This Sounds Like A good Idea. Has Anyone Ever Tried It?

From Our House To Yours . . .

Here's hoping this Holiday Season finds you safe, warm, and happy 

 - regardless of your choice of celebration.

And may your new year be better than the last.

Merry Christmas everyone, and May Your Holidays Be Safe and Happy.

                             From My House to Yours

May This Christmas Morning Find You All Safe, Warm, & Secure . . .

Here We Go a Caroling . . .

And So Today I Still Have a Dream. . .

. . . I still have a dream today that one day war will come to an end, that men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, that nations will no longer rise up against nations, neither will they study war any more. I still have a dream today that one day the lamb and the lion will lie down together and every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.

I still have a dream today that one day every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill will be made low, the rough places will be made smooth and the crooked places straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. I still have a dream that with this faith we will be able to adjourn the councils of despair and bring new light into the dark chambers of pessimism.

With this faith we will be able to speed up the day when there will be peace on earth and good will toward men. It will be a glorious day, the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy.

- Dr. Martin Luther King,
 from: A Christmas Sermon on Peace, 1967.

On the Distaff Side . . .

 

A different Christmas tradition,

 from: A Seat At the Table.

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of Miriam,
the daughter of Anna:
Sarah was the mother of Isaac,
And Rebekah was the mother of Jacob,
Leah was the mother of Judah,
Tamar was the mother of Perez.
The names of the mothers of Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon
and Salmon have been lost.
Rahab was the mother of Boaz,
and Ruth was the mother of Obed.
Obed’s wife, whose name is unknown, bore Jesse.
The wife of Jesse was the mother of David.
Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon,
Naamah, the Ammonite, was the mother of Rehoboam.
Maacah was the mother of Abijam and the grandmother of Asa.
Azubah was the mother of Jehoshaphat.
The name of Jehoram’s mother is unknown.
Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah,
Zibiah of Beersheba, the mother of Joash.
Jecoliah of Jerusalem bore Uzziah,
Jerusha bore Jotham; Ahaz’s mother is unknown.
Abi was the mother of Hezekiah,
Hephzibah was the mother of Manasseh,
Meshullemeth was the mother of Amon,
Jedidah was the mother of Josiah.
Zebidah was the mother of Jehoiahim,
Nehushta was the mother of Jehiachinm
Hamutal was the mother of Zedekiaj.
Then the deportation to Babylon
the names of the mothers go unrecorded.
These are their sons:
Jechoniah, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel,
Abiud, Eliakim, Azor and Zadok,
Achim, Eliud, Eleazar,
Matthan, Jacob and Joseph, the husband of Miriam.
Of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.
The sum of generations is therefore:
fourteen from Sarah to David’s mother;
fourteen from Bathsheba to the Babylonian deportation;
and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation
to Miriam, the mother of Christ.

Compiled by Ann Patrick Ware
of the Women’s Liturgy Group of New York

I Can't Think of a Better Mission. Can You?

The mission of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. ...

The primary goal of the Foundation is ... to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. ...

Please help a child in need this Christmas. We all need hope. . . .

Hope is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

- Emily Dickinson

Peace On Earth, Good Will To All . . .

Perhaps My Favorite of All Christmas Stories,

 especially because it's True.

Christmas Eve 1914

 
Photo Source.

Same place, 98 years later.

 Photo Source.

Read the whole story:

 here, here, here, or here.

My previous post:
here.

Welcome Everyone, to the Virtual Advent Tour

It's so very nice of you to stop by. 

I'm happy to be joining the Virtual Advent Tour for 2012. (The tentative schedule for the posts can be found here.)

It's my first time and I was really excited to sign up, but then reality set in. What was I going to share?

As I cast back through the years to my favorite Christmas moments in search of a topic, they all have one thing in common - the warm glow of colored lights on the tree, in the garlands framing the windows and mantle, and any place else I could find to put them. Just thinking about those lights brings back the sights, sounds, and scents of the holiday.

We usually don't take our Christmas lights down until after the Epiphany, (January 6) but have been known to leave them up until well into February, for no reason other than that we liked the way the house feels with them on.

I looked and looked, but I was not able to find a poem about Christmas lights. I'll have to rectify that for next year. In the meantime I'd like to share with you a Christmas poem. It's not one of the usual poems we see at this time of the year, but it's a sweet little one about that mainstay of the season, the Christmas tree.

[little tree]
- E. E. Cummings

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see          i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look          the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

I wish for you and yours a wish that everyone can share

Peace on Earth ~ Good Will to All

A Few Words from a Concientious Objector in the War on the War on Christmas

It's starting again: manufactured outrage over holiday greetings.

I live in an area with wonderful people from all over the world and they hold many different beliefs. There are Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Wiccans, and many others. There are also non-believers. 

I say "Have a wonderful holiday," because there are a number of holidays celebrated at this time of year and, contrary to what some believe, you can't know everybody's religion just by looking at them.

Freedom of speech and Freedom of religion aside, it's about respecting other people. You know, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

So please join with me in wishing health and happiness to others in this holiday season, especially those whose lives have been touched by war and natural disaster. Perhaps a few dollars given to your favorite charity, or some time spent volunteering at a local shelter or food bank can help ease another's suffering. And that is my understanding of "the reason for the season."

Please

Have a Wonderful Holiday

and 

I hope your new year is filled with love and peace and happiness

If you are curious about the many different holidays celebrated this time of year, or any time,

here are two holiday calendars. Take your pick: Calendar #1 & Calendar #2

Reflecting . . .

From My Home to Yours . . .

Here's to the Possibilities this Christmas Eve!

During Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 1914,
British and German troops stationed along the Western Front, held an unofficial "Christmas Truce". In "No Man's Land" they exchanged gifts and pleasantries, as they drank and sang carols together. A soccer match even broke out.

Although the Christmas of 1914,
  itself, is now a distant memory, and might seem an impossiblity in today's world where cultural differences seem insurmountable, it remains a symbol of hope to those who believe in our shared humanity, its resilience and ability for to unify and heal.

Read the whole story:

 here, here, here, or here.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas (Legal Version)

  Author Unknown  
   
 Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain  
 improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of  
 stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.  
   
 A variety of foot apparel, e.g. stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and  
 around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/  
 St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime  
 thereafter.  
   
 The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House, were  
 located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations,  
 i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited  
 to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in  
 said dreams.  
   
 Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as  
 "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the parts of the  
 second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained  
 period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of  
 headgear, e.g. kerchief and cap.)  
   
 Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the  
 unimproved real property adjacent and appurtent to said House, i.e. the lawn, a  
 certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of  
 the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the  
 cause of such disturbance.  
   
 At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of  
 wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter the "Vehicle") being  
 pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8)  
 reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the  
 previously referenced Claus.  
   
 Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the  
 approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal  
 co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder  
 and Blitzen (hereinafter the "Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is  
 further asserted that an additional co-conspirator named Rudolph may have been  
 involved.)  
   
 The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer  
 intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences  
 located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle  
 was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or  
 nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or  
 implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the  
 chimney.  
   
 Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue  
 from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the  
 aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what  
 appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances  
 and health regulations.  
   
 Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor  
 children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts.  
 (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the  
 applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.) Upon completion of such task, Claus  
 touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of  
 the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as  
 "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.  
   
 However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House,  
 the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry  
 Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect.  
   

Taking A Break from Preparations for the Family Get together

Source.

AND I JUST MADE COOKIES FOR CHRISTMAS

Muslims turned up in droves

for the Coptic Christmas mass Thursday night,

offering their bodies, and lives,

as “shields” to Egypt’s threatened Christian community.

Read the story here.

"On this Coptic Christmas eve,

the solidarity 

was not just one of religion,

but 

of a desperate and collective plea

for a better life 

and a government with accountability."

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Bells
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SOME CHRISTMAS RECIPES from GEORGE ORWELL

hop on over to The Orwell Prize.

You'll find Christmas pudding, Orange Marmalade, and more.

SETTING THE HOLIDAY MOOD

I found a couple of new Holiday CDs while I was out contemplating my Christmas list. I though they might help me get into the spirit of Season in spite if the economy and current political climate. I'll let you know how that turns out.