BOOKS!

We started this tradition years ago. Is there any way better to begin the new year than by curling up with a good book?

Me (last evening): Father always seems amused when he sees me at Mass without children in tow.

Bill: That’s because he expects to see me at confession tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! Numbers 6:24-26

“Aiko doesn’t need holidays, food or rest, and will work almost 24 hours a day. She is the perfect woman.”

Admittedly, the conversations are a bit dull.

I have four children in CCD. Next week, they are having an “Around-the-World” Christmas party. That’s sounds nice, right?

Of course, that means bringing in food or other Christmas-y things related to different countries.

Fortunately, the girls’ classes have the same country. Unfortunately, their country is the Phillipines.

Billy has France.

Fritz has Italy.

If anybody has any suggestions…

…do not simply Google “French Christmas food.” I can do that. I could probably pull out some cookbooks I have and get some ideas for Italy and France. The Phillipines is tough, though.

Key word: simple.

Key concept: I do not wish to purchase new kitchenware, and I do not want to hunt in 8 different stores for a specialty ingredient.

I know, I’m so difficult.

Also, they prefer finger foods. Desserts. Appetizers.

Help!

I can not find my day planner. Every commitment. Every address. Every scheduled event.

When I say I’ve lost my mind, I really mean it. My brain book is lost.

If you Google “percentage of people who die within a year after a major fall,” various sites will tell you that when someone over the age of 65 falls and breaks a hip, about 25%-30% of them die within a year. Of course, plenty of these people might be octogenarians or older.

Fortunately, my Dad is only 62. Unfortunately, he’s in the hospital right now.

Prayers for my parents would be appreciated.

Note: a nurse at the hospital was the one who presented my mother with the statistic listed above. Nice, huh? Let’s focus on the worst case scenario, eh?

Additional note: I am more prepared to face my own death than I am ready to face the death of my parents. And I am definitely not ready to think of my dad as an old man who falls and breaks a hip.

From Sarah, the Snoring Scholar, who lives on a farm in the Midwest:

In December, we will honor Our Lady of Guadalupe with our Mary Moments carnival. We welcome your feast day celebration ideas, traditions, recipes, or reflections. Do you have a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe? Have you felt a special bond with this image of Mary? Can you take a few moments to share it with us as we assemble a bouquet for Our Mother on this special feast day?

Bill ordered something off eBay two weeks ago. It still hasn’t come. When I emailed the seller, he responded that there was “confusion and delay.”

I had no idea we had ordered from Sir Topham Hatt.

Anybody else thinks it’s scary there’s a whole lot of wiki info about the Island of Sodor?