The Myth & The Majesty

I wrote this in three different parts over the course of about two years. Two of them have been previously posted; one part has never seen the light of day. I now present them all together, as they are really intended. (It's ... long.) * In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. (Luke 2:1-3) The innkeeper had been swamped for the last few days. More than once he had turned away guests, and a couple of times he had nearly evicted others for their loud revelry. His own house was crowded with his in-laws. To tell the truth, he was just looking forward to the completion of the census so he could go back to his usual clientele of merchants passing through. It wasn't just his inn; the whole town was crowded. The decree required that everyone return to their ancestral home...

While I'm off in Korea, I thought I could share some pictures from Shorty's and my Christmas Eve in Denver. We did a little last-minute shopping, ate a pile of junk food -- but most importantly, we took advantage of the great weather and free hours and hit a park. With his kite. Definitely refreshing before a long flight. Woot.          

Never heard a snowman talking Never seen a reindeer fly Nor seen a wooden soldier walking Nor met Santa eye to eye I hope I'm not the only person under 40 that pulls out the Statler Brothers at Christmas. Now there are those who don't believe In miracles or Santa Claus But I believe what I believe And I believe in Santa's cause But I might be. Never heard an angel singing Never known a Scrooge to smile But I have heard sleigh bells ring And light a spark in some small child It's not been a year for me to feel particularly ... Christmas-y. As I mentioned last week, w e've gotten good at chaotic Christmases -- which detract from the calm. They're certainly fun and interesting in their own right, but they don't lend themselves to a season of peace. For kids and trees light up at Christmas As well as preachers and our lawns And light a Santa way at Christmas I believe in Santa's cause Now as I hang out in my brother...

Baby, it's cold outside... As I write this, it's 0 degrees outside with a windchill of 13 below. Not exactly cozy. It seems I'm hardwired to get up early on Christmas morning. I was usually the first of us kids out of bed, always at an unseemly hour -- the oldest but still the most eager to go check out stockings. When I was in my teens, it meant I could get breakfast (cinnamon rolls) started. And in college ... well, there wasn't really a reason. I just woke up. This year, despite the fact that we're not really celebrating today, I'm still up. And I've got those cinnamon rolls rising and the oven preheating. Because even if we're not really celebrating, we need our food. The last few years, we've adapted to odd Christmases, much as every family with grown children does. For one reason or another, we can't always make it home for the 25th itself -- one lives too far away, one has to work. I'm here, but then I haven't left in two...

A couple years back, I started ripping off classic Christmas songs and poetry. I don't know why . It just happened . But in the midst of manic Christmas cleaning this year, I found an opportunity I couldn't pass up. So ... Merry Christmas, folks, and happy 2013! * A Crazy Family Christmas   A few weeks before Christmas the fun really got started With one highly detailed gingerbread house. A little after turkey day the search begins Two hours tree hunting And one enormous gingerbread house. It's only a few weeks and we have to do some planning Three Skype phone calls Two hours tree hunting And one Hansel & Gretel gingerbread house Mom starts begging for help, and next thing she knows Four Christmas lists Three Skype phone calls Two hours tree hunting And one not edible gingerbread house. We're all tired of cooking so we dig out the premade Five chicken wings ... Four Christmas lists Three Skype phone calls Two hour...

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. (Luke 2:1-3) The innkeeper had been swamped for the last few days. More than once he had turned away guests, and a couple of times he had nearly evicted others for their loud revelry. His own house was crowded with his in-laws. To tell the truth, he was just looking forward to the completion of the census so he could go back to his usual clientele of merchants passing through. It wasn't just his inn; the whole town was crowded. The decree required that everyone return to their ancestral homes, which for many had meant long days of travel and a reception by family they hadn't seen in years. Sounds of family feasts and happy homecomings had been echoing down the city streets for the last few nights, a second harvest party for the year. When...

Snowflakes on branches and streetlights and sidewalk Pedestrians who smile and cross in the crosswalk Old flannel shirts that are comfy and snug Gingerbread Coffeemate added to my mug... Dressing up for parties and wearing tall shoes Music that helps to shove off the blues Getting my shopping done well before spring These are a few of my favorite things When the car stalls When the flight's delayed When I'm road-raging mad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad... Candy we've made all by ourselves Stacks of presents put there by elves A gingerbread house built by us all Griswolds on TV singing "Deck The Halls"... Family meeting for the first time in a year Come hell or high water, we'll all be here Stories to tell late into the night As soon as Mia Sorella is done with her flight... So from here I say Enjoy your Christmas Day As we plan to do... And from all of us gathered at home A merry Christmas t...

'Twas the night before Christmas and in this family's home It was quiet and still, two of the kids left alone Christmas had taken a turn, unexpected and strange And the family was split with great geographical range These two had come home to celebrate with Dad and Mom Traveled good distance to partake in the calm But Mom and Dad had left early for their China flight Their original plan moved up by three nights. They did their own Christmas morning, quiet and swift Then said their I-love-yous, their see-you-laters and left They'd wait out the storm closer to the airport this way And must find happiness in being safe Christmas Day The snow started to fall and the wind to blow And they all realized this was how it had to go Only every twenty-some years would a storm like this strike They were lucky, really -- they could get out as they liked Now the oldest sat by herself, composing a [mediocre] poem Surrounded by all the comforts of home They were separated, sure, but they we...

How to describe today? Today marked the beginning of a really, really screwy Christmas weekend. Not bad. Not great, either, and certainly not what was planned -- but not bad. As many of you are well aware, there's a large storm descending upon the Midwest right now as we speak. I was quite excited to get out of Wausau when I did because I managed to avoid some of it and get home unscathed. A second stroke of luck -- Shorty made it back without issue after a late shift at work. He got back Monday, really early in the morning. However. Isn't there always a however? My parents are headed to Beijing Sunday morning to meet up with Mia Sorella for a week of fun and games and quality family time. Which was going to require them to drive up Saturday night and hang out in Minneapolis. Until this storm came around. There's enough concern over the possibility of the interstate closing between here and central Minnesota that they actually left this morning. For the next three days, the...

Okay. As promised, I have pictures of this year's gingerbread "house." If you want a basis for comparison, I have a picture of the last one here , along with stats here . This year's house took over 2000 square inches of gingerbread, at least 4 recipes of hard candy, and 8 pounds of powdered sugar. It measures 49" long by 27" wide by 38" tall. (That's the tower height, which is about a foot over the top of the dome.) So -- here it is. And this is Edgar. I'll probably have a regular post soon, if I can remember what it was going to be about ... nuts. Have a good night!

If anything can go wrong, it will. -Murphy's Law There's been a rash of bad weather all across the Midwest the last few days (and most of you just said, "Um, yeah, Ashley, we live here too"). As usual with bad weather, things get complicated. I ended up coming home early and Jeepless; my sister, on the other hand, got stuck in Chicago. Yep. She's on her way home from Italy, and first there were fog issues out of Heathrow in London ... and then her flight from Chicago to Omaha got cancelled. We drove to Omaha before we knew she wouldn't be there ... Yuck. Actually, until about half an hour ago, we weren't totally sure she would make it before Christmas. Luckily, as long as things go moderately smoothly now, she'll be home tomorrow night. Yay! I've missed my sister ... Christmas just wouldn't have felt right without her, especially if she was only nine hours away (although my parents would have possibly driven to Chicago to get her, if tha...