We’re hosting my family’s Christmas dinner tonight — there’ll be ham, plum pudding, a book gift exchange, maybe even Christmas Jeopardy, then fifteen people sleeping in the house — so I’m scurrying to write this blog post. I hope you’ll take a minute to share one of your favourites from the past month or year in the comments.
Read
Two fun visual books: Celebrate Everything and Homebody
Two books I started early in the year and just wrapped up: The Peacemaker and The Writer’s Workshop
Two childhood rereads I read aloud to my kids: The Half Sisters and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
One true story about an online drug empire: American Kingpin
Do
It was a busy month!
- Alice in Wonderland play by the Kids in the Meaford Hall
- Family Christmas Concert by the Georgian Bay Symphony and the Georgian Bay Children’s Choir
- Advent Walk at the four churches of Salvation Corners
- Watching a friend dance at her studio’s open house
- Touring a historical village, complete with shortbread, apple cider, carolers, kerosene lanterns, and horsedrawn wagons at Moreston by Candlelight
- Volunteer appreciation tea party for the Grey Bruce Pregnancy Centre
- My annual ladies tea party (So much work but definitely worth it! We had 16 adults/teens and 16 kids, a beautiful cheeseboard, innumerable cookies, and two festive games)
- Our church’s little Christmas play at a nursing home
- An elaborate Christmas pageant put on by our friends at the Nazarene Church
Eat
I don’t have time to remember/list/find recipes I made this month, so I’ll just give a shout-out to Sally’s Baking Addiction because I tried several cookie recipes from her blog, not to mention cheesecake and quiche. Check it out!
Watch
I hadn’t seen Mr Bean’s Christmas in years. Still funny, but the raw turkey –aaaaah!
Listen
If you know about the Enneagram (personality framework) listen to this hilarious parody of “Bohemian Rhapsody”!
Meditate
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” – Isaiah 9:2-7