Christmas, Snow, and the Grinch

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons, it came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before ...

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

-Dr. Seuss, American Writer, from The Grinch Stole Christmas

December has arrived to Prague with a blast--a big blast of snow! This week, what began with around twelve inches has at least doubled to over two feet. This is all at a place where the locals say they get no snow, and where the schools offer no "snow days". It's quite an adventure!

For about one hour this week, the sun peeked out from behind its winter cloud covering and shone in all its glory over the snow.

The sun dazzling on the snow

No diamond can compete, I think. There is no more intense sparkle than of the sunlight on snowflakes.

Sparkle!

And the excitement of snow -- there are snow forts, and snow balls, and snow angels to make. And sledding, and skiing, and sliding to do. The snow makes toys and games from the store a bore. Instant JOY!

In the midst of the holiday shopping, buying and wrapping gifts, and attending holiday parties, it's easy to get swept away in the popular spirit of the season: busy-ness. But busy-ness, for me, also steals away the joy that can be found in the simple things, things that come without wrappings and ribbons, without tags and boxes, without the sparkle and glimmer of store-bought things with high price tags.

Maybe the real joy in Christmas can be found in spending time away from the busy-ness, giving of our time to others. Making snow forts. Throwing snow balls. Laughing, wrapped in the smaller, gentler things that Christmas brings. Like the Grinch so eloquently pointed out, the JOY found in Christmas must come from a whole lot more than wrappings-- a joy that started 2,000 years ago in a humble manger.

Starting the Conversation: This week, what are ways you can find to escape the run-around surrounding Christmas? How are you able to remember to embrace the simple in the midst of the media storm promoting sales for the holidays?

A Shot of Floral Color for the Dead of Winter

"God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December." -J.M. Barrie

Every year at about this time, my eyes feel deplete of color. Whether this year it's from the thick froth of snow blanketing my world white, from the soft gray European light, or from the daily veil of Prague fog, I don't know ... but this January, I need a shot of color. So I thought I'd share ...

This floral beauty is the Lavender Illusion daylily, from our former backyard (top photo, also) in the States. Somehow, creation flaunts hues impossible to replicate by humans. This color, a lavender veined in soft lilac and highlighted with delicate pink, has a magical sheen in the sunlight-- as if a fairy sprinkled each day's lily with enchanting pixie dust. Adding the vibrant lime-colored throat and neon stamens, the whole flower is a carnival of color.

Thanks for enjoying a taste of summer's beauty with me.

Starting the conversation: (leave a comment below) What are your favorite flowers from summer?

The Benefits of Snow

Never before has my world been so white. I look outside my window, and all I see is snow.

Snow on the balcony, even, a step beyond where I write. Sure, on a mountain pinnacle, overlooking the next ski trail to carve down a snow-covered mountain, I’ve experienced lots of snow. But the snow in Prague is different. For even though we have a deep blanket of snow now painting the world clean, ever-mysterious Prague is also shrouded with fog. It’s amazing, really. And in my mind, I continuously hear the great song by U2, "No Line on the Horizon", because of the fitting name for my white world. There truly is no horizon line.

A few days ago, the thought occurred to me that I love living in a place with distinct seasons. Without four dramatic changes, I feel as if I haven’t had a year. But winter—well, it’s easy to bemoan, but I think it also has a few great benefits.

I’m quickly learning that to “drive” through two feet of unplowed snow is remarkably similar to off-roading. Fun, sometimes.

In winter, we can hibernate. All the usual demands of daily life somehow fade into winter’s chill. And we can rest, if we let ourselves.

Winter transforms the normal into a magical world of fairy-dust snow and architectural hoarfrost.

We can be kids again: skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and countless hours making snowmen, snow forts, snow angels … winter brings an uncommon youthfulness, one I cherish.

Winter ushers in quiet time for reading by the fire, steaming coffee to warm hands and friendships, and soft blankets under which we can snuggle little ones.

Winter gives us time to catch our breath and reprioritize the pieces of life most important.

Oh—and winter is a perfect time to write. So while I cozy up with a latte, blanket, and laptop to write, I’m grateful for winter and the opportunities it brings … time to slow down and fill back up.

Enjoy the snow ... -Jennifer

Starting the conversation: What do you appreciate about winter?
(Leave your comment below by clicking on the word "comment".)

It Just So Happens ...

It just so happens that ... just as Southwest Ohio thought our snow was finally beginning to melt, we are receiving another wallop dose of snowfall. This is what I see out the window right now as I type:

These poor Mourning Doves are getting covered in the matter of one hour or so …

It also just so happens that about three years ago, I heard a retired pastor speak, and his words have had a lasting impression on me. He is known for repeating a particular saying: “In God’s world, nothing just so happens …”

It’s an interesting perspective to think about, I believe. Because if that statement is true, then the chance encounters and other happenings we frequently attribute to luck all have a similar explanation.

The many little things that just so happen … also bring me much joy, like today’s snowfall that helps me hibernate in my writing chair and get closer to finishing my novel, and the encounter with an old friend in the frozen foods aisle at the store. Some of my Just So Happens … happenings involve something bigger, more coincidental, that can’t help but grab my attention. For example, last year, I just so happened to sit beside one of our son’s friend’s mom, and after a while of sharing what we do, by the next week, she happened to help connect me to an opportunity to model for Frontgate. (In case you’re interested in seeing for yourself, click here to see one of the catalog images online--I'm the dark-haired model in the smaller photo below the blonde. Click to toggle.)

Chances are that once we’ve written the “Just so happens …” down, it loses some of its mystery and magic. Something deeply meaningful to me personally is difficult to convey with words on paper (or on the computer screen). But when I go back and think, I realize its meaning again.

There is nothing more exciting to me than to witness the moving hand of God in our world. “Just so happens …” just so happens to be one of those great ways of discovering the deeper wonder of life.

It just so happens for me that I’ve had the chance to work on my second novel during the dumping of snow we had last week. Also, it just so happens that I have a wonderfully romantic husband who has planned a Valentine’s getaway for us to New York City. That weekend also just so happens to be New York Fashion Week. Again, hard to convey in writing, but for me to be able to experience firsthand the action of Fashion Week would be like winning the world’s largest lottery. Strange, maybe, but for me, the runway holds a deep part of my heart. So, as I work on hopefully obtaining a pass to a fashion show or two, I’ll be watching for how things unfold and plan to share with you my “It Just So Happens …”

Please leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your experience with “It Just So Happens …”