Stuff That Matters in Life

On Christmas day, I set the alarm for Amy at 6:50am. The alarm was for her because she would be motivated enough not to go back to sleep. She woke everyone up and we had fun open our presents one by one.

Hightlights: Elliot gave everyone a souvenir USC sugar packet; probably the last year of receiving a school ornament from Amy with a picture of herself on it; Audrey got a Veggetales Christmas CD from her friend Sven; lots of good stuff from our agents at the office; earrings for me from Santa.

We got to church on time. Audrey and the four-piece brass band did a great job playing “We Three Kings”. We had a birthday party for Jesus with the children that was fun with games and cake, including a Bible lesson by Audrey. I am very proud of her ability to teach the children. She truly loves the kids.

Then we had a great meal and fun at my brother Brian’s house. More presents were opened there. We had fun with a white elephant gift exchange. We made out with a pair of Hello Kitty goggles for Amy and a box of Godiva chocolates for Elliot!

Without Christ in Christmas, it would be such a let down the day after. But with Christ, the true meaning of Christmas continues, and next Christmas we can celebrate again.

We were playing Cranium.

I am doing the charade type of clue under the catagory of Star Performer.

The word is gravity.

I act it out by dropping a pen and pointing downwards.

Elliot’s guess: Isaac Newton!

Why did he guess Isaac Newton and not gravity???

This weekend, we enjoyed a couple of nice Christmas activities.

First, on Saturday, we had our annual office Christmas dinner. This year was at the Porterhouse Bistro in Beverly Hills! Delicious! The thick Porterhouse steak and the rich custard dessert probably took 10 years off my life, but it was worth it! Two drinks were included in the meal, so I tried a apple martini. Well, I don’t drink, and one sip was more than enough! It was sweet, and I can feel the alcohol going down my throat.

On Sunday, we went to Rose Hills to my mother’s gravesite and decorated it for Christmas. Dinner afterwards was dumplings at a Chinese restaurant. Then we had fun going to the Chinese market and bought some vegetables. Simple pleasures are the best.

What I want for Christmas, what money can’t buy:

LOTS of hugs and kisses EVERYDAY from my family and friends
all the stuff in the house instantly organized neatly and methodically
someone who would volunteer to take over the children’s ministry with great love and passion for the children
taking down Christmas decorations happily instead of sadness
“Get Smart” marathon on TV
be able to play the piano and the harp without effort

What I want for Christmas, what money can buy:

a facial, with a friend
a harp, so I might learn to play it with some effort
a functioning, beautiful website
cheap dangling earrings, in red
comfortable short black boots in black
new window coverings for my room

One never has the time to do something unless one makes the time.

I find that posting daily on a blog is possible, but not probable. First, the time factor. Sure, it takes less than 15 minutes to type it out, but the thought process takes longer than I’d expect. Second, there is inspiration. I sit down to blog and think, “There nothing in my life worth blogging about.” Yes, I can write about mundane details such as: I woke up at 6:20am when the alarm rang this morning. Then turn on the facet and wait about a minute for the water to get warm, wash my face with a warm towel, and go to Audrey’s room with a warm face towel to wake her up. Then I go to the bathroom and do my business. Then I wash my hands, go downstairs and prepare breakfast. Then…

Some days, I have no deep insights into life.

How do you find inspiration to blog?

Here’s catching up on Christmas tidbits:
True or False: The popular Christmas carol, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin by an Englishman.

True. I couldn’t make that up! This is my favorite carol; it is a beautiful hymn. The words are attributed to John Wade. The music was composed by another John – John Reading, also an Englishman. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley translated they lyrics to English which replaced the older Latin lyrics “Adeste Fideles”.

Tears well up in my eyes when I hear the last stanza of that carol. I think of how God lowered himself and became flesh, lived among us, suffered and died for us and now interceding for us in heaven. When I sing and dwell on that, indeed I do want to come and adore Him, don’t you?

Yeah Lord we greet thee
Born this happy morning
O Jesus to thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord,
Christ the Lord
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Nineteen days to Christmas. I think we will go get our real Christmas tree today. For twenty years, since we were married, we have the tradition of every year going to a tree lot to pick a tree. In recent years, we’ve gone to Home Depot. They seem to have the best prices. I don’t know about you, but it just would not be right to start a new tradition of going to the attic and pulling out an artificial tree.

Christmas tidbit of the day: Wassail orginated from the words “was hail” used to greet or say goodbye to someone. It means “be in good health.” The term was then used to toast a drink, and later on, the meaning included the drink with which the toast was offered. This toast was popularly used with the spiced ale or mulled wine that was drunk on Christmas Eve.

These Christmas “facts” seem to make sense, but who really knows if any of this is true! Some of the explanations of Christmas traditions may have been embellished with some urban legends that has been passed around. Let me know if you know of any.