10 Years! It's Like a Whole Decade or Something.

The end of this decade kind of caught me by surprise. All of sudden I was seeing all these best of the decade reviews in magazines and blogs talking about these last ten years and it hit me. This crazy decade that started with Y2k mania is now just about over. And because I'm forgetful I had to search the recesses of my brain to recall all these mainpoints of the last ten years. Mainly I just feel old. Really old. And forgetful. But here's what came to mind.

2000-
*My sister moved home from Stillwater
*My family drove to Ft. Myers Florida for my cousin Preston's high school graduation. I discover that some of the best vacations just require food, family and ample AA batteries to fuel the cd walkman!
*Graduated from College in December (on my mom's birthday). I feel so grown up.
*Huge Ice Storm knocked out power all over town, but I had the flu and could care less

2001-
*My Grandpa Bob died
*I bought my first car on my own, and feel even more grown up.
*My sister moved to Tahlequah to go to Northeastern
*I quit working with the youth in our church
*I started leading worship at my church
*I became the office manager at my workplace

2002-
*I turned 25 and felt soooo old
*I started grad school for counseling
*Three of my best friends started dating (and I felt sooo single)

2003-
*I dropped out of grad school
*My bff Rachel got married
*My dear friend Renita got married
*I got diagnosed with ovarian cysts
*I watched as God healed me of ovarian cysts

2004-
*My sister graduated from college
*My sister moved to Austin, Texas
*My best friend moved to Houston, Texas
*LOST premieres and my television viewing life is never the same again.
*My 3rd friend in a year gets married (still feeling soooo single)

2005-
*My bff moves back from Texas
*My friend Renee moves to Germany
*Big shakeups in the worship team at my church usher me into one of the most difficult trials in ministry in my life. I learn that "this too shall pass".

2006-
*My bff gives birth to her firstborn, Addie, I become an honorary aunt
*My Gramps dies, now all my grandparents are deceased. That makes me sad.
*My friend Renee gives birth to her firstborn, Benjamin, I become an honorary aunt
*I move with my parents out of the house I've lived in all my life. I learn to let go of things.
*My mom has a total knee replacement. I find out what it's like to take care of a parent who once took care of me.

2007-
*One of my dear friends, Renita, becomes a widow. Such a shock.
*Another trial and hardship in ministry. Find out that I'm tougher than I thought I was.
*I turn 30!!! (And I feel soooo single)
*The store I work for moves locations. I find out I'm not as organized as I would like to be.



2008-
*Facebook and I become friends, the obsession begins!
*Evil Flu descends in February, miss way too much work.
*My sister and I take our first grown up vacation together to Port Aransas. I find out that sisters can be best friends too.
*I start blogging! A rediscovered love of writing emerges. Made some bloggy friends!

2009-
*Exemplify Magazine debuts, I have the privilege of writing for it
*Rockin' family vacation to Port Aransas
*Made more bloggy friends as Exemplify expands.
*My bloggy friend and Exemplify editor, Kristen asks me to write for the singles channel at Exemplify. I learn that comfort zones aren't meant to be our permanent residence.
*After 8 years of leading worship at my church I step down from my post. I learn that for everything there is a season.

So I started the decade as a almost college graduate in her twenties wondering when that fabulous man was going to come into my life. I am ending it as a thirtysomething still wondering. Still hopeful.

I can only imagine what will come in the next ten years. Will there be a show as fabulous as LOST? Will I finally get married? Will I have a whole slew of children by 2020? Will we finally use hoverboards and travel Back to the Future? These are the things I ponder, friends.

One thing is sure, God is faithful. Here's to another decade of finding Him around every corner and in every daily routine. In every humbling life lesson and every joyful triumph. I am overwhelmed by grace year in and year out.

These two verses resound in my heart as one decade is coming to a close and another is about to blossom, may they be my theme:

"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy". Psalm 126:3

"And in that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him. let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." Isaiah 25:9

Happy New Years!! God Bless You all!!!

Random Dozen: The Last one of 2009.

I am reveling in the third snowfall of December here. Last week we enjoyed a blizzard on Christmas Eve and the first white Christmas of my life (I had to check with my mom and she assured me I hadn't had one in my short 33 christmases in my life). But more important stuff awaits. Here it is, the final Random Dozen of the decade. Tada:

1. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends? I have been known to share a coke with my mom at the movies. We have separate straws though. But that's kinda my limit on sharing. Maybe I would share with my sister. I don't really share with friends.

2. What have you learned this year? (You didn't see a question of that weight coming, did you? At least not for #2.) You can't go back.

3. When do you dismantle the Christmas decorations? Usually on or after January 1st. Except the snowman display my mom has on top of her bookcase. That usually stays until the end of January.

4. Something you wish to accomplish before the end of 2009 is: Writing an article for Exemplify (that's the only thing I can think of that can be accomplished in the next two days).

5. How do you feel about winter (after Christmas)? Last year I was very depressed in January. Very. I usually like winter (when it snows) but last year? Not so much.

6. Have you participated in after-Christmas sales? Only at work.

7. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? If by plans you mean sitting in my pj's watching movies and eating appetizers and then ringing in the new year with sparkling cider and then going to bed, then yes!

8. Is there anything special awaiting you in January? I hope so! Wouldn't that be nice...there are some nice tv premieres I'm looking forward to (Chuck! Is! Back!).

9. If your life this year was a movie, what category or genre would it be? (Romance, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, Farcical, etc.) One of those slow to build but hopefully still a great story line before it ends kind of dramady's (is that how you'd spell it?).

10. How much time per day do you spend blogging? Please do not lie. I will know. In the early days it was a couple hours a day. During this hustle bustle holiday season I'm lucky if I eek out 15-20 minutes. Hence the super deep answers to these questions.

11. Who runs your household? It's a three way split. But I am the bossiest.

12. Share one hope/dream for 2010. I know that this is a little personal, but I would really love to meet the man I'm going to marry. And if we just so happen to marry in 2010, that wouldn't bother me at all. I can plan a wedding quickly if need be.

So that's that. The last Random Dozen of 2009. Bring on the New Year of Random!! And find more delicious random dozen at 2nd Cup of Coffee

There Aren't Just 57 Reasons Why My Mom Is Awesome Part 2

I have never really liked the fact that my mom's birthday is so close to Christmas. I know it was never fun for her growing up (am I right December birthday babies? Ya'll always get the shaft when it comes to gifts this time of year, that combo birthday christmas gift is for the birds!) either. Still, we always try to make it special for her. My dad and I always take her to the best restaurant in town, I never give her the birthday/christmas present combo and one year I even celebrated her birthday by getting my bachelor's degree (really what better gift is there to give?).


This year I wanted to show my mom a little blog love by listing just 57 of the many reasons why she is awesome. Yesterday I posted the first 28 and today I will finish with 29 more. This is gonna get a little long so I better get going.





29. Four Words: Rainbow The Promise Clown


30. Her example of selflessness. It's no secret I can be a selfish person, but mom reminds me day after day in the way she lives to be a little more selfless and a little less selfish.


31. She can't carry a tune in a bucket but she always carries a tune of praise in her heart. My mom loves to praise her Lord (joyful noise and all).


32. She loves Clinique bonus buy time as much (or more) than me.


33. She is notorious for getting song lyrics wrong. I'll never forget the year I heard her singing Feliz Navidad but she thought it was "Feliz Ladeeda". Oh yes.


34. She helped raise her younger siblings (she's the oldest of five children) while both her parents worked fulltime.


35. One time she prayed for one of her brothers to stop smoking and he called her and told her to stop because every time he tried to light up he'd get the hiccups. So if you need a prayer warrior who gets things done, call my mom!


36. She was raised in a funeral home and would charge her friends to see her lying in a coffin. That is a weird and fun fact I love knowing about my mom.


37. She has instilled in me a deep and abiding love for Hayley Mills movies. Her favorite is Pollyanna (my favorite, if you're curious is Summer Magic).


38. She met and married my dad in 3 months time. And though she would never want my sister or I to meet our future husbands in a similar fashion, she met my dad at a bar. A bar that she tried to avoid going to but her friend tracked her down and made her go. So thank you random friend, without you I would never have been born.


39. But when people ask where she met my dad she tells them, "At my brother's place." My Brother's Place was the name of said bar.


40. She thinks I'm a great singer (so she's biased).


41. Her taste in tv is almost impeccable (except for her love for crime dramas, don't get me started on crime dramas). Since tv is so important around here, I'm glad for it. I love that she loves Glee and Lost and House as much as I do. Now if I could just get her to start appreciating The Office, we'd be golden.


42. She looks about ten years younger than she is. Which gives me great hope that those same genes run through my veins.


43. She makes birthdays rock too.


44. She loves all things salty (pickles, olives and salted lemons, oh my).


45. She is a devoted church member and worker, having at different times been involved in youth ministry, children's ministry, nursery ministry, and women's ministry. She also was a church secretary for a time. So it should come as no shock that my first Sunday in church was when I was seven days old. My commitment to church and ministry can be linked back to her own years of service.


46. She can make a meal out of chips and salsa.


47. I'm not sure she's ever left the house without her makeup in place.


48. She is brave enough to brave black Friday shopping without batting an eye.


49. She understood my aversion for milk even at a young age and never forced me to drink it (and before you think that makes her a bad mom just know I have very healthy bones and have never broken one, so there!).



50. She may be the only person who would still be reading this post, if she knew her way around the internet!



51. But then again she's pretty humble so she probably wouldn't want to spend all this time reading about herself.



52. She's been married for 36 1/2 years. Longer than any other living couple in our family.



53. She has the prettiest manicured nails ever. It helps that her manicurist is one of her best friends.



54. The Christmas breakfast thingy she makes every year. Awe. Some.

55. I get to work with her, and have for the last ten years (I know it won't always be forever, but I love the times we've gotten to spend together).

56. She says her hair is dark dark dark dark dark dark blonde (now she colors it red, but it's brown, ya'll. Nonetheless, once a blonde always a blonde!).

57. I don't know what mine, my sister's or my dad's lives would be without her!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Dozen #16 on the 16th

Today's my fabulous mom's birthday. And her post is coming up next, but first, a little random dozen ala 2nd cup of coffee:

1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss. For. Does this really need much discussion? Especially in cute gingerbread man form.

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family? Let's put it this way. I live upstairs.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed? Buddy the Elf. Or George Bailey. But only if I could be his wife Mary.

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life? It's A Wonderful Life. Because it really is you know.

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of? Bruce Cockburn's Mary Had a Baby and Seabird's version of Joy to the World. I can't think of any that I'm tired of, mostly because I usually just listen to what I really like.

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime? My most favorite way was in college when we would have a christmas party at the BSU for children less fortunate and we would adopt a few for the day and buy them gifts and have Santa come and all the fun stuff. Those were great parties and I wish I was involved in something like that now.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?" Tha thing about Xmas is that X stands for Chi in Greek and Chi stands for Christ, so the way I look at it is that even when they try to take the Christ out of Christmas they can't. Which is way cool. Happy Holidays doesn't bother me too much because in fact there is more than one holiday celebrated this time of year (from Thanksgiving, to Christmas to New Years), but I still say and will always say Merry Christmas.

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month? None. We aren't having one this year at my church and I don't have plans to attend any others. I wanted to see the Behold the Lamb of God concert but I wasn't able to go this year.

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality? Yes! And I say there's always a chance but it hasn't snowed here on Christmas in more than 20 years so who knows. But two years ago we got a little snow the day after Christmas (as I recall it didn't stick). Maybe we could all say a little prayer?

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice. Well since you asked, I have to tell you about the time Santa Claus came to our family christmas party. It wasn't so much what we received as it was who brought the gifts. My Nanny set it up and no one (not even my aunts and uncles) knew he was coming. And as he handed out our toys he knew little tidbits about us that made us sure he had to be the real Santa. It was one of the most awesome family christmases ever.

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month? Hmm. I think four, no wait, five. One for work, three for family (two this coming weekend and one on Christmas eve) and one at church. That's a lot of partying.

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas? Reading the story of Jesus' birth every year, keeping up my quiet time and this year I am starting Beth Moore's book 90 days with Jesus the week before Christmas.

There Aren't Just 57 Reasons Why My Mom Is Awesome Part 1

But that's how old she will be tomorrow and that's how I roll. So here goes:

1. She calls me her best friend

2. She is a perpetually cheery morning person

3. She has a awesomely random and quirky sense of humor (where do you think my I got mine?)

4. She dreams big dreams

5. She has mountain moving faith

6. She prays for her children diligently

7. She will make the most awesome grandma one day

8. She listens to my rambling stories (and believe me I can ramble)

9. Ditto for my sister's rambling stories

10. She was as devoted a daughter as she is a mother

11. Which makes her a great role model for me and my sister

12. She is a fantastic baker (one of these days I am going to post some of her best treats: Neiman Marcus Squares, Hello Dolly and Chocolate Rum Cake, which as I am typing this I can smell and I am hungry--even though it's midnight!).

13. She is also a fantastic cook.

14. She is a hostess with the mostest.

15. She makes Christmas rock year after year.

16. She is my favorite movie date.

17. She loves buttered popcorn and a coke as much (maybe more) than I do.

18. She still loves going to see children's movies (we just watched The Princess and the Frog this weekend and I have it on good authority that I will be seeing the Chipmunks movie over Christmas).

19. So she hasn't lost her sense of childlike wonder.

20. For years and years and years she's been one to get up early and stay up late to get everything done that her busy day requires. Ah, the stamina of a mom!

21. No one has believed in my writing abilities (or fostered them) quite like her.

22. She laughs at my jokes (sometimes hysterically).

23. She would like that van, because it's Hunter Green (none of ya'll are gonna understand that one, unless your my sister, let's hear it for inside jokes!).

24. She has worked with computers for nearly seventeen years and still can't navigate the internet (plus she's worked faithfully at the same place for seventeen years, that's saying something).

25. She has instilled in us the power of prayer, praise and studying the Word of God.

26. She is a devoted animal lover; thanks to her so am I.

27. She could plan a wedding for me or my sister in a month's time, she's sure of it (did I mention she's dying for a couple of son-in-laws and a gaggle of grandkids?).

28. Last week's post mentioning my love of all those classic Christmas movies like White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street and It's A Wonderful Life? Totally her influence.

If it weren't for my mom I know I wouldn't be the faith-filled, quirky, hopeful woman I am today.

To Be Continued....

My Grown Up Christmas List: Better Late Than Never, Right?

I was supposed to post this on Friday. I managed to write a CR blog on Christmas movies but that had to be done in ten minutes and then after work I was complete wiped out. When one combines the hysterics of working in retail during the holidays with a sinus infection this is what happens. So no post on Friday. Nonetheless, I am here now, a few days later, posting My Grown Up Christmas List (hosted by the singles channel at Exemplify). Like my bloggy twin Christy, I decided to be fun and serious.

Is there any other way, really?

1. The Apple Trifecta. I told my mom this year I wanted a Macbook Air, an iPhone and a new iPod. Back in September I wrote that my iPod died. Then I wrote that it came back to life. Well the resurrection was short lived and I have been without iPod for almost three months now. It's not been pretty. Fortunately there have been no more road trips necessitating the iPod, but not waking up to my favorite playlists every morning has been a sadness I've had to bear. Also my old cell phone has not been my friend. I have missed so many calls because it doesn't ring half the time. And since I always want to be a cool kid I've wanted an iPhone for quite some time. Which brings me to the coolest of the cool kid gadgets the Macbook Air. I am currently writing on a five year old dell laptop that makes the word dinosaur as a descriptor seem a little weak. It's old and tired, ya'll. I keep trying to get a woman at work to adopt me for Christmas and purchase me said Macbook. She only laughs at me. So much for the holiday giving spirit.

2. A trip to Greece. If there is one place I want to visit before I die (oh, seriously, there are several places but isn't it more dramatic to say one place especially when adding before I die to the mix?), it's Greece. An acquaintance of mine took her whole family there a few months ago and I just oogled (or is it ogled?)and oogled her daughter's facebook photos of the vacation like the crazy lurking stalker that I am. And even in photos it was as beautiful as I imagined.

3. Season 5 of LOST on dvd. Now certainly this one isn't above and beyond the realms of possiblilities is it? And while I'm at it I should add Season 2. It's the only one I don't have yet (but in my defense it was easily the weakest season thus far, am I right, LOST fans?).

4. Healing for my parents. On the serious side of Christmas wish lists, I would love to see my parents completely well. No more diabetes and no more hypertension. I want them around for many many more Christmases to come.

5. To see my church grow and flourish. We're a small little church. My pastor often calls us a Gideon church, doing mighty things with a small group of people. Just the same, I would love to have the seats filled so even more work could be done for the kingdom. God has blessed us immeasurably this year with a new Worship and Youth Minister, so I am already grateful for what He has done.

6. For my sister, my parents and I to be debt free. Could I say it more plainly than that?

There is my list. So I like to dream big. Here are more Grown Up Dream Big Christmas Lists on the Exemplify Singles Channel.

Caffeinated Randomness: Favorite Christmas Movies

Just so you know I need to write this in less than 10 minutes in order to make it to work on time. Will it happen? Who knows. I'm already in trouble with the theme. Christmas movies? I love way too many of them to list in less than 10 minutes. But I'll try.

1. It's A Wonderful Life: My all time favorite movie. I want to marry George Bailey. Seriously. Though I would settle for his cute little brother Harry. And who doesn't love Clarence the Angel?I never get over this story of how valuable a life really is, and the importance of friends.

2. Elf: I could quote this movie all day long and then watch it all night long just to see if there was anything I missed. Delightful. My favorite Will Ferrell movie (but that's not saying much because a lot of his stuff is just not really that funny, did anyone else see the travesty that was Land of the Lost? I rest my case).

3. White Christmas. My mom got me hooked on this classic. I love Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby in this so much I can't hardly stand it. And just a little tidbit I wanted to share, a few years ago my bff Rachel and I dressed up as Rachel and Leah for a church women's dinner and we sang the Sisters song (which fits perfectly for Rachel and Leah: "Lord help the mister who gets between me and my sister and Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man!").

4. Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. Nothing brings out the child in me like Rudolph. The land of misfit toys is probably my favorite part.

5. A Christmas Story. My Christmas Eve is not complete until I've watched this gem during it's 24 hour marathon. Enough said.

6. Mixed Nuts. Does anyone else like this little quirky gem of the holiday season? It stars Steve Martin and Rita Wilson and I think it's delightful. But maybe that's just me.

Honorable Mentions: Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (my dad's personal favorite).

More well thought out caffeinated randomness to be found at Andrea's. Happy Weekend!!

Time it took to type this: 12 minutes. Guess who is late now?

Random Dozen #15

I do plan to tell you all about Deeper Still, but with the craziness of work this week, I haven't gotten to it yet, but I will. Hopefully sometime before the new year. For now I will leave you with a nice little taste, a quote from the fantastic Kay Arthur "Rest is the activity of faith". Ponder that and then read my wonderful answers to Linda's random dozen this week.

1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? My nose. I absolutely hated my nose growing up. Hated it. Thought it was the worst thing ever. My dad called me Puggy, making me even more self-conscious about it. Now I've downgraded the hate to a mild tolerance. I figure it could have been worse.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? Claire Huxtable. People, I want to be her when I grow up.

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? No. There are a few I'd like to learn, like Spanish, French and German.

4. Who is your personal hero? Claire Huxtable. Wait. Does my personal hero have to be real? Because I could also go with Kay Arthur. That woman rocks. But if fictitious works, then Claire Huxtable. See Answer #2

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?
There are so many: all the appetizers we have at Christmas Eve like artichoke dip, queso, and meatballs. Then there's all the sweets like Hello Dolly, Christmas Wreaths, Fudge and Chocolate Rum Cake. So you can just imagine how ridiculously bloated I feel by December 26th.

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value. Last night I was helping my mom hang ornaments on the tree and she had pulled out all these old ones of my grandmother. Just seeing them reminded me of my childhood and my Nanny that I miss very much.

7. How do you feel about snow? I love love love snow. In fact, when it snowed last week everyone at work told me they thought of me when they saw it. My pastor's wife even called my mom that morning and asked if I was happy. So yeah. I like snow. And people can tell.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. As of late it averages about 6, but I am typically a 8 or 9 hour a night kind of sleeper (I think of it as a perk of being a single woman with no children).

9. Tell me about your first crush. I sorta liked a boy at church and our mom's were best friends but was it a crush? I don't know. Then there was this guy in the 4th grade who was oh so cute and then he moved away before junior high, and I can definitely say it was a crush. He was all kinds of adorable.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw? I am kind of a fan of my own penmanship so I will probably write a lot, especially my name. But I also am a doodler (is that a word?) and I do all these swirly curly q's and what not so I would probably add those to the mix as well. And maybe a rainbow.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast? With Oklahoma weather I have learned that if you dress for the current temp you may end up freezing or sweltering by the end of the day. Always check the forecast! And not just the highs and lows but the hour by hour because cold fronts and such are quite common here (how many times has the high been 70 but the high was reached at 1 am and starts dropping by 10 am and it's -11 by the time you go out to lunch, how. many. times? You don't want to know, people, you don't want to know).

12. Favorite Christmas movie is It's a Wonderful Life. Hands down, no contest. But my second favorite is Elf. And I have to mention both because they delight me so. Incidentally, It's A Wonderful Life is my all time favorite movie, not just my favorite Christmas movie. So there.

More wondrous Random Dozen awaits at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Things You Should Know

Winter has arrived in Oklahoma. As evidenced by my last post, it is a chilly week here. I love this kind of weather in December. Of course by February I will be lamenting it and wishing for tulips and 70 degree temps but for now I am relishing the beauty of a new season. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

I had a lot of fun telling you about my favorite Christmas music. I didn't really think about how non-traditional and unique my tastes run until I read all the comments. I hope you've all checked out Come On!! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! by now. And really, don't waste anymore time looking for Andrew Peterson's and Sara Groves' fantastic Christmas projects either. They will change your life. I promise.

I found a couple new Christmas songs this week that I am particularly excited about as well. The first is a freebie. As in, go now and download it for nada. Brandon Heath's The Night Before Christmas. Here's the link. As of right now it is free, so get it while it lasts. Good stuff. Also, in perusing iTunes (a favorite pasttime of mine) I discovered a couple Christmas tunes from Seabird. You cannot miss this jewel of the holiday season. Especially Joy to the World. Their rendition makes me all happy and giddy. And who wouldn't want to feel that kind of holly jollyness this time of year?

Oh, and guess what I'm really really jazzed about right now? This weekend a handful of ladies from my church (including me and my mom) are going to the Deeper Still conference in Oklahoma City. I am sooooo excited. I have been to a Living Proof conference a few years ago and love me some Beth Moore, but I have yet to hear Kay Arthur or Priscilla Shirer live and in person. I have done Kay Arthur studies since I was in high school and have long admired her. And my first outing as our church's women's sunday school teacher I used some Priscilla Shirer bible study material. Seeing all three of these women in one place is practically the highlight of my year. I know I'm going to hear some good word. And I sorely need it.

So that is all the pertinent information I can give you. I'm sure by Monday I'll have all kinds of fun stuff to share with you, but until then, happy weekend friends!!!

December Really Knows How To Get On My Good Side

With this....

Last night it was cold and rainy and I wished it were snowing. Then lo and behold I wake up this morning to find out that during the night the rain turned to snow. Happy day!!! I heart December. This is why.

That and Jesus' birthday.

Of course.

Random Dozen #14: Which Doesn't Come After 12 But I've Never Been Great At Counting.

I could use a second cup of coffee right now. And a sprinkled donut. Funny, that's what just came to mind. I have no idea why.

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? I am actually a perfect hybrid of The Cowardly Lion and the TinMan, desperately in need of courage and a heart. Or at least a courageous heart.

2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? It's usually more a matter of what's clean and relatively wrinkle free. If I find the top first, then great, if it's the jeans or pants, whatever. Sometimes I'm a little more fashion conscious but that usually means I got more than 6 hours of sleep the night before, of which I haven't been getting lately, so, well, you know.

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? Sharks. And Spiders (I know, I know they're an insect and the world needs them, so maybe if we could just get rid of the deadly ones and the creepy ones, okay?). Done and done. 98% of all my fears have now been eliminated. And I can sleep more than 6 hours a night now! Whew, what a relief to my fashion sensibilities.

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home? If you count the little two foot ones with the fiber optic lights in them I think there are about five. But without them just one.

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak? Absolutely not. God gave us emotions for a reason. I will take heartbreak because joy and delight are emotions I wouldn't want to live without.

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression? Yes. Pretty much at about 10 pm Christmas night. But then I just get my sights set on New Year's resolutions and all is well again. Until January 5th or 6th and then we just hunker down for spring.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music? Oh yes. The man was a musical genius in my book. Strange, for sure, but musically brilliant.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma? I don't know if every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma or just certain ones. Ones that seem just a little too cosmeticy. Or ridiculous. But smiles make the face and the face is what we show the world so I guess we figure these things are acceptable to take care of.

9. Enjoy horseback riding? Not really. And before you ask I'm not really a horse person, either.

10. Shoes--practical or stylish? Both. But not if you ask my sister (she would never think my shoes are stylish. Hey. I like a good flat. Sue me).

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic. Rusty. Or Mushroom. I can never remember if the cat came first or the dog. Neither survived long in our house.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done? I'd say about 62.7% give or take a percent.

Because I know you're in need of more Random Dozen. Go here. You can thank me later.

Did Somebody Say Christmas Music?

My darling cupcake Kristen is hosting some really awesome Christmasy link ups this month on her Editor's Blog at Exemplify. The latest one is about Christmas music. One of my absolute favorite things about Christmas is the music. Now I don't have over 600 Christmas songs on my iPod (more like 200 or so, I know what you're thinking Kristen, what an amateur!), but it was still hard to narrow it down to some of my very favorites. So below are my favorite songs followed by the best Christmas albums that you must add to your collection (because I couldn't pick just one song from these you're getting to hear about the entire album!).



1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland By far the best of all Christmas songs of all time. Judy Garland will make you cry. If you don't you are certifiably Scroogy. Just so you know.

2. Ave Maria- Ginny Owens. I heard her version of this song about three years ago and I was awestruck. Exquisite. Simply exquisite.

3. Come On Let's Boogy to the Elf Dance and I Saw Three Ships- Sufjan Stevens. I could actually have a whole list of just Sufjan Stevens songs but I will just go with my two favorite. Who wouldn't love this lyric "Santa Claus is coming, hear the banjo strumming". Because nothing says Christmas like a banjo strumming.

4. Go Tell It On the Mountain- Needtobreathe There are some Christmas songs that are too good to just listen to for a couple months of the year. NTB's Go Tell It is one of them. Will I ever get tired of Bear's voice? I seriously doubt it.

5. Feliz Navidad- David Crowder Band David Crowder can do no wrong. No. Wrong. That pretty much sums it up.

6. Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella- Joy Williams Last year Joy offered this free download and I snatched it up like a kid in a candy store. It's just her and her piano recorded on her Mac and it is breathtaking in it's simplicity and beauty. If you can't find it anywhere then Sufjan's Stevens version is a worthy substitution.

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Jars of Clay God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is one of my absolute favorite Christmas carols and Jars of Clay is one of my absolute favorite bands. Yep. And tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Who can beat that?

8. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch- Leigh Nash Leigh's voice was made for this song. Her sweetness singing about the nasty Mr. Grinch? Perfect combo.

9. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer- Jack Johnson I love Jack Johnson's take on this song, heck I love Jack Johnson's take on anything. But still. I'm all about snow at Christmas but this song makes me want to spend it on the beach in Hawaii.

10. Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child- Mariah Carey Ever since college this has been a pull out and listen to as early as October Christmas album for me. I'll never forget when our BSU choir sang this song for our Christmas Vespers. There is some super awesome video footage to me getting my groove on whilst singing this classic. And if you find said footage, burn it. We need no further proof of my dorkiness. 'Because I have a blog for that.

Honorable Mentions, because I told you it would be hard to pick my favorites: Light of the Stable- Selah (or Emmylou Harris if you're old school and cool like that), Love Came Down at Christmas- Jars of Clay, What Christmas Means to Me- The Jackson Five, O Come all Ye Faithful- Natalie Grant, and O Little Town of Bethlehem- Amy Grant.

Now on to the best Christmas cd's of pretty much all time. Granted there are some classics that never go out of fashion, like the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer soundtrack and Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album. But these are new Kara classics. They are year round listenable and worthy of your attention.

1.Sara Groves- O Holy Night, Sara Groves is who I want to be when I grow up. Seriously. Or at least her very best friend. I love her fresh takes on old songs like It Came Upon a Midnight Clear and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. And I was officially wrecked the first time I heard her precious little boy telling the Christmas story on the track It's True. Absolutely precious.

2. Bebo Norman's Christmas.... From the Realms of Glory There was a time in my not too distant 20's that I loved the heck out of Bebo Norman. Yep, I was one of those girls. Has there ever been a Christian singer more crush worthy? Anyways. This is an incredible Christmas album. Simple, laid back (just as imagine Bebo himself to be) and worthy of the never ending all day long at work repeat button. Great versions of Joy to the World, Silver Bells and Go Tell it on the Mountain. And don't even get me started on The Rebel Jesus. My word.

3. Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God Hands down THE. BEST. CHRISTMAS. ALBUM. EVER. Theologically rich, deep, delightful and True! I shamelessly play this one pretty much year round. You will never get over Labor of Love after you've heard it. I would sing it as a solo at church someday but I am certain I couldn't get through it without bawling. There is no greater test of a song's awesomeness than that. And who knew that learning the lineage of Jesus could be as much fun as Matthew's Begats? I am in awe of Andrew Peterson. And don't forget to read the liner notes. Better than Dr. Suess.

So there you have it. More than you could have possibly wanted to know about my taste in Christmas music. Don't forget to head over to Exemplify to link up with you're favorite Christmas songs.