A moving story about Brendan, 12 y.o. with Down syndrome, battling leukemia. How intimately he knows his Savior during his courageous struggle with this killer disease!
H/T Pro-Life Blogs
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Waiting...
For my guests to arrive!
Dinner is on, the house is clean (as it is going to get), the decorations are up, cookies baked, gifts wrapped, a little Bing Crosby playing softly in the background -- I'm enjoying the peace I feel. I know it is only temporary for I only have a few short minutes until my dad and in-laws arrive. So here I sit in my office enjoying my retro tree and this little USB Christmas tree plugged into my laptop:
It is really very cute - changes from blue to green to red and yellow.
I'm feeling hugely blessed today and I hope you are too!
Dinner is on, the house is clean (as it is going to get), the decorations are up, cookies baked, gifts wrapped, a little Bing Crosby playing softly in the background -- I'm enjoying the peace I feel. I know it is only temporary for I only have a few short minutes until my dad and in-laws arrive. So here I sit in my office enjoying my retro tree and this little USB Christmas tree plugged into my laptop:
It is really very cute - changes from blue to green to red and yellow.
I'm feeling hugely blessed today and I hope you are too!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Not what I asked for...
Disaster fans:
I don't know what their real name might be but I call them disaster fans. Do you know how LOUD these things are?
Something about a broken gasket in the overflow drain in the upstairs bathtub.
I won't show you the bowed ceiling that is now cracked and stained in the great room.
The same ceiling I just finished painting.
My in-laws and father arrive tomorrow for the holidays.
I choose to look on the bright side - it looks like I'm getting a new ceiling for Christmas!
I don't know what their real name might be but I call them disaster fans. Do you know how LOUD these things are?
Something about a broken gasket in the overflow drain in the upstairs bathtub.
I won't show you the bowed ceiling that is now cracked and stained in the great room.
The same ceiling I just finished painting.
My in-laws and father arrive tomorrow for the holidays.
I choose to look on the bright side - it looks like I'm getting a new ceiling for Christmas!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas Treasure
I've been busily decorating my house for the holidays - slowly unpacking the storage containers filled with the things we've collected over the years. While bringing boxes out of storage my hubby said "did you see the boxes my parents brought this summer?" Amid my Christmas stash were two boxes lovingly packed by my in-laws to give to us - filled with Christmas treasure. Hubby's parents are downsizing and moving into a retirement community. I don't think they have put up a tree in years - they usually spend the holidays with us.
As I retrieved the new treasures from the basement, I pondered what I might find and how I could incorporate what I found with what I have. As I opened the boxes, I knew they had to have their own place.
Look at these beautiful old boxes!
The vintage treasure inside - some of it quite worn but these ornaments hold many wonderful memories for hubby...and now he is telling the stories!
Different sizes of ornament hangers - who knew! My father-in-law is an engineer :-)
The tree does not do these ornaments justice.
But I get to enjoy this tree every day - it is in my office. The sight of it while I do my wrapping will bring me great joy!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Third Annual Advent Carnival ...
is up!
Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, is hosting The Third Annual Advent Carnival. Please go take a look at some very talented bloggers post about family Advent traditions and insightful essays about the Advent season.
Enjoy!
Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, is hosting The Third Annual Advent Carnival. Please go take a look at some very talented bloggers post about family Advent traditions and insightful essays about the Advent season.
Enjoy!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Movies for Advent and Christmas
I don’t know if I’ve shared here that I don’t watch TV – other than an occasional show on Food Network and the nightly local news. Most people find me odd but I just can’t get into what the popular culture find amusing or interesting. I know there is still some quality programming out there but I find it much more interesting to lose myself in a good book or read your blogs!
My husband and I do share a passion for movies – especially the old stuff and BBC productions. We find it relaxing to pop in a movie and let go of our day before we begin more intimate conversation beyond the daily necessary communications.
Much of our collection of DVDs revolves around the church year. I thought I would share with you a tradition in our house – our collection of Advent and Christmas movies.
On the more serious side:
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman
It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) with James Stewart and Donna Reed
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) with Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn
The Bishop’s Wife (1948) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim
The Twilight Zone TV Episode – The Night of the Meek (1960) with Art Carney
Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) with Christine Bale and Pernilla August
The Nativity Story (2006) with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Issac
The Nativity in Movies, a compilation of nine films portraying the birth of Christ
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) with Chris Doran and Ann Altieri
For fun
Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye
The Santa Clause (all three) with Tim Allen
Frosty the Snowman (1969) with Jimmy Durante and Billy DeWolfe
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives
Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) with Boris Karloff
Elf (2003) with Will Ferrel and James Caan
Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo
New for this year
Polar Express with Tom Hanks (2004)
Any suggestions to add to our collection?
My husband and I do share a passion for movies – especially the old stuff and BBC productions. We find it relaxing to pop in a movie and let go of our day before we begin more intimate conversation beyond the daily necessary communications.
Much of our collection of DVDs revolves around the church year. I thought I would share with you a tradition in our house – our collection of Advent and Christmas movies.
On the more serious side:
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman
It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) with James Stewart and Donna Reed
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) with Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn
The Bishop’s Wife (1948) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim
The Twilight Zone TV Episode – The Night of the Meek (1960) with Art Carney
Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) with Christine Bale and Pernilla August
The Nativity Story (2006) with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Issac
The Nativity in Movies, a compilation of nine films portraying the birth of Christ
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) with Chris Doran and Ann Altieri
For fun
Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye
The Santa Clause (all three) with Tim Allen
Frosty the Snowman (1969) with Jimmy Durante and Billy DeWolfe
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives
Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) with Boris Karloff
Elf (2003) with Will Ferrel and James Caan
Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo
New for this year
Polar Express with Tom Hanks (2004)
Any suggestions to add to our collection?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Escaping into Advent
Has anybody else noticed that Christmas merchandise has been on display since before Halloween? The stores and streets are decorated for Christmas and we haven’t experienced Advent yet!
Those of us in liturgical denominations are governed by the liturgical calendar. This calendar marks for us the seasons in the church year, days of feasts and fasts, vigils and commemorations, giving us a rhythm to our days and our lives. Those of us who center our lives on the liturgical calendar understand the richness and beauty offered in the depths of observing planned and purposeful seasons of the church year.
Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year – a period of expectant waiting for the arrival of our Savior. In Advent which begins this Sunday, we wait as the Hebrews waited for the birth of the Messiah while waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Christ.
As we experience Advent in our preparations for the coming of Jesus in the places we offer ourselves to the Lord by saying the Daily Office, participating in the Liturgy, perhaps even going to confession - or experiencing the rich traditions of Advent by lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, opening the little windows on our Advent calendar or decorating the Jesse tree our anticipation builds as we await His coming.
All these things set the season of Advent apart from Christmas. For me, Christmas is trivialized and marginalized without Advent. It seems that Christmas has evolved to something that no longer belongs to God but to a fallen world.
So, I’ll not be participating in the secular extravagance of the holiday that has been hijacked by the commercial sector and much of today's society. Oh, I will have the work of Christmas done but I’m escaping into Advent. You won’t find me at the mall or grand Christmas celebrations this Advent. I hope instead to be sitting quietly with my Advent reading and focusing on His coming, knowing the great joy about to come while so many are waiting in long lines or spending too much time money on things that are only transiently meaningful.
I’ll be spending my time reliving with awe in His Word the powerful unfolding of God’s plan for His creation. Because Jesus came - fully human and fully divine - to redeem us and offer us eternal salvation...and promises to come again, I know hope. Because He came I want to live my life differently. I want my life to reflect Him and I can only do that by knowing Him more intimately so I’ll be better prepared when He comes again.
And I’ll be praying about how to make some more changes in what I can do to make my Advent experience deeper and more profound. Do you feel a need to make some changes this year? Take a look at Christmas Change "to reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed."
My Advent reading this year
Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 by Robert Morneau
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas published by Plough Publishing House
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
Thank you Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar for hosting The Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions - a part of Carnivals of the Church Year hosted by Homemaking Through the Church Year and A Ten O'Clock Scholar
Those of us in liturgical denominations are governed by the liturgical calendar. This calendar marks for us the seasons in the church year, days of feasts and fasts, vigils and commemorations, giving us a rhythm to our days and our lives. Those of us who center our lives on the liturgical calendar understand the richness and beauty offered in the depths of observing planned and purposeful seasons of the church year.
Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year – a period of expectant waiting for the arrival of our Savior. In Advent which begins this Sunday, we wait as the Hebrews waited for the birth of the Messiah while waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Christ.
As we experience Advent in our preparations for the coming of Jesus in the places we offer ourselves to the Lord by saying the Daily Office, participating in the Liturgy, perhaps even going to confession - or experiencing the rich traditions of Advent by lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, opening the little windows on our Advent calendar or decorating the Jesse tree our anticipation builds as we await His coming.
All these things set the season of Advent apart from Christmas. For me, Christmas is trivialized and marginalized without Advent. It seems that Christmas has evolved to something that no longer belongs to God but to a fallen world.
So, I’ll not be participating in the secular extravagance of the holiday that has been hijacked by the commercial sector and much of today's society. Oh, I will have the work of Christmas done but I’m escaping into Advent. You won’t find me at the mall or grand Christmas celebrations this Advent. I hope instead to be sitting quietly with my Advent reading and focusing on His coming, knowing the great joy about to come while so many are waiting in long lines or spending too much time money on things that are only transiently meaningful.
I’ll be spending my time reliving with awe in His Word the powerful unfolding of God’s plan for His creation. Because Jesus came - fully human and fully divine - to redeem us and offer us eternal salvation...and promises to come again, I know hope. Because He came I want to live my life differently. I want my life to reflect Him and I can only do that by knowing Him more intimately so I’ll be better prepared when He comes again.
And I’ll be praying about how to make some more changes in what I can do to make my Advent experience deeper and more profound. Do you feel a need to make some changes this year? Take a look at Christmas Change "to reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed."
My Advent reading this year
Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 by Robert Morneau
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas published by Plough Publishing House
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
Thank you Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar for hosting The Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions - a part of Carnivals of the Church Year hosted by Homemaking Through the Church Year and A Ten O'Clock Scholar
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Coming of the Lord is Near - Advent Devotion
From Christine Sine of Godspace
Because our hope in not in our earthly circumstances but in the One who came to save us...
Because our hope in not in our earthly circumstances but in the One who came to save us...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Third Annual Anglican Advent Carnival
On Saturday, November 28th, Kerry at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, will host the Third Annual Anglican Advent Traditions Carnival. It will feature posts from Anglican and other liturgical-minded bloggers with ideas, links, resources, thoughts, and more for Advent.
See Kerry's blog, A Ten O'Clock Scholar, for more information on submissions!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)