So, honestly, I have meant to post multiple times over the last few days....
I had some post ideas for Christmas Eve, and I wanted to get some down, but that never happened.
Same story for Christmas, and then Boxing day.
Amazingly enough, the same story is going today. Got many things to say, but don't have the mind right now to put 'em together. Too much candy, video games, turkey, lack of sleep... All good times.
But I do have one thing for you... As is my traditions, I make a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. I really love the finicky details and repetitive, tedious little tasks that go into making a gingerbread house. You may remember last year and my church... This year I wanted to do something a bit different... I brained stormed a few ideas, and came up with my favourite 2... A drug bust, and a nativity scene. I was excited, because ?I had 2 gingerbread houses, and I'd be able to be reflective on the season and also just comical and have some fun... And then my dog ruined it all. She ate one of my gingerbread houses.
So then I had to choose between the 2... This is what I came up with...
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and I will be sure to post again soon!
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
27 December 2009
16 December 2009
Tattered clothes
The young girl stared down at her muddy shoes and her tattered jeans that barely reached her ankles. She couldn't be picky about clothes anymore though; what money Joe was able to make went to more important things. She though about the last year, and the constant rumble of the bus eased her away from reality.
Grade 11 had started normally; friends were plentiful and life was busy. Between chores, homework, church and jobs around the community, Meredith had her hands full. September and Octorber passed by in a blur, nothing noteworthy grabbing her attention. In November though, some strange things began happening...
4 months later, life really started to change. Mid-March Meredith could no longer hide her secret; she was pregnant. Her parents were outraged and felt betrayed, her friends were suddenly distant. They all questions whether they really knew who their friend and daughter was. Meredith found herself to be the topic of conversation amongst the neighbors. She tried to tell people that she hadn't slept with her boyfriend Joe; she was saving herself for marriage. When she told her family about the man who had appeared to her... well, that made them doubt her explanations even more.
After 4 months of ridicule, Meredith couldn't stand it anymore. She was the outcast at school and the freak show in public. People started and pointed at her wherever she went. Joe was the only person who seemed to understand, although even her seemed to question the situation at times.
In June, one month before the baby was due, Joe and Meredith left town. Joe was born in Seattle and they were hoping to find sanctuary at his fathers' house. Unfortunately, they had no steady income and no transportation. About the only thing going for them was that Meredith was quite pregnant by this time, and many people helped them out because of her situation. Day-by-day the young couple got closer and closer to their final destination. Countless time over the journey they had lost their patience with each other, complained about sore backs, begged for change... Their lives had changed drastically over 8 months.
Finally they arrived in Seattle, and the city was more alive than they ever could have imagine. It was July 3rd, and it seemed as though the entire world had flocked to the city for celebration. Joe and Meredith had saved up a little money, but it was still no use; every available bed in the city was taken. Meredith was exhausted, and Joe's heart was aching at the sight of his girlfriend struggling. Finally, at a shelter on the edge of downtown, Joe was able to convince the manager to let them sleep in a hallway in their sleeping bags.
Halfway through the night, Meredith found herself in unbearable pain.She cried for her mom, for someone to help her through the ordeal. Scared, she prayed for God to keep her, and her son, safe for the night...
Suddenly the bus jolted to stop and Meredith was back in the present. She looked down at the sleeping boy in her arms, overcome with love for her small son. She knew that He was the Hope for her world.
It's not original, I know, writing a modern story of Jesus' birth. But, I often forget that Mary was a young girl, like me. And she went through struggles as she carried the Lord in her womb. I often forget that, although teens/unmarried women getting pregnant in today's society are not uncommon, it would have been a disgrace to Mary and her family for her to be pregnant outside of wedlock. What Mary and Joseph did was remarkable, and they were regular ol' mistake-making humans. Again, like me. Wow.
Each day this advent season, I stumble across another part of the advent story that totally floors me... Sometimes we have to take another look at the stories we think we know so well.
Grade 11 had started normally; friends were plentiful and life was busy. Between chores, homework, church and jobs around the community, Meredith had her hands full. September and Octorber passed by in a blur, nothing noteworthy grabbing her attention. In November though, some strange things began happening...
4 months later, life really started to change. Mid-March Meredith could no longer hide her secret; she was pregnant. Her parents were outraged and felt betrayed, her friends were suddenly distant. They all questions whether they really knew who their friend and daughter was. Meredith found herself to be the topic of conversation amongst the neighbors. She tried to tell people that she hadn't slept with her boyfriend Joe; she was saving herself for marriage. When she told her family about the man who had appeared to her... well, that made them doubt her explanations even more.
After 4 months of ridicule, Meredith couldn't stand it anymore. She was the outcast at school and the freak show in public. People started and pointed at her wherever she went. Joe was the only person who seemed to understand, although even her seemed to question the situation at times.
In June, one month before the baby was due, Joe and Meredith left town. Joe was born in Seattle and they were hoping to find sanctuary at his fathers' house. Unfortunately, they had no steady income and no transportation. About the only thing going for them was that Meredith was quite pregnant by this time, and many people helped them out because of her situation. Day-by-day the young couple got closer and closer to their final destination. Countless time over the journey they had lost their patience with each other, complained about sore backs, begged for change... Their lives had changed drastically over 8 months.
Finally they arrived in Seattle, and the city was more alive than they ever could have imagine. It was July 3rd, and it seemed as though the entire world had flocked to the city for celebration. Joe and Meredith had saved up a little money, but it was still no use; every available bed in the city was taken. Meredith was exhausted, and Joe's heart was aching at the sight of his girlfriend struggling. Finally, at a shelter on the edge of downtown, Joe was able to convince the manager to let them sleep in a hallway in their sleeping bags.
Halfway through the night, Meredith found herself in unbearable pain.She cried for her mom, for someone to help her through the ordeal. Scared, she prayed for God to keep her, and her son, safe for the night...
Suddenly the bus jolted to stop and Meredith was back in the present. She looked down at the sleeping boy in her arms, overcome with love for her small son. She knew that He was the Hope for her world.
It's not original, I know, writing a modern story of Jesus' birth. But, I often forget that Mary was a young girl, like me. And she went through struggles as she carried the Lord in her womb. I often forget that, although teens/unmarried women getting pregnant in today's society are not uncommon, it would have been a disgrace to Mary and her family for her to be pregnant outside of wedlock. What Mary and Joseph did was remarkable, and they were regular ol' mistake-making humans. Again, like me. Wow.
Each day this advent season, I stumble across another part of the advent story that totally floors me... Sometimes we have to take another look at the stories we think we know so well.
26 December 2008
The Merry Christmas Post... On Boxing Day.
Okay, so, here's the Merry Christmas post.
Too bad it's on Boxing Day.
My Christmas Eve was great. Friends and neighbors came over, like they always do.
Christmas morning was great too. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Mike, Tori and I all spent the morning together, eating a wonderful breakfast and then opening gifts...
The afternoon involved a lot of movie watching, copious amounts of napping and general chillage. A good Christmas all around.
Too bad it's on Boxing Day.
My Christmas Eve was great. Friends and neighbors came over, like they always do.
Christmas morning was great too. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Mike, Tori and I all spent the morning together, eating a wonderful breakfast and then opening gifts...
The afternoon involved a lot of movie watching, copious amounts of napping and general chillage. A good Christmas all around.
My Gingerbread house of the Lord...
(click pictures to enlarge)
(click pictures to enlarge)
Electricity!
And as an added bonus...
Me playing some Christmas music on the accordion!
Hope that everyone had a very merry Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year!
25 December 2008
Trip over something and suddenly I'm in over my head...
First off, merry Christmas.
Second, this will not be my true 'merry Christmas' post, most likely. That will come either later tonight or tomorrow... Complete with pictures, possibly even video. :O
* * *
So, as some people may have noticed...
I used to have a blog. Then I deleted it. Now, mysteriously, it is back. In case you were wondering why it's returned, here are some possible reasons why...
1. I like sharing my ideas.
I don't care much who I share them with, or if people actually even READ them.
The fact that there is the possibility that someone (anyone, technically) could be reading this post, my thoughts and ideas, really excites me.
2. I hate feeling alone.
You know when you are in a room, full of people, and yet you feel so alone? I feel like this quite frequently. I like being alone, but I don't like being lonely. It's a hard balance, and I think some people confuse the two things sometimes. My friend Matt posted on loneliness just over a month ago... And it's gotten me thinking. I don't want to be lonely anymore. I think that I want more people to know me. And not superficially know me. Actually know me. One thing though: I don't plan on revealing myself or anything on this blog... But practice makes perfect, and if I'm going to start letting people getting to know me, I should start practicing.
3. I used to think that people only wanted to here about interesting things...
I don't think I gave people enough credit. I decided to not even share what was going on in my life because I figured it would bore them/they would think I was wasting there time. Maybe, people don't care about awesome or cool things going on in my life... Maybe, just maybe, they actually care about me.
4. Writing posts makes me feel like a good writer.
...Just putting it out there.
* * *
I do lots of my thinking in my shower...
Correction:
I get a lot of thoughts in my shower, which causes me to think about them for the rest of the day...
(I have to write them down as soon as I'm out of the shower though, or else I'll forget what I was thinking by the time I'm finished getting ready)
The other day I was thinking this...
What would it be like to be alone for Christmas? I've been blessed to have family/friends with me every Christmas. Over the years, the numbers have declined, some traditions changed, but, in essence, my Christmas has been the same as long as I can remember.
Let alone being alone for Christmas, what would it be like to be alone, knowing your family is in the city, doing something without you...?
I won't share my thoughts on the question unless you ask, but that's just what's been floating around in my head the past week or so....
* * *
Heard this little piece during a lecture a few years back, stumbled across it on the web a few weeks ago...
I was hungry,
And you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.
I was imprisoned,
And you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked,
And in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick,
And you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless,
And you preached a sermon on the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely,
And you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God
But I am still very hungry – and lonely – and cold.
Every time I read it, it hits me hard.
So true, so true...
I pray to God to change things, and then just wait for Him, or someone else, to do something.
A man looked around him in a city
street and saw a little girl poorly
dressed, shivering, and near
starving.
He was angry with God
and demanded: “Why don’t you do
something about this?” But God
did not answer.
The man went on, and saw a
wretched old man in the gutter.
Again he cried out: “ Why don’t
you do something?” But God was
silent.
In the middle of the night God
spoke to the man. He said gently,
“I have already done something
about these things. I made YOU,
with eyes to see, ears to hear,
and strong hands to help.”
I want/need to do something. For my sake, yours, and theirs.
~ The Pee
Second, this will not be my true 'merry Christmas' post, most likely. That will come either later tonight or tomorrow... Complete with pictures, possibly even video. :O
* * *
So, as some people may have noticed...
I used to have a blog. Then I deleted it. Now, mysteriously, it is back. In case you were wondering why it's returned, here are some possible reasons why...
1. I like sharing my ideas.
I don't care much who I share them with, or if people actually even READ them.
The fact that there is the possibility that someone (anyone, technically) could be reading this post, my thoughts and ideas, really excites me.
2. I hate feeling alone.
You know when you are in a room, full of people, and yet you feel so alone? I feel like this quite frequently. I like being alone, but I don't like being lonely. It's a hard balance, and I think some people confuse the two things sometimes. My friend Matt posted on loneliness just over a month ago... And it's gotten me thinking. I don't want to be lonely anymore. I think that I want more people to know me. And not superficially know me. Actually know me. One thing though: I don't plan on revealing myself or anything on this blog... But practice makes perfect, and if I'm going to start letting people getting to know me, I should start practicing.
3. I used to think that people only wanted to here about interesting things...
I don't think I gave people enough credit. I decided to not even share what was going on in my life because I figured it would bore them/they would think I was wasting there time. Maybe, people don't care about awesome or cool things going on in my life... Maybe, just maybe, they actually care about me.
4. Writing posts makes me feel like a good writer.
...Just putting it out there.
* * *
I do lots of my thinking in my shower...
Correction:
I get a lot of thoughts in my shower, which causes me to think about them for the rest of the day...
(I have to write them down as soon as I'm out of the shower though, or else I'll forget what I was thinking by the time I'm finished getting ready)
The other day I was thinking this...
What would it be like to be alone for Christmas? I've been blessed to have family/friends with me every Christmas. Over the years, the numbers have declined, some traditions changed, but, in essence, my Christmas has been the same as long as I can remember.
Let alone being alone for Christmas, what would it be like to be alone, knowing your family is in the city, doing something without you...?
I won't share my thoughts on the question unless you ask, but that's just what's been floating around in my head the past week or so....
* * *
Heard this little piece during a lecture a few years back, stumbled across it on the web a few weeks ago...
I was hungry,
And you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.
I was imprisoned,
And you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked,
And in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick,
And you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless,
And you preached a sermon on the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely,
And you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God
But I am still very hungry – and lonely – and cold.
Author Unknown (as far as I know)
Every time I read it, it hits me hard.
So true, so true...
I pray to God to change things, and then just wait for Him, or someone else, to do something.
A man looked around him in a city
street and saw a little girl poorly
dressed, shivering, and near
starving.
He was angry with God
and demanded: “Why don’t you do
something about this?” But God
did not answer.
The man went on, and saw a
wretched old man in the gutter.
Again he cried out: “ Why don’t
you do something?” But God was
silent.
In the middle of the night God
spoke to the man. He said gently,
“I have already done something
about these things. I made YOU,
with eyes to see, ears to hear,
and strong hands to help.”
I want/need to do something. For my sake, yours, and theirs.
~ The Pee
24 December 2008
Post #1 or First White Christmas in 37 years
Welcome back to the inside of my brain.
I'm not sure what I'll do with this blog, but, in any case...
Merry Christmas.
Inspired by this time of year, I thought I'd post a happy little Christmas tune, followed by my thoughts.
I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear sleigh bells in the snow
I don't know about you, but the only thing I'm listening for is the snow plow. Definitely no bells there.
I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
with every christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your christmases be white
Yea, so, obviously this song has a love of sarcasm. Wishing that your days are merry AND your Christmases are white?! Comm'on. That's an oxymoron. You can't have merry days and snow. In my opinion, it just ain't possible.
And may all your christmases be white (All your christmases be white)
And may all your christmases be white (All your christmases be white)
And may all your christmases be
(All your christmases be white)
(All your christmases be white)
Obviously I hate whoever I am singing this song to.
I wish evil things upon them. Evil things like snow.
* * *
In other news, I am building an epic gingerbread house. It may fail, it may not. Currently I am working on electricity. We'll see how that goes. Stay tuned for pictures chronicling the building process.
* * *
Bahumbug.
~The Pee
I'm not sure what I'll do with this blog, but, in any case...
Merry Christmas.
Inspired by this time of year, I thought I'd post a happy little Christmas tune, followed by my thoughts.
I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear sleigh bells in the snow
I don't know about you, but the only thing I'm listening for is the snow plow. Definitely no bells there.
I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
with every christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your christmases be white
Yea, so, obviously this song has a love of sarcasm. Wishing that your days are merry AND your Christmases are white?! Comm'on. That's an oxymoron. You can't have merry days and snow. In my opinion, it just ain't possible.
And may all your christmases be white (All your christmases be white)
And may all your christmases be white (All your christmases be white)
And may all your christmases be
(All your christmases be white)
(All your christmases be white)
Obviously I hate whoever I am singing this song to.
I wish evil things upon them. Evil things like snow.
* * *
In other news, I am building an epic gingerbread house. It may fail, it may not. Currently I am working on electricity. We'll see how that goes. Stay tuned for pictures chronicling the building process.
* * *
Bahumbug.
~The Pee