This seems a little less consumer -- high-gloss yes, but no product placement. Just the antidote for yesterday.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Piano Guys get ready for Christmas... the crass way
This video is for my sister and her daughters who adore The Piano Guys. It is a beautiful rendition of a favorite carol. But I almost didn't post it. Then I thought, no...let's chat about this! Why o' why did they have to take this song glorifying the Angels we've heard on high blended with a cool Little Drummer Boy overlay (the drum drawing is classic) and turn it in to a crass commercial? Beginning to end. Anyone else troubled? I like it enough to play it again, but probably with the video minimized. (Sorry sis!)
Monday, December 2, 2013
A blog all in photos...
My college roommate, Lillian, is a fantastic photographer. She has this incredible eye for detail and captures it so beautifully, I could do a blog all in photos with her shots, which turn the ordinary in to momentous. Thank you for this picture Lillian, taken on your trip to Nebraska for Thanksgiving.I don't know much about Nebraska except that it is a place where people of very strong and salt-of-the-earth stock come from, like her Mom, her cousin Lael and her 105-year-old great Aunt Tillie. (We will hear more from Great Aunt Tillie later this month.)
And Nebraska is a place with real seasons, where you can take beautiful pictures like this one. I love it because it exudes the giving of thanks, the beauty of a simple life, the coming of the season. It's perfect. Thank you for letting me use it on the blog without your permission old roomie of mine. And thank you for understanding why I didn't get a chance to call today and ask your permission to use this for the blog...having something to do with Robby's school, traffic, the ongoing science project and accidentally calling out the fire department with a big pan of (very) fried fish. I assure you, it was not because I was b-u-s-y....
Sunday, December 1, 2013
First Day of Advent 2013
It's the first day of Advent and my brain is already so full to bursting of all the *things* and to-do's careening toward me that it woke me from a peaceful sleep and has me making lists at 6:30 in the morning on my last day to sleep in before the end of Thanksgiving break.
It's the first day of Advent and one of the first things I have to do is move the fans and dehumidifiers in the family room to continue drying out the floor and furniture that got wet in the flood when our washer overflowed overnight Saturday night. To get to my computer, I have to step over the contents of the family room and laundry room -- all of it stacked in some bizarre obstacle course from our front hall to our dining room.
It's the first day of Advent and Robby's science project is due on Thursday and I told him I'd type in his numbers for him because let's face it, even adults can't really type numbers very well and darn it if he doesn't have 27 charts of numbers from all his data and measurements and let's face it, this is going to take me awhile.
It's the first day of Advent. And all I can think about is Lent. I want to give something up for Advent, to be more specific.
I decided, laying there in bed making lists, that I'm going to give up just one word for Advent this year. One single word. And if I can cut this word from my mouth for the entire month, I imagine my brain will believe it and my heart will overcome it. Here's the word: BUSY.
And that doesn't mean I won't be busy, I will. I am. I'm a Mom. I'm always busy. We always are. We humans are. We are busy. There. I said it. Got it out of my system.
It's my hope that dropping that word makes room for so much more. Because doesn't busyness beget more busyness? And the busier you feel, the busier you are? So maybe I'm naïve, but I figure, get rid of the word and maybe some of that busy will follow it? Get rid of the word and maybe just enjoy the ride a little bit?
Maybe beating back busy will mean pushing away all the trappings that comes with it. The chaos and crazy and disarray… and hmmm...now that I mention it, there might be a few words I could give up for Advent.
In getting rid of busy, here's what I wonder. Any room that comes from it, any quiet space I am able to create, doesn't that mean that much more room for opening myself to the season? In getting rid of busy, I hope to open myself to the gift that God gave me… wrapped in swaddling clothes some two thousand years ago… back when busy didn't have much meaning.
It's the first day of Advent and one of the first things I have to do is move the fans and dehumidifiers in the family room to continue drying out the floor and furniture that got wet in the flood when our washer overflowed overnight Saturday night. To get to my computer, I have to step over the contents of the family room and laundry room -- all of it stacked in some bizarre obstacle course from our front hall to our dining room.
It's the first day of Advent and Robby's science project is due on Thursday and I told him I'd type in his numbers for him because let's face it, even adults can't really type numbers very well and darn it if he doesn't have 27 charts of numbers from all his data and measurements and let's face it, this is going to take me awhile.
It's the first day of Advent. And all I can think about is Lent. I want to give something up for Advent, to be more specific.
I decided, laying there in bed making lists, that I'm going to give up just one word for Advent this year. One single word. And if I can cut this word from my mouth for the entire month, I imagine my brain will believe it and my heart will overcome it. Here's the word: BUSY.
And that doesn't mean I won't be busy, I will. I am. I'm a Mom. I'm always busy. We always are. We humans are. We are busy. There. I said it. Got it out of my system.
It's my hope that dropping that word makes room for so much more. Because doesn't busyness beget more busyness? And the busier you feel, the busier you are? So maybe I'm naïve, but I figure, get rid of the word and maybe some of that busy will follow it? Get rid of the word and maybe just enjoy the ride a little bit?
Maybe beating back busy will mean pushing away all the trappings that comes with it. The chaos and crazy and disarray… and hmmm...now that I mention it, there might be a few words I could give up for Advent.
In getting rid of busy, here's what I wonder. Any room that comes from it, any quiet space I am able to create, doesn't that mean that much more room for opening myself to the season? In getting rid of busy, I hope to open myself to the gift that God gave me… wrapped in swaddling clothes some two thousand years ago… back when busy didn't have much meaning.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Beauty in nature: it's not just for Advent anymore...
Same intersection. Opposite direction. Sunrise, not sunset. But just as glorious. A streak of bright pink light bathed the sky and one long, majestic, deep purple cloud, horizon to horizon, stretched into the distance. I imagined it was the streak of a comet's tail, the star of Bethlehem's last light, the lifeline leading me to Jesus.
Tomorrow is the Epiphany. The official close of the Christmas season. I hope to keep a piece of it with me through every sunrise and sunset of every day....
Merry Christmas everyone!
Tomorrow is the Epiphany. The official close of the Christmas season. I hope to keep a piece of it with me through every sunrise and sunset of every day....
Merry Christmas everyone!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Epiphany Traditions around the world
In many areas of the world, Epiphany is a LOT bigger deal than it is here in the states.
Gifts on Epiphany:
In Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and most areas of Mexico, the wise men leave the presents on the eve of Epiphany. Children in some Latin-American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, receive gifts on Christmas Day.
Puerto Rico:
Puerto Ricans now celebrate such American holidays as July 4 and Memorial Day. Traditionally Christmas was celebrated on Three Kings Day (Epiphany, January 6). Since shops and television programs announce the arrival of Santa Claus on December 25, however, both days are celebrated.
Ethopia:
In Ethiopia, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church hold religious services on Christmas, January 7. The major celebration takes place nearly two weeks later at Epiphany.
Food for camels instead of cookies for Santa:
Youngsters in many Spanish-speaking nations have a similar custom. However, they leave the food for the camels of the Wise Men and put the shoes outside a window on the eve of Epiphany. The Magi place small gifts in the shoes during the night. The custom of hanging stockings by the fireplace probably developed from those traditions.
In Spain:
In Spain, people dance and sing in the streets after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Most Spanish homes and churches display a miniature Nativity scene called a Nacimiento. During the evening of January 5, children put their shoes on a balcony or near a window. The next day is Epiphany, the last day of the Christmas season. It celebrates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. According to legend, the Wise Men arrive during the night before Epiphany and fill the children's shoes with small gifts.
Traditionally, in some countries, such as Italy and Spain, children do not receive gifts until January 5, the eve of Epiphany. In Spain, children leave their shoes outside filled with straw and barley for the magi's animals and hope that presents will be left by the wise man Balthazar.
As in the rest of Spain, most of the people are Roman Catholic, and the major city festivals celebrate saints' days. Twelve days after Christmas, on the feast of the Epiphany (the day the three wise men are said to have reached Bethlehem), a boat comes into the harbor bearing "three kings" who then parade through the streets.
Italy:
In Italy, La Befana brings presents on the eve of Epiphany.
In Italy, most homes and churches have a presepio (Nativity scene). On Christmas Eve, the family prays while the mother places a figure of the Bambino (Christ child) in the manger. Many Italians serve eels for dinner on Christmas Eve. They also bake a Christmas bread called panettone, which contains raisins and candied fruit. Italian children receive gifts from La Befana, a kindly old witch, on the eve of Epiphany.
La Befana:
According to legend, the Wise Men asked the kindly old witch to accompany them to see the infant Jesus. She refused, saying she was too busy and had to clean her house, and so she missed the wondrous sight. Each year, La Befana goes from house to house, leaving gifts and looking for the Christ child.
Traditionally, in some countries, such as Italy and Spain, children do not receive gifts until January 5, the eve of Epiphany. According to Italian folklore, an old woman named Befana goes down chimneys and delivers presents to children on that night, just as the three wise men brought gifts to the infant Jesus.
Gifts on Epiphany:
In Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and most areas of Mexico, the wise men leave the presents on the eve of Epiphany. Children in some Latin-American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, receive gifts on Christmas Day.
Puerto Rico:
Puerto Ricans now celebrate such American holidays as July 4 and Memorial Day. Traditionally Christmas was celebrated on Three Kings Day (Epiphany, January 6). Since shops and television programs announce the arrival of Santa Claus on December 25, however, both days are celebrated.
Ethopia:
In Ethiopia, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church hold religious services on Christmas, January 7. The major celebration takes place nearly two weeks later at Epiphany.
Food for camels instead of cookies for Santa:
Youngsters in many Spanish-speaking nations have a similar custom. However, they leave the food for the camels of the Wise Men and put the shoes outside a window on the eve of Epiphany. The Magi place small gifts in the shoes during the night. The custom of hanging stockings by the fireplace probably developed from those traditions.
In Spain:
In Spain, people dance and sing in the streets after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Most Spanish homes and churches display a miniature Nativity scene called a Nacimiento. During the evening of January 5, children put their shoes on a balcony or near a window. The next day is Epiphany, the last day of the Christmas season. It celebrates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. According to legend, the Wise Men arrive during the night before Epiphany and fill the children's shoes with small gifts.
Traditionally, in some countries, such as Italy and Spain, children do not receive gifts until January 5, the eve of Epiphany. In Spain, children leave their shoes outside filled with straw and barley for the magi's animals and hope that presents will be left by the wise man Balthazar.
As in the rest of Spain, most of the people are Roman Catholic, and the major city festivals celebrate saints' days. Twelve days after Christmas, on the feast of the Epiphany (the day the three wise men are said to have reached Bethlehem), a boat comes into the harbor bearing "three kings" who then parade through the streets.
Italy:
In Italy, La Befana brings presents on the eve of Epiphany.
In Italy, most homes and churches have a presepio (Nativity scene). On Christmas Eve, the family prays while the mother places a figure of the Bambino (Christ child) in the manger. Many Italians serve eels for dinner on Christmas Eve. They also bake a Christmas bread called panettone, which contains raisins and candied fruit. Italian children receive gifts from La Befana, a kindly old witch, on the eve of Epiphany.
La Befana:
According to legend, the Wise Men asked the kindly old witch to accompany them to see the infant Jesus. She refused, saying she was too busy and had to clean her house, and so she missed the wondrous sight. Each year, La Befana goes from house to house, leaving gifts and looking for the Christ child.
Traditionally, in some countries, such as Italy and Spain, children do not receive gifts until January 5, the eve of Epiphany. According to Italian folklore, an old woman named Befana goes down chimneys and delivers presents to children on that night, just as the three wise men brought gifts to the infant Jesus.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Can you ever really have enough Halleluia chorus?
This is a SCHOOL project at a Yupiq Eskimo Village in Quinhagak, Alaska. They didn't anticipate more than 200 people ever seeing it and it has over 1 million hits on YouTube. Pretty amazing, totally precious. I get tears every time I hear this song, this time included, but with a few giggles too....
Monday, January 2, 2012
More about the Star of Wonder
For older kids interested in the science behind the star, here's a documentary from the makers of "The Passion of the Christ."
Sunday, January 1, 2012
And God rest ye and send you a Happy New Year
I didn't know Trans-Siberian Orchestra so resembled my favorite hair bands of yore. My kids love this version (and will even more with the heavy metal rockers.) Happy New Year's Y'all!
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