I love having plans. I love going out. I love having an evening out with the man I love. Can you tell we are going on a date tonight? I'm pretty stoked about it too.
So our original plans fell through. We were supposed to be going to Patti's for one mean pork chop and their amazing Christmas lights, but, we called Wednesday and the only available reservation was at 9:15 p.m. Crazy. So, we are going to Giant City Lodge instead. Should be a good time!
Next weekend we go out for my birthday. Dinner, movie, birthday shopping, and Christmas shopping for B. I'm pretty stoked about it! We almost have all of our Christmas shopping finished! Yay!
This is a random, I'm gonna blog like a girl blog ;)
We get one journey... here's putting into words what is going on in ours.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
You Ever Find it Funny
That we celebrate the birth of the Light of the world during the darkest time of the year...
That we celebrate the giver of life when everything in nature seems to be dead and cold...
Granted... it isn't that way for everyone in this world, but to me it seems fitting.
When we are in our darkest places, our lowest valleys, when life doesn't seem to be worth living... Jesus comes. He comes in a manger, in ways we'd never expect Him, but He comes.
He is faithful through all seasons, but during the darkness the light can lead us most effectively (think shepherds and wise men here), and during are hardships Jesus can comfort us more fully.
I absolutely love this time of the year. I love the bustle and the decorations, I love the food, and even lavish parties (though I don't believe I've ever been to one ;), I'll even admit that I love presents. The giving and the getting. Most importantly though, I love Jesus, and it is He that we celebrate during this time of year!
That we celebrate the giver of life when everything in nature seems to be dead and cold...
Granted... it isn't that way for everyone in this world, but to me it seems fitting.
When we are in our darkest places, our lowest valleys, when life doesn't seem to be worth living... Jesus comes. He comes in a manger, in ways we'd never expect Him, but He comes.
He is faithful through all seasons, but during the darkness the light can lead us most effectively (think shepherds and wise men here), and during are hardships Jesus can comfort us more fully.
I absolutely love this time of the year. I love the bustle and the decorations, I love the food, and even lavish parties (though I don't believe I've ever been to one ;), I'll even admit that I love presents. The giving and the getting. Most importantly though, I love Jesus, and it is He that we celebrate during this time of year!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
On Precipitation
Precipitation is so consequential. I mean, really. Check it out, here are my thoughts (and opinions) on precipitation.
Rain is lousy, almost always. Unless it's a short summer shower in the middle of an extremely hot day and it cools things off as opposed to steaming them up. Oh, and of course to make the "unlousy" category there must, obviously, be a rainbow.
Snow is more complicated. It is acceptable, and even encouraged, if occurring after Thanksgiving Day and before New Year's day. It is prayed for on Christmas Eve. Snow with no accumulation is pretty, but somewhat purposeless, thus, snow should really be encouraged to fall in heavy amounts. THEN, snow should not prevent already planned events from occurring due to hazardous roadways and being snowed in, unless of course the being snowed in is alone with my husband in a cottage in the woods with a big fire in the fireplace, then we can take that into consideration. Snow should cancel exactly two school days in any given school year, and children should be encouraged to play in this snow by making wonderful jolly snowmen and by tubing down large glistening hills.
Of course, rain and wet snow are incredibly inappropriate during the timing of outdoor events.
Hail, or "icelated" rain (haha, it's a joke), is acceptable exactly one time in any given year for the exclusive purpose of "wowing" us with such a miracle. It should be exactly 3/4 of an inch in diameter, enough to 'wow', but not enough to cause any major damage. The size should be that between a pebble and a golfball. It must, of course, happen in late March or early April, and thus, be followed by a rainbow. It may only occur when every automobile is parked safely in shelter, and the temperature must be low enough that the remains may be played with and collected after the hail has ceased to fall.
Obviously, if I was in control of precipitation, not only would farmers be without jobs, we all would not exist as we would have died of dehydration eyons ago. However, you can see my perspective now, that precipitation is consequential. The circumstances dictate whether it is appreciated or loathed. Today, it was loathed.
-a
Rain is lousy, almost always. Unless it's a short summer shower in the middle of an extremely hot day and it cools things off as opposed to steaming them up. Oh, and of course to make the "unlousy" category there must, obviously, be a rainbow.
Snow is more complicated. It is acceptable, and even encouraged, if occurring after Thanksgiving Day and before New Year's day. It is prayed for on Christmas Eve. Snow with no accumulation is pretty, but somewhat purposeless, thus, snow should really be encouraged to fall in heavy amounts. THEN, snow should not prevent already planned events from occurring due to hazardous roadways and being snowed in, unless of course the being snowed in is alone with my husband in a cottage in the woods with a big fire in the fireplace, then we can take that into consideration. Snow should cancel exactly two school days in any given school year, and children should be encouraged to play in this snow by making wonderful jolly snowmen and by tubing down large glistening hills.
Of course, rain and wet snow are incredibly inappropriate during the timing of outdoor events.
Hail, or "icelated" rain (haha, it's a joke), is acceptable exactly one time in any given year for the exclusive purpose of "wowing" us with such a miracle. It should be exactly 3/4 of an inch in diameter, enough to 'wow', but not enough to cause any major damage. The size should be that between a pebble and a golfball. It must, of course, happen in late March or early April, and thus, be followed by a rainbow. It may only occur when every automobile is parked safely in shelter, and the temperature must be low enough that the remains may be played with and collected after the hail has ceased to fall.
Obviously, if I was in control of precipitation, not only would farmers be without jobs, we all would not exist as we would have died of dehydration eyons ago. However, you can see my perspective now, that precipitation is consequential. The circumstances dictate whether it is appreciated or loathed. Today, it was loathed.
-a
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Santa's in our Manger
When I was little my parent's had to leave the presents from Santa Claus out on our deck because I was terrified of a fat man in a red suit being in our house. And who's ever heard of reindeer who fly, anyway. So (spoiler warning), when I found out there was no Santa Claus I asked first, "Do I still get presents?", and second, "Then why did we do this?" If my parents had been giving me those presents all along, why would they put someone else's name on the "from" part of the tag?
And now I'm the parent. Bryton is one, still young enough that he'll have no recollection of this Christmas. I'm okay with that because we are now fighting the Santa battle. No, not where the presents should be left, but whether he should be included at all.
I should state before moving on that I don't dislike all things that are "Santa". I love the movie Elf, and The Grinch, I have a Santa statuey figurine thing that I really enjoy, I enjoy The Santa Clause, and even a few songs about Santa. I'm not saying that the story of Saint Nicholas isn't a story that should be mentioned to your children in lessons regarding the beauty of giving. I think that is important in a persons life. In fact, when we give gifts to our children and to each other at Christmastime, it would be a wise story to tell.
Here's my beef with Santa. And maybe it's not even with Santa, because if what I read about "Ole' St. Nick" is true, he was a Christian, and quite frankly, I think he would roll over in his grave if he knew that people were standing in lines at malls to spend lots of money they didn't have, standing in long lines to get pictures taken with him, and writing his name on the "from" part of the tag when Christmas is really about Jesus.
ANYHOW, Aaron and I are in this awkward time of our lives trying to figure out if Santa Claus is really the way to go. Honestly, the ONLY reason I would 'do' Santa Claus in our house is because it is the social norm (bad reason number 1), and so that my kid doesn't ruin it for all of the other kids (not a horrible bad reason but still not good). So, the question is, "Is it worth it to make Jesus share His season with Santa Claus for the sake of all of the other kids." I'm not sure.
But this is what I am sure of:
Today I subbed in a music class at the elementary school. Kindergarten - 4th grade. For the sake of this particular post we are going to concentrate mostly on K, 1st, and 3rd grades. Here is why:
The 3rd graders (mostly not Santa Claus followers anymore), were required to listen to very poor versions of old Christmas songs we'd all sing in church. You know, Away in a Manger, O Holy Night, Go Tell it On the Mountain, etc. They knew very few of the words. The language was difficult for them. They had no idea what the songs were saying, and to be honest, very few of these kids knew them. I had looked so forward to this part of my day, but it quickly became the part of the day that fell apart the quickest.
The kindergarten and 1st graders, well, they watched a Christmas Sing Along. Not a gospel story in site. Everything Santa and Reindeers you could possibly want. They not only knew the words but were elated at the sight of Santa. In fact, I stopped showing one part of the movie for fear they'd never let me sub again because of the volume level they were reaching when Santa came on the screen. It was sheer... joy. Over Santa. At Christmas. And my heart fell to pieces on the floor.
Supposedly a great deal of what we are going to 'know' in life comes before the age of 6. Everything else after that builds on the important things learned at 6. Ironically, 2nd and 3rd grades... say 7 -9 years old... are about the times most kids stop believing in Santa. What sticks with them after that about Christmas? Gifts. It's just like my question when I found out, "Well, am I still getting presents?" Yep, because that's what it was about to me at that point. That is what I knew about Christmas.
I want my son to know Christ about Christmas. I mean, what is Christmas without Christ? What would have been the reason for 'Ole St. Nick' to begin with? There would be none.
Have we completely ruled out doing 'Santa' in our house... not completely, we are still in the talking stages. Are we judging anyone who does it? Nope, you have to make that call for your family. But I can say this for ours, whether we 'do' Santa or not, He will not be residing in the manger.
-a
And now I'm the parent. Bryton is one, still young enough that he'll have no recollection of this Christmas. I'm okay with that because we are now fighting the Santa battle. No, not where the presents should be left, but whether he should be included at all.
I should state before moving on that I don't dislike all things that are "Santa". I love the movie Elf, and The Grinch, I have a Santa statuey figurine thing that I really enjoy, I enjoy The Santa Clause, and even a few songs about Santa. I'm not saying that the story of Saint Nicholas isn't a story that should be mentioned to your children in lessons regarding the beauty of giving. I think that is important in a persons life. In fact, when we give gifts to our children and to each other at Christmastime, it would be a wise story to tell.
Here's my beef with Santa. And maybe it's not even with Santa, because if what I read about "Ole' St. Nick" is true, he was a Christian, and quite frankly, I think he would roll over in his grave if he knew that people were standing in lines at malls to spend lots of money they didn't have, standing in long lines to get pictures taken with him, and writing his name on the "from" part of the tag when Christmas is really about Jesus.
ANYHOW, Aaron and I are in this awkward time of our lives trying to figure out if Santa Claus is really the way to go. Honestly, the ONLY reason I would 'do' Santa Claus in our house is because it is the social norm (bad reason number 1), and so that my kid doesn't ruin it for all of the other kids (not a horrible bad reason but still not good). So, the question is, "Is it worth it to make Jesus share His season with Santa Claus for the sake of all of the other kids." I'm not sure.
But this is what I am sure of:
Today I subbed in a music class at the elementary school. Kindergarten - 4th grade. For the sake of this particular post we are going to concentrate mostly on K, 1st, and 3rd grades. Here is why:
The 3rd graders (mostly not Santa Claus followers anymore), were required to listen to very poor versions of old Christmas songs we'd all sing in church. You know, Away in a Manger, O Holy Night, Go Tell it On the Mountain, etc. They knew very few of the words. The language was difficult for them. They had no idea what the songs were saying, and to be honest, very few of these kids knew them. I had looked so forward to this part of my day, but it quickly became the part of the day that fell apart the quickest.
The kindergarten and 1st graders, well, they watched a Christmas Sing Along. Not a gospel story in site. Everything Santa and Reindeers you could possibly want. They not only knew the words but were elated at the sight of Santa. In fact, I stopped showing one part of the movie for fear they'd never let me sub again because of the volume level they were reaching when Santa came on the screen. It was sheer... joy. Over Santa. At Christmas. And my heart fell to pieces on the floor.
Supposedly a great deal of what we are going to 'know' in life comes before the age of 6. Everything else after that builds on the important things learned at 6. Ironically, 2nd and 3rd grades... say 7 -9 years old... are about the times most kids stop believing in Santa. What sticks with them after that about Christmas? Gifts. It's just like my question when I found out, "Well, am I still getting presents?" Yep, because that's what it was about to me at that point. That is what I knew about Christmas.
I want my son to know Christ about Christmas. I mean, what is Christmas without Christ? What would have been the reason for 'Ole St. Nick' to begin with? There would be none.
Have we completely ruled out doing 'Santa' in our house... not completely, we are still in the talking stages. Are we judging anyone who does it? Nope, you have to make that call for your family. But I can say this for ours, whether we 'do' Santa or not, He will not be residing in the manger.
-a
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