I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas

from the bottom of my heart.

May not get a chance to post here before then, but I do want to acknowledge the day.

Christ first in all things.

Oddibe Young-Again McDowell

If you know Chris Berman you know he's got these great nicknames for athletes he throws into his sportscasts. One of my favourites has always been... Oddibe young-again Mcdowell. How he thinks of them, I don't know, but he's got lots.

Anyway, I thought of Oddibe Mcdowell and his nickname again this morning (Mcdowell's been retired for fifteen years now. We had the joy of watching our three children open their gifts and the pure joy over something like a pencil case, a colouring book, a.... brought wonder and joy back to my old calloused heart. I mean, knees to the chest leaping... those who know our kids probably know who would be that intense over something like, say, a wallet.

Anyway, here's to youth not being wasted on the young. And here's to us 'olds' who get to enjoy it!

Have a tremendous Christmas season everyone!

Now that the bloom is off the poinsettia

Song for the Day After Christmas
Terry S Taylor
Fa la la la Fa la la la
Here's a song, here's a gift for the day after Christmas
When the presents have been opened and your spirit has crashed
When all the colored lights are turned off and the yule log is an ember
and you've returned that crap to KMart and the tree is in the trash

You've got to hold on hold on to the season's inspiration
More than a sweet memory, more than yuletide cheer
He's the Son, He's the one, He's the wondrous incarnation
Makes each day a little holiday, makes holy each New Year
Fa la la la Fa la la la

Now the Christmas snow is melting and the mundane days they roll by
and the silent night's been silenced and the angel choir is gone
You'll still hear them singing if you will only listen
they sing every day it's Christmas, it's Christmas all year long

You've got to hold on hold on to the season's inspiration
More than a sweet memory, more than yuletide cheer
He's the Son, He's the one, He's the wondrous incarnation
Makes each day a little holiday, makes holy each New Year
Fa la la la Fa la la la

Baby Jesus is now boxed up and the wise men not so smart
All they can do is hibernate and dream there in the dark
of the countless trips to Bethlehem and one they'll make again
But most time they spend in boxes where the starlight can't get in

Here's a song, here's a gift for the day after Christmas
When the credit card's been maxed out and the bills are piling high
When the children are less grateful and the wife is tired and worried
Nat King Cole's worn out his welcome and you're fat on pumpkin pie

You've got to hold on hold on to the season's inspiration
More than a sweet memory, more than yuletide cheer
He's the Son, He's the one, He's the wondrous incarnation
Makes each day a little holiday, makes holy each New Year
Makes each day a little holiday, makes holy each New Year
Fa la la la Fa la la la

First Coming

I;ve been following Charlie Lowell's (Jars of Clay)blog of Advent Poetry lately. I saw this one on there a few days ago and since I've always been intrigued with Madeleine L'Engle, and the words here are really great, I thought I'd pass it along to the few who are here.

First Coming
by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

Yule never guess what we did today...

November 14th is traditionally our first day of Christmas.


Today being the 1st... well, lets just say we got out Bing, Kenny and Dolly, Oak Ridge Boys, Vanessa Williams, even a new Johnny Cash... that's right, the Christmas music came out. The inlaws Christmas tree is now up.


Before you label us as crazy, they are heading out for a few days and so they thought they'd get it up so it would be up when they got back.

I love Christmas. I'm sure if you look here you'll see some pictures eventually, but I don't do pictures... not well anyway.