In 36 hours our son, Charlie, heads back to Boston University until who knows when. As I reflect back on his four-week visit and our Christmas/New Year’s celebrations I think of family gatherings, Charlie’s girlfriend’s visit from New Jersey, friends, football, laughter, hugs, tears, Yahtzee, Scrabble, Crash Bandicoot, snowmobiling, and something that is always present when half the family (i.e. the children) is rip roaringly talented: music.
I created a YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/jodimqhill) today to share some of these musical moments with the world, for the world needs to see and hear the gifting of two of her finest, Charlie and Emily Hill. Yes, I’m proud. Yes, I’m biased. Yes, yes, yes. Still, God has gifted them and He calls us to shine with who we are and what He has given us.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5: 14-16)
Below are the videos I took this past month. Others, taken earlier, I’ll post on my YouTube channel later, after the kids go back to college, when I’m not taking time away from being with them. Hope you enjoy!
The first is a silly, fun one of our youngest, Emily, with her cousin, Kayla (who has a beautiful voice). Yes, the video is dark. If unable to view, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFX7pPIswys
Back to work, back to school, back to normalcy. Holiday fun has ended. Christmas is a memory. 2011 tiptoed in and whispered “I’m here”.
The house is a mess and, like every year at this time, I’m wondering when to take down the Christmas decorations. The ceramic Santa looks weary, and the candles are down to the nub.
Tomorrow, our son’s girlfriend arrives from New Jersey (I’m excited to finally meet her!). Do I leave them up for her? I doubt that she’ll care, yet I think I will leave them up. Since it is winter break for her and Charlie, Christmas decorations seem right.
My New Year’s resolution came late this year: only yesterday did I resolve to bring Pilates into my workouts. Pilates is strength training–which is needed for a woman my age–without a gym or machines. I like this, as it allows me to continue to workout at home to videos–very inexpensive and no one has to avert their eyes as I bend, stretch or sweat. Everyone wins!
Five days ago I had LASIK surgery. Although I had the surgery two years ago, my far-sighted vision worsened this fall, which required more laser work last week. It went well, but, as the surgeon warned me, now I need cheaters (reading glasses) to compensate for the loss of near-sighted vision that often comes with the correction. For me, ringing in the new year involved scurrying off to CVS, where I found a pair of blue/black plastic frames with a cloth case for $14.99. Yep, on New Year’s Eve I perched a sure sign of aging upon my nose: reading glasses…. The years pass, and my body changes: it is perfectly natural and as God intended. So be it. Besides, I like the way they look on my face and, when not in use, on top of my head. :)
Charlie, our son who is home from Boston University for another 2 weeks, awakens. I just heard his door open. He and I have the day together as Emily went back to St Olaf last night and Rich is at work. Mother and son time: at one time it was perpetual, today it is fleeting. I’m sure Mary cherished alone time with her Son, especially after He left her side and engaged the world. As I sign off, I think I hear her whisper, “Be with my Son, be with your son, the time is short, don’t miss it…”
Last night we finished writing, printing, stuffing and stamping the Hill family Christmas letter. Mailed on Christmas Eve…oh well….
I post it here because I cherish you.
Merry Christmas, my friend, Merry Christmas!
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…the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. Luke 1:78b-79
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Christmas greetings,
As we think of you and wish you well, we share snippets of our year together…
Emily: 18 years old
March: received the prestigious Music for All national music scholarship
May: Prom, bedecked beautifully in silver and smiles, escorted by a real gentleman
June: Orono graduate with high honors
June-August: nanny for Rudy Boschwitz’s grandsons and hostess at Axel’s of Loretto
September: off to St Olaf to study music education (a teacher she will be)
December: sung in St Olaf’s Christmas Festival and, with a sigh of relief and swell grades, finished her first semester
Charlie: 20 years old
June: made the Dean’s List with Distinction, again; came home for a week to applaud his sis as she stepped into adulthood
June-August: lived at Boston University, took a physics class, worked on BU’s maintenance crew and trumpeted in their summer marching band
August: marching band played at Fenway for the Aerosmith/J. Geils Band concert
September: started his junior year as a physic major (trumpet performance no more)
November: sang and danced in BU’s Thoroughly Modern Millie; celebrated one year of couple-ship with a very special someone, named Sophia (who visits us in January ’11)
December-January, ’11: spreads smiles in Minnesota for a whole month!
Rich and Jodi:45 years young
(no months noted here, for they’re less well timed…they’re freer floating…)
Rich added value as an upstream marketing manager at American Medical Systems
Fluffed the nest for the flight of their youngest (and her grad party)
Prayed together, stayed together and entered intense marriage counseling
Cuddled with Kleenex as Emily emptied her closet and moved away to college
Financial collapse caused…considerable…pause
HBK, a real estate company beget by Rich and two friends, bought its first property
Freelance writing found a foothold in Jodi’s soul
We celebrate each other as we seek a place. We celebrate life, as it must be a gift. We celebrate you, the ones we love. We celebrate God, the lover of our soul. We celebrate Jesus, who chose life, death and Life, so we might choose Him…
Have a God-kissed Christmas and a Spirit-splashed New Year!
The Hills
I’m holed up in Starbucks on a freezing December afternoon. With latte in hand, I’m reading Boundaries in Marriage*, a Christian book about creating a healthy marriage. Do unto your spouse as you would have them do unto you, a marital version of the Golden Rule, just jumped off the page and hit me in the face.
How do I know what is best for Rich, my husband? Well, the book teaches to step into his shoes and be on the receiving end of what I dish out… Uh…yeah… So, every time I feel frustrated or ready to criticize, I need to pause and think about how it would feel if I were on the receiving end of what I’m dishing out. I need to reflect on the effects of my behavior on him.
Since I’m quick to see what is missing and name it, my growing edge is to learn how to name it in a way that doesn’t attack or blame him…say it in a way that is mindful of being in his shoes, of being on the receiving end of what I’m doling out. Jeepers, if I approach things this way I’ll probably end up dropping most things as I’ll realize they don’t matter, that I’m just looking for an outlet for pent-up frustration and Rich is handy. I hate the thought of this last bit, but may be…
The book teaches that, at times, this approach doesn’t always lead to a warm, fuzzy place…at times it means thinking about what is best, even if it is difficult. For instance, it mentions arranging an intervention for an addicted spouse, an uncomfortable move but one in their best interest. Or, confessing sins or hard truths, in the interest of honesty and real intimacy.
At other times, this idea manifests more mildly, like not blaming one’s spouse, but simply stating how something makes one feel and what one plans to do about it (i.e. I feel frightened when you yell at me, next time it happens I will leave the room until we are able to engage in calm discussion.)
With Christmas approaching and no cash in pocket, maybe this can be my gift to Rich. Empathy in action, even in marriage. Well, well, Merry Christmas my dear…
Advent. A churchy time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time of waiting for Jesus’ birth. Christians crack open Advent devotionals, light candles, say prayers, sing hymns. Kids count the days on Advent calendars and don donkey costumes for the story’s telling.
It is a time of anticipation, a time of waiting in darkness for the Light to arrive.
Today, a calculated countdown is on, all know the day of His coming. Sure as Santa on Christmas Eve, Jesus came and comes Christmas Day. Two-thousand years ago, though, only Mary, Joseph and a few others knew of His imminent arrival. Everyone else sat in darkness, hoping and waiting, not knowing…
This year, I’m experiencing Advent like “everyone else” all those years ago. I do not see Him, I do not hear Him, I do not know when… I sit in darkness, without His song, without His words, without His touch.
Circumstances short-circuit my mind, wring my heart, sneer in my face…I feel abandoned, vulnerable.
In His absence, I scramble. I grasp. I weep. I whimper “Please help me!”.
His Light is beyond my sight, His Word beyond my hearing. I know He is, just isn’t here.
Friends assure me of His coming, they tell me stories of others who’ve waited and seen. Like many who sit in pews on Sunday mornings, I hear the words and wonder if they apply to me.
The first advent candle–this week’s candle–symbolizes hope. Hope for what? That darkness isn’t forever? That Light will come, does come, has come? That Someone unseen is forming and will be born? Even in me?
It all sounds lovely, joyous, downright celebratory, just not personal.
So…I repent, surrender, listen and wait…just in case…
Looking for God 