My brother’s getting married!
It’s official, the big brother is getting married! Phil held out the longest of any of us but Trish was definitely worth the wait! She’ll probably kill me as this is not the greatest picture of her but somehow I didn’t get too many pics of the adults at Christmas time. We’re all really excited for them and think the world of Trish. Love you guys!
Seven Lists of Seven
Okay, Matt, here you go…
Seven things to do before I die:
1. Visit Paris & Italy
2. See my daughter accept Christ
3. Finish my master’s degree
4. Write a book
5. Become a foster parent
6. Become debt free
7. Go on a missions trip
Seven things I cannot do:
1. Ride a bike (well barely – ask Mark about our Berlin bike tour)
2. Dance with anything that resembles rhythm
3. Hit a softball (I bunt really well)
4. Be self-disciplined in an exercise routine
5. Speak a foreign language
6. Run anything over about 400m
7. Get enough of the beach
Seven things that attract me to my spouse:
1. His love for Christ
2. His sense of humor
3. He’s pretty darn handsome
4. How he loves the kids
5. The HUGE heart he has for hurting people
6. He puts up with me and my moodiness
7. He always wants the best for me
Seven things I say most often:
1. “Noah, buckle your seat belt.”
2. “Noah, stop please.”
3. “Natalie, stop whining.”
4. “No way”
5. “Yeah” (when I’m on the phone)
6. “Uh huh” (when I’m on the phone)
7. “Stop hitting your _____” (fill in sister or brother as appropriate)
Seven books (or series) I love:
1. Anything John Grisham
2. Captivating : Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John Eldredge, Stasi Eldredge
3. Anything by Sue Grafton (what will I do when she gets to Z?)
4. Anything by Nicholas Sparks
5. Little House on the Praire Series (I saved them for Natalie)
6. Anne of Green Gables series (ditto)
7. Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
Seven movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Phantom of the Opera
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Cutting Edge
4. Mission Impossible
5. Legally Blonde
6. Any good action movie
7. Return to Me
Seven people I want to join in, too:
1. Kelley
2. Tera
3. Mark
4. That’s everyone I know that has a blog
Ramadan, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa but no baby Jesus
Wednesday evening was the “Winter Program” at Noah’s school. Both Mark and I were curious as to what the evening would hold. We knew the kindergarteners were singing “Rudolph” and “Jingle Bells” but we didn’t know what the other grades would do.
That afternoon before the program I asked Noah, “So is there anything about baby Jesus in the show?”
“Um, I don’t know. I think the 3rd graders say something about him,” was his reply. My expectations were not high.
So we arrived for the show and got our program for the “Holidays Around the Globe”. I eagerly turned to the inside…what would I see?
Here was the Program Order
Twas the Night Before Christmas
The History of Rudolph
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
The History of Hanukkah
Germany: The Gingerbread Man
Latin and South America Traditons
A Venture Through Mexico
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Feliz Navidad
Scandinavian Traditions
English Holidays
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Tired of Being Good for Christmas
Ramadan
Christmas Trees Around the World
Santas Around the World
Native American Christmas
A Glimpse at American Southwest
African Country Celebration and Kwanzaa
The Chinese New Year
Well, I thought. Maybe they’ll cover it in the “English Holidays” section.
Sixty minutes, not once were the words “baby”, “Jesus” or Christ” uttered.
Why?
Where they afraid of the backlash? Afraid of being sued by some parent who was offended? Very curious. We plan to speak with the principal but it made me do some research. I was curious to see what the legal issues where surrounding Christmas and the public schools. I found the information I was looking for on the Focus on the Family Web Site in an article by Wendy Cloyd titled “Christmas is OK – Even in Public School”
According to a 2000 Gallup poll, 90 percent of people in the U.S. recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ. 87% believe nativity scenes should be allowed on public property. Come on, can we at least sing “Away in a Manger”?
Martha Stewart Apprentice
If you don’t watch the show then don’t bother reading. I just have to go on record by saying that if somehow Jim wins this thing I will have an entirely altered perception of Martha (and not in a good way). Not that Martha is a hero of mine or anything.
I’m not too worried because I’m pretty confident that Jim will self-destruct next week during the round of interviews. If he can’t watch his mouth at a dinner with Carl and the CEO then I have high hopes that he’ll continue running his mouth off next week. Anyone who tells his ready-to-deliver-at-any-moment wife “Good luck with your task” deserves to sleep on the couch.
As to who I want to win, I’m torn. I really think that Dawna is going to win it because she has the better record. But Bethany is very good at the “big ideas” as she said and I wonder if Dawna can pull off a big idea for the last task. We’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m a little sad this one’s not coming back next season. I thought it was more interesting than the Donald.
Where has “Christmas” gone?
I’ve been curiously watching the debate that is raging over the seeming disappearance of the word “Christmas” at this time of year. Several conservative Christian organizations have gone after retailers like Target who have refrained from using the word “Christmas” in their advertising, instead using “holiday trees”, etc.
The latest victim…President Bush. Seems the White House Christmas card this year wished everyone a happy “holiday season”. I guess the advocacy groups consider that a slap on the face. There is a Bible verse on the card – but it was from Psalms and didn’t mention Jesus’ birth. I don’t think the Bush’s holiday card sentiments reflect their true understanding of the holiday, probably just political correctness run amok.
So what do you think? Are we overreacting or is there really a “war” on Christmas?
More info
Bush Holiday Cards
Anti-Christian Hostility Driving ‘War on Christmas,’ Attorney Says
The New Look
I’ve been meaning to get around to customizing my blog look a little bit. I cheated a little bit and found this awesome blog template from Groovy Lizard that I thought was cool. Hope you enjoy the upgraded look. I know I do.
One Mom's Lifesong 