Can’t believe it is already December!

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Every year, it seems like stores start getting ready for Christmas earlier and earlier.  And it seems like a lot of the decorations and other merchandise do not reflect the true meaning of Christmas.  This makes me think of a story my mom often tells about when I was in Kindergarten.  My teacher had asked my class to draw a picture of what Christmas meant to us.  There were twenty-four pictures of gifts under a tree and one picture of the nativity.  It is easy to get caught up in the idea of showing our love for each other in presents and forget about God’s love for us and the best present we could ever imagine.

There are some meanings to the Christmas decorations we use that do have Christian symbolism that are not known to everyone.

• The Colors of Christmas – Red: Christ’s blood shed for our sin on the cross; Green: Eternal life in Christ; White: The purity of Christ; Gold: Christ the Divine; Silver: Redemption in Christ
  • Wreaths – they are circular which reminds us of everlasting life and God’s unending love; evergreens are a symbol of eternal life in Christ
• Christmas tree – evergreens are a symbol of eternal life in Christ; tree is also a biblical reference to the cross
  • Ornaments on the tree – in general remind us of all the beautiful things Jesus did
• Star – Star of Bethlehem (the one the wise men followed)
• Angels — angels announced Christ’s birth
• Lights and Candles – Jesus is the light of the world
• Ball ornaments on trees — our world was created by God; the different colors remind us that the Gospel is for all different nations and peoples on the earth
• Tinsel — generosity and kindness to the poor
• Christmas feasts – all that God has provided for us
• Mistletoe – Peace
• Holly — because the holly leaf has sharp, pointy edges, the holly plant is used to remind us of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on his head. The red berries remind us of the blood he shed on the cross.
• Poinsettias — remind us that Jesus will meet all our needs.
• Gifts — God sent the perfect gift, in the person of Jesus, to save us. The gift of a baby, in itself, is nothing more than a nice story to be read on Christmas Eve. It’s the power of the death and resurrection that the true meaning of the gift becomes clear.
• Bells — remind us that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and the ringing of the bells at midnight reminds us of the reason he came. (History: During the Middle ages bells were rung with increasing frequency until midnight, to warn the devil of the approaching birth of the Christ Child.)
• Candy cane — Hard candy: because Jesus is our rock; White: purity; Red stripes: Christ’s blood; Green Stripes: everlasting life in Him; Thick stripe: His sacrifice, His death; 3 thin stripes: trinity, our own sacrifices (giving), the lashes Jesus took for our sins; Peppermint: remind us of the spices offered to the Christ child; Shape: shepherd’s staff, “J” for Jesus

As we look at all the things that are popping up to tell us that Christmas is approaching, we can take comfort in all the reminders of God’s love surrounding us as we get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  This is a love that does not stop with us but is for all people, and as opportunities arise we can share the symbolism of these items with people who do not know.

Blessings to you this Advent and Christmas season!

Blessings and Peace in Christ,

Deaconess Amanda

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I was supposed to post a few days ago, but the weekend got away from me and, despite having a lot to update all of you on, I’ve neglected posting.

For those of you who don’t know, I was recently in my school’s production of the Twelfth Night, which was a lot of fun.  I got to play Viola and she is a really fun character.  (For those of you unfamiliar with the play, The Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s lesser known comedies, wherein a young woman (Viola) and her brother (Sebastian) are in a shipwreck and lose track of one another.  Both assume that the other drowned and the story follows Viola as she tries to make a life for herself in Illyria.  She disguises herself as a man, assuming she’ll be safer that way, and almost immediately falls in love with the man who she works for.  Of course, she cannot tell him this as he thinks she is a man and he is in love with Olivia.  Viola tries to persuade Olivia to love her master, but instead finds Olivia falling head over heels for her.  Hilarity ensues, reaching its pinnacle when Sebastian reaches the town Viola has made her own and everyone mistakes him for her.)  It was a riot. 

Since the play concluded I’ve had a lot more time on my hands, which has been nice.  I’ve been catching up on sleeping and reading, mostly.  Unfortunately both of my jobs are kind of easing off during the holiday season, so I’m looking for more consistent work.  If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to hear them.    Being broke is no fun.

Thanksgiving with the family was great.  Sarah came home, and it was so much fun to see her for a bit, but also to see how obviously she loves North Park and the friends she is making there.  Mimi, an exchange student from Japan that Heather and Chad are housing, also came to celebrate with us, which was really enjoyable.  She even played our game of family kickball with us after the Thanksgiving feast.  ‘Twas a great family get-together of a holiday, as was expected.

…….to each and every one of you, for your lovely words of support, your hugs and love. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It has been a very difficult month but I’ve had the support from my family, friends and blog friends to help me through. Like everyone has said, in my own time, the pain will be less hard, my heart will feel less heavy and I will remember and treasure all the good, happy and fun times she has brought into my life.

I will miss the “hmmmmm” she does when she greets me

I will miss her walking over my face in the morning, lying on top of my head, sleeping under the duvet with me

and resting her head on my chest

I will miss our race in the morning to get down the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast

I will miss her greeting me at the door when I come home

I will miss her loud purring

It gets easier, I know.

It’s only in recent decades that evergreen Christmas trees have been widely used in Ireland. Back in the good old days, whole families used to go out and collect holly bushes to decorate their homes with for the holidays. If you found a bush with lots of berries, it was taken as a sign that you would have good luck next year.
Decorating with holly was a democratic approach. There was so much of it growing in the Irish countryside that even poor families could get plenty of it to spruce their homes up — just like the rich.

Serendipity 7C  by Lexxie Couper

Changeling Press

One lost Australian tourist. One mischievous Christmas sprite. One magical apartment complex. One Christmas gift to be remembered for a lifetime.

Welcome to Serendipity Estates, where accidental meetings, a little magic, and a bit of hot lust are a recipe for love ever after. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Jack McKenzie is an Australian who is visiting his cousin for the Christmas holiday. I just felt terrible for Jack. His girl dumped him, the airlines lost his luggage, and his cousin is not where he is suppose to be. It seemed like everything that could go wrong does. But being that it is Christmas, a little magic is always in the air, especially around Serendipity Estates.

A beautiful woman named Holly is where Jack’s cousin said he lived. I felt that Holly is a very seductive nymph who goes above and beyond to extend a little Christmas cheer into Jack’s holiday. There was a  cute beer joke involving Foster’s and Miller along with a Hitchcock like shower scene. All of which I found very funny.

The story moved at a good clip but never seemed skimpy. For a short story, it was very detailed and held my interest from beginning to end. I know if a hunk like Jack were to show up on my doorstep on Christmas, I would welcome him as Holly did.

Serendipity 7C is another good story taking place in the Serendipity Estates Apartment Complex. I know I will look forward to reading more about Charlie Texas and Serendipity Estates.

Nothing new to report here; just wanted to put an endcap on Emmma’s volleyball season. Never forget: Holly coached.

As you may have previously read, I’m not much of a baker. When I was married I did a fair job of cooking, cleaning and all that stuff. Since I’ve been on my own, I’ve regressed into something of a teenager, with cereal for dinner and “whatever is easiest” eating habits (sorry Mom, it’s true). The subject of Christmas cookies came up recently. Everyone’s trading recipes and reminiscing about their favorites. I pretty much love all cookies, and cake, and…well, let’s just say I’m not a picky eater! As a non-baker, the notion of No-Bake cookies interests me, and I remember one favorite that my Mom would make, Holly Wreaths. I asked my Mom to send me the recipe (and she did, cuz she rocks like that!). I also visited christmas-cookies.com to see what other no-bake goodness there was out there and there’s so much, you have to check it out. What are your some of your favorites? I’d love to hear about them.

Holly Wreath No-Bake Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine
30 large marshmallows
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp green food coloring
3 1/2 cups corn flakes
red cinnamon candies (1-2 tablespoons)
optional: silver dragées

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan melt butter or margarine and marshmallows over low heat. Add vanilla and food coloring and stir until well blended. Fold in corn flakes (being careful not to crush them too much!). Drop by rounded greased tablespoons onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheets and shape into 2 inch wreaths. Decorate each with candies. Let cool. Do not freeze.  Makes about 25  (about 80 calories per cookie).

This post has gotten me excited about the live wreath I ordered through a school fundraiser (it is due to arrive sometime this week). I can’t wait to decorate it and show you all how I make the big fluffy no-brainer bow!

Special thanks to my Mom for helping me out on this post.

[Image via valleyviolet on flickr]

I’m in a weird non-reading kind of mood these days. It just seems like so much work to arrange the blanket as I sit on the couch and hold up the book and creep a couple of fingers out to turn the pages. Also, the whole latitudinal early darkness is getting to me. Last night I thought it must be like 10 at night when it was 6:20. One would think I’d get used to this place some time.

Tonight I’m putting that aside. It doesn’t matter if it feels like the sun is just about to come up at 10pm, I’ll be heading down to the 1234V Issue 3 launch party. Woo zines!

Also, a story I tentatively sold to Broken Pencil magazine almost a year ago is finally going to be seeing print in the next issue. That’s good. The story seems far shorter than I remember it but whatever. I will be paid for my tale of hobo-molestation. (Yeah, mom, you probably wouldn’t like this story.)

I despair at how shitty my writing output has been this year. I was telling Holly how I feel like 2009 will go down in my books as “The year the condo ate my life.” It’s just that all this stuff gnaws away at your brain all the time, preventing the good cool things inside from working themselves out. I realize there’s a bit of “Oh, when things are perfect I’ll write more” to that statement, which is generally bullshit. A writer doesn’t give a shit. A writer just writes. But I’m just not that strong I guess.

Holly likar seg godt at med varmepumpa. Ho spring dit kvar gong etter vi har vore ute og etter ein dusj, hehe. Forstår ho igrunnen veldig godt, det er godt og varmt der:)

posted by: pol

El desesperado amor de Paul Varjak

Aunque mucho se ha hablado ya de la fantástica Breakfast at Tiffany’s, no me resisto a inaugurar la serie de “Diálogos para el Recuerdo” con la conocida declaración de amor de Paul a Holly en un taxi neoyorquino. Una escena climática que no se me va de la cabeza…

From our family to yours – Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!

So tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Again.

How does that happen exactly? I mean it doesn’t feel like it was that long ago we were all sitting here in my living room playing the Wii or enjoying Arizona weather after a satisfying turkey dinner! Do you remember?

A Long Drive

A Little Rock Band

Good Food

A Lot of Playing

All Equals A Lot of Love

Time has a way of moving on whether we like it or not. As I sit here I find myself reflecting and remembering so many holidays of the past. I have strong memories of a Thanksgiving in Preston, when all the Luthy’s came down and we set up a LONG table in the kitchen. I remember Jolene helping me get just the right amount of gravy on my potatoes in a perfect little puddle. I remember the laughter, the fun and the closeness of time with family. I also have vivid images in my head of the first Thanksgiving after little Cidnie found her way to us. I remember eating in the basement of mom and dad’s that year so we could all sit together at one long table. I remember the personalized notes mom wrote to each of us as our place holders, and I remember the one she wrote to baby Cidnie. My heart swells with these memories and I am thankful all over again.

So what do you remember? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory?

Thanks so much Colleen from San Jose, CA for purchasing these products!

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Well I cannot believe that Halloween has come and gone, and I am left preparing for Thanksgiving!  My real life responsibilities have taken over full-throttle so my time to fold has been severely reduced.  However I have a plan to make it through this season saving money and saving my sanity.  What is this you may ask?  Origami ornaments as decorations and gifts.  Patti commented on a previous blog post that she has the same idea this holiday season as one way to conserve some much-needed cash.

So using the same model that I usually do (10 and 18 mette rings), I have gone into full holiday swing!  I bought some great red wire for the project and I have been having a blast making gifts for my family.  This one is made from chiyogami, but I have also been experimenting with foil and tissue paper as well.  The result is surprising nice!  If you work with 2″ square pieces of paper, the result fits nicely into a small organza bag.  They are just big enough to be used as a tree ornament and just small enough to wear.

But don’t let this limit your imagination! These can be done with various materials… Even paper cranes made out of wrapping paper look particularly pretty for the holidays. What can be better than a dose of handmade to celebrate!

Don’t worry! McDonald Photography has got you covered!

Contact Jennifer today to sign up for the 2009 Holiday Mini Sessions!

Det kjem fleire bilder når eg får lasta over bildane frå mobilen min…

Den korte versjonen-> Køyring, kortlading, bading, ete, shopping og bursdagsfest

Den lengre versjonen:

Fredag: Vidar og eg køyrte til Trondheim. Først leverte eg Holly hos foreldra til Vidar. På veien til Trondheim stoppa vi for å kjøpe ostepølse meny:) og bollar med sjokoladebitar:) Vi fylte også på Statoilkoppane våre. Far min overraska meg med ein kopp før vi for. Kjekt det:) Vi tok 15-ferja frå Hareid og kom til Trondheim 21.20. Petter, han vi skulle overnatte med bur litt før sentrum. Då vi kom fram var han ikkje heime so Vidar foreslo at vi skulle stikke på Ikea ein tur. Det ville eg so klart:) Eg hadde igrunnen planlagt ein tur dit i morga, men sidan det vart so mykje som skulle gjerast i morga hadde eg droppa den planen. So då fekk eg kjøpt dinna plastikknettholdaren likevel.

Hos Petter fekk vi god Pizza Orginale:) Trur det var med kjøttbollar og chili av eit slag. Det var veldig godt med kvitløksdressing på. Det var av merket Stabburet huskar eg rett og smakte det same som den ein får på pizzarestaurantar:)

Resten av kvelden laga eg til bursdagskortet til Eva, medan Vidar og Petter såg på Seinkveld og eit anna humorprogram. Eg måtte soklart titte litt fram når Seinkveldduellen kom da. Dessverre gløymte eg å ta bilde av bursdagskortet eg laga, men eg kan legge ut eit bilde av det fine kortet eg vart inspirert av! Håper ikkje Anita som har laga kortet har noko i mot det. Ho lagar veldig fine ting og det er veldig lett å bli inspirert. Sjekk ut hobbybloggen hinna:) Her er kortet hinna eg henta inspirasjon frå dinne gongen:

Det vart kanskje ikkje dei største forandringane på kortet eg laga dinne gongen, men fargane og stilen vart da litt annleis:) Mitt vart litt meir amatørmessig også, hehe. Blått kopiark utanpå med store rundingar og lysegrønt scrappingark inni. Musa teikna eg på eit kvitt teikenarg. Ho vart teikna med store auge med augevippe og eg laga til ein lapp med skrift i musa sine hende. Sløyfa var kvit og grøn med rundingar. I tillegg var nokre pyntedetaljar ikkje med eller bytta ut.

Laurdag: Eg, Solveig, Nina og Rita for på Pirbadet rundt 12.30. Før det var det litt småtitting i butikkane på Torget sidan eg gjekk inn der på veien (det regna ute) bort til Solveig som overnatta hos Nina. Eg enda opp med å kjøpe meg eit svart smykke.

Bilde kjem…

På Pirbadet var det litt kø, men det gjekk forholdsvis fort. Vi var alle bestemt på å halde oss til det varme vatnet, so vi for først i Helsebassenget og deretter Velværebassenget. I tillegg sat vi litt i dampbadstu og vanleg badstu. Det var opptatt i boblebada heile tida:/

Etterpå for eg, Rita og Solveig på Egon og bestilte oss Kylling BLT Sandwitch Det er so godt!! Vi rakk desseverre ikkje å kose oss med ein kopp varm sjokolade før Rita skulle fare. Eg og Solveig skulle også rekke å kjøpe gåve til Eva som vi skulle på bursdagsfest hos seinare på kvelden. I tillegg ville vi begge sjå etter sko.

Eg fann meg eit støvlettpar på DNA på Trondheim Torg og håper dei passar. Dei gjor det vertfall då eg prøvde dei på. Der er litt for mykje nagledill-rader på, so eg skal kanskje ta av to av radane. Det er veldig IN med naglar på klede no, men for meg blir det kanskje litt for voldtsomt med so mykje av det. For å fjerne to av nagleradane må eg først ha ei nål som kan sy i skinnet, so får sjå om det kjem til å skje, hehe. Bildet vart ikkje so bra, men får duge inntil vidare:) :

På leiten etter gåve til Eva fann eg meg hue og skjal og det var det Eva fekk også i gåve:) Det er alltid kjekt å få skjal og hue tenkte eg og Solveig. Kan aldri få nok av det….Hua kjøpte eg på ein veskebutikk eg gløymer namnet på heile tida, skjaldet er kjøpt på Acessories:

Holly ville ha oppmerksomheit so ho fekk bli med på bilde, men det var vanskeleg å få ho til å sjå mot kameraet, hehe.

Vi tok bussen til Eva og kom dit til kl 19.30. Det var kjekt å sjå Trondheimsfolket igjen:) Eva diska opp med pølse m/brød ut på kvelden og det vart likt svært godt av alle. Eg orka dessverre ikkje å ete noko sidan eg var fortsatt mett etter middagen og drikka eg drakk. Kvelden gjekk og alle kosa seg. Det vart mykje prat og dans på golvet. Det er so kjekt når det folk vil danse på festa syns eg sidan eg likar so godt å danse. Solveig og Nina for innover til byen rundt 24 sidan dei skulle ut på byen. Eg ville bli hos Eva sidan eg er so sjeldan i Trondheim.

Eg fekk meg skyss heimover til dit Vidar skulle overnatte, men sidan eg ikkje fekk tak Vidar var det ikkje til stor hjelp. Dermed vart det til å overnatte hos Eva likevel, men det er da kjekt det. Vi kosa oss med pølse til nattmat. Dei har gjesterom so eg sov godt på ei ganske stor seng. Kl. 04. fekk eg mld frå Vidar om at dei hadde såte ute i badestamp, so han kunne ikkje ta med mobilen dit ut, derfor fekk eg ikkje tak i han.

Søndag: Vidar ringte kl. 12.30 og det var vel på tide å stå opp. Til frukost vart det pølse m/brød og potetgull Sidan bussen går so sjeldan vart det til at eg blei hos Eva til eg og Vidar skulle reise heimover. Vidar kom å henta meg kl. 17 og vi rakk dermed 23-ferja frå Sula. På veien kjøpte eg ein sånn smørbrødpakke m/ 4 skiver. Det var ikkje spesielt godt, men mat må ein ha dagen derpå. Eg kjøpte også 3 bollar med sjokoladebollar og vi fylte på Statoilkoppane.

Før vi for heim henta vi Holly hos foreldra til Vidar. Ho hadde berre vore snill og grei dinne helga:) Dei hadde hatt to uhell da, hehe. 1. Gløymte å ha av tispetrusa (ho har løpetid) eine gongen Holly skulle på do, hehe. Det er ikkje alltid like lett å legge merke til at ho har på tispetruse. 2. Det datt masse sylte på gulvet og Holly var so klart der med ein gong og slikka i seg. Dermed vart øyrane fulle av sylte! Det førte til ei litt stor floke og mesteparten måtte eg berre klippe vekk, men det er ikkje so farleg sidan ho ikkje skal stillast ut.

For å få Holly til å ete maten sin tok dei Holly sin mat oppi Fluffy (hunden deira) si matskål sidan ho alltid vil bort å ete maten hinna, men dei klarte berre å lure ho i starten.