Just Being Honest About Christmas Music

 

 

I love love love Christmas music.  I usually start pulling out my CD's by the end of October.  On XM radio it is on full time at the beginning of November, and after Thanksgiving it is on a couple FM stations around the clock till Christmas day arrives.  Don't you love it?  My craving for the beautiful music is filled by the time Christmas finally gets here.  And then after Christmas is over, I'm all done till next October. 

 

Music is a funny thing.  It can bring back memories and emotions to the front of your mind in vivid detail.  It always amazes me.  So when it comes to Christmas music I have some pretty strong opinions.  I'm guessing you are totally dying to know what they are.  Well, today is your lucky day.  I want to talk music.  So far I've narrowed them into three categories. 

 

1.  Some songs just really really bug. I really don't care for The Little Drummer Boy.  Even as a kid I remember thinking, change it, hurry, this songs gives me a headache!  Layne told me he loves this song.  To each his own, I guess.  I don't get the whole 'pa, rum pum pum pum' line.  And it isn't just a line.  It is like 18 lines.  It is pretty much 90% of the song.  I understand that he's worried that he doesn't have a gift to give, but I don't know why the ox & the lamb were keeping time (or that they even could keep time) and by the time it is over I've medicated myself with Advil. 

 

Next on my chopping block is Last Christmas.  Um, did Wham get confused and make a Valentine's Day song into a Christmas song?  I just don't get it.  Why would you give your heart away to someone who just tossed it the very next day?  I think if your relationship went sour that fast, you'd have some sort of indication, before you went ahead and gave it away, that it might not work out.  Just sayin'. 

 

Has anyone even heard of Dominick the Donkey?  I wish I wouldn't have.  And by the way, I don't hate hippopotamus', but I sure don't want one for Christmas!

 

There are two songs I tend to change the channel on the second I hear their arrival.  The Twelve Days of Christmas and  Mr. Grinch.  There are only so many hours in a day, and I'm not willing to give up 15 of them for those two songs.

 

 

2.  Then there are the secular Christmas themed songs that I really do enjoy.  Whenever I hear Silver Bells I can see myself at a very young age, sitting in front of our console record player/stereo.  (Yes, it was awesome.  It had an 8 track player and everything.)   Mom had a couple different Christmas albums and one of them had Silver Bells on it and I loved it.  The other was Christmas Don't Be Late, by Alvin and the Chipmunks.  There is something really awesome about listening to music from a record.    

 

Who doesn't love Christmas Time is Here, from our dear friend Charlie Brown (or rather Vince Guaraldi Trio, but you know what I mean)?  It is good with or without lyrics.  Everyone has a good memory with the Peanuts Gang involved.

 

One song that gets me choked up every single time I hear it is I'll Be Home for Christmas.  I don't remember thinking too much about this song, and maybe not even noticing what the message was behind it, but after Layne and I moved 2000 miles away 19 Christmas' ago, and couldn't always be with our families for the holidays, it really took on a new meaning for me.  So yes, there is a secular song that makes me cry.

 

I love the good oldie ones; Jingle Bells, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and Let it Snow.

 

There are some songs that I kind of need to be in the mood for.  All I Want for Christmas, for example is awesome if I'm the one singing with a ukulele in hand (thank you very much, Mr. Barzee for that musical moment).  Here Comes Suzy Snowflake is kind of fun to hum.  Baby It's Cold Outside is a fun duet, but if you start really listening to the words it gets a little creepy. 

 

Some songs are just kind of sad, but still make me giggle, like Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.

 

Then there are the ones that we know every single word without even trying, and you're not sure why.  Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, for instance.  And, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree, and Here Comes Santa Claus, and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and Santa Baby, and Jingle Bell Rock, and Santa Claus is Coming To Town.

 

The Carpenters did it right with Merry Christmas Darling. 

 

My Favorite Things, is one of my favorite songs.  I'm not sure how this became a Christmas song.  Perhaps someone out there can tell me, but I sing this song all the time, all year long. 

 

3.  Then there are the Christian Christmas songs that never get old.  Away in the Manger, in any variation, is always on my list of loves. 

 

Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.  LOVE FOREVER AND EVER.

 

I noticed that when I had small babies Silent Night was very often used as a lullaby.  I love to sing the harmony when I sing it.  What a beautiful song this is.  It is also one that will choke me up.

 

My number one Christmas song is O Holy Night.  This song makes me sit down and enjoy every note, every time.  Lyrics or not, it is perfect.

 

Some songs just make me want to belt it out, when we sing them.  O, Come, All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and The First Noel, Angels We Have Heard on High to name a few.

 

Well, this post has gotten pretty long.  I've only made a dent in my lists, and I didn't even start with certain artists that can make any song turn into something glorious (Michael Buble') and those that can ruin even the best of them (Willie Nelson. Yes, I finally admitted it to the public.  Listening to him is like finger nails on a chalk board for me.  No hate mail, this is my opinion!) 

But maybe I'll be in the mood for that topic another time. 

 

 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (another great one).

 

What are your most favorite (or most hated) Christmas songs?  I'd love to know.

 

"...It's an entire season."

I've had the hardest time getting onto my blog to write a post.  For weeks I've dealt with error box after error box.  It got very irritating.  I'm not sure what I did differently today, but I just kept clicking till I got where I wanted. 



Here's is what I've had on my mind for the past month or so:

A quote from a lady named Serena Thompson, "I would decorate for the holidays even if I were the only human on earth!"

And a quote from Pam Shillingford, "...Christmas isn't a day, it's an entire season."

These two quotes sum up my feelings about the holiday season exactly.  I love how the house looks, smells, & feels when it is all dolled up for Christmas.  I love getting everything all decorated as soon as possible so we can thoroughly enjoy it all season long.  I love getting the gifts we are giving early too, so that they can be wrapped and sent on their way or placed under our tree so we can enjoy the other things that go along with Christmas; school programs, visits with neighbors, church parties, and maybe even an extra project that steals my heart on Pinterest.  All of these other things (and awesome advertising) does and will distract me, but with the "busy stuff" all done and ready, it really does make it easier for me to try to keep the real meaning of Christmas on my mind.

Here are a few areas in our house this year.  Remember my fun cutting board?  She got a little, mini pennant garland made out of my stash of my washi tape.  Oh how I LOVE washi tape.

Last year my friend Becky P. made these silhouette ornaments of the children in our branch.  I love them on our tree.  Can you pick out who is who?

 

 

I have such a love of bottle brush trees.  I keep buying them with lots of plans for them.  But most of them ended up in a grove on the mantel this year.  Here are a few other places they you'll see them.

 

 

Geri Ann gave me this sweet ride last year when her and Jason came to spend Christmas with us. Love. It.

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

I've Been Dealing with a Tender Heart

Josie Dawn Coleman

*disclaimer - I am going to brag and go on and on about my beautiful daughter in this blog post. Ü

This blog post has been a long time coming.  Not because it isn't one of my favorite topics or because I've been too busy.  It is because every time I even thought about Josie I turned into a ball of tears.  I'm doing better these days, but now and then, at the oddest moments, I still get a little emotional.  I hope that is okay and even normal.  I just miss our daughter, our oldest child.  I miss having her sweet spirit in our home.  I miss Josie.

I keep reminding myself that I must remember that I got exactly what I wanted.  Our goal was to raise a self-confident, independent, strong young woman that loved God, worked hard, and loved life.  That is exactly what we got.  So I ask myself all of the time, "Why then, is this so hard?"

Honestly, it felt like the rug was pulled from under our feet.  We were having a grand time.  My parents drove to Ohio for the occasion.  She graduated on Friday.  We had an awesome party (thanks for all your help with that mom & dad) on Saturday.  Then bright and early Sunday morning my 17 year old (she turned 18 two months later) put her bags in the back of my dad's truck, kissed us goodbye, and moved to Idaho....with my heart.  Layne and I just sat down on the couch and hugged and cried.  I was pretty much useless at church that day.  Thank goodness for all of my sweet sisters in the gospel that held me up that day. 
I didn't function very well for the next couple weeks.  Then one day, while I was making dinner, Justin yelled for the house to hear, "Mom's cooking again!"  That is when I knew that I needed to buck up and get back into life.  Oh, by the way, Justin told me not to worry because he never plans on moving away.  Right now that sounds perfect, but I'm guessing in about 9 years I'll be writing this same type of post about the baby of the family.

******

The next six months flew by with the boys.  There was swimming and baseball and football and school and church, and projects that Layne keeps us busy with.  Yep, my life went on and I didn't die.  Josie is as busy as she always was, and loves living in Idaho.  She lived with my parents during the summer and worked for my mom.  She turned 18 and has been able to spend some time with her cousins and aunts and uncles.  She was able to spend a good amount of time with my Grandma Fern over the summer, and that meant more to me than words can say. Now she lives in Rexburg and is as busy as she always was.  She works on campus and for my mom on weekends. She has a nice load of credits at school and finds time to have fun with new friends.  

It is now beyond time I documented that very special time in our lives.  A very special time in Josie's life!  So here we go.  Today I'm going to brag about Josie.

******

 



These things are not in of any kind order.  Also, about a month after she graduated and moved to Idaho my darling son deleted every picture on my camera, by accident.  There were a lot of tears shed by all.  My mom had a few snap shots that she emailed me, but we no longer have pictures of her graduation party and the other million pictures I took those last few days of May 2013.  I was so mad at myself.  I couldn't believe I hadn't at least downloaded them onto the computer.  Oh well.  Can't change anything about that situation, and I'm thankful we do have a few pictures to enjoy.

Senior Prom 2013 King & Queen
Josie Coleman & Sean D

Josie and few of her friends went to their Senior Prom together.  They had so much fun.  She was voted Prom Queen and was completely shocked.  Her friend Sean was voted as King.  They didn't go to the dance together, but when I saw their picture in the paper I about died laughing.  They matched! 


Benjamin Logan High School had six valedictorians in the Class of 2013.  Josie was one of them. She worked her butt off through those school years, taking very challenging classes that often brought her to tears in the late night hours.  She scored high enough on the AP classes that she took to earn college credit.  She drove her physics teacher mad with lots of questions, but when presenting her with a scholarship from Benjamin Logan School District he described her as, "if you were lucky enough to get to know Josie you were a better person because of it." 

Here is a portion of an article from our local paper, The Bellefontaine Examiner.

Benjamin Logan announces six valedictorians
(photo: Jeff Rose)
Josie Dawn Coleman (right) is the daughter of Layne and Cassie Coleman. She has participated in Marching Band, National Honor Society, Japanese National Honor Society, Class Officer – Senior Treasurer, Student Government, and M.I.T. Josie will be attending Brigham Young University – Idaho majoring in Accounting.


She was an officer in the Key Club, President of the Japanese National Honor Society, Secretary of the Logan County National Honor Society, OMUN, Field Commander for Ben Logan's marching band, show choir member, won numerous awards from the school and local businesses for academic work & projects, earned her Young Woman in Excellence Award, learned to play the piano, flute, piccolo, and bassoon, and graduated with honors.  Plus, during her senior year somehow she worked at a dentist office (cleaning after hours), tutored students in Japanese, tutored students on the bassoon, worked at a used bookstore, and was an assistant for a dog breeder.   How's that for a mixture of interests?

Here are a few pictures of her senior year.

 



 



2013 Benjamin Logan Graduates

Josie Coleman & Beth Termains

 

Josie & Beth @ Homecoming 2013

Josie, Jordyn, Kelsey & Beth

Senior Prom 2013

 

 Josie Sr. Prom 2013

Josie with some marching band buddies. 2013

 

Following Photos by: Geri Egbert

 

 

 

 

 

There are days I still find myself watching out the window in the evening for Josie to get home from work.  There are nights that I have set six places at the table for dinner.  But one good thing that I've found is that 2000 miles seems much closer now than it did 19 years ago when I moved here thanks to Skype and Face-Time.  Plus...phone calls are cheap (or free)!  And she has a whole family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, great grandmother, great-aunts & great-uncles nearby. That is such a comfort to both Layne and I. 

 

Congratulations, Josie!  We love you!  We are proud of you!  We are blessed to have you as a daughter!

   

 







Just a Heads up



I'm having a little problem with the number of days between Thanksgiving & Christmas

this year....or rather, the lack of days between Thanksgiving & Christmas this year.

 

So, my Christmas décor will be appearing a little earlier than usual to make sure that my love of

"how the house feels during the holidays" will be completely satisfied.

 

No, I can't "just leave it up a little longer".  It. Comes. Down. January. 1st.

Because that is how I am.

 

Yes, Layne is on board with me.  Really.

So here's the deal.  You are more than welcome to come visit us on or before Thanksgiving, but don't be surprised, or offended, if you are dazzled by the beauty of Christmas.

 

 

What is your opinion on such a short time between Thanksgiving & Christmas?

Who cares?

Same as me?

Bah! Humbug!  I don't decorate for Christmas?

It's so fun to win the Championship Game

It has been a LONG baseball season this year.

BUT

What a way to finish!

 

Mitch's team (Zanesfield 1) are the

Logan County Champions for 2013!

(Mitch is second on bottom, right.)

Zanesfield 1 captures little league title | Peak of Ohio

 

Justin's All-Star Team

2013

 

They won their tournament too!

(I hope to find a better picture.)

The Eagle has Landed

Congratulations, Todd!

 

 

April 12, 2013

Bellefontaine, Ohio

 

 

Our three Coleman Scouts.

 

 

 

It is so nice that this has finally happened.

Todd finished his Eagle quite a while ago, but it seemed like one thing after another kept getting in the way to finalize the whole process. 

Anyone who has ever had to work with "the scout office" knows that anything could and probably will happen.  The day Layne heard me use the word 'incompitent' more than once over the phone he knew it was time for him to step in.

 

But, that is all behind us, and we had such a wonderful evening with friends and family.

Thank you to everyone that helped in anyway.  From day one to the court of honor.  Todd (and Layne & I) couldn't have done it without you.

 

Todd, who doesn't really like recognition type moments, wanted it short & sweet.  And that it was.

 

These are a few letters of recognition from Ohio's Governor Kasich, Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, a couple of commissioners from the BSA, the President of the USA, and a nice letter from the

General Young Men Presidency

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

 

 

He even gave a very nice acceptance speech.

 

 



 

Then we had some yummy, and super duper darling refreshments.

 

We had some of Todd's favorites...

*cupcakes*

* Rice Krispie Treats, USA style, of course*

 *jalapeno popper dip*

*and other yummy vegetables and dip*

Now, lets talk about the eagle cupcake toppers.

I handed over the ingredients and my friend Beth whipped them out in a flash.

I can't look at these without smiling.  They just make me happy.

I'm thinking these will have to make an appearance at the 4th of July party.

(Not these ones, but some just like them.)

 

My friend Becky is my go-to when I want anything with pretty frosting. 

She made the cupcakes so very very pretty and totally delish.

 

 

 

 

When we all got home last night I noticed that Todd walked in with a big smile on his face.

He had a good time, and that made me the happiest.

 

 

One more smile before you go.

They are so stinkin' cute!



I know you've been waiting for

my review of the Oreo cookie options

 

Normal


Double Stuf


Mega Stuf

The winner is.............................................................Double Stuf!

Normal, just not enough yummy center cream stuff.  Mega Stuf was just too darn much.  It kind of made me a little sick.  One was enough, and that is just kind of sad when it comes to Oreos.
The double is perfect. 
Here's why: 
1. Just enough room to insert your fork tines perfectly so you can dunk your cookie into your milk without any wet fingers.  This is especially important if putting your fingers in your milk makes you hate drinking it later when you run out of cookies. 
2. If you are a twister and like to take the middle out to eat on its own, this is the best thickness to get it off in one, nice, perfect piece. 
3. You can eat four or five before you realize that eating them in the first place was probably a really bad idea.

I know that there are about 40 other styles, colors, and flavors in the Oreo family, but I kind of lean toward the traditional style. 

Mitch keeps telling me that I really need to try these.  Triple Double.  Hum.  Two cookies in one; really good idea.  Have you tired this one?  Maybe I'll just have to give one more Oreo variety a try.  Just to have an opinion in case you wanted to know what I thought. 




What one is your fav?
This post made me want a glass of milk.

I'm sure no one else ever does this.


(source)

Something needs put away, but it never really gets to its destination.  For several months you come across it now and again, and for about 1/2 a second the thought passes through your head that at some point you're going to wish you had put it away.  But you still don't do it.

Then the day comes.  Your son comes in and asks why you never transferred his religious knot patch from his Cub Scout shirt to his Boy Scout shirt. 

"I did," I say.
"No you didn't," he said.
"Oh, I made you do it," I tell him.
"No I didn't,"  he says.
"Here, look'"  he shows me.

"Oops. Sorry.  I'll do it right now.  Let me grab the..................where is that baggie of patches that I took off the Cub Scout shirt FIVE months ago?!"

So I head for my three main "stash & dash" locations. 
And today I've decided to come clean, and let everyone see these very secret spots in my home. 
This is when I remember that when you have to dig around cluttered spaces it usually takes making an even bigger mess to clean the original mess.
On the up-side, you can find some other "lost" items that you didn't even know were lost and you find stuff that you didn't know you even had. 

For example:

 

Don't you love junk drawers?  You can find most anything in one. 

Except for the religious knot badge I was looking for....grrrr.

It is almost like being at that game show from the 70's that I used to love to watch,

Lets Make A Deal.  I loved that show.  Did anyone else love that show?

(Yes, I know it is on again, but it isn't the same and I don't love it.)

 

Here are a few interesting things I found.  A dinosaur shaped sandwich cutter.  Didn't know we even had one, nor have I ever used it.  Tossed it in the garbage.  Seed packets, zit medication, glue of various types, and lots of shoelaces.  But this is the grossest thing I found.  I even used sticks to pick it up with.

 

Someone's mouth guard.  You got to see it right before it landed in the trash. 
Lots of stuff landed in the trash, or got put where they should have been in the first place, and now the drawers look like this.

Ahh, so much better.

 

 

The messy, top, left hand cupboard. Yep, that is usually what I call it when I need someone to get in there for me.  I was amazed at how many types of thank you cards I have.  I didn't think I had any so I kept buying them, I guess.  Another reason to clean up your clutter.  You will save money because you don't rebuy things that you already have.  um hum.

 

No, I didn't find the patches here either, but I did find items from the scouting community, so I'm feeling a little bit more confident.  I found lots of water balloons.  We love water balloons at our house and I'm still wondering why the Bear scarf is in here.  We haven't had a Bear in our house for over three years.  Probably because of the same reason I'm looking for the baggie of patches, right?  And there is my labeler.  It wasn't lost though.  I use that guy a lot and so I did know where to go for that.

And now it is a nice clean, top, left handed cupboard.
Yea!

Before I started on this one last location I scanned the top of my dresser, a drawer in my dresser, my jewelry box, and a drawer in the laundry room. Guess I just wanted a change in scenery.  And I may have gotten a little side-tracked while putting away other things I found. 

At this point I was getting a little worried that I wasn't going to find the baggie.  I really didn't want to pull everything out of here.  You can see pumpkins that got shoved there after Thanksgiving.  Lots of cookbooks.  The blue tape that I couldn't find so I bought another roll!  (You can see the second tape purchase up in the drawer picture)  arggggg  Remember the saving money thing I mentioned earlier? 

Robin socks.  I'm pretty sure this is the last place I would have looked for them next time Mitch wanted to wear them.  They are pretty cute when they are on.  With their little cape in the back.  Mitch's friend has Batman ones and they wore them to school (while wearing shorts) on Super Hero day for spirit week.

Mitch's athletic pants that we searched the house for on Saturday.  Mitch's again....hum, starting to see a theme here.  I'm not even asking why he has clothing shoved in this cabinet.

Why our wedding album was in there, I will never know.  I did take a snap shot of a darling picture of Marcee (5) & Geri (4).  So sweet.

And guess what.  SUCCESS!  and clean drawers, cupboards, and cabinets.  Maybe my bad habit isn't 100% bad.  This way these secret little areas get a good cleaning every couple of years.




Now, to find the thread box.  humm