The Holy Family’s unexpected guests add fun

 

FAMILY – for the 2021 Holiday Photography Challenge (See sidebar for full list.).

 

Who’s on the guest list for holy Nativity reenactments at our house?

 Sure, the assemblage includes those one might expect. Mary and Joseph are there, along with the shepherds (and sheep), along with the three kings (and camels) and the Baby Jesus. But our home-stitched, well-worn, and much-loved Nativity set sometimes boasts a few extras.

 

 Somehow, through the years, three extra kings have shown up. And this year, a few Dalmatians came to pay their respects to the Holy Child as well. Sometimes a Santa, a reindeer, or a snowman may be found in the scene too.

 

Hey, we go with it. Maybe it’s just extra festive.

 Each Christmas season, I unpack this treasured collection, and the youngest members of our family are tagged to set it up.

 I also bring out our Christmas picture books, which have been tucked away since last December. And every year, one book becomes the favorite read-aloud for the season. This year, the top pick is Christmas in the Manger, a very simple board book written by Nola Buck and illustrated by Felicia Bond.

 Maybe it’s the writing. It could be the pictures. Or possibly it’s all the animal noises this book-loving grandmother makes, as an adorable toddler turns each page and tries to mimic the sounds.

 For whatever reason, I’m glad the Nativity story is a prime source of family fun and together times. That’s what this season is all about!

 

Image/s: Personal photos. All rights reserved.

Book cover photo - fair use

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Old toys bring new fun at Christmastime

 

 FUN – for the 2021 Holiday Photography Challenge (See sidebar for full list.).

 

Every year, when I pull out the Christmas decorations from their boxes (where I have stowed them in a Tetrus-like formation under the stairs), I’m pleased to find forgotten favorites.

 

And there’s nothing like having a grandchild to add extra delight to these surprises.

 Recently, this little nesting Santa set was the main attraction for much longer than a toddler’s attention span usually offers.

 Based on the matryoshka, or Russian nesting doll, this decoration (perhaps more aptly called a toy) has been in our family for nearly 30 years. He’s now entertaining a new generation.

 

That’s one of the wonderful things about Christmas treasures.

 After Christmas, I’ll pack this Santa set up (along with our other Christmas decorations and books and dishes and other special items). They’ll stay tucked away in their tissue papers or bubble wraps and boxes till Thanksgiving weekend next year.

 Then they will all be new again. What fun!

 

Image/s: Personal photo/s. All rights reserved.

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2019 holiday highlights for better or worse

How was your holiday season?

Every Christmas season has its own highlights. These may be ups or downs, but they are definitely memorable.

Here are some of my 2019 holiday highlights (in approximate chronological order). They are highlights for all kinds of reasons, from heartwarming to humorous to … well, you’ll see. First, let me be clear. I am thankful we can even celebrate Christmas. I love that God sent Jesus, the King of Kings, as a humble baby, born in a stable (more like a cave) to save the world. I enjoy all of the festivities, both faith-focused and family- or friend-oriented (or all of those things).

It's just that this Christmas season was more than a little quirky around here. So please read this list in the playful spirit in which it is intended.

1. Attending a women’s Christmas brunch at our church and receiving a newcomer’s welcome mug, although I’ve been a member of that church for almost six years. “How long have you been coming here?” our table hostess asked me. Fortunately, my mouth was full of apple kringle at that point, so I didn’t have to answer that sticky question.

2. Playing the Yankee Swap Christmas gift game with my hilarious Bible study friends. I’m not even gonna tell about the wackiest gifts, but they were crazy-funny. Things got a little crazy over a tiny pair of painted Dutch wooden shoes and a stack of festive gift boxes.

3. Enjoying a pre-Christmas lunch with my sister. The waiter returned to our table five or six times after we paid the bill to see if we still needed anything. That’s how long we lingered and visited – well after we finished our salads.

4. Making Christmas cookies at my daughter’s house, while her plentiful pets frolicked around us. This has become something of a tradition. She teaches me something new about cookie baking every time.

5. Scratching off $5 lotto tickets with the in-laws on Christmas Eve (in lieu of the traditional gift swap). Because nothing says “Christmas” like scratch-off lottery tickets. After all, what did the magi bring? Was it gold, frankincense, myrrh and lotto tickets? (BTW, nobody won. Not one bit.) When can we do this again?

6. Receiving comfy matching Gamma and Grampa bathrobes from my stepdaughter on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, I discovered that Grampa had taken it upon himself to wash and dry his dark green one with my white one. Now mine (not yet worn) is a splotchy pale pistachio green with dark green fuzzies all over it.

7. Watching my 10-year-old grandson (He’s actually my step-grandson, but who’s counting?) open his presents and having him look up with an ear-to-ear smile and say, “Wow. You really know me!” Count that as a win.

8. Unwrapping my Christmas present from The Retired One and finding a scanner. He said, “Now you can do my paperwork faster.” I’m not sure I responded at all. As it turns out, it doesn’t even work with my computer. His next gift was a plug-in egg cooker. He told me it makes eggs the way he likes them, but that I could use it too, if I wanted. Then he read the instructions and decided it seemed too complex. So he returned it to the store. It’s the thought that counts … if anyone’s thinking. The third and final gift was a bottle of wine with a sketch of a runner on the label. Maybe that one contained some thought. At any rate, I was ready for a glass by then.

9. Celebrating Christmas with a brand-new baby grandson. Just a few months old, he’s all giggles and grins. (It was fun to see his parents too.) A few weeks before Christmas, I established an unofficial circle of accountability friends, charging them with the task of steering me clear of baby departments in stores. The sleigh was already stacked.

10. Going for a trail run in 50-degree weather on Christmas afternoon. Chalk it up to one more day’s entry in the Thanksgiving-to-New-Years Holiday Season Running Streak. It was a gloriously sunny and warm day. Can’t beat that.

So now I’m a little confused. Did I make Santa’s nice list in 2019 … or his naughty one? Either way, I dismantled and stowed the Christmas tree and all the decorations by the 27^th of December. I love Christmas, but this one was a little strange for sure.

I wonder what will happen next time the holiday season rolls around.

What were your holiday highlights?

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Adapted by this user

from public domain image

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Caution is advised, when sharing MISSING PERSON posts

Faces of missing people (particularly children) frequently pop up on Facebook and other social networking sites, generally posted by well-meaning people. Folks share (and re-share) these photos and web-links, hoping to help locate those who have disappeared and might be in danger.

Spreading the word about missing people may be helpful … except when it’s not.

Why do experts like the Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police urge caution before sharing photos and information about children and others that may be missing? 

Several reasons may contribute to this wariness.

1. Privacy Law - First, it’s important to note that the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 prohibits the publishing of identifying information (name, hometown, school, etc.) of a child that is not your own. In many states, it is illegal to photograph minors without permission, unless you are their parent. That may come into play, if a person posts a photo of a child who is suspected to be missing, if that photo did not come with parental approval for sharing.
2. Family First - The first legitimate public reporting of a missing person generally originates with the family. A parent, spouse/significant other, or relative will likely report the situation to authorities. After that, a missing person’s notice may be generated. That’s when it becomes sharable, including a web-link to an officially recognized organization’s listing (with appropriate contact information). That means, if the missing person is not your child, or your spouse/significant other, or your family member, it may not be wise to initiate the publicity. It would be better to raise such suspicions with local or federal authorities instead of the internet community.
3. Facts Matter - Occasionally, social networking posts alleging a person is missing end up to be incorrect. They may be based on rumors, or the supposedly absent person may turn up quickly after having been in no peril at all. Too-quick sharing can lead to widespread anxiety unnecessarily.
4. Possible Peril - Sometimes public posting of missing people (especially children) may actually endanger the ones who are sought. It’s important to examine the sourcing of such posts. For example, too many cases have been reported of parents (or others) who may have been legally forbidden contact with their youngsters, but put up their own missing children reports anyway. The other parent may be hiding with the children for their own safety, and widespread sharing may put them in jeopardy. Similar examples include those escaping domestic abuse or other such threats. Sharing legitimate posts (and web-links) directly from groups like those listed above is a much safer bet.
5. Focused Attention - Passing along outdated posts steals the spotlight from those missing child and missing people posts that truly need help right now. How many times do people hit the Facebook SHARE button without clicking through to read the original post? Often, these viral posts are several months (or even years) old. The individuals listed as missing may already have been found. News stories are updated when this occurs. Online listings are amended or removed. It only takes a few seconds to fact-check before posting or re-posting on social networking. Not doing so becomes a bit like the proverbial boy who cried “Wolf.” After too many false alarms, people stop paying attention.
6. Sad Stories - Unchecked sharing can add to the sorrow of grieving families, if their missing person has met a tragic end. This extra anguish need not be the case, if well-meaning people would simply look at the posts before clicking them on for others to see.

All this is not to say people should not pass the word about people who really are missing.

Social networking can be extremely helpful, if it’s truly time to share information about missing people who are actually reported as missing. It’s just essential to check things out before posting.

Blind sharing isn’t always helpful, and it may be just the opposite.

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Adapted by this user

from public domain image

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