Evangeline Came

I am an auntie to a girl! Evangeline came today while I was visiting in NYC with friends. Yeah! For the Vitals, check Keith and Bethy's blog.

Funny

Check out this article, especially if you keep up with the presidential race.

LIfe before TV

When I arrived home after New Year, my house no longer had this:My new year will now be filled with more of this:

Delicious meals of late

I just cooked two fantastic meals this week! I just have to say that I hightly recommend the recipes in Real Simple Magazine. The meals were easy and most the ingredients were easy to find. The first one from there is Sausage with Escarole and White Beans. I have to say that I typically do not like sausage, but this was so tasty, even two days later as leftovers. I also subbed the escarole with spinach. The second one was Potato and Leek Flat Bread. My roommate said that it reminded her of a California Pizza Chicken pizza. If your having a hard time finding the cheese, check out Whole Foods.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

While, I was listening to the Jars of Clay Christmas Album this song really spoke to me. I can relate with sometimes thinking there is no peace on earth. After googling the song, I found out it was a poem first written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He wrote it during the Civil War and the song excludes two stanzas. I find the two excluded stanzas give great power to the song. One that the peace on earth is referring to a war and good will to men to the enslaved. I am overjoyed that just as the blacks in the U.S. were freed, that Christ was born into this world to free me from enslavement to sin.

"Christmas Bells"
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!



And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!



Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!



Then from each black accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!



And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

SNOW!!!

The progression - day, night, morning

Christmas Time

I am finally in the Christmas mood.

My roommate and I decorated the house yesterday. We purchased a beautiful tree in just about ten minutes. Amazing considering there was four opinions to consider. We decorated the tree, drank eggnog and made chocolate turtle cake while listening to wonderful Christmas music (Jars of Clay's Christmas album).