2009...

Well, it is the last day of the year. And unlike some, I'm not much on reflecting back on all the details (aside from in my yearly Christmas letter). The truth is, I get through yet another year in this century and sigh in relief. I made it!!! WHEN is Christ coming back???? Never soon enough, it seems.

Funny to think that a decade ago, we wondered if we would even make it into the 21st Century. Well, we have. And, as in any other decade, we have all gone through ups and downs. I've had some awesome things happen over the last decade of my life. But on the flip side, it is has been the very worse decade of my life. Teenagers think they have a hard life - wait til they hit their 20s!

So depending on how I feel (which is a bit tired today), I could shout and parade about all the wonderful things 2009 has brought me. Or I could rant and rave about the hard times. We'll just keep it safe: the Lord is faithful. Yet another has proven that over and over again.

Goals for 2010? I'm not much on that sort of thing either. When you live a life full of moves, you don't even know where you'll be before the end of the year let alone what you'll be doing. I have great hopes that turning 30 in two months will be a joy and not a tragedy. Not to mention that I hope that the start of my 4th decade on earth is a vast improvement over the last one. But I'm not taking any bets. Let's just say I have one goal: survival.

But no matter what 2010 brings, I do know one thing. God is faithful. He loves me. He wants what is best for me. While I hope that means a place to live where it is cold, mountainous, snowy, full of trees with a career as a great writer...whatever it is I know I can get through it. For my God NEVER changes.

Christmas Holidays

So, it's been a while since I've even looked at my blog. Well, not even a week but it feels like a while. That's because I've hardly looked at a computer except to check my e-mail maybe once a day, look around at a few things, and watch some movies late into the night. And it's all because I am enjoying my Christmas holidays...which will all end tomorrow.

I arrived home last Wednesday. I got to the airport in Dallas with plenty of time to spare, so I did a little bit of work on my laptop and then read. The flight took off on time and landed a bit early - quite smoothly. Mom and Dad met me at the airport and out we walked into beautiful 30-something degree weather. So much more Christmasy than 70-something!

That night I got to sleep in my own spacious bedroom, in my own bed, under my own quilts, surrounded by my own purple walls and a thousand books. It was glorious! The next morning I awoke late, grabbed breakfast and went off to learn racquetball from my dad and siblings. It took a minute to get use to the idea of the game, but how hard can bouncing balls off walls be? Although I'm sure there is a lot of strategy to this game, I'm not there yet. But it is fun!

Christmas Eve Day didn't consist of much. I hung most of my ornaments on our huge Christmas tree and set up my Christmas village and carousel in my room. But there's just something about doing all this by yourself that isn't quite right. Guess that comes with the growing up territory. But the traditional family meal was fun. It's nice to be surrounded by all my siblings and not have to worry about the meals.

Christmas Day, sadly, was not white. (While it was in Texas - what is wrong with that picture?) But it was still fun, full of gifts, we woke up early and went to bed late full of good food, games, and laughter.

The next day it snowed. Most of the day. Lightly so it didn't amount to much more than a couple of inches. But it is so lovely!!!!! Snowed much of Sunday, too, so the world is white and beautiful. The temperatures are cold. I've worn my sweaters, and wool, and coats. Letting me go home might have been a mistake....

I have spent my days doing puzzles, playing games, watching movies, scrapbooking a few pictures, playing racquetball, eating much more than I should, staying up and sleeping in, and generally doing nothing important. Siblings tease and get on each other's nerves. Dad frequents his new find - a drive thru coffee shop - every time we're in town. Mom cooks up delicious meals. And tomorrow it all comes to an end.

Ah, well. All good things must come to an end. Life must go on. But thank God for the times of rest He does allow us.

Indiana....that's where I'm going!

Fairy Tales

Last night I went with a friend and her younger brothers to see The Princess and the Frog. Some things you simply never outgrow. And although it had its usual talking animals, witty dialogue and imaginary license; it also made me think.

I grew up listening to and reading fairy tales. The first movie I remember seeing was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Now fairy tales are so called for very good reason. Obviously, they are not real. No one has a fairy godmother that makes a coach from a pumpkin. Young ladies do not go around literally spitting out jewels or disgusting insects. People don’t change into animals or vice versa. And not every “Prince Charming” in the world has twinkling eyes, great teeth and looks like he works out in a gym every day.

But fairy tales do have morals. Have you noticed that? I’m not talking about life lessons like Aesop’s fables. I’m talking about what use to be the standard: marriage, sacrifice, hard work, selflessness and bad people who get their just punishment. In a fairy tale, lessons are learned. If someone is selfish, they learn to be selfless. And if someone does evil, they get punished. We all know most “princesses” start out doing manual labor, but have you noticed that the princes don’t sit around on a throne all day? And all fairy tales end with marriage – not living together until who knows what.

One of things I noticed about The Princess and the Frog is the rings. If you watch it, notice them. Tiana’s parents wear wedding rings. After Tiana and Naveen are married, note the rings on their fingers. And there isn’t any question about marriage. Naveen falls in love with Tiana, and there’s a very sweet part with his attempted proposal and the ring he makes – even though he’s a frog. Lottie is going to marry her prince, whoever he is. And Naveen will marry Lottie if that’s what it will take to get Tiana what she wants. Aladdin marries Jasmine. Belle marries the Beast. Cinderella marries Prince Charming.

And what about the other lessons fairy tales bring that don’t seem to be taught in this world anymore? Naveen, at first a selfish prince/frog who only wants to have fun, becomes willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Tiana’s. Lottie is willing to kiss her frog prince and yet allow Tiana to marry him because they’re friends. In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast must learn to be kind and control his temper. Cinderella suffers quietly under her stepfamily. Aurora obeys the fairy godmothers, and when Ariel disobeys she brings tragedy to more than just herself. In fact, evil is always punished. Jafar is put into a genie lamp, the Shadow Man is destroyed by the powers he thought he could control and Ursula, Malificient, and Gaston all perish.

There will always be people who declare that fairy tales are a waste of time and give children ideas that are silly and unreal. Children are more than capable of understanding the line between reality and imagination. They are also able to comprehend the lessons of friendship, sacrifice, selflessness and true love that ends in marriage which fairy tales teach. So don’t brush off yet another Disney princess story, talking animals, or a bedtime story from Grimm’s. Who knows what valuable lesson you – and your kids – might receive.

Book Review

The Christian life is full of this, that and the other. We get caught up in traditions, craft projects in Sunday School, and ten choir practices a week. Caught up in activities and theological debates, we often forget what the very core of our faith is.

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus answered, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." (Mark 12:30) The essence of our faith and purpose as Christians. In his book Primal, Mark Batterson explores what it means to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And we are always in need of a fresh reminder of the basics.

Although there are sections of Mark Batterson's book I would not wholly agree with, he does a great job of bringing to the forefront of our minds the purpose of our life. A much needed reminder of what I need to be doing daily as one of God's own.

Interested in this book? Find a copy at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421319



This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

Eighteen years ago, she was our Christmas present.

Green by Ted Dekker

The Circle...it does not have an end. It does not have a beginning.

But for Thomas Hunter, it feels like it will be broken. The fellowship he has enjoyed with those who also love his Elyon is tearing about - and his son is the cause. Questions are raised. Contests are challenged. Doubts assail. He must keep the Circle together, but at what cost? Will he have to sacrifice his son? The world in which he lives? Or the world in which he came from? Enemies threaten him on every side. He doesn't know which way to turn. But he knows whom he must trust. Elyon. Surely his God will be gracious. Surely his God will be victorious.

Green is my introduction to the Circle series - and a Circle it is. I found the book confusing. It played with my mind. I couldn't find the lines between reality and...reality? While Mr. Dekker can truly spin a story, I did not enjoy the confusion I often had over the fine line between the two worlds he has created. But I did appreciate the reminder of what a unique creation the circle is - no beginning and no end, just like its Creator.

Interested in this book? Check it out! http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595542884&title=Green&author=Ted-Dekker

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers for review.

This past Saturday my friend Jenny and a new friend, Sherri, visited the Gaylord Texan. We had a blast seeing the ice show, wondering around the corridors and delighting in all the decorations. It was truly a fun way to spend an afternoon!

The Gaylord Texan all lit up!

Inside...

Jenny, Sherri and a long horn. (Sherri is trying to teach Jenny how to pose...)

Gingerbread Cowboy, Cowgirl and Cowdog - yes, they're real.

Cowboy Santa. (Why does Texas have to be different?)

The nativity carved in ice - amazing!!!!

All the Whos in Who-ville better watch out!

He's a mean one - Mr. Grinch!

Great Kids Books

Stories aren't just for entertaining - they should teach a lesson. When kids start asking "Who invented Christmas?", "Is Jesus or Santa more important?", "Do I have to love him? He just hit me," and "Does God love everybody?"; it's time to pull out the greatest stories of all times. Yes, God loves everybody. And that is why He invented Christmas.

God Gave us Love and God Gave us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren are two wonderful little stories all about a curious little polar bear asking all kinds of questions about love and Christmas. Children of all ages will adore the whimsical illustrations, and parents and grandparents will enjoy the lessons the little polar bear is taught by his own mother and grandfather.

Interested in these books? Check them out!

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074471

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071753

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.