christmas, baking & hope

Rachelle had this meme on her blog and I liked it so well, I decided to be a copy cat!

1.What is your favorite Christmas carol?
As in Christian-esque? Probably O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Not that I love the melody so much but I LOVE the lyrics!

2.What is your favorite secular Christmas song?
I like a lot of these but to name just a couple - Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Baby. Really.

3.What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Classic - A Charlie Brown Christmas.
But 'The Nativity Story' really is a good one!

4.What is your favorite Christmas memory growing up?
I'm pathetic with memories. Generally I live in the now or more likely the future. A tradition I remember is going to my Grandparents on Christmas Eve and Grandpa reading the Christmas Story and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'. I probably remember that because it still happens - though I'm not usually there.

5.Do you shop early or are you a late shopper?
Whenever the money is there. For the first 8 years of marriage we'd get a Christmas bonus (a big'un) around the 15th of December so that's when we'd shop. Now, I have most things done but need to finish up a few for my own kiddos - most likely that will happen in the week before Christmas. :)

6.Is your tree real or artificial?
Real!

7.Do you still put tinsel on your tree?
Nah.

8.Do you read the Christmas story every year on Christmas day?
Not religiously, but sometimes. This year I'd like to have the older girls each read part of it aloud.

9.Would you consider yourself to be a Grinch?
Uh, no.

10.Are you more like Scrooge or Father Christmas?
I suppose Father Christmas.

11.Do you make homemade gifts for friends and family?
Sometimes. One thing, that's become a tradition, is I put together a small calender with family photos for the Grandparents.

12.What was the worst Christmas present you ever received?
Not sure. I will say it definitely did NOT come from My Beloved. He has been amazing with Christmas gifts....even before we did our own shopping! :)

13.What was your favorite Christmas present ever?
My diamond solitaire My Beloved gave to me in 2004. It's real, though not big or super expensive. But just months following that Christmas our lives changed drastically - moving away from our amazing church home to pastor here, in our 'place called there'. It marks a major life transition for me (us).

______________________________________________________________

Today, while baking 4 different kinds of cookies, I listened to 3 of Brian Zahnd's past messages. I HIGHLY recommend "Sing Before the Gods". It is a message of HOPE. I think of Kimmie, who is dealing with adoption woes. I think of reallyniceday who recently posted about living in the land of OH - like me. I think of Karlie who is in transition time with schooling. Anyone who needs some encouragement today or will need some someday - take some time to listen to this message!