Joyeux Noel...

...and Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Nollaig Shona Duit--Merry Christmas!
"...that the hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle." Chesterton

What Your Child REALLY Wants for Christmas...

Parent me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEfIBrzRZeM

It's not the school's job; it's not the community's job; it's not the pastor's job; it's not the daycare's job---it's your job. If God has blessed you with children, he expects you to raise them, to train them up, to teach them and to model integrity for them. You are the one to show them love and affection, to give them the gift of listening and caring, to create for them the safety of boundaries and consequences. Fine clothes and the latest gadgets are nice to have, but they can never ever replace YOU.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayh6og49uDo

The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey

Ed Ames

Long ago, in another day,
A donkey cried in his donkey way,
"I'm not beautiful, I'm not beautiful,
what good to anyone am I?"

"Other animals are big and strong,
or rare, or filled with an animal song,
but I'm not beautiful, I'm not beautiful,
what good to anyone am I?"

Heaven cried,
"Donkey, you can carry;
will you carry Mary?
Angels for your guide..."

On Christmas morn', in the stable hay,
The donkey smiled in his donkey way.
"I feel beautiful, I feel beautiful,
as beautiful as anyone am I...
as beautiful as anyone
am I."

photo courtesy The Green Wall

Cold

Good-bye leaf lettuce and collards; the cold has snatched your pretty leaves and crumpled them. Now we must wait for spring...