Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled."

Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

:)

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

We went Christmas caroling at nursing homes tonight.
Truthfully, I didn't want to go. There's a lot to be done at work and at home, and little time to do it. I went up to the church and when I realized I was the first one there, almost turned around and went home. Instead I talked to my brother on the phone and held my horses. Not because I wanted to, but because I knew they were expecting me to drive.

I stayed because it was "responsible."

But achieved responsibility has nothing to do with the reason why I had an outstanding time.

Because I did.

I had an outstanding, so wonderful, I-can't-believe-I-almost-missed-it time. Yep.

I'm not sure why I'm continuously surprised to have an awesome time when doing something for others. Example: A few weeks ago Katherine and I went to the Renaissance Festival using free tickets my boss gave me. We had eight and set to giving the extra six away in the parking lot. Seeing the people smile was most definitely more fun than the actual park.

Example: tonight.

I lovelovelovelove to love people. I love for people to know that they're cared for. Our group was not necessarily the best singers, but the folks there didn't care. They sang along, smiled, and even if some weren't completely there mentally, gave some sort of physical emotion to show that they were having a good time.

A good time :)

Ah, I like good times.

That's all really. Bring on the good times.

i've been filling my days with Christmas crafting and cooking.
work writing and editing.
running in the Christmas lights and singing.
...off key and out of breath.

these days have been filled with bonfires and hot dogs, red fingernail polish and scarves, spilled flour and happy jumps at 3709.

these days have seen a baby Matern and hours in a car to see her.
dinner with friends and the scent of cinnamon filling the house.
snow and youth.
movies and cider.
a full tummy and overflowing heart.

Christmas is coming. I don't want to miss it.

"Baby love. My baby love"
Cake for JQ's baby shower :)

Alicia-boo and I made a snow video. We used the camera on my laptop. That explains the strange frames :) I'm home early after being shooed out the door of my office. Snow means danger in Texas. "Are you watching the weather?" is the new "hello, how are you?" So, to my friends... "are you watching the weather?" :) I hope you're oh so fine.

I make introductions. That's what I do. I like finding similarities in different, very different people. Like today, I introduced a fellow named Smith who is a former Marine and a doctoral student named Ndambe who is from Uganda.

What do they have in common?
Oh I found it.

They've both lived abroad.

Thank you, thank you... cue meaningful conversation.

Anyway, I have something I'd like to introduce to you.



People, this is snow. Snow, meet the fine people.




What do you two have in common?
ummm
errrrr
wellllll.

NOTHING!

What world am I in where it is snowing, real live snow FLAKES (not sleet) on the day after a temperature high of 70-something?

It's just so crazy!

I can remember a grand total of four times that I have watched and been in snow fall. One-- I was in high school. It was night. Stephen and I went outside to investigate. So awesome. Two-- I was on my internship in Washington, D.C. The capitol is gorgeous with a coat of white. Three-- Easter weekend. I was still at the paper and found myself driving all over the city covering stories. Driving through the flurries was like being in a snow globe. Four-- today, about three hours after I was caught blowing hot air on the window and writing my initials. Hohohohahaha ha.

oh oh, it's magic, you know.

Martin Luther is a pretty cool guy. We talked about him at youth with the middle schoolers Wednesday. Leader of the great religious revolt of the sixteenth century in Germany; born at Eisleben, 10 November, 1483; died at Eisleben, 18 February, 1546. He was studying law until he was struck plum straight by a lightning bolt (or the lightning bolt struck near him). It was too close, too dangerous, too miraculous, Luther said. He decided then to become a monk.
Luther went against the then church to say that salvation is a free gift from God, received only by faith in Jesus as the Messiah. That is not what the church was saying at the time. He translated the Bible so Germans could read it and see for themselves.

And somewhere in there he put it all writing. On Oct. 31, 1517 Luther wrote a letter to the archbishop protesting that the church tied salvation to money. Included was a little thing called The 95 Theses.

"The 95 species," one kid answered.

no, not species, theses.

"Are you saying feces?" another one chirped.

no, I'm sayi...interruptions and yelling and laughing.

Interjects one of the loudest ones... "So, you're telling me that this guy went up to the door of the church and nailed poop to it?!?!?"

Tears from laughing so hard. Tears.

OK... here's another one.

This Martin Luther lesson was taught by a girl named Rebecca. She couldn't get out one sentence before the middle schoolers started talking about "I have a dream."

no, this isn't Martin Luther King, Jr. This is Martin Luther... and on she explained.

But there were still questions, including this one: "So, was Martin Luther African American, too?"

You know when you try not to laugh. You almost hold your breath until you get control, and then all the sudden you're shaking again?

Yeah.

The whole lesson.

They make me laugh so much.

though it's after Thanksgiving, I'm still very thankful for a life forever changed, a healthy family, a wonderful family, extremely close friends, a home and a heater, two hands, two legs, a great job, a mind that learns, a car that works, and stamps in my wallet.

oh, for so much more, but then you would think I was being silly.
For the taste of dark chocolate and grapes, for hot tea and its steam, for jumbo paper clips and the finished stories they hold. For my eyes and my ears. For concerns that are resolved. For everything.




For everything!