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We must confess, in our zeal to re-invent the Christmas card, we have inadvertently created what Jim is now calling, the Christmas newsletter on steroids! That was not our intent; but it's where we are.....and it's only December 18th. So, at this point, I will take it over the top and give you an assignment. Today's post begs a reply from you.

Beth Moore is my current favorite Bible teacher. She and her daughters posted this Christmas questionnaire and I thought it bore repeating. My mom is infamous for posing a "profound question" at the dinner table which everyone must go around and answer in turn. Since they often fall in the same category as the following, Jim and my jeering response is, "We'll decide whether it's profound or not."

To relieve any pressure, I would simply call these fun for the whole family. You decide how profound you want your answer to be! As Reid often says, "Come on, don't be shy." And as Allie recently told a friend who is fed up with their militaristic soccer coach, "I don't quit." I figure if I can get Jim, Allie, and Reid to reply, that's four more day's posts! Benny would make five. And Christmas is just 7 days away.

Here are mine. Will you give us yours in a comment? Just click on "comments" and share your 7 answers.

1. Favorite ornament

many, but this angel that I've re-glued multiple times because it reminds me of the Neopolitan tree at The Met in New York
2. Favorite tradition

waiting at the top of the stairs at Nana's in Sandusky; my aunts and uncles required all the cousins to do this when we were children so they could turn lights on, put batteries in, start the coffee and get the obligatory photo before we all descended to unwrap presents. The multiple photos capturing it make it all worthwhile in retrospect. (Where are those, anyway?)

3. Favorite gift ever received

cross country skis from Jim because I was NOT expecting them at all and he stretched me to new limits believing my potential for the future; coffee table art books from my mom because they broke from her normally practical nature in a streak of decadence and appreciation of beauty

4. Favorite Christmas meal

turkey with nouveau gourmet variations on the traditional, like brussel sprouts with orange glaze or mashed sweet potatoes and rutabagas or cornbread/sausage/chestnut dressing or pumpkin cheesecake with ginger snap crust

5. Favorite Christmas cookie

powdered pistachio mexican wedding cookies to eat; gingerbread men to look at

6. Favorite place to be

home in our living room Christmas Eve around the fireplace with salade Nicoise each opening one gift

7. Favorite memory

waking up to heavy snow falling outside the windows at the Moriarty's in Chagrin Falls and the exuberant sledding that ensues afterward down their hill

Anticipation is half the fun of any celebration. The other half may be memory.

The Gift of Song

Someone, who shall remain nameless, made us a priceless gift one year of a spiral bound book titled, Celebrate With Song. In it, were 50+ pages of Christmas carol lyrics. She spent hours poring over lyrics online to create a book of favorites for us. Each season, the kids initiate a session of singing through that book, a capella usually. It was a very thoughtful, useful and touching handmade gift that has kept on giving.

My favorite Christmas songs are the ones that tell the story of the first Christmas and are obscure enough to not have been overplayed and become cliche. I was able to find a few, like Ding Dong Merrily on High, and I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, to put on the green cassette in the sidebar. Have you figured out how to turn that on? (Click the > icon. You can advance it >> and pause it too, as you wish.)

Other favorites are The Little Drummer Boy and The Friendly Beasts for the same reason. They not only bring the nativity story to my mind but also dramatize it for children. I never tire of watching this version of The Little Drummer Boy video, which would explain why our VHS literally wore out.




Music is the language of our souls. With it we express things that won't come out any other way. "It is not necessary that you understand," as the magi tells heartbroken little Aaron.

Another New York City memory indelibly marked on my mind is the Messiah Sing-In we attended at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. I have looked and looked for one in every city since to no avail. An usher handed us the entire score of Handel's music as we took our seats. Then, with the utmost respect and expectation of excellence, the conductor directed the audience of paying patrons to sing that magnum opus with a full orchestra and professional soloists. It was incredible and remains one of the ways I picture heaven: unceasing praise and worship with choirs of angels.

God inhabits the praises of His people. If you want to feel His presence, praise Him and He'll take up residence.

Netflix Recommendations

Allie's 7th grade Science Fair Project prediction was indeed accurate. Netflix has all but eliminated Blockbuster from the marketplace. If, like us, you rely on Netflix for all your entertainment needs, here are a few films to add to your queue this month. If not, consider a Netflix annual subscription as the gift that keeps on giving. My extended family awarded one to my grandmother so she gets movies (chosen by family with internet access) by mail at her assisted living apartment each week. Consider yourself lucky that you can make your own selections! Netflix has a huge selection of documentary, educational, classic, and current movies.

Here are our favorites for Christmas with an accompanying rationale and the pluggedin review in case you're suspicious of our discernment. What are your family's favorites? Leave us a comment (we fixed that glitch).

The Nativity Story - saw it with Papa Jim and Natty in a theater; really makes the Biblical account relevant by placing it in historical context; nice to own for traditional viewing

Christmas with the Kranks - just funny, Botox scene and hickory honey ham are our favorites; already mentioned as example of intentional effort to decrease consumerism,

Elf - interesting slant on the complexities of adoption reuniting with birthfather and how to honor both adoptive and genetic legacies; in addition to being adopted (by elves) Buddy is not unlike someone with autism having to learn social customs which are foreign to him and refrain from his instinctive urges when he leaves the North Pole; admittedly no Jesus, all Santa

A Charlie Brown Christmas - all time, all ages, back to basics; we have friends using it as the showpiece for their caroling party this year!

Linus' short and to-the-point speech so reminds of Easter 2006 which we spent at Zion National Park. As National Parks are known to do, they offer an Easter morning service at the lodge which we wandered up to experience. Four others did the same. But no pastor! We waited maybe ten minutes before the other family left for a hike. There was a piano and a stage which is as good as an invitation to Reid. Much like Linus, he declared, "I'll be the pastor" and took his place center stage to deliver the morning message. He retold the events of the cross, the cave and the resurrection in perfect sequence and amazing detail. We sang a few songs, as I recall, and that was that. Plain and simple worship.



As Willy Wonka said at the end of the factory tour referring Charlie to the contract, "Its all there, black and white, clear as crystal," 66 books, 40 authors, over 1500 years, actual history, Luke 2.

Advent Conspiracy

Powerful isn't it? Our church, Solana Beach Presbyterian, has joined others worldwide in the Advent Conspiracy to collectively espouse more worship, less spending this Christmas. Their website explains more and links you to a group forum for sharing practical ideas and stories of Rethinking Christmas.

Funny, last summer I had picked up Bill McKibben's Hundred Dollar Holiday written in 1998. Who among us has not yearned for simplicity in years past? It's the basic conflict and motivator for skipping Christmas in Grisham's book and the subsequent movie, Christmas with the Kranks? When I was a kid, several years blur together that my mom made a similar declaration that she (and we) would be giving (and getting) just one gift from each other. "One BIG gift, then, right?" we'd clarify in our immaturity. Nothing new under the sun. Actually doing it, though, does set a precedent. What [AC] is doing very effectively is to spread a compelling message to motivate a groundswell of response and a movement from the recurrent idea and longing within many of us. They're also linking it to current world needs and Jesus' raison d'etre.

I find it yet another amazing example of God's timing and His promise to "bring all things together for good." This call to action is gaining momentum due to the circumstances of our national economy. Only a Sovereign God could have timed it so well. Just last week, Jim and I noted practically a sigh of relief that the bubble has finally popped. The malls are subdued. The nation seems silently appreciative to have a good reason, even a necessity, to scale back, adjust priorities, and stay home. Like children who need their parents to set boundaries, we have become attentive to the new instruction.

The [AC] suggestion is to reduce spending by one gift. For us, that seemed insignificant and the $100 Christmas too stringent (recall the tree was not free). Perhaps, I am still jilted from my mom's single gift decree too. So, we have landed on this solution. We will give three gifts to each other, symbolic of the three wise men who came bearing gifts to the newborn Savior. Mine will be categorized (because I love themes); one book, one treat, and one handmade gift. There's only been a little bawking in the ranks. Allie says all three of hers might be handmade. Reid is on the prowl for a three-disc DVD set!

The magi acted on a compelling hunch. They set out following a star (that ancient form of GPS) with heavy laden saddlebags. Likely they chose a gift that would fit unobtrusively in the luggage and represent the best their country had to offer.