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27 December 2008

Vacation!

We're on our way!

26 December 2008

After Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[Wise Men] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[Messiah] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel
.' [Micah 5:2]"

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

25 December 2008

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1-20 (King James Version)

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

24 December 2008

Happy Christmas Eve

Hebrews 1:1-6 (New International Version)

1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father
" [Psalm 2:7] ?
Or again,
"I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son
" [2 Samuel 7:14; I Chronicles 17:13] ?
6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him." [Deuteronomy 32:43]

23 December 2008

Happy Christmas Eve Eve

Philippians 2:1-11 (New International Version)

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

18 December 2008

Linkage, Volume 46

Six Famous Siblings
lesser-known siblings of some very famous people

Iron Man and Me
how a Flickr photo ended up in a feature film

Ads Add Up
teacher sells ads on tests to cover printing costs

Migrant Mother
daughter in famous photograph talks about growing up in the Great Depression

Phrase Science
Uncle John explains the science behind some popular phrases

Scrabble
60 facts for its 60th birthday

Kitchen Myths
debunking urban legends about cooking

05 December 2008

Pretty Karate


Candy got her sparring gear today for her karate class. She was soooo excited! There were four color choices (black, red, blue, and pink), and Mom chose pink. Candy likes pink best.
She said, "Hey, Mommy, Look at me! I look so pretty!"
She is the prettiest karate student I have ever seen!

04 December 2008

Christmas Meme

What is a Meme?

Got this list from Debbie over at Finding Normal...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both - depends on the present. I really like wrapping in something reusable, like a scarf or basket or tote bag.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. Preferably pre-lit. Preferably LEDs - they never burn out!

3. When do you put up the tree? I put up Mom's on Thanksgiving weekend. My own tree hasn't left the attic in a few years...

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime in January. As long as it's down before Valentine's Day...

5. Do you like eggnog? No!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? An orange. Yes, a piece of fruit. One of my Christmas books had a picture of a child's stocking (okay, it was actually a baby bear's stocking...) with an orange in the top, so I asked Santa for an orange in mine. I didn't even like oranges, but I just knew that stockings were *supposed* to have oranges in the top! I got one every year after that!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents. Although Mom has given me some very specific requests this year...

8. Easiest person to buy for? My sisters. They love it all!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Lots of them. I would like to leave them out all year, but there simply isn't room in my little house. Mom leaves hers out all the time.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I love getting Christmas cards in the mail, but I have never sent any. Maybe I should try to send some out this year.

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't remember it, but my parents told me that one year I asked Santa for a Slinky and was *extremely* upset when he brought me two of them. One was orange and the other was purple. I cried and said that I only wanted one!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street (the original black-and-white version, of course). Holiday Inn is a close second.

13. When do you start shopping forChristmas? January. That's when the best sales on Christmas-themed items are.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I gave my little sister a bunch of scented lotions that I got over the years (my dry, allergy-prone skin needs unscented, medicated lotion).

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Grandma's cookies!

16. Lights on the tree? See #2.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Away in a Manger.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to my hometown.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer..."

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? New jammies on Christmas Eve (sometimes with accessories like robes or slippers or matching doll jammies), but all of the other presents get opened on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Doing Mom's shopping (and returns) for her. She lives in a small town, while I live in the big city with big stores and malls. (But I do it anyway, with a smile, 'cause I love you, Mom! Lots and lots!)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Grandma works at Hallmark, so we have lots of those ornaments as well as lots of other sentimental ones. Our big tree was always a hodgepodge. Mom now does themes on smaller trees (one little tree has angels, one Disney, one Nutcracker, etc) and all the rest go on the big tree. Most of my own ornaments are Barbie, Snoopy, and Looney Tunes.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? All of it! Any time family and food are together, it's my favorite!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I just want big smiles from my little sisters when they get to try out their gifts from me.


Your turn! Leave me a comment so I can come read your answers!

02 December 2008

Linkage, Volume 45

Zero-G Coffee Cup
astronaut invented a space-friendly cup

Hedge Mazes
15 of the Most Amazing Mazes and Labyrinths

'Dog'tor Degree
labrador received an honorary law degree from Baylor University

Illegal Internet
an Italian judge ruled that all websites with headlines are illegal newspapers

Squanto
Thanksgiving history lesson, from a Native American perspective