So, I am a Reformed Evangelical... shocking. =)

You scored as Reformed Evangelical. You are a Reformed Evangelical. You take the Bible very seriously because it is God's Word. You most likely hold to TULIP and are sceptical about the possibilities of universal atonement or resistible grace. The most important thing the Church can do is make sure people hear how they can go to heaven when they die. Reformed Evangelical 71% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 61% Fundamentalist 61% Neo orthodox 54% Emergent/Postmodern 36% Roman Catholic 32% Charismatic/Pentecostal 21% Classical Liberal 21% Modern Liberal 7% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

My Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

This is the first time I have ever gone out by myself to buy a Christmas tree. The experience was not as bad as I anticipated, but it certainly lacked all the ceremony that always accompanies the traditional family Christmas tree chopping (which I participated in while I was home for Thanksgiving). Since I have a little apartment, I figured I should get a little tree.


Once it was all lit up and decorated, I could help but think that it looked like a Charlie brown Christmas tree. Well, imagine the surprise I felt as I turned on the TV that night and what to my wondering eyes should appear...Charlie Brown and his Christmas tree! So I took a picture to record the irony for you, my adoring public. =P

 

Wish I may, wish I might...

not waste my money by throwing it into a wishing well!

Did you know that in the UK, people throw, on average, almost 3 million pounds (that is approx. $5.8 million!!!) into fountains and wishing wells?!?! Well, that is what the Fountain Money Mountain report says, and who's gonna argue with that? =P

Just so you know, I did NOT throw any money into the Trevi Fountain when I was in Rome! =)

Scene 10

My favorite part of the Christmas Spectacular was the tenth and final scene. It both shocked and amazed me! =) It started with a reading from the Scriptures...

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ~ Luke 2:1-7

People and animals came on the scene as this was read:

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office.

He never owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He had no credentials but Himself. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.

His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying -- and that was His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as that One SolitaryLife.

~ James A. Francis

And it ended with these words:

Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn King!

 

I LOVE NYC!!!

I went to see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall for the first time in my life. It was AMAZING!!! C. and I took Mom as an early birthday gift. I think we surprised her. We told her we were taking her out, but not where, and even after we parked and were walking in the general direction of Radio City Music Hall, Mom was still not quite positive if that was where we were taking her. =)

The Rockettes were fabulous! I did not realize all that they did. They study in tap, jazz, and ballet! Plus, they have to be 5'7" (guess that rules out all you short people). =)

There was an entire scene that included all the most popular pieces of the the Nutcracker. That was one of my favorites.

I know this pic is a little on the blurry side, but yes, that is an ice skating rink that you see there!

 

If I could just see you tonight

As you could probably tell from #1 on my hit-list, the ride home for Thanksgiving was anything but easy. It took me 2.5 hours to go 13 miles. It is enough to drive a person crazy! After about an hour an a hlf, I noticed a specialty license plate that helped me change the direction of my thoughts (which were headed nowhere good). The camera came out and I was able to amuse myself for the remaining hour of stop and go (more stop than go).

At 2:00 a.m. I was finally at a point where I could see what the big hold-up was: roadwork!

Yeah, DELDOT decided to close 3 lanes of traffic on a 4 lane highway on the day before the busiest travelling holiday of the year. Who makes these decisions?!

At 4:00 a.m. I was crossing the Varazano Bridge (what a wonderful sight!). I had been up for almost 24 hours straight and I was very near delerious. All I wanted to do was make it home and crawl into bed, which I did at 5:00 the morning before Thanksgiving.

It was all worth it in the end just to be home with my family for Thanksgiving!

Making my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making a way
Through the crowd

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder....

~ Vanessa Carlton

 

On Today's Hit-list

• DELDOT - for shutting down 3 lanes of traffic to do roadwork the day before Thanksgiving

  NMCI - for kicking me off and deleting my emails

  Joyce Motors - for not passing my car, citing a need for new windshield wipers - I still disagree!

  EZ-Pass - for invalidating my tag a week before Thanksgiving and not bothering to inform me

  Chase - for being their stupid Chase selves