One Solitary Life.

Our warmest wishes to all as we prepare for the festivity of our Lord's birth.



One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life




My quick research tells me that Dr. James Allen Francis, originally published this essay in 1928. The above is the version that closes the Rockefeller annual Chrismas Spectacular and has been made popular all over the web.

Christmas Meme -- inspired by Tess at Arch Words


1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate, made over the stove with nutmeg and cinnamon. A touch of Bailey's is appreciated as well!!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Wraps them, though the bows never seem to make it onto the gifts.

3. Colored Light on Tree/House or White?
We have white and red lights outside -- white icicles along the top of the house and red accents on the trees and deck. This is the first year we decorated the outside of our home and we're pretty happy with the way it turned out.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No mistletoe, we all just sneak the kisses.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Post baby, we've put them up within the last two weeks before Christmas. Trying to limit the exposure time to young hands and my two cats!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Growing up, we always has cinnamon buns on Christmas morning -- the pillsbury kind that come in a cylinder with the yummy, sticky icing.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
We spent each Christmas at my Grandma's house when I was growing up. My grandparents had a huge, open entrance hall, which was filled with a tree that must have been at least 15 feet tall. My mom had several brothers & sisters, so the house was full with family, hustle & bustle. I just remember being together and being surrounded by love & laughter (loud laughter, my grandma has a distinctive cackle!)

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was around 8 and I remember telling my mom "Dad will really like those cookies" as we set them out on the table. She made me promise not to say anything to my brother and my one y/o sister.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
If we are seeing people on Christmas Eve that we won't see on Christmas, yes, we'll exchange/open gifts at that time. If not, we keep the suspense going to Christmas Day.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Our ornaments are a mix of gifted items received since we were married, a few nice ones that I picked up from Pier1 and several childhood items that were handed down/over to me.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
Love it at first, for how pure & romantic it is. Love it if I'm skiing in it! Hate it when I have to drive or otherwise actually have to deal with it.

12. Can you ice skate?
I haven't ice-skated in years! I used to skate at the local rink on Friday nights when I was in Jr High School -- it really was more an excuse to chase the boys around on skates though!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I don't think I can say that I have a particular "favorite" Christmas gift. My husband did propose over New Year's though, so that is a favorite holiday season. Well, actually.. I do really like a down comforter a dear friend got for me a few years ago and a CD that another favorite friend got for me last year. I have great friends!

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas to you?
First, being with my family and seeing John start to understand the faith we are embracing and celebrating. Secondly, trying to reconnect with friends and family with whom I lose track of during the year. It can even be the simple tradition of sharing Christmas cards and seeing how each other's children are growing, but hopefully it is a real person-to-person connection.

15. What is your favorite Christmas song?
I love God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, it has been a favorite since singing it in my childhood holiday concerts. Growing up, I had a bit of an alto voice (verse my soprano friends) and the low notes of the song suited me perfectly. My dad loved Drummer Boy, so that has become a favorite of mine as well.


I am tagging:
Mater at Bubblesplat

Best. Chocolate. Ever.

Every year, a professional associate/friend of mine sends me a box of See's Chocolate as a Christmas gift. This has been a wonderful tradition for five years now.. Seems this is the first year that I've actually brought the box home to my dear, sweet, uninitiated husband. No worries dear, it was eaten at the office in the past (ok, so I guess I kept them to myself!)... Pure, chocolate yumminess. It doesn't get better than See's chocolate and nuts.

That's all, just sharing the joy :) I think we have to go back to San Fran to pick up a box at the source!

Immaculate Conception

For my entire young life in catechesis, I thought today's feast was to celebrate Jesus' conception. This goes back to my 2nd grade CCD class, when either the good-hearted teacher misspoke, or more likely, I misunderstood. In fact, it wasn't until I was a CCD teacher myself and Padre S. came in to speak to my class on Immaculate Conception that I learned we are celebrating Mary's holy, pure, sinless conception. Mary, conceived and born without ever being touched by the stain of Original Sin.

In words much better than my own:

Happy Feast of our Mother, Mary, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit - the God bearer- the Mother of God - the Mother of the Church, the Mother of the people of God, the Mother of the sons and daughters of God, the Mother of Christians- your Mother - my Mother - our Mother. The Immaculate Conception - Mary - whose Gospel "yes" transforms and invites us to immaculate, holy possibilities - calling us beyond sin, beyond time to new dimensions of Faith, Hope and Love.


Mary, born in purity. Each of us, after Adam & Eve, born in Original Sin.

It becomes hard to reconcile in my mind that my little baby, as pure and perfect as he was in my eyes, was born in Sin. From the same 2nd grade CCD class, I learned that any Catholic could perform a Catholic baptism in an emergency, with ordinary water and the blessings of "I baptize you in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit". I'm honestly not sure if this is sacramentally correct, but I carried this knowledge with great care as a 2nd, 3rd, 4th grader -- thinking that if I was visiting anyone with a young baby that wasn't baptized yet and a life-threatening emergency arose, I would perform the sacrament. What heavy knowledge for a 7 year-old. We are washed clean of our Sin in baptism, clean, but still not whole and as if sin never existed. My own soul still has faults and failing, temptations and laziness. I pray today, to our Most Holy Mother, pure & whole & perfect, for your help and your strength. I pray to be closer to you, and in turn, closer to God and your Son. I pray to be a selfless mother, as you were and as you are. I pray:

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for me in my recourse to Thee.

amen

It's the little things..

The little things that make us happy..

For me, Lady Grey Tea. I tried it recently in a little shop and loved it -- a lovely blend of delicate flavors.

For John, a toasty warm towel after bath. We have a washer/dryer in our main bathroom. I've started warming up his towel in the dryer while he's in the bath, so it will be snuggly-warm when he gets out. It's starting to get chilly up here!

For Big Daddy -- you know what they say, if Mom is happy, everyone's happy right? (ok, he likes the Lady Grey tea as well...)


PS - I hope to post for Advent soon, it's still working around in my head. A blessed Advent to all, as we wait and watch for Christ --