"What Child Is This?"

The beautiful Christmas song "What Child is This" created a great juxtaposition for these photos. Which also has me asking...just "what child IS this????"

Happiest States in America. Bittersweet

On Twitter, I saw a tweet for a recent study revealing the Happiest States in America. I checked it out (study, here) & the results were bittersweet. My residence of the last 12 years, Florida, made it to Number 3. Whoo hoo, Go Florida! But my childhood residence, of which I'm typically proud of, didn't bode too well. Illinois came in at a crappy Number 45.

Where you from?? How'd your ole' stomping grounds fair?

Our Christmas Family Photo

1 patient photographer +
2 bags of candy-bribe +
11 minutes +
11 pictures +
=
1 happy mommy

Thanks, Lisette!!

Weekend Highlights

1. My cool cuz, Suzanne, sent me a picture of her sidewalk. While it was 2 degrees up in her Chicago 'hood last week, it was a balmy (sweaty) 84 degrees in mine. Wow.








2. This weekend, I had the privilege of hosting our Internet Campus. Thank you to Pastor Brian, Arturo, Ileana & the very cool volunteers who showed up 6 times & joyfully made it happen!












3. This weekend, our students & adults joined talents & efforts and put on a combined service for all. It was off the chain! Look out, world, the future is gettin' crazy-bright with our next gen!









4. As part of our Hands & Feet journey, our church, co-workers, neighbors, friends, schools & families came together to pack enough meals to feed 1.3 million Haitian children.









5. This last highlight has no picture. But I don't think it needs one. Last week, my lil man, DJ, invited a friend to church. Today, the little boy came with his mom. Pardon the tears welling up in my eyes, but I'm proud of my son. God moved in his life & used him to make a lil kingdom difference. Grateful this day, for that.

The FRCA Christmas Play

Andy's lil preschool Christmas play was special to me:

1. It took me back to when I was 4 years old when I played Mary in a Christmas play; now, 32 years later, Andy was a wiseman in his. :)
2. These lil kids played their roles with reverance & innocence--it was as if they understood the story better than me, who's heard it a thousand times.
3. The story of Jesus descending from Heaven to a dirty manger on Earth never gets old. Nor should it. Through the mouths of these lil ones, I was reminded of how special Christmas is.

Thank you Miss Andie, FRCA and Cill for your contributions to this special day.

Somethin' About Mary

Something about Mary dawned on me. The angel delivered the mission to Mary, but the angel didn't help Mary deliver the message. I wonder if Mary hoped the angel would accompany her as she set out to explain the supernatural in her? But the angel didn't. So Mary set out, alone. We experience this. God gives us a mission. Yet we find ourselves on it, alone. What is it about Mary? It's her faith, and...

...there is nothing He won't do

THROUGH YOU,

that He doesn't think

YOU CAN'T DO.

Just ask Mary.

My Twas the Night

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Broward,
Big red sale signs and spending headed upward.
Tree tents were going up, the smell of pine near,
It was Christmas, was Thanksgiving even here?
The children were sensing something in the air
Yet I struggled with something, this didn’t seem fair;
On the outside, there was an aura of great fun,
but in self, did I think I was the only one?
Ole’ St. Nick had a better view of this boomin’ town
From the Pole, he saw every face I was around.
He saw a divorcee at Starbucks alone,
The kid at Broward mall, avoiding his home,
The moon was rising, dark came on fast,
But from the Pole, he could see the aghast.
“That family, in Weston, you think has it all?”
“Not true. Thru their windows there is only a wall.”
“The bagger at Publix? Today with no reply…”
“Not one person spoke to him, not even a sigh.”
“And on your street, what a place for potential”
“If you’d stop, you’d see their hurting torrential”
“And in Broward, on the corners of those stoplights—“
“They are humans with hearts, not money-needing mites.”
May I offer a Santa tip with this affair?
Hoping my name conveys, I speak because I care.
If there’s a thing inside, a holiday ache,
Stop for a moment, it’s God speaking…take a break
My view’s the North Pole, but God’s view is quite precise
He nudges from what he sees, he doesn’t think twice--
This season, God implores, “Please help from where you are.
At Starbucks, Publix, the inside of your car
Sure, at Christmas, I could reach down, help those nearby
But I’d like to partner with you, won't you try?”
“Let’s slow down and make the season a journey.
You’re made in my image, with love there’s no hurry
When in a Target lot, take your cart to the man,
Tell him thanks and go ahead, why not…shake his hand.
Dining at Outback? Ask your server for more--
More about her life, what her future has in store.
I think you get the idea, it’s the season…
to have Christmas fun and yet give without reason.
You know the last line; don’t forget this word, alright?
It’s: Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a good night.

From Her Closet

Well, I have no idea if this idea is gonna fly, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm gonna occasionally post clothes/shoes/jewelry from my closet & see if anyone wants it for their closet. Here's a few items from my closet, if you want it, it's yours! Just email me HERE and let me know which one you want.

Moving left to right:
>size 27 True Religion jeans w/ a couple holes in the cuffs
>size 6 lavendar cocktail dress
>size 4 (but very baggy) Limited cuffed jeans
>medium grey sweater-jacket w/ belt and scarf
>Kenneth Cole white leather purse
>medium Express Jeans denim jacket
>size 9 fuzzy ankle boots - sand color