Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are you cooking Christmas dinner? How many will be round your table this year? What are we having?


No. I never have to cook. I know you all feel sorry for me. Anytime there is a holiday we either go to my sister's (like we did at Thanksgiving) or my in-laws as we'll do on Christmas. I don't think it's a reflection of my cooking skill....


I have no idea how many will be here this year. I know there will be hubby & I and the boys (5), my inlaws (2), Grandad (1), my BIL and his girlfriend (2), most likely an aunt and uncle (2) and possibly my SIL with her family (4). Not sure who else is showing and if all those I've listed are coming.


As for the food - my MIL usually does Italian. I know she's doing eggplant parmigiana, regular lasagna, and probably spaghetti and meatballs. There will be enough food to feed about the entire town.

2. What is one must-have Christmas cookie in your house?

It used to be my mom's sugar cookies. SO yummy but I don't make them. Too time consuming for me - at least now. My mom loved to bake and did a lot this time of year. I miss that.


Here's a photo from a visit to her home a couple years ago. All of us were together so we had a get together. This is just some of the deserts she made....

3. Santa likes a glass of milk with his cookies. Do you? What kind of milk is on tap at your house-skim? almond? soy? full fat (Gasp!)

Yup. I do like milk on occasion. I don't drink as much as I used to. Now it's typically only when I have a low blood sugar. I keep 1% in the house for the kids but my teenager is the one who drinks most of it. My hubby is lactose-intolerant so I do keep some almond on hand for him in case he wants some cereal.

4. Time magazine recently named their 'Person of the Year' for 2011. This is the person the editors believe had the greatest impact, for better or worse, in the past year. This year they chose 'The Protester'. Your thoughts? Who would you name Person of the Year for 2011?

I must say I find this annoying. I love that we have the right to free speech, but I feel most take advantage of it. Rather than spending your time protesting, find a way to make the changes you want. Spend more time being grateful for what you do have rather than looking at what you don't. And I'm going to stop there before I climb on to my soapbox. 

Who would I name Person of the Year for 2011? I honestly have no clue, but one name that just popped in my head is Michelle Duggar (and the entire Duggar family) - for living out her life in the spotlight of TV with dignity and grace while quietly proclaiming the goodness of God.

5. December 21st is National Flashlight Day... when was the last time you needed a flashlight and did you know right where to find one? 

Ha! Tonight in fact - just a couple hours ago. Maine is experiencing an ice storm currently. In fact, my poor hubby is stuck at a hotel for the night - don't feel too bad for him. I'm thankful he's off the roads and safe! My FIL totaled his truck tonight (he's fine thankfully). Our power went out for about 40 minutes tonight. 


As to where to find one - oh yes! Hubby gave me a smartphone for my birthday and one of the first apps I added was a flashlight. I just grabbed my phone - which is never far away these days - and we were good to go. I did light candles and the oil lamps though.

6. candy canes...yum or yuck?

Yum although I don't eat many these days. I love peppermint candy. Another "funny" is that hubby & I are teaching Children's Church this month. Since Christmas is on Sunday it was decided not to have regular Children's Church. Instead, we'll head to the front of the church and do a short story there. I received permission to do the "Legend of the Candy Cane." I'll be talking about how you can use the candy cane to remind us of Christ and his sacrifice for us. I found a cute poem that helps explain it. I'm attaching it to mini-candy canes to hand out along with a candy cane coloring page and red & green crayons. Hopefully the parents won't get too mad about the candy if there is a coloring page to go with it.

7. What Christmas carol lyric means the most to you?

I'm not sure I can pick just one. Each song has something that means a lot to me. It's one reason I love this time of year so much.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've been sadly neglecting my blog lately. I have had so much to blog about but so much going on in my real life here in Maine that I chose to let my blog slide. I'm working on balancing it all right now. But do we ever get that right?