Christmas Traditions

What can I say about Christmas. Since Brody has entered our lives Christmas is amazing. The statement, "a baby changes everything" is so true in so many ways. When there is a child involved we want them to believe in Christmas Magic and we, adults that is,will do anything to make sure that the Christmas Magic is just that......MAGIC. How perfect was it this year for us to receive snow over Christmas. We actually had a white Christmas and we were able to celebrate Brody's first real snow and white Christmas together. The day was absolutely perfect. Of course the new traditions took place prior to Santa's arrival. My mother, or otherwise known by Brody as GG, has started a tradition with him that is messy but fun. We put together a gingerbread house and he decorates it. Of course this year for some reason we had some issues. The roof of the house kept sliding down. Of course Brody didn't care but his mother and I did what we could to keep that roof on. We each have roles when it comes to this tradition. Nikki and I put the house together (which translates to we are the ones that get sticky with the icing), and then GG pours out all the candy and then Brody gets to decorate it......all by himself! In a perfect world this process would be just right. But it never fails.....Nikki and I end up with icing everywhere and Brody ends up with his shirt off because he ends up wearing the icing. But who could complain as you watch this great kid have the time of his life as he places each piece of candy on his gingerbread house with the exclamation of, "I did it!" We had other issues with the house to.....well really we didn't....the roof simply would not stay on. So we did what any other construction worker would do.....we made re-enforcements out of pretzels.....don't laugh...it worked. I only got in trouble once because I bought the cheap jelly beans....note to self....remember to purchase real Jelly Bellies next Christmas. Clete said the cheap jelly beans probably brought the value of the house down, ha ha. He buys one house and he is already an expert. On this same night we also opened our Christmas ornaments that my mother gets us every year. I of course got Barbie - I love Barbie. Nikki received her traditional Eeyor - which I did not touch (long story). Wesley got an OSU football that blinked and Brody got his "choo-choo" or other wise known as Thomas the Train. I don't know how we are going to top this Christmas. We had snow, sweets, and family. What more could we have asked for?

Loksi, Loksi, Loksi - Minti

Loksi, Loksi, Loksi - Minti

Those are probably four of the strongest words I have ever said during a performance. Being a part of Lowak Shoppala' has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. A lot of preparation went into getting ready for the production. I spent many late nights reading this wonderful story written by Chickasaw author and Pultizer finalist Linda Hogan over and over again. I had to make sure that when I told the story I was to the point that I new the story just as I knew any other traditional story that I have t0ld. I had to feel this story.....I had to become part of this story. I had to be able to feel the river when I spoke about it, I had to feel the emotion the girl felt when she was being made fun of, and I had give off the feeling of how proud this woman was to give such a magnificent gift to the Chickasaw people. The gift that allowed woman to dance. True emotion was coming from my lips. Images where feeling my head as the words floated out of my mouth. Images of dancers, gatherings, and what the Chickasaw people did in ancient days. I was on top of a mound, of course built out of wood but still a mound and all I could think of was, "I wonder if this is what it was like when stories where being told when..." The music playing while I told the story only made the story stronger. The music was elegant, strong, and breath taking and written composed by my great friend Jerod Tate. I gave the story breath the music gave the story a heart beat. And with each powerful word the beat grew stronger making me raise my voice to ensure that everyone could hear me call the turtles. I wanted the audience to get chills when they heard me call the turtles. I wanted their heart to race just as mine did as I commanded the turtles to come. The feeling was amazing. Afterwards I was complimented on my performance. I was even told that I did in fact give e the audience chills.

"And now WE have respect for the Turtle because THEY gave US our dance."