Excuse Me, But Where is the Big Mona Lisa?

 Dave Barry wrote a wonderfully funny travel book years ago.  With the EU and other not so wonderful developments, parts of his book are no longer relevant, but back when I read this book, it was hilarious and I laughed hysterically.

If you have not read the book, and you enjoy travel, I highly recommend it...although parts of it now, well, you know. 

When giving travel advice Dave explains that most people, upon visiting the Louvre for the first time, are surprised to see how small the Mona Lisa is.  Many a tourist may feel the need to ask where the actual (ie... big) Mona Lisa is.  

This same surprise happens in San Antonio often as well.  After hearing the many big, brave, heroic tales of The Alamo, many first time visitors are surprised by the actual size of the actual Alamo.  A visitor or two can be heard asking to see "the big Alamo" or "the real Alamo".

This is how I felt tonight.

For most of December I have been hearing of "the Christmas Star"...not only a once in a lifetime event, this was a once in many, many lifetimes event.  It was THE CHRISTMAS STAR.  And after a pretty crap-tastic year, what better way to begin our Christmas week and end this hellish year.  I. Was. Excited.  

Marked my calendar and everything.

Made a plan.

I was NOT going to miss this!!

There we were waiting.

Anticipating.

Sunset was approaching.

Excitement was building.

I jumped out of the truck and looked up into the sky.

"Ummm. It's supposed to be in the Southwest. Which way is Southwest?"

I was surprised I even needed to ask.  I assumed my Christmas star was going to be so big and bright, I would look up and SEE IT.  I would KNOW it was THE STAR.

This was not the case.

"That way", points my husband.

"Ummmm.  Is that it?  I mean that can't be it.  It's supposed to be epic?  Where is the big Christmas star?"

*sigh*

Christmas

 If you are not enjoying this Advent and Christmas season, you're doing it wrong.

Why I even thought this...

I ran into one guy buying a piece of PVC pipe.  I cannot exactly remember why, knowing me I probably asked, but he told me, quite grumpily, that he was going to use it to put up a Nativity.  I told him that was nice, and he grimaced.  He went on, complaining, how he had to do it for his wife.  He added mockingly, "gotta keep her happy."  Although he didn't seem to be at all happy about keeping her happy.  With a scowl he let me know he had two houses, and it wasn't enough to decorate one.  Oh no!!  They had to decorate both.  Then he stormed off to get his decorating done.

I stood there for a moment. Stunned. The only thing that even popped into my brain and then out of my mouth was, "Well, I guess that makes Jesus happy."  

Then a couple days ago, talking to another guy.  I asked if he was ready for Christmas.  He scowled.  I asked if he had kids.  He said he did.  I asked their ages. "All the way from 15-3," was his reply.  "Then Christmas should be fun this year!", I said.  I would have thought so anyway... but he went on about the expense and the work and the bother and buying gifts for people who are ungrateful and kids who will break them. 

Again, I stood stunned.

I do not care if you go all out, decorating every single house, boat or trailer you own... if that is truly what you want to do.  Jump on it.  But if you are doing it out of obligation or because it is expected, and you are miserable all the while, somewhere you lost your Christmas spirit.  I would rather someone NOT help me than to help whilst complaining to anyone and everyone who would listen.  I will also point out, while you are angrily decorating your TWO homes, some are struggling to hang on to their one.

I do not care if you buy dozens and dozens of presents for everyone you know, but I would rather NOT receive a gift than to receive an obligatory one.  "Here you go.  I knew it was expected, so ... well ... here you go"  What?

It's ok to go all out and make Christmas THE BIGGEST holiday of the year!  If that is what you truly want to do.

But... it is also ok to keep Christmas small and simple if that is where your heart is.

And it's ok for your Christmases to change from year to year. Our years do not all look the same, our Christmases don't have to either.

There are some years I do go all out.  There are other years I just do not have the desire. And both are ok.

We discuss it together.  Decide how little or how much we want to put into our Christmas effort,  and we enjoy the holiday season.  I mean ENJOY it.  I am that person annoyingly singing Christmas songs first thing in the morning.  I am that happy person wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" and asking if you are ready!!  

This holiday isn't about the hustle and the bustle to get everything done and to get it done wonderfully, completely and perfectly.

This holiday is when we slow down (yes, slow down!) and remember our Lord and Savior coming to us.... US!.... as a tiny baby in a quiet manger on a starry night.  And that memory fills our hearts to overflowing to where the love comes bursting out to our family, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers.

Seriously people, if you are not enjoying your holiday season, take a step back. Do some reflecting. Some soul searching. Decide what is and is not  important.  What can be changed and where?  Then make those changes and be happy.  Be full of JOY!

And have a very Merry Christmas.

Also here's a picture of a very special angel. 

Our Mess

 I have no idea what will happen with this election. It appears there was obvious voter tampering and fraud, but too many people just do not seem to care.  Was there enough fraud to overturn the results that we have been given?  Who knows?  Trump's team says absolutely.  (And I believe them!) Others say no. But too many do not even want to look into the voter tampering and fraud.  Seriously, how can any sane person not want to look into it?  If it's not there, ok.  But if it IS there it needs to be fixed and brought to justice.  We need fair elections... and yet too many are complacent enough to just sit back and let the government run rampant and tell them exactly what do do and think and how to live their lives without questioning it at all.

And those of us who do question, are the bad guys and the lunatics and the conspiracy theorists.  🙄

Even if Trump manages to pull this off, and I am still hoping he does, our country as a whole is heading in the wrong direction. It's just a matter of time if people do not wake up, and far too many are far too comfortable to even want to wake up.  

I absolutely believe there is a deep state working to undermine the common man and force their own agenda.  I absolutely believe foreign governments work to overthrow our government.  (Not a foreign government, but Zuckerberg offered our county money for the elections, because Democrats absolutely want Texas going blue.  Our county turned down his money, but how many others accepted?) There are constantly forces working around us that we know nothing about.

But here is also my thing... the Bible spells it out quite clearly.  Men will love all the wrong things and despise all the right things.  Good will become bad, and bad will become good.  The evil and corruption are not a surprise to anyone who reads their Bible.  Countries, nations and civilizations have  risen and fallen since the beginning of man's existence.  People have lived through good times and people have lived through bad times.  What makes us any different?  Our nation gets too comfortable in their sins and turns their backs to God.... and then wonders why we falter?  

I do not know what will happen... but I trust God.  This is, afterall, his world and I am merely a small blip of a person who will only be here for a  small blip of time.