An Unconventional Christmas

Well my Christmas this year didn't go in the conventional order that Christmases tend to go in, but frankly-who gives a rip. It was a very memorable Christmas anyway.

To start John Mark and I got off work at 8:00 Friday night and went grocery shopping. We had our list and everything was under control, right? Well, it turns out that we have never cooked a turkey before and we didn't have a clue how big it should be to feed 10 people or how long it needed to thaw. After three calls to my mom we got it figured it out.

Saturday morning I made a homemade pumpkin pie for my sister-in-law Melisa. She doesn't like apple pie, but she loves pumpkin pie. I think it was pretty good because she ate the entire piece I gave her. We also cleaned the house on Saturday.

Saturday night we met Matt, Melisa and the girls and went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks". This was not our movie of choice, but it was pretty entertaining. It was worth it to see Mak bouncing out of the theater talking about how she was going to buy that dvd when it came out (it's funny how kids are these days). I have also decided to name our next cat Theodore (after Toto kicks the bucket).

Saturday night into Sunday morning John Mark baked the turkey. I heard at noise at 3:00 in the morning and came out to see him cutting the turkey up. You see I have the best husband in the world-hands down.

Sunday we had a great day at church. Our pastor preached on the "Blues of Christmas" out of Isaiah. I am so thankful that this year is nothing like last year was for me, but the message he gave was timeless talking about how life may suck now, but God has promised it will not always be this way. Out of something old and messed up, he will create something new.

When we got home we peeled potatoes, sweet potatoes, cooked green beans ect. When my dad got there I put him to the task of peeling the Fuji apples (IC approved apples) for apple pie (that I made from scratch and was apparently the bomb). He asked how him peeling the apples was his "traditional" job and I said he would always help me make the apple pie when I lived at home. Dinner in our small apartment was great. Almost everything was devoured with very little leftovers (which I didn't want). It reminded me of old times sitting around the table at home in St. Louis, swapping stories about life. There was a lot of laughing and just plain Christmas fun. We also of course opened presents (I got a cute turtleneck from Melisa that I am now wearing and I am also wearing the fuzzy socks she gave me).

Monday I had to work until 12:00. I convinced my mom and dad to come to church with me on Christmas Eve, so they picked me up and we went to church. The service was awesome. Our new music director really out did himself. It really helped put perspective on the whole season and helped me to reflect on what Christ did for us by coming into this world. Pastor Butler really brought it home, reminding us that Jesus didn't only come to us in a manger, but he also grew up and died as a man on the Cross for our sins. It gave us something to chew on for the next several days.

We went to my sister's house for a yummy Christmas Eve pork loin dinner with potatoes and asparagus. Mmm. I also got to feed my little nephew-who is the cutest in the world. We had a lot of fun watching the Christmas Story. Everyone was cracking jokes and my sister and I were laughing so hard. It was a riot.

This morning we got up and opened presents, went to eat Chinese and went to see the movie, "Juno," just the two of us.

It was a little backwards (having Christmas Day meal before Christmas Eve and not seeing any of my family on the actual Christmas Day), but looking back on the past year I am so grateful that I was able to spend Christmas with my mom this year. That she wasn't so doped up on chemo drugs and that she could enjoy life. I know there are people who aren't so blessed to have a loved one survive cancer-so that makes me want to savor each moment that much more.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and for those of you who didn't or are going through hard times right now-it does get better. I hate to sound cliche, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have learned that through probably the most difficult year of my life.

I do have to note the gifts John Mark gave me because he just asked me if I was writing about my gifts. My number one pick was the one I asked for "Lamb" perfume by Gwen Stephanie-it smells really yummy. I also like the movie, "Once" he got for me-though I've never seen it before it's supposed to be pretty good. He also got me a "Feed" bag, which he thought was a purse, but it is actually a tote. The proceeds go to feed one child for a full year (yeah he is still getting the best husband award). He also got me a couple of wooden bracelets that say "Hope" on them, a commentary on Matthew (although I doubt that one was solely for me.), and Amy Winehouse's CD.

Merry Christmas from Dorothy and John Mark!!

Random Blog

I am sitting on my couch, cooking dinner, watching Top Chef, listening to "All the Same" by Sick Puppies. Talk about multi-tasking. It has been pretty busy for me at work and rushing around to get ready for our Christmas. My whole family is coming in town and having Christmas at our little apartment. I have wrapped all of the presents to match the tree...it's actually kind of sick. We had a cookie bake off today at work and a cubicle decorating contest. Humana also paid for a buffett that was pretty yummy and IC friendly (well ask me tomorrow because that is the true test). We are actually having Christmas on Sunday. Matt, Melisa and the girls and my parents are coming in town. Of course Jessica and baby Jonathan will be their with police protection, aka Shane. I always feel safer with him around. I am really excited to have everyone here since I haven't spent Christmas with my family for three years!! Well I'd better go so I can eat and watch "Fools Rush In" before the hubby comes home.

Evil and the Justice of God

I am currently reading a book by N.T. Wright called "Evil and the Justice of God." I have only finished the first chapter and it has already got me thinking. It's too soon for me to reflect on what I am reading, but hopefully in the near future I will be able to digest it and then share my thoughts with you.

N.T. Wright is a hot topic now since John Piper wrote a book against Wright's view on justification. I have not read Wright's lengthier books because I work full time, but I have read his Romans commentary and it was pretty good. I found more truth there than fiction. John Piper is a good guy and his writings did change my life, but Wright is also a good writer and his writings have also changed my life. (For all of those good Calvinists-God used their writings to change my life). I have learned, thanks to the best course I took while at college with Dr. Patton, that I can read a lot of different authors objectively and hold what they say up to the light to see if it shines or not. I also read the controversial James Dunn's commentary on Romans and I was able to glean truths from it. What I am skeptical of is when people read quotes from Wright and without looking at what he is really saying they argue with it simply because it is a N.T. Wright quote.

What I appreciate about N.T. Wright is he is on the outside looking in. He lives in England and he has seen all of the current events of U.S. history from a foreigner's perspective. He is not weighed down by U.S. church politics or trends. He does not bash the U.S., but at times does give more balanced views of it than we get living on the inside. Currently he is the number one person on my "I would like to meet him one day" list. If I do eventually meet him I would be able to have him tell me what he believes the Bible teaches without having to read his more lengthy books.

I will leave you a quote from the book to ponder.

"Some philosophers and psychologists have tried to make out that evil is simply the shadow side of good; that it's part of the necessary balance in the world, and that we must avoid too much dualism, too much polarization between good and evil. That, of course, leads straight to Nietzsche's philosophy of power and by that route back to Hitler and Auschwitz. When you pass beyond good and evil, you pass into the realm where might is right, and where anything that reminds you of the old moral values-for instance, a large Jewish community-stands in your way and must be obliterated." pg. 24

Pilates Hair

So I've started doing Pilates. I am on my third week. I am not sure it is helping at all, but I am going to keep with it. I can actually touch my toes now. This is a great feat (no pun intended) for me. Do you remember sit and reach where they would make you put your feet against this big block of wood and measure how far you can reach? I hated that. Needless to say...touching my feet is pretty cool.

Do you know what else is hilarious? When your husband comes home and asks if you wore your hair like this today (see below). I look at him strangely because he did see me several times at work today and say, "no, why?" and he says, "it's cute." Yippee for Pilates hair!! I'm just wondering if someone paid him to say that.