Christmas poems

These are two of my favorite Christmas poems. I discovered them in a book my Grandma gave me years ago, a collection of poems, short stories, and excerpts of longer stories. Enjoy.

"Christmas and New Year Bells"
by Alfred Tennyson

The time draws near the birth of Christ;
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.

Four voices of four hamlets round,
From far and near, on mead and moor,
Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound:

Each voice four changes on the wind,
That now dilate, and now decrease,
Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace,
Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.

This year I slept and woke with pain,
I almost wish'd no more to wake,
And that my hold on life would break
Before I heard those bells again:

But they the troubled spirit rule,
For they controll'd me when a boy;
They bring me sorrow touch'd with joy,
The merry, merry bells of Yule.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going; let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we seen no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.


and

"The Sheep Herd"
by Sister Mariella (who, incidentally, was a champion of Flannery O'Conner.)

I am a shepherd-I have hated
The smell of damp sheep in the rain,
The pain
Of clouted shoes on weary feet,
The silly barking of watchdogs in the night,
The blinding light
Of summer suns on hillsides without shade.
Nor anything I did not wish was not
From hoar-frost on the meadow grass
To dizzy stars that blinked on stupidly and bright.

Last night
I went with other men who tended sheep
Over to Bethlehem to see-
We did not know just what we'd come to see
Who'd followed up a cloud of singing wings.
Until we came to where a young girl held
A little baby on her lap and smiled.

She made me think of flowers,
White flowers on long stems and blue night skies.
Nothing happened-
But today
I have been shaken with the joy
Of seeing hoar-frost wings
Atilt upon tall grasses; the sun
Upon the sheep, making their gray backs white
And silvery
Has hurt me with its beauty, and I heard
The sound of the barking watchdogs break
The tolling bells against the quiet hills.

Giving thanks

The past year has given me many reasons to be grateful. Here are some of them, in no particular order.

As a teacher, my years are doubly divided by school years as well as the calendar year. Things that happened last school year but still in 2010 seem so far away. Included in last school year would be the fantastic child care from my trifecta of babysitters: my mom, Kathleen, and Christy. This school year I'm grateful that my mom was able to watch my boy all 3 of my workdays. I am grateful that when I drop him off, he happily waves bye to me (though I wouldn't object to SOME sadness that I'm leaving.)

I'm grateful for the most amazing workplace, bosses, co-workers, students, and families to be found anywhere.

I am grateful that when William had to go in for his emergency appendectomy, he was seen, diagnosed, and operated on in a matter of a few hours. I am grateful for all the people who volunteered to watch Edward, and I am grateful for my friends, who on hearing what happened, dropped everything to come visit and then took me to lunch so I didn't have to eat hospital food.

I am grateful for the miracle God has done in the life of baby Sophia and the bold faith of her parents, which is inspirational.

I am grateful that when William's decrepit Honda broke down, he was able to safely get his car out of the road, and when getting a new car seemed hopeless, God provided through unexpected help via the generosity of dear friends.

I am grateful for Dave Ramsey's book that my mom gave me for Christmas. We started the Total Money Makeover in January and have since paid off all our credit cards and mostly been able to pay cash for emergencies (mostly centered around car trouble.) We're not out of debt yet but the end is in sight.

I am grateful for the body of Christ. Specifically, the people at Pine Ridge PCA where I grew up, the people at Reformation OPC where I've been a member for 5 years now, and for Lake Sherwood OPC, which feels like a second home.

I am grateful for my women's prayer group at ROPC, where we cry, laugh, and eat together. These women have prayed me through so much.

I am grateful that after months of insomnia, the Lord answered the prayers of myself and many friends who were praying for me and granted me sleep.

I am grateful for the faithful preaching of the gospel of Christ that takes place every Sunday in my church.

I am grateful for the new friendships in my LSOPC study group.

I am grateful for facebook and the way it allows my out of town family and other people I don't get to see too often to participate in my family's life.

I am grateful that after looking for a 2nd job for a couple years now, William has finally been hired and will start tutoring soon.

I am grateful that Christ will one day restore all things to the way they ought to be.

I am grateful for my TSBTS and the DT Tuesdays, Netflix recommendations, and other assorted shenanigans.

I am grateful for coupons and Publix.

I am grateful that all the Eggs get to be together for Thanksgiving and in particular for my mom in law who gets to have all her grandkids in one place.

I am grateful that my little brother is having the time of his life at college.

I am grateful for my family and my friends. (That includes you.)

Have a blessed Thanksgiving :)

Awareness

Cancer is serious business. It can strike anyone at any time for pretty much no reason at all. Breast, colon, blood, ovarian, uterine, lung, prostate, skin, brain. There are words that strike unspeakable grief into those that hear them. Tumor, biopsy, metastatized, chemo, and God forbid, untreatable. I know many men and women who have had cancer and have had it successfully removed, treated, and beat into remission, and I know others who were not spared, and they wasted away and died.

According to the National Cancer Institute, U.S. women have a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer in their lifetime. About 1 in 35 die from it, and it is second only to lung cancer in leading cause of cancer-caused deaths in women.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. (I'm not sure who isn't yet aware of breast cancer, but that's not the point of this entry.) People wear pink and remember those they love that have battled, or are currently battling, breast cancer, or because they themselves battled it. Stores sell their regular merchandise in pink and forward proceeds to cancer research. All this is great. Solidarity and money are two very practical responses and needs. Humor is often needed to deal with serious issues. I get that. But...

Last year, and here is where I might be pushing some buttons, there was a facebook phenomenon of women and girls posting what color bra they were wearing, all in the name of "Breast Cancer Awareness." It even made the news, which is kind of ridiculous. At best it was a silly inside joke, but at worst, the people who knew what it meant, especially the men who knew what it meant, were left with an unfortunate thought about the color of the participant's underwear. Harmless fun? Maybe.

This year, girls and women are posting statuses such as "I like it on the counter" or "I like it on the floor". Supposedly it's just where you put your purse when you get home, but it doesn't say that in the status. Again, this is in the name of "Breast Cancer Awareness." I'm not sure how making purposefully sexually suggestive statements is doing anything to help breast cancer victims or survivors, or encourage early detection, or educate those souls who may not actually know they should be doing self examinations at home or getting yearly check-ups. There is no follow up with stats about cancer, stories about survivors, links to cancer sites, ways to donate to the American Cancer Society. This does not empower anybody. For the young girls posting this, who are facebook friends with anybody male, think about what you are doing. You are putting the idea that you like sexual encounters in various places in your home out there for anyone to see. Adult women, do what you want, but do you really want people to be thinking of you in terms of where you like to have sex? Breast cancer has nothing to do with sex. At least the bra thing sort of made sense, in that it holds your breasts up. If you're going to follow this useless trend, at least consider giving it some value. Research cancer. Find somewhere to donate. Cut your hair and give it to a reputable charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. Send an encouraging note or take a meal to someone struggling with cancer.
Check it.

http://www.pantene.com/en-US/beautiful-lengths-cause/Pages/default.aspx?utm_source=yahoo&utm_campaign=Pantene_CC_NF_1011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Get+Inspired

http://www.cancer.org/

http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/

https://www.pinkribbonstore.com/gifts/site.do?siteId=343&origin=PRS_GOOGLE_ADGROUP-CompetitorKeywords&gclid=CJmqmue8v6QCFUxa7AodTGvkBw

Takin' care of business...

I love food. I love to plan meals, find deals, and cook. I also love clothes and getting dressed up and being as age appropriately funky as I can be on my budget. My friend Benita loves the same, but probably in the reverse order. We've been talking for some time about starting a business that combines those things, and we have. Check out our site at

http://jandbshoppingandconsulting.shutterfly.com/

And now for something completely different...

I am a crazy couponer. I have a filing system. I scour online sites, sign up for newsletters, and have my mom save the newspaper inserts for me to get coupons. It takes time, sure, but as they say time is money, and I almost always save as much as I spend by basing my meal plans on what is on sale combined with coupons. My favorite is when Publix has a bo/go sale on something I have individual purchase coupons for. Now the real reason I'm posting, I have some coupons I don't need but they're pretty valuable and if I just chucked them I'd feel like I might as well pull cash from my wallet and throw it in the trash. So, if any of you out there were thinking about getting a Swiffer, I have the following coupons I can give you:

Buy a Sweeper Starter Kit, get a free refill
Save $5 on any one Swiffer Sweepervac Starter Kit
Buy a Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit, get a free refill

We have a regular Swiffer and a Swiffer WetJet and they're awesome. Any of these coupons combined with a sale could make a great deal. They all expire April 30, 2011. If you want any or all of them, let me know.

Spare the rod, spoil an entire generation of children... or something like that.

I was perusing one of my free parenting magazines and I came across this gem on bullying behavior in children: "When you see your child acting in a hurtful way, tell him to stop, remove him from the situation, and then talk about what he can do instead next time. However, if your efforts don't make a dent in his behavior, ask your doctor to recommend an appropriate mental-health professional." What the (non-mom approved language redacted)? If you're raising a bully, he doesn't need a talking to and psychologist, he needs you the parent to act like a grown up and lay down the law. I can't believe people get paid for this garbage. I have never met a child who misbehaved like that who WASN'T crying out for discipline. Children thrive on limits. What shocked me was there is no mention of consequences. How about instituting rising levels of disciplinary action if your child doesn't respond to you saying, "Now Jimmy, that's not nice!" instead of skipping straight to therapy? Was this article sponsored by the National Association of Laughing All the Way to the Bank Child Psychologists? And of course the kid featured in the bullying picture, doing the bullying, was a red head. Nice stereotype...
I have, in my time, worked with students with varying disabilities that hampered their social awareness. There are always exceptions. I have also in my time worked with students that just needed their mom or dad to give them a spanking. I am not a children's mental health expert, though apparently that wouldn't be difficult, I just know what I've seen from working with teenagers, teaching 2nd grade functioning learning disabled children, babysitting, teaching middle school, etc. Even with my LD's, the parents worked to establish order within the limits of what their children were capable of understanding.
When children in my care exhibit disrespectful behavior toward me, another adult, or each other I am on that like ugly on a duck. And guess what? The students I have been the strictest to LOVE ME for it. (Well, except for that one kid...) The kids whose cases I get on know it's because I expect better, I love them, and want them to succeed, and that means consequences. And it works. No therapy necessary. (Though sometimes I feel like I need it!)
I also read in another article that kids don't really understand rules and limits until they are 3 years old. $#$#$*!Q2@!!!? Edward is 15 months. He knows not to touch Sirius's water and food bowl. He knows if he pitches a fit, he will not get his way, and if he persists, he will get a consequence. It takes time, energy, commitment, and the Holy Spirit, but Edward knows.
This is the mainstream advice for parents. Kids these days... deserve better.

Country music

I don't often listen to country music anymore. It's too poppy. Today, though, it seemed fitting, so I put on K92. Toby Keith "I Love This Bar" was on. I love Toby Keith. One of my most favorite memories ever was going to his concert in Orlando, sponsored by the NRA, that was part of Charlton Heston's final round of public appearances. Before the concert started, Mr. and Mrs. Heston came out on stage and Mr. Heston waved to the crowd before his wife helped him walk back. The standing ovation he received must have lasted for 20 minutes. No one wanted the moment to end. It was awesome.

After "I Love This Bar" ended, I heard a song I'd never heard before. I think I might have to turn K92 on more often. Here it is:

Artist: Thompson Josh
Song: Way Out Here
Album: Way Out Here



Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son
Our necks are burnt, our roads are dirt and our trucks ain't clean
The dogs run lose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything
Out here, way out here

(Chorus)
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here

We got a fightin' side a mile wide but we pray for peace
'Cause it's mostly us that end up servin' overseas
If it was up to me I'd love to see this country run
Like it used to be, oughta be, just like it's done
Out here, way out here

(Chorus)
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here

We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here, way out here

Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son