Here I go again

Today is December 3rd. According to history, the Greater Cincinnati area should be freezing today. We're not. The temperature is supposed to reach a balmy 68 today. However, I will be in no position to enjoy it. I'm stuck indoors at work. All I will be able to do is look out the window longingly.

Does that count as grumbling and complaining? If so, Philippians 2:14 got me again. It's tough to be happy to be at work when the world is enjoying spring temperatures in December... but Lord knows I'm trying!

A Tremendous Challenge

In Sunday school we are learning about Philippians 2:14-15. This scripture reads: "Do all things without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a perverse and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Some translations say "Do all things without complaining, murmuring and disputing..." You get the general idea no matter what the translation.

You can file this under easier said than done. There was only one perfect person who ever walked the earth. Jesus as God incarnate was perfect. The rest of us.... not so much. This scripture is a tremendous challenge for me. People who know me would probably say I am even keeled and easy going. They may even say it's rare to see me angry. While this is basically true, you should also know I am quite the complainer. I am mostly quiet about it though. You won't hear me complaining loudly (that's just not my demeanor). I roll my eyes, grumble under my breath and silently seethe with a slow burn when I am not happy about something. I know I am not expected to be perfect, but I also know I am supposed to strive toward what Philippians 2:14 says. Jesus was persecuted and mocked and never once grumbled or complained... not in his entire earthly life. Me? I wasn't out of the Sunday school classroom 5 minutes before I was griping about something. It's not important what I was specifically griping about. It doesn't matter. The Bible says I should do ALL things without complaining. What's important is that I have a sinful heart and I am a slow learner. I can't promise anyone that I won't be complaining anymore. You all KNOW I will... every single day. All I can promise is to do my best to walk as Jesus walked. I will surely stumble all the way down the path, but I will stumble knowing I am forgiven by God's infinite mercy and grace.

The Seinfeld Car

Do you remember the "Seinfeld" episode where a mechanic with horrendous body odor worked on Jerry's car? After he picked up the car, the smell inside the car was awful. He made many attempts to rid the car of the malodorous air. He cleaned it himself. He put in air fresheners. He had it professionally detailed. No matter what he tried he could not eliminate the odor. It was almost as if the B.O. was permanently woven into the very fabric of the car.

Why do I mention Jerry's smelly car? I mention it because we are currently experiencing something similar. Last weekend Tami's car developed a terrible odor... I mean totally awful! It didn't smell like body odor. It smelled more like spoiled milk or a dirty diaper that had been left in the car on a hot summer day. We have tried in vain, but have been unable to determine the source of the smell. Tami cleaned every inch of the car and searched every compartment, but found nothing that could be causing the stench. Strangely enough the smell seems to come and go, but it never disappears completely. I have no idea where this odor came from. I am relatively certain nothing was spilled on the carpet. I guess all we can do is keep cleaning the car and keep searching for the cause. This is a true mystery.

Happy December!

Happy December, everyone!

Without boring you with the specifics, I did a little more crafty decorating today (without spending a dime!). Martha Stewart better watch out!

Looking forward to a great month of celebrating Jesus' birth with friends and family.

O Cork-mas Tree?

Ok. You can say it. I'm the world's biggest dork! I'm a geek. I'm a dweeb. I'm a nerd! Pick a label and that's me!

Below you will see photos of my first meager attempt at a Christmas Craft. Here they are... Christmas trees made of used wine corks. I like 'em, but the bow on top is pathetic. I'm going to work on tying better bows and replace it with a better one as soon as I can. Until then, here's my "Masterpiece".

Turning the Page

Tomorrow I turn the page. I'm not talking about a new chapter in my life. I'm only referring to turning the page on the calendar. I can't believe December is here.

December brings three thoughts to my mind:

1) The Christmas Holiday Season
2) Winter barreling toward me like a runaway train
3) The last month with my mom until she heads to Florida until April

I won't spend any time talking about Christmas today. Many of my December blog posts will be dedicated to this blessed season.

Winter. Yuck! I can't stand it! I don't like to be cold. I don't like snow. I don't like living in darkness. I don't like being cooped up indoors. I don't like anything about winter except Christmas. I'm sure you'll see quite a few posts documenting my disdain for everything winter in the next few months. I am not quiet about it. Get ready folks!

As if winter wasn't bad enough, it gets worse for me when my mom and Cliff go to Florida for 4 months. I really, really miss them when they're gone. Don't get me wrong. I am happy they get to escape the clutches of Cincinnati winter. In fact, I'm downright jealous. There is one good thing about mom and Cliff spending their winter in Florida (other than the obvious advantages of warm weather and sunshine). Since my sister lives in Florida, mom gets to see her on a regular basis. That's something she doesn't get to do in the spring and summer.

If I can't go to Florida in the winter (I can't because I'm not retired...), I at least wish I could be like a bear and hibernate until spring. I guess there's not much chance of that either. I'll just have to slog through another cold, dark, dreary, bone-chilling, slipping and sliding winter. Oh woe is me!

The Gang's All Here!

Hail! Hail! The gang's all here! (or at least they WERE).

Last week, my sister Cheri, her husband John and their two girls were in town from Florida. They've only lived in Tampa for a few years, but it seems like much longer. Unfortunately we don't get to see them very often because of the distance between here and there.

It's sad that the times are rare when my mom and all three of her kids (and their families of course) can all be together. We were blessed last week when we could all be together for Thanksgiving. It's strange... I know I miss seeing my sister, but I don't realize how much until I'm actually with her.

Mom and Cliff put together an incredible meal and we all ate until we were stuffed. Then we hung out, played games and enjoyed catching up with each other. It was a real blast! We were also happy that Cheri and her family finally got to meet Sveta. That was a big plus for the day.

The fun ended much too soon. It would have been great to spend a lot more time with them, but alas, all good things must come to an end :-( I don't know when I will get to see the Florida contingent of the family again. Until we do, I only have one request. Send us a little bit of that Florida sunshine this winter. We'll be freezing up here!

Gettin' Down With My Crafty Self!

Last week I admitted to my participation on a website called Pinterest. It's a very popular site and even if you don't use it, you are probably familiar with it. I have continued browsing on Pinterest and have gotten some really neat ideas from it. Tami teasingly says I'm the only guy on Pinterest, but I personally know of quite a few men who are on it. They may not freely admit it like I do, but they're on there!

I never thought I'd be the type of person who developed an interest in crafts, but because of Pinterest, I have. Don't worry, I'm not turning into some girly-man. Lots of guys like crafts. Shucks, my grandpa was really good at creating stained glass projects. I had one grandma who knitted and the other grandma crocheted. Those would qualify as crafts, right? My own wife created container candles for a few years. She got really good at it and made awesome candles. In fact they were so awesome, she sold out of them quickly every time she made a batch. She'd probably still be making them today, but when we moved to Indiana she no longer had the proper facilities to make candles.

Well... last night instead of wasting my evening watching garbage on TV or surfing the internet, I decided to try my hand at one of the simpler crafts I found on Pinterest. I am making Christmas trees out of wine corks. I got a good start on them, but won't be able to finish until tonight. I am very eager to see what they look like when finished. I think they're going to look pretty cool. I'll post a photo of the finished product as soon as I can. My only problem is I am now running low on corks. I have two choices... I can either drink lots more wine or ask my friends to save them for me. I think I'll opt for the latter. Wine is expensive and I have no interest in developing a drinking problem. Does anybody out there have wine corks laying around? If so, I'd love to have them.

Make fun of me if you want to, but I'm having s ball with this new found hobby. It doesn't cost anything (all my projects will be done with things I already have or can acquire at no cost) and it keeps my mind occupied... almost therapeutic I guess :-)

Climate Control

I've taught at St. Bernard Elementary for 23 years. In all my years in that building, the climate control has never worked properly. In the warm months, the AC doesn't work well and it's hot in my classroom. In the winter, the heat doesn't work well and it's cold in my classroom. Every year I tell my students the same thing. If it's cold outside, it's going to be cold in the classroom... dress accordingly. The same thing happens during hot weather except it's the opposite. Of course kids don't listen and wear short sleeves in the winter and sit in my class and shiver. Some of them will never learn!

The classroom next to me is even worse. It has a HUGE vent that leads straight outside (about 8 feet by 8 feet). In the warm months, hot, humid air flows directly into the building. In the winter, the cold wind howls and blows frigid air directly into the building. A few years ago I was sitting at my desk grading papers when my teaching partner yelled, "Mick! Get over here! It's snowing in my classroom! I'm not kidding!" I went over and sure enough there it was... a light dusting of snow accumulating on the carpet just below that large vent. It was snowing outside and apparently the wind was blowing JUST right... the snow was coming right through that vent. How many teachers out there can honestly claim it has snowed INSIDE THEIR SCHOOL? I can :-)

So when I tell the kids it will be cold in the building if it's cold outside... I'm not joking around. Yet another reason I love winter (*Sarcasm, of course*). Brrrr!!!!

O Tannenbaum!

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how lovely are thy branches. This was the scene in the Meyer home tonight.

After Tami cooked a delicious dinner, Michael, Abby and Meredith decorated the Christmas tree. As stated in a previous post, I assembled the tree on Saturday (not the fun part). We listened to Christmas music as the tree began to take on its familiar Christmasy look. As I observed the decorated tree, it occurred to me there are a lot of memories on that tree. There are ornaments both my grandfathers made. There are ornaments I made as a child. There are ornaments all three of my kids made. There are ornaments from our first house in Finneytown. There are ornaments we've collected from family vacations over the years. To the casual eye, it would be a typical tree found in millions of American homes. A closer inspection would reveal a Microcosm of the Meyer Family.

Above all the family memories, the tree reflects what it is supposed to... The tree is placed in our living room in honor of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A baby born in the humblest of settings, sent to earth to save the souls of mankind. Alleluia!

What a great night it was!

Here's Michael and Abby putting on some ornaments.

When I was a kid we listened to Christmas records. Here's Meredith as our Christmas DJ from the 21st century. Ahhhh, Christmas music on the MacBook :-)

I've never seen the star placed on top quite like THIS---

While the kids decorated the tree, I got all "Crafty" with this idea from Pinterest. We used to put our Christmas cards in a basket. Now we display them like this---