Time to Decorate the Tree!

Since it is now December 20th and my tree was sitting unlit and unadorned in my living room, I had the idea to ask Ruthie if she wanted to invite any available of her wonderful friends to come decorate it. I offered to provide cookies and hot chocolate in exchange for the free labor.










As you can see, they did a lovely job.

More on KLTY Christmas Wish

Last week I traveled to Atlanta for a training class. While there I tuned my radio to "The Fish". They are a sister station to KLTY here in Dallas.

They also do the Christmas Wish but, in my opinion, they handle it MUCH BETTER. Rather than actually having the wish recipients on the air weeping on the phone, they have a representative of the business on the phone and they have a conversation with the on air personality about "Well, these people needed a furnace and we were able to go over to their home and fix it. We were so happy to do it, especially since we're having this cold snap!"

The business gets recognition and the people retain their dignity.

Are you listening, KLTY?

What bugs me about the KTLY Christmas Wish

I mentioned before about how the KLTY Christmas Wish really bugs me.

For one thing, it seems like many of the people featured have just made one disasterous choice after another and that is what lands them in the situation to start with. It's like listening to a 60 second recap of a train wreck. I have pondered my reaction at length though, and now believe that this is not what primarily makes my hair stand on end while listening.

It occurred to me while listening the other day that what really bugs me about those segments on the radio is the lack of dignity for the person receiving the help. So many times it's a business person bestowing the help on the person and it's almost like a commercial for the business. The radio host proudly announces the name of the business, then they reveal the gifts to the usually weeping person one by one in such a way that it is almost reminiscent of the old Ronco commercials. "...And that's not all folks!"

I really do believe that Christmas is all about helping others. I mean, what we're actually celebrating is God bestowing on us help when we'd made one disastrous choice after another. God, however, didn't go on the radio and parade his help in front of everyone. It happened in a small town, in a stable. Even though he'd been giving hints since the beginning of creation, he only announced it at the time with a star. Word got out, though.

In fact, now he relies on us to spread the word. He isn't trying to boost Arbitron ratings by the help he gave us.

Dog Park Fun!

Remember When?

YAY!

Making Christmas Merry

I am considering the purchase of an artificial, pre lit Christmas Tree.

I was raised by parents who always (at least when I was growing up) got a real Douglas Fir tree each and every year. Even when we lived in Alaska and real trees were quite expensive. I have made it a habit to get a real tree every year. Most of the recent years have found me actually up at a tree farm cutting down our real tree. I love the experience, I love the smell, I love the authenticity of the imperfection of the tree. So, why am I considering going fake this year?

Lights.

I hate putting lights on the tree and taking them down. Hate, hate, hate it.

I'm not one generally to avoid an unpleasant task, but this year I am looking for ways to make Christmas happier. Ever since my mom died 5 years ago Christmas has been pretty much a bummer for me. Some years have been more than a bummer.

I've been giving it some thought. I guess what I really considered a perfect Christmas was for my family of origin to all be together and to eat the wonderful Christmas meal that my mom cooked. Getting my whole family together is almost impossible on Christmas now. For one thing, there isn't a house in our family big enough to house us any more.

So, it's time to re-frame Christmas. I have noticed that I am happier at home than away at Christmas. I'm trying to think through the role that gifts play in how I feel about Christmas. And, I'm trying to remove the unpleasant things and make new Christmas memories and traditions.

Oh, another change I'm making this Christmas? I have other radio stations ready on speed dial on my car radio for when the KLTY Christmas wish comes on. I'm sure it says something horrible about me how much those Christmas wish segments bother me, but I HATE them!


What about you? What makes Christmas happy for you?