Lessons Learned this Holiday Season:

1. Having a budget at Christmas sucks. But I had one this year, and wouldn't you know that I stuck to it and came withing $30 of my goal. seeing as how I like to find "the perfect thing" for everyone, no matter what the cost... I can't believe that I succeeded. But succeed I did! I DID!

2. If you aren't paying attention, it is quite possible to consume and entire small summer sausage by yourself. Wow. That's really gross.

3. Not everyone gets 2-3 weeks off for Christmas. In fact, most people don't. Why Americans can't be like the Europeans and go on "holiday" for a month, I do not know. But I think we should. Leaving work and driving 10 hours in the dead of night and then heading back to work the day after Christmas ist nicht sehr gute. Oh well. That's life.

4. Careful...If by chance you find yourself driving in the dead of night, screaming/singing in your car, you should pay attention to how fast you are driving.

5. Mitsubishi's can go really fast. Especially downhill.

6. Procrastination tends to be a part of this special time of year, but that doesn't mean you should procrastinate putting gas in your car. The last place you want to find yourself is in the middle of Arkansas, in the middle of the night, 16 miles to the nearest gas station, sweating bullets and praying.

7. For many, the holidays are the most depressing time of year.

8."God as my witness, I will never be hungry again!" ok. I could write a novel on this one. Obviously I finally saw the movie, and honestly, I liked it. However, Scarlett is a bitch. (sorry.. but she is!) I still cannot get over the fact that Rhett could ever love her. Granted, they are two of a kind, but seriously, is that what it takes? Jules and I joke that witchy women are the only ones men ever seem to stay with.. but now I'm really starting to wonder. I mean, there's Rhett: rich, gorgeous,(note: I don't think he's that gorgeous... but for 1939,I suppose he was all the rage), obnoxious.. and he's head over for this woman. He stays with her through her financial distress, emotional breakdowns, and self-obsessed behavior. I supose men may stay around for the chase of things, the allure of an unattainable woman. Whatever. In real life, the man would have left the minute he heard she owed $300 in taxes on her home. And HELLO the woman is obsessed with another man THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MOVIE. I guess that makes her sexy. Hell if I know. The whole thing just makes me mad. Because we all know that she found a way to get him to stay. We all know it. And sure enough, she never was hungry again.

9. Going back to work after Christmas is much worse than returning to school after Christmas.

10. Harry and David pears are AMAZING! Oh my gosh. Yes.

11. Wii may as well market itself as weight-loss tool.

12. When it comes to Christmas dinner, some have ham, others have turkey, but Oklahoman's have prime rib.

13. Braving the mall/movie theatre in your hometown during your christmas vacation is an art in and of itself. The skill of spotting people you know before they spot you and then finding a place to hide is one that very few people have mastered. I myself managed 3 out of 4.. I'd say that's not too bad.

14. Sometimes a tear is needed. There may come a time when you come home at night to your empty house on your empty street and you sit down to eat a piece of meatloaf that you bought shrinkwrapped from the store down the street... you'll go in, sit down at the table, grab your phone and laptop for company, and begin to eat the most salty piece of meatloaf you have ever encountered. Then your cats will begin to bother you, begging for a bite (they are unaware of the high sodium levels, of course) and there you'll sit, and you'll have this strong unexplainable, yet overwhelming urge to cry. Don't be afraid to give in (as if you had a choice). Really, your body needs to deal with the sodium somehow.

15. Moving blows. There's something to be said about packing up your life just to go somewhere else and unpack it again until several months pass when you'll repeat the entire process over and over and over again. "...like a rolling stone." Yeah, feels really crappy Bob, thanks for asking though.

16. Lots of churches talk about "hope" at Christmas. But very few mention the reality that sometimes people do put their hope in Jesus, and they trust Him with the most precious pieces of their soul, even when it doesn't come easy.. and yet it seems He crushes them still.

17. Cell phones are annoying. I don't know how many different ring tones I put up with while shopping, (not to mention the people on their phones in the store "What? suzie wants which color? HUH? Oh, ok.. we'll go with pink... If you're sure!.. ok ok") but geez, hang up and live your life. Sheesh. I'm proud to say that I haven't had my phone a year yet, but so far my opinion of them has remained the same.

18. In general, people really seem to like broccoli casserole.

19. Furniture is overpriced.

20. Some people simply care more than others. Especially about the naming of the 7th and final Harry Potter book. Yay!

21. There are too many songs out there that pressure people about their New Years Eve plans.

22. Patty Griffin's new cd comes out on my birthday. yeah yeah, you're all wondering where the "lesson" is in this.. well, there isn't one. Just thought I'd drop a hint. So I guess the lesson is: Every statement has a meaning... and sometimes people are subliminal.

American Woman.

I've spent 4th of July in varoius places over the years: Scotland, Hawaii, Germany, Oklahoma, Louisiana... etc. But today marks my first 4th of July in Nashville.

The day started out rough with not much to do and lots of lying around. Then after a trip to Target I came home to make kebabs and deviled eggs along with Jello. Woohoo. After watching some 24 and taking a trip to Sonic for a route 44 diet cherry limeade, I decided that I could go for some fireworks, as it was about that time.

Now, I should preface this by saying that 4th of July is probably my favorite "holiday" after Christmas. My expectations are high for this day. And I'll be honest, I tried to ignore it all day in fear that I would be disappointed.

But no.

Around 8:45 I ventured up to the top of Belmont's parking gargage (along with half of the neighborhood) From the roof you can see the entire city, and it was like being surrounded by fireworks as neighborhood after neighborhood set them off. Someone had set up speakers so that we could hear the broadcast from downtown and be alerted when the fireworks were to begin.

Nashville sets of their fireworks right by the river, they even utilize the bridge, continually! And the best part.... the set up the Nashville Symphony down on the river banks and they play live while the technicians release the fireworks to the music. In time. They played a number of classical pieces, the typical classy patriotic songs (no God Bless America or the National Anthem), and the Star Wars theme. It was so cool.

Next year I hope to go downtown to the river bank, because everyone says it's phenomenal. But I have to say, it was pretty cool to watch the show from the roof with the Nashville skyline in view.

Good times.

For now it's off for some more 24, cause nothing says "America" like Jack Bauer blowing people away.

Merry Christmas

There’s just something about Christmas. It’s magical, enchanting even. I’d have to say that it’s my favorite time of year. Everything about the season, the traditions, the decorations, the smells, the sounds, the mystery... it’s wonderful! We got our first touch of snow the other day here in Oklahoma and it finally feels like Christmas. I've survived my numerous trips to the mall, enjoyed the lights around town, absorbed the aroma of fresh goods being baked in the oven, and have even endured the massive amounts of wrapping that I have needed to get done for some time now. It's here. Christmas is upon us. Tonight with my friends and family I will partake in some of the many wonderful Christmas traditions that I have come to know and love.. our Candlelight service at church, the big party at my house afterwards complete with cheesecorn chowder and cider, cookies, tons of kids, the search for "the pickle' and of course, the "talent time." (which I could do without, but alas, traditions are traditions). After everyone leaves my family will then go into our separate spaces to wrap last minute gifts and stocking stuffers.. then I'll sneak out late and put cookies and coffee by the fireplace because even though I know "the truth", there's still a part of me that wishes I still believed in Santa. There is nothing like experiencing the "magic" of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

When I think about the Christmas story I think about peace, love, redemption and wonder... and yes, even it's "magic." But this year particularly I think about it's message of hope.

Going to school at Belmont has been an amazing experience for me thus far, everyone is so talented and it’s quite humbling to be a part of such an extraordinary group of people. But at the same time, being surrounded by stimulating talented individuals 24/7 can become a bit intimidating. You wouldn’t believe it, there are kids here who take the air out of the room when they get up and perform. It’s ridiculous. All you can say is “wow.’ This has been a hard thing for me to deal with because while I feel that God has given me some gifts in this area, I know that I don’t possess THAT kind of talent. I don’t have a “wow” factor. I’m not exceptionally smart, I don’t have a musical gift that will knock your socks off, and I’m certainly not a “knockout” beauty queen! I don’t say this out of self-pity or cynicism, in fact, I really don’t mean to sound negative either. I suppose that I say all of this to give encouragement to all the lonely people out there who think their lives are merely “ordinary.”

With the Christmass story in mind, perhaps this is why I love Mary. She was so.. normal. So everyday. So.. plain. As far as we know she didn’t have some amazing talent, she didn’t have an IQ that was off the charts, and she wasn’t a beauty queen either. She didn’t have a standout “wow” factor, and yet God used her in a spectacular way. God chose to bless her with a “wow-factor” that would forever be remembered. The best part is that she never saw it coming, and I highly doubt that any of her friends or family could have predicted what God had planned for her. She was common. Ordinary. In fact, when I look at the Christmas story it became obvious that all of the main characters were ordinary. From Mary and Joseph, to their parents, to the shepherds, God didn’t leave anyone out!

Some days I just can’t wrap my mind around it. When God sent his son into the world.. his only son.. he put him in the care of ordinary people. He didn’t choose the smartest, the most talented, or the most beautiful individuals in Israel to look after the world’s most precious gift, He didn’t even choose people with prior parenting skills! And the first people to hear the glorious news of Jesus’ birth were shepherds! Lower-middle class workers, doing the night shift no less, were the first to worship the newborn babe!

Christmas is a time of hope. A time of expectation. A time when we can go to God and not only thank Him for His precious gift, but to marvel at the very way He chose to come. Our God is the God of the unexpected, and I for one am tremendously glad that He is. The very fact that He chose ordinary people over kings and queens gives me great hope. So this Christmas I choose not to focus on my shortcomings, no matter what they may be, but rather, I choose to rest peacefully in the hope that if God used ordinary people in extraordinary ways some 2000 years ago, then chances are He’s still using ordinary people today.

And THAT my friends, is enchanting.

"Close my eyes and hold my heart
Cover me and make me something
Change this something normal
Into something beautiful "


In Christ it has all been done.


Merry Christmas.