Wordfull Wednesday: New Beginnings

I was finishing up my PhD when my daughter Emma was born. Many of her early days were spent strapped to my chest while I typed the final draft of my dissertation, bouncing up and down on one of those big exercise balls to keep her happy.

My peers and advisors could see the logic of working the few meetings I had left to attend around a newborn, but they were very surprised when I chose to stay home after graduation. And I understand. My life is very different than it would be if I continued along the academic route. I change dirty diapers and clean up messes instead of getting papers published and attending conferences. I also get smothered in hugs and kisses instead of writing up research in a lonely office, and I read beautifully illustrated children’s stories instead of sitting in long faculty meetings.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wordfull Wednesday: Christmas Music

This week's assignment was to write about a favorite Christmas Song, Carol, or Hymn. I thought I'd change things up a bit and write instead about a piece of Christmas music that taught me what Christmas is all about.

My senior year of high school, our choir sang Handel's "Messiah" - the portions of it, that is, that are typically performed at Christmas time. Practice tapes for solos were handed out the spring before, and I spent the summer practicing.

In order to give people like me a chance at soloing, the choir director split the soprano solo into three parts: the "Come Unto Him" soprano-alto duet, the "Rejoice" aria, and the four soprano recitatives. I was given the recitatives. I was thrilled to get a solo after wishing for one for so long. I didn't realize that this solo would change my perception of the Christmas story forever.

The four short recitatives take their lyrics straight from the nativity story, as told in the gospel of Luke (King James version):

There were shepherds abiding in the fields,
Keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
And the glory of the Lord shown round about them:
And they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy,
Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David
A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

I realized the importance of these words only after singing them over and over. I realized that the first people told of Christ's birth were shepherds - simple people. The angel brings "glad tidings, of great joy" to "all people". The message of Christmas, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will to men" (see the chorus that follows these four recitatives), is one for all people. As a Christian, I believe I can do my part to bring glory to God by working to bring peace to the earth (perhaps by starting in my own home) and having goodwill to all men (including those who hurt my feelings or irritate me). I hope that, this Christmas season, we can do our best to look beyond differences to find peace and to see the good in all people.

Wordfull Wednesday

I thought I'd participate in Chocolate On My Cranium's Wordfull Wednesday assignment this week. The topic is, "I Am Grateful", fitting for Thanksgiving week. Since today is the 26th, I thought I would list 26 things I am grateful for:

1. My husband Mike. He's sweet, funny, and always loves me - even when I'm not being nice
2. Two adorable, healthy kids
3. Parents who I can always look to for ideas of how to be a better parent myself
4. My amazing grandparents, who are all still alive and have played a huge role in my life
5. My nine brothers and sisters
6. Extended family
7. Friends
8. My own good health
9. Faith
10. Mike having a good job that allows me to stay home with our kids
11. The fact that Mike loves his job
12. The fact that I love my job
13. Being able to live in a beautiful, safe neighborhood with other young families
14. My local mother's club
15. The internet
16. Playgroups and playdates
17. My local library and all the activities they run for kids
18. The way Emma tells me things she liked about that day every evening
19. The way Johnny always makes me feel loved and appreciated (very much a mama's boy)
20. Watching my kids learn to play together
21. Laughter
22. Smiles
23. Nature
24. Cell phones
25. Books on CD
26. Music

Incidentally, this was Johnny's due date last year. He didn't show up until 12 days later. At the time I was very annoyed. Now I'm grateful, because I'm not ready for him to turn 1.