Merry Christmas!

One of my favorite moments of Christmas is proceeding into a candlelit sanctuary on Christmas Eve, singing “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” accompanied only by handbells. That moment encompasses the mystery and hopefulness of Christmas. May you all have a day filled with many blessings!   Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He...
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Thanks and Giving

I’m sitting at my kitchen table, the smells of fresh bread permeating the air. Nearby are sleeping dogs and a happy family. In a bit, we’ll drive over the river and through the woods to one of the grandmother’s houses (my sister’s MIL). We will have plenty to eat today, plenty to laugh about, plenty to share. This weekend will bring the Florida-Florida State game, Wicked’s Chex Mix, my Daddy,...
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I’m a Mean One

Unless you grew up under a rock, you recognize this image from the incomparable How the Grinch Stole Christmas holiday special, characters by the inimitable Dr. Seuss, animation and direction by the peerless Chuck Jones. I am totally feeling the Grinch as he stares balefully down on Whoville right now. I’m sitting in a Starbucks and getting blasted by Christmas music. Note the date above. We...
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War and Remembrance

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold...
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Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!

mimi isn’t big on April Fool’s Day pranks (although the rubber band around the sink sprayer trick has proven reliable for years now), but foolery is something else entirely. Spending four years as the designated Court Jester at my college’s annual Christmas Madrigal Dinner didn’t happen by accident, you know. Neither was being cast as Puck in a freshman year production of A Midsummer Night’s...
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