a.rose

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...

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 Thanksgi...

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 cre...

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!!" ...