My Afflation

Just listen. Even after all these years, Keith Green is still a powerful witness. And this is my favorite Easter Song

I don't know what it is about this week, this month. Around Thanksgiving I was looking forward to Christmas, and now that it has arrived, not so much. I'm ready to go into hermit mode. I am tired of the kids asking for things that they *know* I can't afford. Yes, me, not Santa. I'm not sure if my daughter still believes in Santa, but she certainly believes in her Amazon Wish List. And Josh! Since being in Vegas he has called for money, more money (ok, it's so he can buy Christmas gifts for everyone else but he could have put *SOME* effort into earning his allowance!) my external HDD or lots of DVDs to burn stuff from my brother, and FINALLY, once to find out if I was coming tonight. And could I bring ... I forget what. Joy hasn't bothered to call once, but that's ok. She's 6 and I don't recall wanting to talk to my parents when I was with my grandmother either. I guess the true source of my sense of Grinchiness is my complete and utter inability ...

First of all, what is a white elephant? White elephant gifts are traditionally gifts considered extremely tacky, or that do not fit the tastes of the recipient, and that are given by a friend or close relative (such as a mother-in-law) and therefore cannot be returned or exchanged at the store without potentially offending the giver. The thought behind a white elephant gift exchange is to give everyone a chance to rid themselves of these tacky gifts--and invariably gaining a new one! -- WikiHow The Rules Select who will open a gift first.  Decisions, decisions... Have the next person choose and open a gift. Now this is where it gets interesting. The person has a choice of whether to keep the gift they opened, or to "steal" an already opened gift from a previous person. If they steal a gift, they take that gift and give their unwanted gift to the person they stole from. That person then gets the option of stealing from someone else, and this continues until somebody decides t...

I wish I could post some pictures with this, but I only took some of the tiny Cornish game hens. I fit four into the roasting pan that we usually use for the turkey. Overall, it was a good, calm, quiet Thanksgiving. Totally out of character for me, but not in a bad way. AND I got to go Black Friday shopping with my mom, something we have never done before. Luckily we avoided being trampled or shot. The Menu: Cornish Game Hens Candied Yams Mashed Potatoes Roast Vegetables (corn, red potatoes, fresh green beans, crookneck squash) Wheat Rolls Cranberry Sauce No stuffing, but we had so many other starches we all agreed that stuffing was overkill. We ate late for thanksgiving, closer to 6 than 3, but in the meantime we watched Wall*E, the kids fought intermittently, I had a Mike's or two and settled into having a small Thanksgiving. And even though I could never live in Lancaster , going to my mom's always restores my spirit a little. So yes, Annette, it was ...

-- Forwarded Message -- A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I...