RINGING IT IN

HAPPY 2008!!!

HOW ODD!

Last night we went to a Chicago Bulls game. The Bulls aren't doing too great this year but it was a very exciting and close game at the end. The odd part was the half-time show. "A dynamic and exciting strength and hand-balancing act" named Duo Design performed. It was very odd, strange, amazing and unbelievable all at the same time. It's difficult to describe so you can just watch for yourself. The most amazing part is the last 10 seconds, so stay with it until the end.

I'M STILL FULL!

Turkey
Ham
Gravy
Cornbread Dressing (NOT stuffing)
Green Beans
Black-Eyed Peas
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cheese Pudding
Rolls
Cranberry Salad
Grape Salad
Ambrosia
Caramel Pecan Pie
Fruit Pie

MERRY, MERRY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.”

Luke 10-14

TO THE STORE!

I just thought this was kinda funny.
For the first time in 6 years, I bought toilet bowl cleaner. And no, it's not because I never clean my toilet!

Before we moved to Chicagoland, we had a house with 3 bathrooms. Shortly after moving to the house, I read a "helpful household tip" in a magazine that it would save cleaning time if you had cleaning supplies in each bathroom so you wouldn't always have to go back and forth between each end of the house. Being the organized person that I am, I decided that was a great idea. So I bought 3 sponges, 3 toilet brushes, 3 bottles of windex, etc. And it actually did save quite a bit of time. However when I went to buy toilet bowl cleaner there was a sale and I ended up buying 6 bottles! And then, of course, shortly after that we decided to move and have lived in places with one bathroom ever since. And this week I used my last bottle of toilet bowl cleaner!

I'm sure there is a lot that can (and probably will) be said about this, but it's probably nothing I haven't already thought.

15 WONDERFUL YEARS

Fifteen years ago, at this exact moment, I was driving to a small town in Louisiana to finish decorating First Baptist Church for our 2:00 wedding ceremony. I'm not sure where my beloved was at this time, but I'm sure it was with PoMonkey friend, Bobby, who was his room-mate at the time. I know people say that their wedding day goes so fast and they don't remember half of it. (Cue the sappy music.) I, however, remember just about every moment and could talk about it endlessly. But I'll spare you. In many ways, it seems just like yesterday, so I can't believe it was actually 15 years ago. I am so blessed to have an incredible and wonderful husband who adores me. Here's to you, Mr. PoMonkey!

CHRISTMAS CAROL TEST

If you're feeling especially festive, you should try your hand at the Chicago Tribune's "So You Think You Know Carols?" quiz. We've been listening to the local 24hr. Christmas music station since November. And I still missed five!

ht: Mr. PoMonkey

TITF #4

Today I'm Thankful For:
my Clarks weather resistant and
waterproof boots!!!

We received our second big snow of the season this weekend and our walk to work was very nice thanks to my boots keeping my tootsies nice, warm and free from snow.

ADVENT MUSIC

I joined the Advent Choir at our new church, and it's been wonderful singing again. We sing from the first balcony so the acoustics are incredible. We are singing several traditional Christmas songs...songs that you don't hear often (or ever) when you're listening to your local 24-hour Christmas radio station. That's a shame because the music and lyrics are just so beautiful.

Still, Still, Still • a traditional Austrian carol; a lullaby

Jesus Sweet, Jesus Mild • a German carol; composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

But I think my favorites are:

All My Heart This Night Rejoices • a German carol; also composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Just read through verse 6 and you'll see why it's one of my favorites...it always gets me.

Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish;
Live to Thee and with Thee, dying, shall not perish;
But shall dwell with Thee for ever,
Far on high, in the joy that can alter never.

Ding Dong! Merrily on High • traditional 16th century music (featured in the movie adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, both the 1949 release and the 1994 remake...SURELY many of you already knew that, right?!?!)

GRADUATION DAY

Well, we're gonna have to find something else to do on Tuesday nights now. Bailey passed her final exam and graduated with flying colors! They provided the diploma, graduation cap, graduation photos, class photos and celebratory doggy ice cream. What fun!

THE PERFECT DRESS

Everyone has to agree. This is the best evening gown EVER! If only I had somewhere to wear it this holiday season. But then we'd also have to find something complementary for Mr. PoMonkey to wear.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE

Well, the votes are in and the judging is complete. We have a winner! He is a very worthy champion as I'm sure everyone will agree. Plus his victory was determined pretty quickly by the vast PoMonkeyers out there.

Congrats,

Vince
Schvince
Schmince

"Hi, I'm George W. Bush. vote for me and my horse again.

I promise I'll do good."

FOUND: BABY JESUS!

In case you've been sitting at home all week worrying about baby Jesus missing from our nativity, worry no more! I finally had a chance to venture back down to our storage cage and after some searching, baby Jesus was found along with the manger and the angel.

Are you ready for this? I located them with all the Easter stuff. Talk about a good sermon illustration! (Some of you pastors out there need to put that together for me.) I'm not sure how they got in the Easter storage tub; I'm just glad I found them. What would the nativity be without baby Jesus?