… I’ve got a thing for long, rambling posts …

In light of what happened on Black Friday – craziness, greed and tragically death- and as Christmas looms ever closer I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas. My one friend is already calling it “greed-fest 2008”. I’m sure we all, at some point, have felt the pressures of the season. I know I have. There was the time I was a broke college student and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go home for Christmas. Another time I was asked at the last minute to extend my missionary service and would get home mid-February rather than December 23rd. There have been other times I’m sure.

One thing I always think about this time of year is the Grinch. Not because I’m feeling Grinch-y (I heart Christmas) but it’s a sweet story and I end up repeating the line “It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!”… over and over again. All of the presents in the world will not make Christmas any more special, just like no presents at all will not take away from it’s meaning.

…Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit, He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!” “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!” “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!””That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!” So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

… I’ve got a thing for long, rambling posts …

In light of what happened on Black Friday – craziness, greed and tragically death- and as Christmas looms ever closer I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas. My one friend is already calling it “greed-fest 2008”. I’m sure we all, at some point, have felt the pressures of the season. I know I have. There was the time I was a broke college student and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go home for Christmas. Another time I was asked at the last minute to extend my missionary service and would get home mid-February rather than December 23rd. There have been other times I’m sure.

One thing I always think about this time of year is the Grinch. Not because I’m feeling Grinch-y (I heart Christmas) but it’s a sweet story and I end up repeating the line “It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!”… over and over again. All of the presents in the world will not make Christmas any more special, just like no presents at all will not take away from it’s meaning.

…Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit, He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!” “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!” “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!””That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!” So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

Michele, Brandy, me

The day after Thanksgiving I got together with two old friends- Michele and Brandy. We met a Paula’s Pancake House for a yummy breakfast and to catch up. I haven’t been to Paula’s in years. I ordered Danish pancakes, scrambled eggs, Danish sausage and orange juice. Way too much food but so good. Even better was seeing friends that I hadn’t seen in years and years. They have matching sunglasses, I have crazy hair.

Oh and Thanksgiving with my family was pretty fun too.

Michele, Brandy, me

The day after Thanksgiving I got together with two old friends- Michele and Brandy. We met a Paula’s Pancake House for a yummy breakfast and to catch up. I haven’t been to Paula’s in years. I ordered Danish pancakes, scrambled eggs, Danish sausage and orange juice. Way too much food but so good. Even better was seeing friends that I hadn’t seen in years and years. They have matching sunglasses, I have crazy hair.

Oh and Thanksgiving with my family was pretty fun too.

(photo borrowed from Jen Gotch)
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends:.
If I say this all the time it’s only because it’s true. Anything else I could say would just sound overly cheese (however true) so I’ll just say I’m very, very thankful for good friends and leave it at that.

The Gospel:.
I know that everything good in my life comes from the gospel. It was like a beautiful gift that was dropped into my lap. I didn’t even know I was looking for it until I found it (or it found me).

Airplanes:.
And cars and trains too for that matter for making loved ones who are very far away seem a little less far away.

Makeup:.
I love it. I am such a girl – I just love playing with it. When I was little I used to force my brother to let me paint his nails. And when my sister was old enough (in my eyes at least) I’d give her “make overs”. My poor siblings.

Harlow:.
You all new I was going to have to add her so there you go.

There are a lot of things I’m grateful for- some important and some silly. I’m thankful for good music and spicy food. I’m grateful for good books and long walks and hot cups of chocolate. I’m grateful for the children in my life, though none of them are mine, they are so sweet and so good and make life brighter. I’m grateful for good pens to write with. I’m grateful for fluffy pillows and warm sweaters. I’m grateful for ice cream and pink lemonade (not together…ew). I’m grateful for my camera and my computer. I’m grateful for beautiful pieces of art; for poetry and paintings. I’m grateful for my health and my life and the freedoms that I enjoy as a citizen of this country. I am grateful for so much.

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert

(photo borrowed from Jen Gotch)
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends:.
If I say this all the time it’s only because it’s true. Anything else I could say would just sound overly cheese (however true) so I’ll just say I’m very, very thankful for good friends and leave it at that.

The Gospel:.
I know that everything good in my life comes from the gospel. It was like a beautiful gift that was dropped into my lap. I didn’t even know I was looking for it until I found it (or it found me).

Airplanes:.
And cars and trains too for that matter for making loved ones who are very far away seem a little less far away.

Makeup:.
I love it. I am such a girl – I just love playing with it. When I was little I used to force my brother to let me paint his nails. And when my sister was old enough (in my eyes at least) I’d give her “make overs”. My poor siblings.

Harlow:.
You all new I was going to have to add her so there you go.

There are a lot of things I’m grateful for- some important and some silly. I’m thankful for good music and spicy food. I’m grateful for good books and long walks and hot cups of chocolate. I’m grateful for the children in my life, though none of them are mine, they are so sweet and so good and make life brighter. I’m grateful for good pens to write with. I’m grateful for fluffy pillows and warm sweaters. I’m grateful for ice cream and pink lemonade (not together…ew). I’m grateful for my camera and my computer. I’m grateful for beautiful pieces of art; for poetry and paintings. I’m grateful for my health and my life and the freedoms that I enjoy as a citizen of this country. I am grateful for so much.

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert

and scares me a little bit…

I’m sorry but if my kid wrote that his hero was steak I’d be a little bummed…

I found this little gem here

and scares me a little bit…

I’m sorry but if my kid wrote that his hero was steak I’d be a little bummed…

I found this little gem here

and scares me a little bit…

I’m sorry but if my kid wrote that his hero was steak I’d be a little bummed…

I found this little gem here

Do you know what I hate? When I ask someone what they want for Christmas and they say “nothing.” That is not an option nor is it helpful.

In an effort to do something different this year I’ve been looking at sites like Etsy.com and Supermarket HQ. They are both sites for designers/artists to sell their creations. Sort of like ebay but way more awesome.

Hopefully this will put an end to my Christmas shopping woes.