AN IHOP BEGINNING

We decided to allow ourselves a splurge and go out to the local IHop for breakfast. It was a great idea. I looked forward to it. A lot of other people had the same idea and the place was crowded. The service was good. The experience disappointing -- the pancakes were luke warm; the syrup was cold; the egg whites had that stringy, slimy thing in them; the coffee was weak; and the bacon was limp.

It was a good idea. Sometimes good ideas just don't play out the way we envision them. In fact this happens to me altogether too often. Better not to anticipate. Better to just accept what comes. Better yet to make my own pancakes, heat my syrup, crisp my bacon, and make a nice strong cup of coffee -- and stay at home.

Home is my favorite place. It is modest, fairly frugally furnished, comfortable. Comfortable is the main thing. It is my haven, my safe place. I am a bit of a messy housekeeper but I tackled some of that this morning by beginning a clean up campaign. So the IHop experience did not subdue my enthusiasm for the new year. I made an attempt to once again begin writing my morning pages of stream of consciousness. Not very successfully this morning, but at least a beginning.

Beginnings are always hard. Chaim Potak said something like that in one of his novels. Too true. Even if it is a re-beginning. But some things are just worth beginning again.

WRAPPING UP

Wrapping up Advent and wrapping up the year. Getting ready to begin again, although, I already have begun again. The church newsletter for January has been sent. Surely that is a BIG wrap up and beginning.

Reminiscence of the days of Advent will be held here in picture and in memory. It was a good Advent and was peaceful until the last couple of days. It makes me hopeful for the next Advent. Will I attempt this same exercise for Lent? Definitely not! The exercise got out of hand and finally became an exercise in the exercise and not the intention that it was meant to be. Perhaps next year I will be more intentional in limiting the exercise for a meaningful Advent.

I look forward to a blessed new year.

Wii CHRISTMAS

I actually did research on this Christmas present. It was NOT a whim. First it was to be something that Bill and I could do together. Second, it had to be active. I consulted reviews. I consulted a knowledgeable person at Best Buy (Yes, they DO have very helpful people there. And personable. And well informed.) Also, I consulted my grandson, Jon. Hands down the winner is Wii.

And then Bill's son gifted us with Wii Fit Plus. I am now sore in places that I didn't know existed. My big mistake was trying out some "fitness" moves that were well beyond my ability. I have now moved into a plan that might be more beneficial -- building balance, coordination, and strength.

This is the beginning of my ten minutes a day until I get a little bit more fit. I would like my fitness age to be less that 72. Well, yes, I AM 72, my fitness doesn't have to match that. Wonder what my fitness would be if my intelligence and mental alertness were being measured? Not goin' there. Not now anyway. Get the bod in shape first.

PEACE ON EARTH????

The morning paper's political cartoon space was occupied by this Christmas gift from Gary Varvel. This was his creation for 2008. For the current year's gift click here. This one in particular pretty much sums up my feelings about this day. With so much hope, how did we go so wrong? Or is the state of affairs what Jesus foretold had to happen before the second coming? Regardless, I am accepting my own personal hope in the fact that the Grace of God is always with me -- regardless of the rights and wrongs that exist. It is really hard to see past the wars, the hungry children, the riots. I have to hold on to the grace I continually receive from God. And I have to hope....

CHRISTMAS EVE

Happy Christmas to all. I will soon be going to my own Christmas Eve service. I hope y'all have a special service of your own -- formally or informally. God knows where we are and who we are and why we are. God bless us all.

DECEMBER 23

WRONG!!! I have Christmas Freeze. You know that thing that happens in your head when you take too big of an ice cream bite? Brain Freeze? Well, this is Christmas Freeze. It happens pretty much the same way. Too much Christmas 'stuff' builds up until paralysis sets in -- Christmas Freeze. And it isn't because I have too much to do. I'm done. Wrapped. Labeled. Done. But the world around me is nuts.

Twenty minutes of silence is just not going to happen. Oh, the silence may happen. But not in my head. My head is going to be going gang busters nuts. So I think I will skip even trying for that. What I am hoping for is a Christmas Eve respite. A time to relax in my church. Be with the people that I love. Hear the songs. Say the prayers. Be at one with God..... I am hoping.

WHAT LIGHT???

My light just plum went out yesterday.

Hope to get it back by Friday.