~December Pagan Mama's Circle~ - Page 18

[HelloKitty]

We got our yule tree last night - we had so much fun! We went to a tree farm rather far away (there's no decent tree farms near us) but it was a lot of fun and we got a really nice tree.

We are going to make garland from acorns and from popcorn - so excited! I love this time of year!

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

No original sin = no need for judeo-christian salvation.

Just an FYI-- Christian salvation, not Judeo-Christian. There's no concept of salvation in Judaism, and the phrase "Judeo-Christian" is a misnomer anyway as the two religions have remarkably little in common.

My dd, she's 8. She's in 2nd grade. She would like to share some things with her class about the holidays that she celebrates. Various classmates have done this...about Channaukah, etc.

She really wants to share some things about Yule or Winter Solstice. It seems it's pretty impotrant to her. What i'm looking for is for kid-oriented information about the return of the sun, etc.

I am really trying to help her out. Just so she has something to share, it would be great!

That's fantastic! Are the kids just doing presentations, or are there projects and/or food? My mom's done quite a few Channukah talks where she brought latkes and dreidles.

[wombatclay]

Thanks Eilonwy...I should know better than to generalize! Though "judeo christian" is an actual term (with definition and all) it's not applicable here!

[**guest**]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I'm in such a nasty, foul mood...I feel as though I'm going to explode. Nothing in particular but everything in general.
I'm wound up so tight that I may actually have a Baileys.

I need a nice rose quartz or something to wear when I get this way.

I need a time out.

Oh, and instead of taking some ME time tomorrow, I'm going help out someone who is doing a cloth diapering workshop in the morn. (I'm the greeter who gets people to sign in, etc). So, I have to be pleasant. rofl.
I'd rather go to Barnes & Noble and bury my face in magazines for a couple of hours.

Serenity NOW!
Liz

[mamaofthree]

OdetoJoy

H

[Birth Junky]

OTJ: Sorry you are feeling lousy.

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Thanks Eilonwy...I should know better than to generalize! Though "judeo christian" is an actual term (with definition and all) it's not applicable here!

It's an actual term, but one without meaning. It's based on a misaprehension (or three) as to the nature of Judaism as well as Christianity. But I guess this thread isn't the place to get into semantics.

BeanBean told Mike all about Solstice. Such a muffin!

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by brendon

Cari- great hair!!! I love the spikey look. I did try the spikey look for awhile and i was bad about actually doing it.
this will be my first attempt at paying off a credit card before it collects interest. I haven't used one in years but decided to be good and pay it off when the bill comes.

Your tree looks great.

Well today begins my frantic attempt to get my house organized and cleaned for the coming festivities. I try to do one big clean up so I can just relax and maintain for the rest of the holidays!

I started drying my orange slices to hang on our tree. We are going sat/sun to get a small live tree...our first!!! Our little tree with have only lights and natural decorations that have been made buy us.

Thanks! I may or may not do the whole 'do' every day... but it actually is so short it spikey's itself at the moment LOL. I have to get my rear in gear and get the spare room fit for human habitation by friday as my bil & sil will be staying over from sat night till monday for the holiday (with kiddies too And I WANTED to do oranges.. but the kids ATE THEM ALL

Originally Posted by shelley4

how do you guys handle door to door people who are trying to convince you to join thier religion?

We used to have them every other week or so.. now it's just once a month give or take I'm always very polite as long as THEY are very polite as well! The last couple asked my opinion on the 'train up a boy etc etc' bible verse and I told them sure... as long as that allows for the fact that no ONE path is right for every boy (or girl) and that freedom of choice enters into that as soon as the reach an age. With that I offered them a glass of cold water (it was hooooot out) and said I needed to go take care of my boys and that was that. I've never had any missionaries try to ask to come in at all.. I always tell them thank you, but I'm not Christian and leave it at that.

Originally Posted by wombatclay

I forget where I saw it, but there is a pre-printed "pagan response to missionaries" guide. It uses biblical quotations to explain why pagans are not "candidates" for conversion/salvation. It's called something like "The Other People"
)

I love love love that essay! Of course I don't really any of the salvation stuff applies to anybody either , unless you choose for it to. lol so it doesn't really matter what people you're from.

Originally Posted by OdeToJoy

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I'm in such a nasty, foul mood...I feel as though I'm going to explode. Nothing in particular but everything in general.
I'm wound up so tight that I may actually have a Baileys.

I need a nice rose quartz or something to wear when I get this way.

I need a time out.

Oh, and instead of taking some ME time tomorrow, I'm going help out someone who is doing a cloth diapering workshop in the morn. (I'm the greeter who gets people to sign in, etc). So, I have to be pleasant. rofl.
I'd rather go to Barnes & Noble and bury my face in magazines for a couple of hours.

Serenity NOW!
Liz

Baileys? where!?! lol Maybe, just maybe, that cloth workshop will lift your spirits and you'll feel pleasant instead of having to be pleasant : I hope it turns out to be a lovely day for you! I second the rose quartz though!

[Valerie.Qc]

OdeToJoy

I've been in a bad mood lately too Lack of sleep + lack of sunlight = desire to crawl in a hole and hide until the Spring is here : I thought I was handling it well but I was not I was so distant and cold that my poor DH beleived I was about to leave him! He was afraid to come home after work thinking he would find an empty house I feel so bad about this... but I try to focus on the good and show him how much I love him


Door-to-door people... I let them in once... DD1 was a baby, I was trying to do the dishes but she was crying for milk and then the doorbell rang I told them I was busy and could not take time to listen to them but they were insistant... so I told them they were welcome in if they wanted to do my dishes while I breastfed DD and listen to them : They did a good job! My dishes were spotless I was so lonely then, I really enjoyed having company : but they never came back... maybe they were afraid I would ask them to clean the floors or the toilet the next time

[shelley4]

oh, i never let them in, that's for sure! they were just talking to me at the door, and i must have said "i'm not interested" 10+ times, and they still didn't get it! they had some tracks or leaflets or something that they were offering me, and i kept saying "i'm not interested" and they were like, "oh, have you read these ones before?!", um nope, but i don't want to, because i'm not FREAKIN interested!

i definately didn't want to engage them in conversation, i bet if i told them i was Pagan, they would start telling me how evil that is, and would try to save my evil soul. i understand how some religions require this person to person "witnessing", but i just wish they would listen when i say that we're not interested! if my kids hadn't have been there, i probably would have broken out my potty mouth

[CariOfOz]

I saw a hilarious quote once and seriously thought about making a sign to hang on my porch with it on it... it was cute & witty, but to the point.. but I can't come close to remembering it, it ended with something and my soul is fine as well (was aimed at door to door sales people of ANY kind) I think it was something along the lines of ' i am happy with the state of my vaccum cleaner, my phone service and my soul.. thank you & come again' then have a little sign saying no salesmen or prosteltyzing (butchered spelling?) I also thought about making a fairly noticeable pentacle wreath to hang there as well.. THAT thought is still around

[Birth Junky]

Originally Posted by Valérie.Qc

Door-to-door people... I let them in once... DD1 was a baby, I was trying to do the dishes but she was crying for milk and then the doorbell rang I told them I was busy and could not take time to listen to them but they were insistant... so I told them they were welcome in if they wanted to do my dishes while I breastfed DD and listen to them : They did a good job! My dishes were spotless I was so lonely then, I really enjoyed having company : but they never came back... maybe they were afraid I would ask them to clean the floors or the toilet the next time

When DH and I spent a year living in Toronto, we were terribly lonely . . . didn't know ANYONE. So, one snowbound day when a pair showed up on our doorstep, we welcomed them in. We actually had a fairly interesting conversation on belief in general (and paganism in particular; they were curious and very respectful).

When they left (a good 2 hours later!) DH and I looked at each other and burst out laughing . . . we realized we must be REALLY lonely if we were bringing missionaries into our home for company!

[Birth Junky]

Yikes

Just found out this evening that my aunt, who always hosts Xmas Eve, is not doing it this year. My mom has been dealing with a lot of depression anyway because of my dad and now she's falling apart over the holidays, so I volunteered to host. My folks, my brother and his girlfriend. What have I volunteered for?

I'm thinking pot-luck, because DH and I have just started paying a mortgage--we can't afford to put up a big spread. Hopefully I can whip the house into shape and get my mom into a better frame of mind! Still, not the simple, relaxing weekend I had originally planned.

Wish me luck!

[Aeress]

We finally convinced my family to do potluck. it is so much easier. My Mom and Dad are handling the meat and everyone else is bringing a side.

We don't get missionairies here...which I found odd since the church we used to go to had the belief that it was their job to change everyone not just christian but their faith. : we never felt right their anyways...now I know why.

[midstreammama]

Oh Liz, I'm sorry. I hope you're feeling better soon!

I was in a mood like that yesterday. Bills and all that. My sil came over and could really tell that my energy was just foul. So, I went to toys r us yesterday and forgot my credit card at home.(that's a good thing and a bad thing, depending on how you look at it )

I washed dds Tamagotchi and I felt pretty bad about it because she really liked it. So, I decided that I would get her another one. Well, dd2 is pretty in love with it, so I was going to get her one. I had a $20gc and the Tomigatchis came to $30, I think. I also had a $5 cupon off $25 purch....so I needed $5 stinking dollars, I was going to charge that but didn't have the cc. Well, I look in my purse and there are 5 dollar bills, woot!

That sort of changed my outlook on things for the rest of the day. The electric bill was past due simply becasue I'm lazy and have to go o0ver there to pay it. So, I took the 100$ and needed $20 more to pay it. I was lamenting over that when I decided to go to my grandfathers house and get the 20 or so that he gives us everyweek for fruit(long story but it has to do with him being donned the name 'fruit fairy' , I'll share if you like.

So, I go to the designated 20 spot...lol and I find an extra 20 in there(which he will do occasionally) I was so happy. I went to pay the electric bill...and all the way home I thought about the secret, there were green lights all the way! Several other things turned out the way I wanted them to...I was just so happy and I really felt validated that the secret worked~! Increased my mood tremendously.

Thanks for the suggestions about solstice. I think we have some things to talk about now. It's not really presentations that they have to do....one girl in the class talked about the Hannaukah( i don't think i'll ever spell that right)
and it made dd really want to talk about yule, solstice and paganism. I had to explain to her that some of her friends might not want to play with her after they go home and tell their parents about what she talked about. She didn't care. She said it was more important that she talk about it and she'll still have some friends so its okay. I'm so pround of her, she amazes me everyday.

We went to chuckie cheese last night for a bday party.(ugh, we came out with a headache) dd1 was trading in her tickets. She got this little wand with asparkly star on it and leaned over to me and said 'witches use magic wands, mama'. She's so great!

Everyones trees look great! I'll post a pic of my hanging tree when I get a chance!

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by midstreammama

one girl in the class talked about the Hannaukah( i don't think i'll ever spell that right)

You can't spell it right with English letters. On the other hand, you can't really spell it wrong, either.

We went to chuckie cheese last night for a bday party.(ugh, we came out with a headache) dd1 was trading in her tickets. She got this little wand with asparkly star on it and leaned over to me and said 'witches use magic wands, mama'. She's so great!

What a sweetie!

Mike took the kids to his parents' house last night. In the morning, I talked to Bean. "If your aunt starts talking about god, what do you say?" "You can talk about god when my parents are around. I'll go get daddy." "Right. Because different people believe different things about god, and your aunt has some very strange ideas that daddy and I don't agree with." Bean looked up at me and said, "So does Teal'c. He's always talking about this guy who thinks he's god." "Who do you mean?" "I don't remember his name. He's one of the goa'uld."

We talked a little longer, and I had the distinct impression that my son is under the impression that Jesus is/was a goa'uld. : That's what they get for trying to turn god into a person! :

[Aeress]

My girls received the fisher price manger set from great grandma. it is kinda cute...but scarey! : she asked and I said it was o.k. My dd has no clue who the people are, as in the bible stories. she knows the babies mom and dad are mary and joseph and the baby is jesus. *laughs* jesus gets into trouble alot at our home. "Now Jesus, it is time for bed. Get to bed!" "No candy for breakfast."
I think she see's them as people/family, like any other play people that she has. My mother is very religious and I am o.k. with the girls learning about God and such becuase we talk about lots of gods at our house. I imagine Bella will either be very confused about God or really interested by the time she is a teenage. Grandma takes her to church.


Personally, we celebrate many different traditions in our house as best we can. I try not to make the celebrations "touristy" if I can.


I really should watch the secret.

Did I mention that I went ahead and asked for one more year leave (though I didn't need to until next may). *ahhh* I feel better! Now if we get pregnant that will start a whole nother conversation!

Back to cleaning...no hubby, or kiddos to "get in the way".

[wombatclay]

BirthJunky- I soooo hear you. Somehow this holiday season got all turned upside down (my dad's medical condition means he's in CA right now and my mom will be flying out to see him xmas eve...and she is scared stiff of planes, CA, and she's worked for months making all the altar clothes and decorations for her local church's xmas day mass and now she wont see them...so not a happy mama) and I wound up being the hostess.

So one set of in-laws (DH's parents divorced and remarried so I've got multiple MILs...oh joy! ), a SIL, and a few other random relatives are descending upon our usually quiet holiday morning celebration. And I've been getting emails from all of them with "little suggestions" about how to make the day better! Hello? I refuse to play christian carols, prep a whole brunch with foods my own family doesn't ever eat, etc. Especially on our oh so tiny budget.

So we're going to have a sort of brunch buffet (quiche, wheat free waffles, fruit, coffee/tea) and then we'll just add more "lunch type" foods as the day goes on...maybe cold cuts for sandwiches, or some homemade pizzas. And holiday cookies throughout the day. But nothing fancy (we'll be doing that on solstice....a goose, and chestnut stuffing, plum pudding, cranberry-orange sauce, wild rice with golden raisins, all sorts of yum!)

I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm betting my SIL offers to host next year!

[cravenab00]

ugh dor to door people. I have never dealt with them at my home, but I remember my grandmother always having something witty to say to them.
One of the women at the door said she wanted to talk to us about the bible, my grandmother said "Oh, we have one!" and shut the door.

One of my friends when I was growing up, her dad had left the mormon church, and they came to the door. We turned off the lights and hid. But they did leave some yummy pumpkin bread on the porch!

I had a JW call me once! I couldnt believe they were resorting to calling people!

i have a Yule log! A BIG reall one! gotta run, but will come back and post more later!

[DoulaLyndsey]

Hello, ladies, I know I've been MIA, trying to get things together for the holidays. We're leaving to drive to Michigan on Thursday, so we're busy getting everything ready.

DH and I went to Borders yesterday and we were in the Pagan/Wiccan/New Age section looking at books, when DH pulled out a book and was flipping through it and found a Christian pamphlet tucked inside. The title of it is "The Cults: Where they go wrong" and on the back someone hand wrote "millions of Christians die to spread the gospel. This is the least I can do for the Kingdom! God asked me to place this here for you!" : Yeah, I promptly pulled it out and I'm going to throw it away. I don't mind if you believe something different than me, but don't shove your beliefs and literature down my throat!

If I cannot get back on before I leave on Thursday (we'll be gone for 2 weeks), then I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!!