Spoiler Alert! Santa Claus does not exist. How do people (8 years old or not) honestly believe in their heart of hearts that a man (just a man, one man) could fly around the whole world (the entire globe) in one night and deliver presents to every child under the age of 12?
I think Santa Claus has ruined Christmas. Santa Claus took away from the birth of the Savior. I think it's time for Jesus to take back the manger and his day of birth.
I'm going to tell my kids that Jesus rides around in a sleigh and delivers presents to all the children who proclaim his name. That's a least a smaller number and possibly more reasonable.
Then, I'm going to say, "Just kidding, Jesus loves you though. Merry Christmas."
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
vast amounts of wealth.
Unbeknownst to several hundreds of people I have an incredibly soft heart. Especially for elderly people, white middle-class teenagers who can only make a 25 on their ACT and therefore not get a college scholarship, people who eat alone, frizzy haired youngsters whose mothers will not buy them a Chi and of course, for anyone who has never truly experienced Jesus.
Like most people my soft heart comes out big time at Christmas. Especially around the Salvation Army bell ringers. This is usually because the bell ringers are often people who cannot find a job or are homeless. (I know this because for extra money in college I was going to ring bells.)
Today at the mecca of shopping in the southern United States I was caught off guard by two bell-ringers. The first was an older black man. He had a tambourine and was dancing like a drunken man who just won the lottery. The next man, I promise, was at least 85 years old. He had on a festive button-down shirt, an even more festive tie and then an amazing sweater vest with snowmen on it. He had his head shaved with a tiny, little Mohawk running down the middle. It was dyed green and red.
All this to say, need has no season.
Like most people my soft heart comes out big time at Christmas. Especially around the Salvation Army bell ringers. This is usually because the bell ringers are often people who cannot find a job or are homeless. (I know this because for extra money in college I was going to ring bells.)
Today at the mecca of shopping in the southern United States I was caught off guard by two bell-ringers. The first was an older black man. He had a tambourine and was dancing like a drunken man who just won the lottery. The next man, I promise, was at least 85 years old. He had on a festive button-down shirt, an even more festive tie and then an amazing sweater vest with snowmen on it. He had his head shaved with a tiny, little Mohawk running down the middle. It was dyed green and red.
All this to say, need has no season.
year of the boar.
I know LC just did this, but she blogs too much and I can’t keep up. So I’m doing it too. And while LC has had quite a year, mine has been rather uneventful. There were, however, some highlights...
Janary: Started off with a bang – LC and I became friends! We took a really fun roadtrip to the ATX to seal the deal. Who knew what would become of us?
February: Shortly thereafter I started traveling for work. Got to see some real neat places like Milwaukee and Buffalo (in February, mind you).
March: Worked my life away…
April: It snowed on Easter. And I started staying with Coops, Mel, and Kristin in H-town. Loved, loved, loved living with them. They made life better. Got to stand besides one of my besties as she became a Mrs.
May: I went on a BANK reunion vaca with college friends. Destini forever!
June: I turned 23! Wooooo yeah! Got to spend a weekend at David Christie’s lakehouse wakeboarding with college friends… one of the best weekends of the year.
July: Spent the fourth with some really, really cool people who I have now gotten to know even better and love even more (go RAMS!). I also floated down a river, lost my shorts, and officially bonded with Anne Carter.
August: I stopped traveling for work and started laying out a lot. Tambone, mom and I went to Las Vegas for the first time to celebrate. Just gamble those sorrows away.
September: Roadtripped it to Tennessee to visit the Dockerys. On the way home, I learned all the lyrics ot "Fancy" with LC and got a tour of Russvegas. I went to Disney World with two people that I love. We even ran a 10K while we were there.
October: LC turned 24 and we had a mad birthday bash. Themed. We were gangstas.
November: Got to visit Fredericksburg, TX for the first time in my life. Slept in a hotel room with my sister and her husband… hmmm.
December: Ran 26.2 miles and realized that I might have the very best friends in the whole world. They were all there to cheer me on.
Janary: Started off with a bang – LC and I became friends! We took a really fun roadtrip to the ATX to seal the deal. Who knew what would become of us?
February: Shortly thereafter I started traveling for work. Got to see some real neat places like Milwaukee and Buffalo (in February, mind you).
March: Worked my life away…
April: It snowed on Easter. And I started staying with Coops, Mel, and Kristin in H-town. Loved, loved, loved living with them. They made life better. Got to stand besides one of my besties as she became a Mrs.
May: I went on a BANK reunion vaca with college friends. Destini forever!
June: I turned 23! Wooooo yeah! Got to spend a weekend at David Christie’s lakehouse wakeboarding with college friends… one of the best weekends of the year.
July: Spent the fourth with some really, really cool people who I have now gotten to know even better and love even more (go RAMS!). I also floated down a river, lost my shorts, and officially bonded with Anne Carter.
August: I stopped traveling for work and started laying out a lot. Tambone, mom and I went to Las Vegas for the first time to celebrate. Just gamble those sorrows away.
September: Roadtripped it to Tennessee to visit the Dockerys. On the way home, I learned all the lyrics ot "Fancy" with LC and got a tour of Russvegas. I went to Disney World with two people that I love. We even ran a 10K while we were there.
October: LC turned 24 and we had a mad birthday bash. Themed. We were gangstas.
November: Got to visit Fredericksburg, TX for the first time in my life. Slept in a hotel room with my sister and her husband… hmmm.
December: Ran 26.2 miles and realized that I might have the very best friends in the whole world. They were all there to cheer me on.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
year in review.
Ah…2007. This will be a year I will forever look back on and mumble under my breath about it. It was a pretty rough year. However, some wonderful things did happen.
In somewhat chronological order:
Of course I have to mention first (because it did happen in January) that Britt and I became friends. And thus, the blog was birthed a few months later.
I experienced some extreme job funnies. I can look back and laugh a little about these funnies now, but at the time—not so funny. I also interviewed for some really awesome jobs. Best interview? Probably the job at the foil company. A Chinese man, who spoke very little to no English, interviewed me and told me my resume was impressive. There is not one impressive thing on my resume. Not one.
I met a man named Steve. Some friends would say this man saved my life, I say he changed it. We are all VERY thankful for Steve.
I bought some Vans. The shoes. Although, I am looking to purchase a van (not plural).
I got to start a new job in the ghetto that is awesome! I get come to work everyday and laugh and play jokes. And work really hard, too.
Humberto jacked my car. I lost a lot of faith in society that June night. You can re-read about it here. That day was a very tough day, but I also go to go to a Fergie concert for free. And let’s be honest—attending a Fergie concert is every young girl’s dream.
I got to live in a house with some of the greatest people ever for a summer and I got to move into a house with the best roommate I’ve ever had. I celebrated the birth of democracy with a group of people whom I’ve grown to adore.
Some of my closest friends got married and I got to shake that azz all over the dance floor. This was also around the time that I picked up some puppies off the side of the road only to have them all die about 10 days later. R.I.P. Shannon Michelle, Robert and Jason.
I met someone who eats McRibs. On purpose. And likes them.
I turned 24 and had a themed birthday party. I haven’t had one of those ever. I became re-hooked on Beverly Hills 90210 and One Tree Hill. I watched every episode of The Office ever made. I memorized the presidents in chronological order. I took some road trips. I reunited with my college besties and found out that they will let their children play with mine. I studied the book of Daniel with Beth and some of my closest friends in Dal. I hit up happy hour. A lot. I stopped buying Polo shirts and bought a pair of designer jeans, something I never thought I would do. I started a blog. I met Jesus face-to-face. I’d do 2007 again, but with less Mt. Dew and more queso.
Take a look, it's in a book!
“Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.” -Mortimer J. Adler
Right now, there are probably seven or eight books on my nightstand, plus a few magazines. And I am currently reading all of them. Every night, I’ll read an article or two from one of the mags, a few chapters from one of the books, maybe a chapter from another book, and then I usually top it off with something fascinating that I found on NYTimes.com.
I love to read. I am addicted to it. If there is print in front of me, I read it. All of it – cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, candy wrappers. My friends are sometimes aggravated by this addiction. But it is not an addiction that I am willing to get rid of. I think it is a good thing.
I want to encourage you to read, but not necessarily the kind of junk I find myself constantly reading throughout the day, although anything is better than nothing. When you read, it’s like thinking with another person’s mind for a little while. The better the literature, the better the mind you are borrowing. So read something good... I promise it will enhance your life.
“When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do it again by reading, just as I did when I was young.” - Maya Angelou
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
one year.
It’s almost been a year.
It’s almost been a year since I called you and informed you that you were engaged, since we shared a meal together, since we walked around and laughed at ridiculous statements made by both our mothers. It’s almost been a year since you texted me and informed that our junior high basketball coach wanted to wish me a, “Merry Freakin’ Christmas.” It’s almost been a year since I got to sit with you and share my life, it’s almost been a year since I got to sit with you and worship the birth of our Savior together with our families that loved you. It’s almost been a year since you called and asked me to skip work and hang out with you one more day. It’s almost been a year since you forced a hug out of me and told me you were proud of me and that you loved me.
In another couple of days it will have been almost a year since you told me you were the happiest person in the world. It will have almost been a year since we laughed about your up-coming New Year’s date with a gay man. It will have almost been a year since I decided to wait another day or two to call you.
And then, a few days after that it will have been almost a year since I thought nothing could ever shake my faith or my world. Almost a year since I broke down and begged Jesus to wake me up. Almost a year since my mother held me so I could sleep at night. It’s been almost a year since I thought I knew Jesus in a real way.
It’s been almost a year since I had to look your father in the eye and tell him I didn’t notice anything different. It’s almost been almost a year since I thought I could’ve done something had I only known. It’s been almost a year since I hugged your mother and she told me that you thought I was the funniest person in the world. It’s been almost a year since I walked out of your house without a smile on my face and without getting to tell you some line from a rap song.
It’s been almost a year since I said goodbye forever. Almost a year since I questioned you and your plans. It’s been almost a year since my father held my hand as I wept at the mere thought of you being gone. It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen your face. It’s been almost a year since I lost my innocence and everything I had ever known to be true.
It’s been almost a year since you brought Jesus to my face. It’s been almost a year since the only hope I’ve had is absolutely in Him.
It’s almost been a year since I called you and informed you that you were engaged, since we shared a meal together, since we walked around and laughed at ridiculous statements made by both our mothers. It’s almost been a year since you texted me and informed that our junior high basketball coach wanted to wish me a, “Merry Freakin’ Christmas.” It’s almost been a year since I got to sit with you and share my life, it’s almost been a year since I got to sit with you and worship the birth of our Savior together with our families that loved you. It’s almost been a year since you called and asked me to skip work and hang out with you one more day. It’s almost been a year since you forced a hug out of me and told me you were proud of me and that you loved me.
In another couple of days it will have been almost a year since you told me you were the happiest person in the world. It will have almost been a year since we laughed about your up-coming New Year’s date with a gay man. It will have almost been a year since I decided to wait another day or two to call you.
And then, a few days after that it will have been almost a year since I thought nothing could ever shake my faith or my world. Almost a year since I broke down and begged Jesus to wake me up. Almost a year since my mother held me so I could sleep at night. It’s been almost a year since I thought I knew Jesus in a real way.
It’s been almost a year since I had to look your father in the eye and tell him I didn’t notice anything different. It’s almost been almost a year since I thought I could’ve done something had I only known. It’s been almost a year since I hugged your mother and she told me that you thought I was the funniest person in the world. It’s been almost a year since I walked out of your house without a smile on my face and without getting to tell you some line from a rap song.
It’s been almost a year since I said goodbye forever. Almost a year since I questioned you and your plans. It’s been almost a year since my father held my hand as I wept at the mere thought of you being gone. It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen your face. It’s been almost a year since I lost my innocence and everything I had ever known to be true.
It’s been almost a year since you brought Jesus to my face. It’s been almost a year since the only hope I’ve had is absolutely in Him.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
friends.
There are certain times in a person's life when they realize they have friends. Not the junior high kind, the real kind. Legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
My senior year in high school my friends threw me the surprise party of the century. Legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
In college, time and time again my friends proved their legitimacy by asking me to be in their weddings, by hanging out with me even though I wasn't in their sorority and by inviting me to Chicken Finger Friday. Legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
After you graduate from high school you never think you'll find friends as good as the ones you grew up with. And after college you think you'll never be able to find anyone who matches up with your college besties. And then you do and you're surprised.
And then, those friends come to your house and have a cleaning intervention with you. Afterwards, your room is clean and you know... legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
My senior year in high school my friends threw me the surprise party of the century. Legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
In college, time and time again my friends proved their legitimacy by asking me to be in their weddings, by hanging out with me even though I wasn't in their sorority and by inviting me to Chicken Finger Friday. Legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
After you graduate from high school you never think you'll find friends as good as the ones you grew up with. And after college you think you'll never be able to find anyone who matches up with your college besties. And then you do and you're surprised.
And then, those friends come to your house and have a cleaning intervention with you. Afterwards, your room is clean and you know... legitimate, long-time, real-life friends.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
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