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There are only a few days left until it is Christmas Eve, that holy night, that most holy of all nights. In a few days we will celebrate the night long long ago when t he stars were brightly shining.  It was the night of our dear Savior’s birth.  Long had lain the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.  A thrill of hope, and the weary world rejoiced! For yonder broke a new and glorious morn.  Fall on your knees, and hear the angel voices! It was a night divine, when Christ was borne.  Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise his holy name! Christ is the Lord, let ever, ever praise we. (1) Our Christmas story started with the trumpeting of angels.  “Glory to the newborn king!” They proclaimed. “Peace on earth, and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.  Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies with angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!” (2) Their audience was

My family never really had traditions for the holidays when I was growing up.  (I am not complaining, Mom and Dad, you know we didn't.)  I sort of had the impression that traditions were too hard to keep up in this fast paced, chaotic world.  Who had time to remember what they did last year, and how can you know what your schedule will be like this year and does anyone really want to do the same things every year, year after year?  I mean, that's soooooo predictable, you know? Devin on the other hand, is like Mr. Tradition.  He talks about our traditions and you can always hear the word forming, shaping itself into all capitol letters because THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.  The idea of tradition, to Devin, is beautiful. Still, we don't have a lot of traditions, I think we have just enough. Just enough that they don't become overwhelming, exhausting, and overshadow the actual event they are supposedly celebrating. We do the family run the day of Thanksgiving, we

I, like just about everyone else on this planet, have at times bemoaned that life isn't fair.  To which I've been told, "life isn't fair." And you can do either of two things with that statement, you can shrug your shoulders and say, "Yeah, I guess not.  Too bad."  Or you can rise up in righteous indignation and try to take on every case, and shoulder the burdens of every injustice.  I think one is exhausting in its absolute apathy, and one is exhausting in its entirety. When I was in school, studying to be an elementary school teacher, I had a class where we discussed the "fair" issue.  My teacher made a point that I will never forget.  He said we had to stop thinking about "fairness" as a substitute word for "equal".  Fair could not mean equal, he taught us, but we had to look at it as "giving to a person what they need."  To illustrate, if I were to think of "fair" as making sure that every person

Some people have really cool blogs, like my friend Alyx.  I've read through her archives, because, well when I don't get to the library often enough that's what I do.  I read alllllllllll the posts on people's blogs. Yeah. Sometimes she does posts where she takes a picture of what she is wearing, and it is always really, really cute.  Like, she just wears nice clothes, you know? I have other friends that do this as well.  And they always look just so good. You all know, I never really look that good. I mean, sometimes I pull it together and I look decent enough, but I never look "trendy" or "like I belong in a fashion magazine".  Because I don't.  And I could say that I don't have the time, or the money, but really it's just the effort I don't want to put in. Because I could make the time, and I could save the money, but I just don't have what it takes within to me to care that much.  I wish I did.  When I see pictures of

I was thinking about different posts I want to write for my blog, writing them in my head, then rewriting them, as we all do, but then I never sat down and actually wrote them. For over a week now, no posts.  Usually when I go this long without posting something, it is because I am pregnant.  Everyone knows that. I am not pregnant. The only other reason for not posting is because I'm on vacation or have family in town, and even then sometimes I like to have posts scheduled, or I just write up a quick, silly one. Because my blog is one of my favorite things about my life.  I was contemplating why, what is it that I love so much?  Why does it give me such a sense of satisfaction? Of accomplishment?  I mean, what have I really achieved here to feel proud about? My working theory right now is that it is because I don't have school to go to anymore.  I miss the teachers with their plans and expectations, and I miss thinking and struggling, working creatively, feeling my o

Basically, you are a winner.  Every single person who entered the ThanksGIVEaway won something.  YAY!  Kristen won the Velocity perfume Nicole won the acorn magnets Stacy won the Thinking Of You perfume Courtney won the Journey perfume My mother won the Snow White watercolor Alison won the Cinderella With Mice watercolor Angela won the Cinderella Scrubbing watercolor Heather won the Ariel with Green Legs watercolor Lindsey won the chocolates Kaylin won the Blue Bird Pillow Alyx won the Green Bird Pillow Angela won the Hair Bows Michelle won the Three Black Mice on Rainbow Spool of Thread watercolor Alison won the Cinderella and the Rainbow Dress watercolor Congratulations!  If you don't think I have your address, send me an email or a facebook message. Thanks for playing!

I got this email today. Dear Innovative Chef, First, can I just start off by saying how excited I am to write you a letter?! I have watched every single one of your shows, and I am so inspired by how you always figure out a way to get the food made regardless of what ingredient or cookery item is missing. Amazing!! I would be honored if you could take the time to help me with my dilemma. And I'm practically hyperventilating with the thought that perhaps my problem recipe might be featured on your show one day! Okay, so I would like to make Tomato, Beef, and Barley Soup. The recipe calls for quick-cooking barley and tomato soup. I have old fashioned barley and home canned tomato juice. In the recipe, I combine the cooked beef, soup, water, celery, and barley. I heat it to boiling, let it simmer for 15 minutes until the barley is tender, add frozen vegetables, and then cook for additional 6 to 7 minutes, and then the soup is ready to eat. I assume it will take a lot longer with ol

A couple of days ago the family went on an outing to Menards.  Yes, it was about as fun as you're imagining.  Devin agonized for long minutes over every item in the electrical department, trying to figure out if it was what he needed.  Or not.  Or was it? And finally the girls just couldn't take it any more, and they had been begging me and begging me to go see the Christmas trees.  Menards is a magical place, full of tools and pieces of pipe and lumber, but it also has clothes, and books, and some groceries!  AND in the very center of the store at Christmas time, they set up a huge Christmas display with all the trees and decorations you could ever want for your whole house for your whole life. And so we went and spent our time there while Daddy scratched his head in electrical.  There was a nativity scene set up, and I said, "Oh look girls! See who is over here!" They came over and Hanna said, "Oh mommy! It's Mary and Jesus and their baby!!" H

There are always choices in life.  Say, when your children pull the shoes out of the closet every time you put them away, you have gads of options:  You could 1. Scream 2. Leave the shoes out 3. Put them away again 4. Laugh 5. Take pictures I've done all of those things, except the screaming, but I'm young and so are they, I figure there's plenty of time for that. My favorite is when I choose to laugh about it. ALSO, we're almost ready to close the ThanksGIVEaway and announce winners, have you put in your bid for one of Hallie's or Hanna's watercolors? They are a hot item this time around!

Maybe you've heard?  I've been writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month, and it ends tomorrow.  I asked my friends on facebook to challenge me with words to use in my last push to finish.  They really came through for me with a whole list of crazy words.  To thank them, I wrote this chapter.  I put all of their words in, except for a handful that I had already used in a different chapter.  So this is for you, friends. Thanks for supporting me when probably what you really wanted to do was type in all caps, "WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR NOVEL."  But if you do care, check out my web badge off to the side. That's my prize for winning.---------------------------------> And now, I present to you, a chapter in my novel.  Also, you may want to read this with a dictionary.  The words I was instructed to use are in bold.  ALSO, this is a REALLY rough draft, so it is fine if you criticize me (which I really don't mind) just don't hate, ok? 62 Years

Turns out I sort of thought maybe children's hair cuts didn't cost that much money.  And maybe I have a skewed sense of "what doesn't cost that much money".  I called all over town and was stunned by the prices they were charging. Also, I have never once in my life walked in to get a haircut without my mother with me.  True story. What that means is I had no idea what to do about a tip.  How does it work? I kept putting it off and putting it off because I just didn't want to deal with any of it, but the little snips on the side of her head were really starting to bother me, so I got them all bundled up this morning. Which, by the way, is the most frustrating part of late fall. I got them way overbundled because yesterday it was windy and snowing and literally freezing outside, and today it was balmy and almost nice.  Picture me, then, wearing way too many clothes, bulky and overheated and uncomfortable, sweating  because I don't know how to tip,

You know what? November really has a lot going on. Daylight Savings Time. Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. Movember. My brother's Birthday. and so on, you see. For me, the real big thing this November has been my participation in the insanity that is NaNoWriMo. (National Novel Writing Month). I mean, who writes 50,000 words in 30 days?  Crazy people do. Here's what I've learned. 1. A chapter can be any length I want, I'm the author! 2. I can set up the chapters however I want, I'm the author! 3. I have to make my characters say things.  Apparently, I'm the author. 4. I have to make my characters move around, otherwise they don't do anything. 5. It isn't actually all that easy. And now you know what I know about writing a novel.

ThanksGIVEaway here! Devin and I are fairly confident in our Thanksgiving meal, we know our dishes, we each have our roles, and it is a really low key, low stress, delicious day for us.  In fact, last night Devin was lamenting that he always felt leading up to Thanksgiving like it was going to be this wild hustle and bustle in the kitchen, and then he was always let down because there was never enough to actually do.  (Please keep in mind, we make every single dish from scratch.  So basically, he's crazy when he thinks there isn't enough to do.  I think there's plenty!) Long time readers of my blog (all three of you, hi!) might remember a post I did about the "Innovative Chef" .  Well, this morning he rose again in triumph and glory. It was like this, see.  We got out the roasting pan (one of his students gave him a few years ago, they are always giving us presents...)  and I put the vegetables in the bottom while Devin fought with the large bird in the sin

Don't forget to check out this year's ThanksGIVEaway ! It is practically criminal to have a sunny day in the middle of November, warm enough to go outside in just a t-shirt, and then NOT go outside. Am I right?  First we had to get everyone dressed. this included all of the real living human beings, and the baby dolls as well, of course.  Hallie was too hot in what she was wearing (one long sleeve t-shirt, and three short sleeve t-shirts - she got herself dressed this morning), and I had to take my top layer off as we walked as well. Next we had to get all of the strollers ready.  Snacks, purses, sunglasses, and Hallie had to draw a map. That's her newest thing, drawing maps for us so we don't get lost when we go on walks or bike rides around the block.  Every so often she'll pull it out and slowly unfold it and look at it for a moment.  Then she'll boldly declare, "The map says when we see a turn, we should turn."  "The map says do

Hanna was sitting on my lap in front of the computer.  I think she was begging for "Phigeas and Ferv" (Phineas and Ferb) and I was telling her that we were not going to watch any shows.  I think I was trying to organize our finances, or trying to write in my novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  Suddenly I paused in whatever I was doing, my attention diverted by the sound of scissors snipping behind me.  I trust my girls with scissors, they will spend hours cutting shapes out of paper, and I have never had any trouble with them aside from the time Hanna cut a bunch of tiny holes in my favorite of her dresses.  But I had a very stern discussion with her about that, and after she was grounded from scissors for a while I let them have their scissors back. Am I naive? Am I too trusting? Or is this just one of those inevitable childhood things, like falling off your bike and scraping your knee, or dropping your ice cream cone and picking it up and eating it a

We are all struggling with something.  Each of us has battled something, at some time, in life.  Do not give up. I started crying when he said, "You feel like giving up and then all of a sudden you have someone standing there saying, "Come on. Let's go..." Which part made you cry?

I've been working on my novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I'll tell you what, man, that whole thing is intense.  It's like three minute fiction on serious steroids.  I have a little over 40,000 words still to write, but I just needed a break ladies, a break! So, I'm writing over here.  Yeah, that's how I take a break.  But see, you guys don't demand 50,000 words from me.  You don't even WANT that many words from me on here, am I right? I have this feeling floating around somewhere inside my guts that you are feeling like you haven't had a good solid glimpse into the lives of the H's lately, and you're craving some of that craziness. I will indulge you. Heather has been given a new nickname, Bugeater.  Picture this: Hallie and Hanna streaming through the house, screaming "Bugeater! The Bugeater is coming! Hurry, get away! Here comes the Bugeater!"  and hot on their heels comes Heather, crawling furiously aft

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I know a lot of people are tired of this election, and I thought I would be as well.  Yet all I feel is excitement as I think about going to my polling place tomorrow, picking up my ballot and pencil, filling in my little bubbles, and then proudly wearing my sticker throughout the day. I love this country.  I love the voices we are allowed to have, and I love that we don't have to agree, but we can still choose to get along.  I don't know how you are going to vote, but tomorrow I am filling in a few circles on both sides of the party lines. (In the above picture, Fischer is a Republican and Kerrey is a Democrat.)

So they posted the official winner of the Three Minute Fiction contest for NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. If you'd like to read that, you can find it here .  If you want to read my personal favorites from the "favorites" posted throughout the competition, you can find them here and here and here . And, here was my contribution.  If you've read the entries that I linked to above you'll see that mine was quite, quite different.  I was pleased with it nonetheless.  I'd love to hear your feedback, if you loved it, hated it, whatever you thought about it, let me know! "I scurry out of my dark sanctuary as quickly as I can. My leg is finally starting to heal enough that I am confident I can get what I need and return to the darkness before anyone finds me. I have to hurry to get the crumbs before the vacuums come. My leg still makes it hard for me to move as quickly as I once did. It feels strange to be out in the open

First of all, I have been having a lot of fun writing on Alison's new blog, have you checked it out?  Here is a post about a delicious pumpkin treat we love to eat around this house, and here is the post I wrote today. And, quick side note about a previous blog post: I went to the Eid al-Adha festival that I mentioned, and I wore the long blue skirt and a white long sleeved sweater.  I am glad that is what I wore, so thanks for your input and suggestions!  There was quite a mix of people there, my friend said there were people there from so many countries around the world.  It was interesting to see, even the very traditional Muslims all had different styles and manners of dressing.  There were a few things in common of course - namely, the covering of their heads (for the women).  It is an interesting experience being completely in the minority, and one that I haven't experienced in a while.  Perhaps not even since living in Brasil have I been so completely in the minori