New Traditions: Christmastide!

As this is the first year without my mother, and with Rob and I getting farther and farther away from kin due to our journeys, we decided it was time to start making new traditions for the holidays.  The First:  We bought a Tropical Themed Nutcracker for our table.  He adds some style and will remain decor all year.   The Second: As we dont have a fireplace, nor need alot of heat just a little, we bought a faux fireplace (mini) with the option to have heat or just flames.  Along the same wall we have hung brand new stockings: Holiday sweater for Rob; cute Christmas owl for me.  The Third:  As to Christmas Dinner, right now we are torn between Christmas Fajitas and Hawaiian Ham...  Christmas Eve we will have Tortilla Soup as has been our tradition since Chicago.  Also we will have homemade cookies, gingerbread (KY mountain style), and egg nog.

For those who are struggling with the lose of a loved one, be it this year or many years ago, let me offer some things that have helped me in hopes they might you as well.  First of all, make sure you keep doing stuff with and around other people, isolation make the sorrow worse.  Secondly, find some things that make you happy, be they going to a movie, throwing a holiday party, or creating new traditions... or maybe a mix of all of them.  Take time to honor the memory of the loved one, be it placing a picture of them in a special spot, or hanging a memory ornament on the tree in their honor, give the lost loved one a new place in the holiday tradition can really help with the transition.  Most of all, remember you're not the only one struggling with loss this year, and if you need to there are others to reach out to.

~ Morria

Interning in Michigan!

I am now doing an internship  at a church here in Michigan. Work as an intern is starting slow... but I am enjoying it.   I will be back in Kansas for the holidays as of the 16th, then come back home to Michigan on the 5th. This is going to be a very, very good testing ground for me.   I just pray I do not fail the tests.

"The gypsy road, the gypsy road, what a life for me!" ~ Gypsy Gal

~ Morria

St. Patricks Day!

I have three favorite holidays (plus a few only a few know about), and today is one of them.  Christmas, Halloween, and St. Patrick's Day... not because of the wear'n of the green, the leprechauns, or the likes... no for the man, Patrick of Ireland, or Maewyn Succut Padriag to be exact.  He was the man who brought God's Word to my people, the Irish for the first time where it really took off.  Sure, a few had come before, and there were some believers among the slaves... but it was with Patrick that it took hold in the upper classes as well.   He was a man who was first a slave of the Irish people, found his freedom, then risked his life returning to them to share the Gospel... that is true love and faith... they could have killed him on the spot for being a runaway slave...

His witness, and becoming one of those whom he was sent to (no one remembers for sure where he came from, but everyone remembers him among the Irish)... so completely he called them his people... is inspiration for me...
"O, God,  might I be like that on my journey-task! Amen!"

~ Morria