpet Dec 18.jpg

Den and stairs - needs trim and stair railing.  Ray's dad has welded us a wrought iron stair railing but we have to get it from WY.

Den & stairs carpet.jpg

Today the laundry room floor will be installed.  Ray finished the hardwood in the kitchen, dining room, and powder room, and the granite countertops are being installed today.  So close!

Guest bedroom - all it needs is the trim around the window arch and the heat vents to be done!

Guest bedroom carpet Dec 18.jpg

Lily's room - needs closet door and rods as well as trim around window arch.

Lily bedroom carpet Dec 18.jpg

Master bedroom - just needs heat vents and closet organizer

Master bed carpeted Dec 18.jpg

(8AM)

It has well and truly hit the fan, outside these windows... if "it" means white and powdery, over a foot deep, and coming down sideways. It's so thickly descending, it's impossible to see a hundred feet down the driveway. That constitutes a "blizzard", in my book. Positively arctic... yet immensely beautiful, in a "Holy Fuck, I'll be stuck here for days" kinda way.

A Marshmallow World. A White Christmas, assured...  because this stuff isn't going anywhere for ages.

In reality, this couldn't have come at a better time. With school done, my next radio contribution not until Friday, there's no particular urgency or obligation to move... which would suit my monkish tendencies, so well cultivated for over a year.

(Many hours pass. And the tense changes)

When the ants in my pants started getting restless, and the worst seemed to have abated, I slung some fleecy shovels of snow, so I could at least get out of my front door, and see where the car was. I was wearing sunglasses, but I'll swear that I saw teh same color of cerulean blue that you see in glaciers, when I dug down, deep.

There are going to be some interesting photos. The Volvo is two feet taller than it usually is. The boxwoods are all flattened under the weight. The birdbath looks like a cake on a pedestal. Not a creature is stirring... except for the cat, who only recently remembered that there's a litter box in here.

My feet are warm. I care not.

Nevasca

Yesterday, I spoke to our church's Friday MOPS group.  Their theme this year centers around the book, Make Today Count by Maxwell.  I was asked to choose one of the chapters, which consist of values that one should incorporate into daily life.  Since it was their final meeting before Christmas, I chose Generosity.

Here are some thoughts from the talk:

Most know that today's Santa Claus originates with St. Nicholas, who lived during the third century in what is now Turkey.  After his parents death, he devoted his life to the Church and gave away his entire fortune to those in need.  "St. Nick" lived his life in such a way that he became known as a gift-giver.

But, I am not sure Nicholas was just - POOF - a giver. 

Do we have to teach children to share?  If you've ever been a room with a couple of 2-year-olds, you know the answer to that!

I once watched a recording of Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz), and he talked about how we all believe this life is our own movie.  "I am the star!  The rest of you are just supporting players."

The reality is, we have to be purposeful in our giving – it doesn't come naturally to most of us.

So, what does it mean to be generous?

First, it's not just about money.  Give of yourself: your time, your attention, your talent...to name a few not-for-sale gifts.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (NIV)

But sometimes we are called to share our money/wealth.

Jesus said, “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” (Matthew 5:42)

A caveat: don't lend money.  But Nicole, you just quoted a verse that says don't turn away someone asking to borrow.

I know of a family that if they agree to give someone money, they never look at it as a loan.  They make a conscious decision to never expect to get it back.  If they can't give it away, they don't give it.

Anyone every loaned a friend or family member a bit of cash and you're still waiting for that payback?  Makes holiday get-togethers a bit awkward, eh?  If they even come around you any more.

Just give it - expecting nothing in return.

Okay - I get it.  I need to be generous.  But how?

1) Value Others

Treat everyone with respect.  Yes, even that annoying woman in the grocery store line!

A week or two ago I was at our local Kroger.  The lines were four and five people deep.  A manager opened the register next to my line and directed me over.  As I loaded my purchases on to the belt, a woman checking out to the right of us loudly vied for the mangers attention:

"EXCUSE ME!  I need to tell you that if you don't get some baggers in this store, I am never shopping here again!  The cashiers don't know how to bag my groceries, and I am tired of doing it myself.  Are you listening!?  Are you going to get some baggers over here..."

On and on went the diatribe, as the manager, softly and graciously, called over some department managers to bag the woman's purchases as her sheepish husband looked at the floor.

My first thought was, "Wow, I didn't know it was my constitutional right to demand a bagger at the grocery store."  I had a few other thoughts that weren't as "nice".

But as I left the store, a still small voice whispered, "What if that woman just lost someone close to her?  What if she just got word that someone she loves is facing a terminal illness?"

Bottom line: we have no idea what someone might be going through that would cause them to spring a leak - a rather loud one at that! - in a grocery store while dozens of bystanders gawk.  Sure, some people are just rude, but God loves even them, doesn't He? 

God calls me to a lot of things, but one of them is certainly not judging (and thank goodness too).

2) Know what people value

This will mean giving of your time – getting to know them.  If you are like me, the last thing you have is time!  But the dividends of taking time to get to know those you say you love: unmeasurable.

3) Make yourself more valuable

Work on you!  What are you doing to cultivate character and personal growth in your own life?  A few ways to do that include time with God (prayer, Bible reading), being a part of a church, developing relationships there via small groups or discipleship classes, and finding that friend who knows and loves you enough to tell you when you are crazy.  (Seriously.  If you don't have one of those, you need one.  Pronto.)

4) Love people unconditionally

It doesn't get more specific than this: “The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.” (1 John 4:21, MSG)

5) Find a reason to give every day – and then DO IT!

It could be as simple as letting that guy with just a gallon of milk jump in front of you in line at the wholesale club.  It doesn't have to cost a lot of money or involve a lot of fanfare - it's simply looking for those small moments when you can be an encouragement to someone else.

6) Don't wait for “better times” to be generous

Let's be real.  If you are saying, "I'll give more when the economy rebounds or I get a raise at work or my retirement fund is at a respectable level again," you're really just kidding yourself.  There will always be something - braces for the kids, a blown tire, leaky faucets.  As the old Nike ads said, "Just do it."

As I finished up this little talk, I handed out tea bags with a small note attached: Generosi-tea.  I asked those moms to do something generous - big or small - before they enjoyed that herbal brew.  I hope each one will look at that small gift and be encouraged to embrace a new mantra: I will live to give.

That's exactly what God's Son did for each one of us.  He chose life here on earth, and then He gave it away that we ALL might live.

Of all the gifts you give this Christmas, may Generosi-tea be at the top of the list.

(*I can't take complete credit for the big ideas represented here - Maxwell's chapter on Generosity was vital as a jumping off place.)

If there is anything my mother isn't known for, it's being graceful on her feet. My mother trips and bumbles over the smallest things, sometimes over nothing at all. 

hopes her actual friends realize that, if she has time to post on
Twitter or Facebook, she isn't going to be promoting anything hot or
young.

Bah Humbug:

1. The Steelers football season is basically over for this year.  They have to give another team a turn ;)  We have so many injured players that it's just pretty hopeless.
2. It causes me great stress to just be mailing my Christmas cards.  I know that's probably odd but I like to have them out at the beginning of Dec.  Dumb computer crash!

Merry Christmas:

1. A friend and I made a shopping trip today to buy Christmas presents for a family whose having a rough December.  It's a single mom of 5 and she crushed her wrist in a 4-wheeling accident so is unable to work.  I have to say it finally got me in the holiday spirit!
2. Our entire house is carpeted!  Well, except for the theater which we don't plan to finish for a year or two.  By the end of Monday, the rest of the flooring will be finished as well as the kitchen counter.  We have 2 working toilets, too!  (I'll post some more pictures soon).
3. We've made plans to go back to Jamestown January 1-3 to move the rest of our furniture.  Could still use some prayers for that house to sell.  Anytime now would be just perfect!!
4. We'll be moving in after we get our things.  There will still be little stuff to do but we can do that while living there.  I finally feel like I can get excited!!
5. My grandma, aunt & uncle, brother & girlfriend, parents, and cousin's family will all be here for Christmas.  I love a big Christmas!  Ray is thrilled to not have to pack up every single present and travel this year.

I almost succumbed to that previous prophesy, the last time I wrote... the dark descent into atrophy, in less than twenty-four hours. It was like that first weekend when I got laid off... when I was driving into town in the truck, stuck at a stop light on a dreary, rainy day.

My arm felt numb. I was convinced that it was the Big One (Thanks, Fred Sanford)...until I realized that my layering was too tight to be driving in, and came to the conclusion that it was a panic attack. Couldn't very well crap out at the stoplight, could I?

So, since last week, I balled up and threw away two attempts at writing... that is, as much as one can ball up text files.

From maximum acceleration to idle in less than two weeks... well, it's arresting. It was making me see the upcoming Holidays as barren. Nary a decoration in the house, except for three thoughtful cards... not many more sent out, either. But, I'm not going to proclaim a bust, just yet. I've turned out to be a pretty sucky mind-reader and prognosticator.

So, preferring the Sly and the Family Soul version, "Que Sera, Sera".

Two incidences in the past seven days have upset the inertia, anyway.

I love all kinds of music.

Being a reggae DJ at a college station for almost as long as some of my listeners have been alive, you get pigeonholed after a while. A one-hit wonder. Well, growing up to Billie Holiday, Kay Starr, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington... and the Beatles starts you out all over the map, to begin with.

There was Soul music on that path, too. Early infection.

So, I made my Christmas present to myself be a ticket to see Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. She's from the same town, Augusta, GA, that James Brown came from. The performance, in a 20s-era movie theater, recently restored. Classic soul, with real musicians, and self-written songs. It almost felt like Memphis must have.

At one point, she mentioned that she "lent her boys to Amy Winehouse for that album", hand on hip. She let them atone themselves. Fat guitars and bass, trumpet, Alto and Baritone saxes, drums and congas... and she brought it all home.

Yesterday, after the last exam was over (four classes, Four Aces), I met the lady whose portrait I did a couple of months ago at a pub, decorated with my drawing instructor's canvases. Born in the British Virgin islands, years spent in Zimbabwe. Singing jazz in Prague and all over. Now, owner of that portrait, deservedly.

So, yeah... it's soul searching.

Considering there's a monster winter storm just brewing, outside, hopefully, being confined won't compound that mess. If it turns out to be over a foot, as has been forecast, it's going to be "confinement", that's for sure. But, arctic-cold air makes for really good radio reception... and there's a ton of drawing to do, on my time.

Two six-packs. A two-day old pot full of gumbo in the fridge. Two new drawing pads. Enough heating oil to keep me warm.

That'll do.

Chorister Choir performing in church this last Sunday.  Lily is the last solo.  I couldn't figure out why she was being so fidgetey but I guess her nose wouldn't quit running.