guess what time it is?

New Year's Resolution time! Are you going to make a resolution or are you making a resolution not to make new year's resolutions? By the way just the word resolution seems to roll off the tongue weird. It is not a word that comes out of the mouth so readily and willing, such as the word chocolate does. See chocolate is a great word! Personal opinion anyways! Happy New Year everyone!

this is what spreading holiday cheer means

ok a stupid thought but I will share......

I have never seen a menorah at the store with a bunch of names on it during Hannukah with what the child/person/family may need or want for that holiday. I am definately all about giving year round and I am not trying to make any behind the scene statements here. Like I said it was a "stupid" thought. See, when I have lack of sleep and many things on my plate my mind wanders. This time when it wandered back it brought this with it. :)

Got to thinking

What woman in her third trimester is going to want to ride a donkey and travel all the way to be counted for tax purposes. Now, if I get some of the history or parts of the story wrong, then you will have to just forgive me. Seriously though think about this situation. Mary had perhaps stirred up conjecture in the village that she was either not faithful to Joseph or had "premarital" sex. I am not sure if the women had to go with the men and be counted, so why not just stay home with family and have the baby in comfort around those that love you. I am thinking that a ride on a donkey was better than the whispers and looks that Mary endured while she did her daily routine. I even think that Joseph was maybe starting to doubt in his thinking. He had to hear the whispers and he may have even started to think that the angel appearring was just a dream. After the long hike to Bethlehem, tired, dirty, hungry, and definately aching, all they wanted to do was get a room and rest. But it was not to be so. I think I would have cried. Finally, when they do settle in to what is a dry cave like structure and give birth to a beautiful baby boy; God removes all the doubt and shepherds show up and say that angels have appeared to them, telling them of the Messiah. WOW! God was in control all along. He knew that all would be ok even if Mary had to make the journey so close to her due date. Even if there was no room at the inn. Even if doubt hung in the air between the couple. In the middle of all this God was at work. He knew the whole time that all was well. We just have to trust and obey. We need to rely on Him and I don't care what day of the year Jesus was born because I rejoice in him always. However,I am going to celebrate Christ at Christmas! We are going to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and I wish everyone a Merry CHRISTmas.

now this is getting into the spirit of home decor for the holidays

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/45390/wizards_of_winter/

holiday eating tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out
of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano.
Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to
control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party
is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them
again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of
each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one
pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean,
have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the
party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the
corner.

man of the house

MAN OF THE HOUSE
The husband had just finished reading the book, "MAN OF THE HOUSE"
He stormed into the kitchen and walked directly up to his wife.
Pointing a finger in her face, he said, "From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of the house, and my word is law!
I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a scrumptuous dessert afterwards.
Then, after dinner, you are going to draw me my bath so I can relax. And when I'm finished with my bath,guess who is going to dress me and comb my hair?"
His wife replied: "The funeral director would be my guess."

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor.Within a few days the whole community knew the story. The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended. Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage.

"Go to the highest place in the community," he said, "and drop the feathers of a pillow into the wind." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told.

The next day the wise man said, "Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me."

The woman went into the community, but to her dismay, the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. "You see," said the old sage, "it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumor, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong."

I got my tickets for a Saturday show, while Kota is at kid's craft day at church! woo hoo! soo excited!

We survived another one whew!

This past weekend was the Christmas dance and yes we survived it, along with many other parents of teens. The thing that made it more interesting this year (or should I say stressful) is that all the kids can drive on their own. In his sophomore year, Nicholas went in a Limo and the freshman year, Vincent, me, and another set of parents drove the kids to dinner and then to the dance. The decisions to make-should we allow them to caravan to Ann Arbor? NO! Should we let him go to Ann Arbor? NO! Should we let him drive the Expedition if he stays in the area???? You won't believe it but YES! He drove himself and his date to dinner in Adrian, then back to the dance, and then took her home. He said he had a great time and they all looked so handsome and beautiful! But so glad it is over.............until prom (just 4 months away!)

CHRISTMAS DANCE

oh my

This morning on the way to work I was flipping radio stations and came across some morning show that was discussing the appropriateness of allowing children to swear/cuss. The look on my face was one of shock and disbelief. What were they thinking. Their reasoning was that words really are not strong and have no depth to them. Besides who said it was wrong to use these words. Society is the one who said they were bad when they really are just empty words voicing anger or hurt. Then some callers called into the show and stated that they allow their child who is eight to swear at home but it is not allowed in public. ok so now eight year olds are able to differeniate what is ok at home and in public, and they are able to control themselves enough not to do this at school. I thougth nothing else could shock me but I admit it this one did.
I believe some soap could do the trick-for the kids and mostly for the parents!

video of the day

check out this website and view their video"Baby got Book"

http://www.whiteboydj.com/babygotbook.html