A Quote to Share

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with their imagination.
-Robert Fulghum

Here's wishing you a New Year filled with hope, wonder, and imagination!

You want me to do what?

I got one of the most hysterical phone calls ever today. Somehow the community college I attended has gotten my name on their current roster of students (if they think I am paying tuition for that Associates Degree again, they got another thing coming). A recruiter for the Army called and tried to talk me into joining up. He offered to help pay for my college education. I assured him I graduated from that college over 15 years ago. He seemed very surprised but not surprised enough to quit. He then tried to talk me into joining the Reserves. He asked if I was still in school and I told him I sometimes like to pretend I am going to finish grad school. He told me they would be glad to help me pay for it. I finally had to break it to the poor guy. I am old, almost 35 - I am way out of shape, and a tad bit emotionally unstable (ie. not someone you would want to give a gun to). You just never know sometimes who's gonna be on the other end of the phone.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Everyday Food + Me = Real Big Batch of Cookies

I have a secret to confess. I love watching PBS on Saturdays. Please don't tell anyone. I think it makes me seem old. My favorite favorite favorite show on PBS is "Everyday Food". It is from the people of Martha Stewart. She isn't on the show, but she gets the cash from it I am sure. Anyhoo back at the ranch. Well on today's episode, Lucinda (one of the 5 chefs) made Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Hey, I thought to myself - I can do that. Lucinda's secret ingredient is sour cream. Who would have thought? She said it makes the cookies more "cake like". I hate crunchy cookies so I decided to try it. I know have a testament to my hearing loss. I swore I heard Lucinda say 2 Cups of sour cream. Kids - I doubled the recipe because I wanted to make cookies for the church party tomorrow night and I knew the family would eat some tonight. I have cookies everywhere - and I must say they are tasty. Now, before you rush out and try this - I just read the recipe on the website. It's 2/3 C of Sour Cream. Thankfully I didn't measure it out - so I didn't add quite 2 Cups. But, I did add more than she suggested. And again, the cookies taste fine - but the volume of cookie dough is astronomical. It's everywhere. I have been baking for an hour and a half and I am not yet done. I have every baking sheet we own loaded with dough. My cooking never seems to go just right. Sigh. Someday Martha, Someday.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Amazing. I went to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" last night. What they left out from the book was tolerable - what they added only added to the story. This comes from someone who almost never enjoys a movie that has been adapted from a book - and I still believe that in this case the book is still better. But I was so happy that the way I envisioned so many things was the way I saw them play out in the movie. My only regret - that one of the most signifigant parts of the book to me is the struggle for Edmund to choose between right and wrong. I think the book does a better job of showing just how great the struggle. And I too like others have mentioned - wanted to see Aslan clear the wall of the castle and turn all of the statues to life - it happens - we just don't get to see enough of it in my opinion. But those are very small things compared to all of the things they got right. When the Stone Table cracks I wanted to yell "Long Live the King". It is the greatest story ever told - a King who lays down his life so that we can live - a King who can rise from the grip that death had on Him. A King who covers our stumbling and faltering ways. And I, like Lucy wait for the return of the King.