ringing in the new year...

i have made a few observations over the course of the last 365 days, which can reasonably be supported:

1.) men and women (if given enough time and grace) can live together
2.) i am no longer lactose intolerant, but i do have some undiagnosed form of acid reflex (after a few caramel chocolate chip brownies and Jake's famous cheesy supreme, it doesn't take too much more convincing)
3.) this may be the greatest time to be a new england/boston sports fan (n.b. for the first time in my life, i'm living someplace other than the east coast)
4.) i am becoming more and more like my father (this doesn't scare me, but in some respects, it gives me cause for concern)
5.) trains are well-constructed vehicles that offer some terrific benefits; however their one drawback is that they take a long time to stop (especially when tracker trailers try to beat them across a railroad crossing)
6.) just because you are a teacher doesn't mean you can teach
7.) to satisfy some people you have to meet deadlines
8.) when you start losing your memory, you become comic relief
9.) you can't truly listen to someone unless you look them in the eye
10.) summer camp may be the closest thing to heaven that we have in this life
11.) there's no greater gift than the gift of friendship

i wish all of my readers/respondents a blessed and great 2008!

s t r e t c h

that's right. we need to stretch ourselves. this day and every day--no matter what the circumstances. this is on my mind right now, because the good Lord knows how strong I am (we are) and wants me to notice something. He does not give us more than we can handle; in fact, sometimes we are amazed with how much we actually can carry. whatever baggage/stress you are carrying with you as you read this, know that you can always empty out that pack and fill up on the grace and blessings of our dear Father. He knows how resilient we are capable of (and have been) and anticipates us bouncing back any moment now...

with anticipation we wait

i'd like to preface this blog entry and this beautiful Advent season by saying that i love buying presents, decorating the house/tree with tinsel and ornaments, writing holiday cards to loved ones, and even singing a few Christmas tunes here and there. BUT the one thing that makes this season especially magical and delightful for me is that Christ (instead of being forgotten and excused from our holiday traditions and celebrations) is visibly present and at the forefront of our minds and hearts. one of my favorite Christmas cards of all-time depicts St. Nicholas himself cradling baby Jesus in his arms and gazing into our Savior's innocent eyes. i cannot count how many times i've seen the expression: JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON pasted on billboards, commercials, and apparel. however, too often that expression, which is certainly well-intended, slowly becomes secondary to the bustle of the holiday season. May the words of one of my favorite Christmas tunes of all-time occupy your hearts this season:

Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.