My Christmas 2020

My Christmas does look very different this year. I am going to show you my decorations--quite different from the past.

I bought this for my table in the glass room where I live!

The entry hall table. My Christmas tree!

My Santa

Can't forget Grandma Moses.

And my favorite part of my Christmas decorations, always.

And that is it. Those are my decorations.

Two talented decorators have put up my Christmas decorations for years. Their health did not permit them to handle the job this year. I have not been as sad as I thought I might be. But I am grateful for every year that I got to revel in them. If you want to see what I'm missing this year,  

CLICK HERE

It has also been heart wrenching not to get to sing in our choir music presention. I will never "grinch" about having to go to those extra rehearsals again! Such an important part of Christmas to me. So much joy.

I did two special things for myself to try to compensate for the losses. I "attended" Andrea Bocelli's virtual live concert from Italy on my computer screen. It was fabulous. I didn't take any pictures, but you may have seen this one from the presentation.

Then I treated myself to Michael W. Smith's virtual Christmas celebration. It was from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and was also a treat for me.  I got some screen shots.

From the comfort of my sofa and blanket!

He closed with Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them. One of my favorites. 

I'm thinking virtual concerts are more my speed now anyway!

What did you think about that Christmas star? Although I know it wasn't really a star. This picture from the Hubble telescope is mesmerizing to me. 

Doesn't it look just like the star of Bethlehem in this photo? I can't believe I got to experience this in my lifetime.

So today the Stovall and Metzger families got together to exchange Christmas gifts. But not all together as we have so pleasantly done for years. We were safe...masked and spaced. The Metzger clan was first on Rob's and Susan's wonderful "porch." Then the Stovall group moved in. As usual, we had lots of love and laughs---just no hugs. I only took a few pictures.

My sleigh, all loaded and ready to go. I didn't make a single real bow this year. Guy's gifts got no ribbon. Girl's gifts got some cheater bows. (That's leftover and taped or tied on.) 

A more loving and generous pair you never will see...Jay & Terri

My unbelievable "haul."

So heart warming to a grandmother to see how much the newlyweds still like each other...Susannah and Nick

Rob, Susan, and Madeline who had just flown in from New York for the celebration!

Does anyone remember when I gave Rob this "ostrich pillow?" Well, he re-gifted it today to Nick! (I am trying to disguise my hurt.) Not really. We laughed until our sides ached! Nick says when Susannah starts flying again he's going to bring it with him on one of her flights. I just chuckled out loud at the thought of it.

This would have been the ideal year for me to send Christmas cards. Plenty of time--haven't seen friends in ages. Well, don't think you were left off my list. There were no cards. I will tell you I really loved and enjoyed all the ones I received, though. 

Well, in just 4 minutes it will be Christmas Day! In keeping with my tradition, I will not be asleep in time for Santa. I'm not wrapping last minute gifts this year for the first time ever as far as I can remember, but now I'm blogging!!! I had to stop and take time out for a little snack--Mexican Inn chips and hot sauce, so I may be getting even less sleep than usual tonight!

Tomorrow (or actually today now) I get to have lunch with Jay and Terri and her lovely mom, Marilyn. I hear we are having prime rib! The three of them went to see the Prairie Lights earlier this week and, of course, invited me along. Since I hadn't been enclosed in a vehicle with anyone in over 9 months, I was hesitant. Jay generously offered to strap me to the top of their car (even providing the straps) so that I could have the best, open air view! I seriously considered until I realized it would probably mess up my hair.

My December 2020 Calendar

Here's hoping for a busier December, 2021!

However, by then I may be so lazy I don't care!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

I can't wait to hug you, too, again.

 

Paralyzed by Perfection

I tend to notice things about myself (usually failings)

and think they are unique to me.

Case in point:

I realized later in life that if I don't feel I can do

 something perfectly,

I just don't do it all.

Or...at the very least, I procrastinate.

My cousin introduced me to an appropoś phrase.

I am "paralyzed by perfection."

We "paralyzed by perfection" people

NEVER

just "throw something together."

If we say we're going to...don't believe it.

If it takes staying up all night,

 we keep after it until it is perfect.

When Susan began first grade (in Lubbock)

I made her five new dresses to wear the

first week of school.

There's no telling how long it took me to

make these dresses, because I made

them about three times each.

If every stitch wasn't perfect, it was

ripped out and redone.

Sewing was one place where my malady was

most strongly obvious and most irritating!

So...I just don't sew any more.

Another example.  How long does it take to

make a bed?

It depends on whether you are p by p or not.

It takes me forever.

The bottom sheet must be absolutely smooth.

The top sheet must be turned back over

the blanket equally all the way across. 

Does all this show when completed?

NO!

Perfectionism is definitely not a fruit of the Spirit.

It is not a virtue. 

I am not bragging!

It is, in fact, a real pain. 

The results can be very pleasing, however.  

The meals I put on my family's table were always

so good, if I do say so myself, and I do.

Could they have been just as good if

"just thrown together?"

Probably, just NOT BY ME.

Oh, and take a look at this Monopoly board I

cross stitched!

Imagine how long this took Miss Perfection!

And try to find a mis-stitch.  You won't!

It's a treasure, and it is  perfect.

 

Back Where I Belong

Last Sunday I was there! I was not in my usual pew, but I was sitting in the beautiful chapel of Fielder Church. It was the first Sunday for all of us who love attending the "Blended Service." I thought I would report to those of you who might be wondering what it was like. I must admit right off that my attendance was closely monitored by three little Mama Bears: Susan Metzger, Mary Dollar, and Donna Dupree. My spot to sit was carefully chosen and reserved. I had received instructions on maintaining  safe distances. I was watched like a hawk! As a result, I felt perfectly safe. Here I am. Taking a selfie is such serious business that I forgot to smile--and it shows in my eyes!

My assigned seat was on the front row, but from that vantage point it looked like everyone was cooperating on the mask front!

Every other row is taped off, so social distancing when seated is easy. I think it becomes more difficult to maintain a 6 foot apart distance when friendly Baptists are moving about. 

The music was FABULOUS! Dave Dupree's selections were phenomenal. We sang beloved hymns which stirred my soul. I especially loved that we as a congregation sang the beautiful He Is.  And our fabulous Karen Dotson sang Jesus, It is You! 

 Rob and Susan Metzger, Karen Dotson, and Brandy Burkey. 

And Dave Dupree was at his music stand in the center.

(Now this was from my seat y'all--no bias intended!)

As you can see, there were some beautiful strings, and some percussion you cannot see!

It was PERFECT!

Then we had our usual  INCOMPARABLE sermon from Pastor Jason! And did he ever have a hum dinger of a passage to share with us. He told us it was going to be a soap opera, but I don't think many of us realized the absolute truth in that statement. If you missed it, please go to You Tube and watch! Just search for Fielder Church, then here's what it looks like:

You'll learn of the two most powerful words in the world. You will also learn about a most unlikely man to have a place in the genealogy of Jesus.

I have actually loved our Sunday services from the comfort of my home. I have looked into the eyes of Jason and our other pastors and felt they were speaking just to me. But I have missed our gathering with each other. The singing together, even with masks. And Jason's excitement Sunday was contagious as he had his live, responsive congregation "back in the house!"

We will continue to have our online service on Sunday morning as a fourth campus. You can always find it on You Tube as above. I want to encourage those of you who are able, however, to come back in person. I felt perfectly safe and gloriously blessed. And we don't want Satan to reap any benefit from our summer of separation!

"And let us consider how to stir up one another

to love and good works,

not neglecting to meet together...."

Hebrews 10:24-25

                    

Finding Treasures in a Pandemic

 I just completed a very small pandemic project 

with results which added 

 Exclamation Points to my day!!!

Earlier this summer I attempted to put 

together 2 jigsaw puzzles with

 disappointing results.

The first looked like this when I gave it away.

It was supposed to look like this:

The Rose Window in Washington National Cathedral.

The second was in this stage when I gave up.

At least I got the border around it.

It would have been so fun!

I just knew I used to be good at puzzles!

At least I thought I was.

I've always remembered that hidden 

under the bed in the guest bedroom were

2 or 3 puzzles I (we) had worked

and glued together.

Today I finally tackled dragging them out!

I was shocked to find 9 completed puzzles!

 Gone With The Wind was the only one 

 of the 9 that I remembered at all.

They were stacked one on top of another in a 

portfolio type folder in pristine condition.

I was very excited at my find until I realized

how much my puzzles dated me!

I won't make you look at all 9, 

but here are my favorites.

It's funny...I remembered this one as 

being HUGE.

Although my photos make them all appear

to be the same size,

 it is actually one of the smaller ones.

Many of you will recognize Baylor's

Pat Neff Hall.

I worked in this building at Baylor

and was thrilled to find such a memory.

Probably did this one while the 1953 version 

of the movie was hot at the box office!

This one represents the BIG hotels in Vegas

when we first went! HaHaHa!

You know how I sometimes say a photo 

on Facebook reminds me of a

Norman Rockwell painting?

Well, for those of you who aren't familiar, 

this puzzle is of a Rockwell painting,

probably purchased in his hometown!

(Don't know exactly why I chose 

this particular one!)

But this was the best one!

McDonald's has been an important part

 of the Stovall/Metzger lives.

 Don't remember doing this puzzle at all.

I think we may have put it together

 way before our company began

building McDonald's restaurants.

I am going to investigate having it framed,

even though it is HUGE.

It is a treasure...and an antique!

************************

My conclusions regarding 

my puzzle putting together ability:

I used to be better.

I used to have help.

I must have had more patience.

MANY of the pieces were the same color

 then just like they are now.

I just didn't whine about it then.

So Susan has bought me a new puzzle to

work which she believes might be

more my speed.

She didn't seem to think it particularly funny

 when I noted that there are 13 little puzzles,

but...

THE PIECES ARE ALL MIXED 

TOGETHER IN 1 BAG!

I may or may not let you know how I do.

 

10 Insignificant Things That Nevertheless Annoy Me

1. Previews of a tv show before it starts and/or between segments. I don't want to see what is "coming up" before it comes up! My favorite What Would You Do? is double bad about this. They show 6 minutes of previews before the show begins (I timed it) and then AGAIN between segments. Isn't that just awful? No. I know. Insig.

2.  Internet stories that lead you on a mile long trail of clicking  "NEXT." And no matter how hard you try you inevitably make an accidental click on some stupid ad you can't get rid of quick enough. And then the person or thing that you were curious about is #49 out of 50. Or not on there at all. Yes, it happens.

3.  Yard people who blow grass clippings and leaves into the street and leave them. Or the  homeowners who pay for such service.

I saw this happening today. This may even be illegal. If it's not, it should be.

4.  People who use abbreviations on social media that no one has ever heard of. Like the KXW or the YJRQ. Maybe they know what it means, but does anyone else? No. Because I don't.

5.  People who come up to me and say, "You don't know who I am,  do you?" Hmmm. What could I say? "Are you implying that my memory is biting the dust?"

6.  People who do not thank me when my extreme patience, grace, generosity, and kindness is not rewarded when I wave their car to go ahead of mine. Just a leetle return wave is all I ask. It's all I can do not to roll down my window and holler "Well, you're not welcome, either!" I know, no stars in my crown for this.

7.  People who are early to parties--at my house. I have considered printing on invitations, "Kindly do not be early." If my party begins at 7:00 P.M. the earliest I will be ready is 7:00 P.M. I didn't say it made sense. And yes, I've tried telling myself I must be ready at 6:30, but I'm just too darn smart to buy that!

8.  Now, I'm afraid I may be the only one in this world of millions and billions of people who is irked by this. But here goes. Hallmark is, without a doubt, the Cadillac of greeting cards. But I have noted that as their prices increase, the selection of colors of their envelopes decreases.  In the "good old days" every envelope was  beautifully color coordinated with every card. (Although I have been known to do a little swapping for personal preference.) Now there are usually 2 or 3 envelope colors for all the cards--like chartreuse and taupe--no white--and they don't match some of the cards AT ALL. No swapping because there's nothing to swap to. I know. I can't understand why everyone hasn't noticed.

9.  I just do not understand why all sit down restaurants have ONLY sugar sweetened lemonade. Perhaps some of you (or ALL of you) haven't noticed this.  And now, to make matters worse, they have removed the artificial sweetener from the table so I can't make my own lemonade out of my "water with lemon." Yes, I always felt VERY cheap doing it, but I simply can't bring myself to ask for sweetener for my water! Makes it just entirely too obvious. (Just took a short break to go stick Sweet 'n Low in my purse.)

10. This one can hardly be classified "Insignificant." If you have followed my blog or Facebook for very long you no doubt know about it... Channel 4 pre-empting Judge Judy for any remote possibility of bad weather anywhere, often at the crucial point in the show.  JJ is on from 4:00 to 5:00, and their regular news starts at 5:00, but they cannot wait! See, I told you this one was significant! I dread bad weather season!

Please share if there are insignificant things that bug you! It would make me feel so much better about myself if there are!

 

Bridging the Gap

This morning I picked up my daily devotional book

Wisdom for Each Day by Billy Graham

and looked at my phone for the date.

It may become obvious to you that this means I

have not been reading it daily as intended.

When I saw that it is July 22nd, my mind 

 flashed ahead to July 27th, our wedding anniversary.

My action followed my mind, and I found the

 message for that day is one I want to share with you.

---------------

"Suppose you are riding down a road and you come to a deep gorge. The bridge has been washed away, and jumping across the gorge is not an option. Seemingly, you have no hope of reaching your destination.

But then you notice another bridge some distance away. 

You watch people cross it to the other side.

It certainly seems sturdy.

What would you have to do to get across?

First, believe that the bridge will hold you. 

Then, put your whole weight on it and walk across.

This illustrates what it means to commit your life to

Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection

Jesus bridged the gap between us and God--a gap

caused by sin. But simply believing intellectually

that He has done this is not enough. Like that bridge

across the gorge, we must trust Him and 

commit our lives to Him. And when we do, we

will discover that He can be trusted to save us,

because He truly is the bridge between us and God.

Have you committed your life in faith and trust

to Jesus Christ as your 'bridge' and your Savior?"

----------------------


My mind flashed again--to an experience I had in
Roatan, Honduras, at the Gumbalimba Nature Preserve.
In order to achieve my goal there--to see and
be photographed with monkeys and macaws, I
needed to cross this rather scary suspension bridge.

Actually there was a sign to the left of the bridge
pointing to the "Chicken's Walk," the cowardly way
to get across on a path!
Not wanting to be a complete coward, I opted to cross.
I certainly believed it would not "let me down."
I crossed, slowly and carefully.
Our tour guide took this picture.

 I could have looked at this bridge and said, 
"I have complete faith that this bridge would get me across,"
but opted to take the "Chicken Walk."
Only if I stepped on it with my whole weight would I
demonstrate my real and true belief.


For as long as I can remember I have given the
following definition for "belief."
"What does it mean to truly believe?
It means:
To lean one's whole weight upon."
I wonder now if, sometime in my past, I got
this definition from my hero, Billy Graham.

You, Too, Can Have A Disposal As Clean As Mine!

Brace yourselves. I have BIG NEWS.

I have discovered "How To" videos on You Tube,

and you may now call me

"Mimi, mistress of homemaking."

My garbage disposer--Disposal--has of late not

had the most pleasant of aromas.

In other words, it smelled!

I used several packages of these:

Plink citrus scented deodorizers...

with disappointing results.

I have found the easiest way to cure that problem.

*I think*

Here we go...

#1 Remove the rubber safety diffuser

#2 Close up the opening with a stopper

#3 Run about 1/4 sink of cool water.

#4 Empty all the ice in your icemaker into the sink.

I actually pulled my tray out and dumped the 

whole contents into the sink and water.

The more ice the better.

#5 Quickly turn on the disposal for a few seconds,

then reach in and remove the stopper, leaving

the disposal running.

It will whoosh up that water and ice and you will see

(I saw!) very dirty water bubbling out for quite

a period before it runs all clear!

You have to be pretty quick, because when the

ice hits the water it tends to stick together.

I broke it up with my hands cause I wasn't quick enough.

The reason I said *I think* the problem is solved is

that I just performed this cleaning so I don't

know how long it will last. 

But it is so easy that I can do it again, maybe

a little more often than once every 50 something years!

Oh--and be sure the rubber diffuser thing is nice 

and clean before you put it back in.

I used a brush on it.

You're welcome, you're welcome!

Anytime!

And thanks to someone on You Tube for the idea.

I'm Getting Bitter About This!

In 2019 I contemplated running away from home

for the summer of 2020 to escape the Texas mosquitoes.
So here we are in 2020, and HaHaHa.
"Where could I run to?"
Or, more correctly, "To where might I run?"


To read the horrors of 2019...

CLICK HERE 
and
CLICK HERE


I enlisted ABC Pest Control's mosquito service to
begin very early this year.
I think they have been here April, May, and June.
Bank loan to pay them pending!


My wonderful roofer came out and did extensive
repair work on a flat portion of my roof in back
where I suspected they might have been getting in.
I think this helped tremendously, but...


As of today, I am again in a pretty pitiful state.
I have been bitten on both arms as I peacefully slept.

"It's too dangerous now.
Let's wait til she's asleep!"

I have been taking Benadryl to try to stop the itching.
I have slathered Benadryl cream on the bites.
I have bathed them repeatedly with alcohol.
I placed the ice pack I had for my knee on my arms!
I have even coated the whole area with clear fingernail
polish, which helped only on one single bite on my hand. 
And yet, I itch crazily during day and night.
You should see me. You would say, "Pitiful!"
I will say I think this is only the second time this
summer that I have eaten up.
"Only???"


I've always said when I get to heaven I will be too joyful
and overwhelmed to ask any questions.
But if I did, I think I would ask God, "Why did you allow 
mosquitoes, and why make some of us more desirable
than others to them?"
I have a friend who has never been bitten by
a mosquito in her life.
"Go to her house, you blasted mosquitoes!"