Joy to the World

Shouldn't every girl and boy

have a chance to jump for joy?

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Click below for more sources of joy.

Peace on Earth: In Which Sue Gets to Primp, Putter, Ponder & Pray her Way to Christmas

You know that sort of obligatory Christmas stuff that you need to get done or go to every year? Well, that was last week.

Old news. Over and done. Water under the bridge.

This week is stretching out in front of me like an open meadow, and I intend to cut a happy trail right through the center of it! Today begins my primping and puttering week...the one I completed my Christmas shopping early to enjoy...that one where I sort of wander through my Christmas preparations and tweak whatever needs tweaking before the family arrives in full force and holiday fettle. It's also the prayer and pondering week, where I actually have time to sit back and let the spirit of Christmas work its lovely magic on my heart, lest that old thing end up two sizes two small just in time to put a damper on the festivities.

The soundtrack for my merriment and musing is split rather unevenly across the years among Karen Carpenter, James Taylor, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, Jewel, Andrea Bocelli, Sufjan Stevens, Kalai, Chanticleer, Kenny G, Barbara Streisand, Diana Krall, Joshua James, Paul McCartney, Afterglow, Rosie Thomas, The Irish Rovers, Casting Crowns, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, John Denver, Paul Cardall, Straight No Chaser, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. As you can see, I like a little variety in my musical Christmasing!

The smells of the day are Gingerbread (from Yankee Candle) and Kitchen Spice (from Bath and Body Works). I am happy to say, however, that the eau de tree permeating the house is all natural.

At this point, all I can say is "God's in His heaven; all's right with the world." (Well, actually, Robert Browning said it.)

Well articulated, Bob. And Merry Christmas!

Special Deliveries

I'm busy, busy, busy––but I just couldn't resist playing Saturday Centus today. (Do you think I might be addicted to this crazy writing meme/blog hop wherein we writer-types add 100 of our own words to Jenny Matlock's prompt and come up with what passes for the shortest little short stories ever?) I won't tell you what I think...After all, denial is part of the disease, right?

As usual, the prompt is in red.

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Special Deliveries

An involuntary gasp of shock escaped my lips when I opened the shoebox and saw the pointy-toed shoes from my agent. But it was the little, hand-printed note of congratulations that made me jump to my feet and begin shout-singing “I’m Not That Girl” at the top of my lungs. Because, actually, I was that girl. Shockingly, incredibly, mind-blowing-and-bendingly, I was that girl.

The very next morning, I dropped a wicked cool greeting card in the mail, addressed to my mom in Ohio. She likes the musical kind, and this one played “New York, New York.” Of course, it was signed by Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West.

All it said was, “Start spreading the news…”

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Christmas Poetry Round-Up!

Poetry is a window to the soul...

My yuletide poems are going over pretty well this month (thanks, y'all!), so I thought I'd do a "Best of Christmas" poetry round-up from 2008 and 2009 for those who are either relatively new to my blog or would like to take a poetic walk with me down memory lane. It never hurts to have a few options when you're looking for that extra bit of holiday magic, right?

Without further ado, then, here is a sampling of Sue's Christmas cheer, to be taken plain or with egg nog. I hope these poems will speak to you, either for the first time or as a voice of Christmas posts past.

Happy Christmas to one and all!

My Christmas Card to All of You (a captioned picture verse)

A Christmas Eve Reading (nativity poem)

A Gentle Night in Bethlehem (nativity poem)

Beautiful Savior: Man of Galilee (Easter poem that I like reading at Christmas to remind me what it's all about)

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him (a personal testimony)

Christmas: Glimpses of Eternity (short)

The Bright Lights of Christmas (short)

Got Tree? Got Tree Poem? (humorous)

Of Kings and Wise Men

The story of the three Kings has always fascinated me. I wrote this lyric several years ago to a haunting piece of music called "The Wise Men" by Lindy Kerby.

Of Kings and Wise Men

©2005 Susan Noyes Anderson

Listen to the wind, the strains of an ancient song

are winging through the air.

Look into the sky, a sky lit with mystery...

a Star that is beckoning there.

O Star, will you beckon me there?

Look into the hearts of men who have lost their way,

who know not their purpose on earth.

Listen to the cry of wise men who watch and pray:

“The Star is a a sign of His birth."

“O, the Star is a sign of His birth."

Can you hear the song of angels around you?

Will you see the Babe, a gift from up above?

Will you sing the song, a song born in Bethlehem...

the song of redeeming love?

O, the song of redeeming love.

Find him in the wind...the sky;

your heart will sigh, “Jesus is born for me.”

Whether love is near or far...Follow His star.

Wise ones have eyes to see.

Hear the angels sing Noel and Alleluia.

May all voices ring with wonder and delight.

May we ever bring the gift of a broken heart

to the Babe born that glorious night...

to the Babe born that glorious night.

Listen to the wind, the strains of an ancient song

are winging through the air.

Look into the sky, a sky lit with mystery...

a Star that is beckoning there.

O Star, will you beckon me there?

Enjoy more K posts at Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday.

To Catch a Thief

WOW. Looks like Christmas shopping just got a whole lot more risky! I hope you'll take a minute to watch this rather unsettling (borderline shocking) video so you can be forewarned. An ounce of prevention, and all that.

What are these crooks going to come up with next?

Sheesh!

Musings on a Manger

Our olive wood manger (and all that it stands for) makes me happy!

Musings on a Manger

©2010 Susan Noyes Anderson

Sometimes I dream our manger scene

is brought to life at night.

The darkness yields to shepherds' fields

and one star, shining bright.

The angels sing; their voices ring

across a Christmas sky.

They speak of love from God above

and of the Babe nearby:

A Holy One...the Blessed Son...

Whose star will light the way

to hope and peace that cannot cease,

to joy that does not stray.

They journey far, led by that star,

'til they behold the scene:

A mother fair beyond compare,

A stable, rough and mean...

A loving man who trusts God's plan

and stands beside his wife...

A Baby small to save us all...

to lay down His own life

that we might live. The gift He'll give

is sacred beyond measure.

It's no surprise my wondering eyes

make of our creche a treasure.

In light of dawn, when sleep is gone,

the magic still remains.

The angels' story of Christ's glory

echoes glad refrains.

watercolor by Teresa Robertson

My spirit hears the strains.

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may his His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel

Find more causes for happiness by clicking below.

Christmas Decor and So Much More!

The tree is up! The house is fully decorated!!

And I have the empty boxes to prove it!!!

There's even a gift under the tree...

to hide some unfortunate rust stains. *sigh*

Be that as it may, however, the tree looks beautiful...

if a little crooked...

and ever so slightly overloaded.

But that's our style.

We do it on purpose.

Honest.

Our stockings are hung from the display shelf with care.

(What can I say? Our fireplace doesn't have a mantle for dangling.)

It does have a hearth, though, complete with creche and snow scene.

The other fireplace has a hearth, too.

complete with every kind of thing

under the sun...er...snow, I mean.

But I digress. Let's go back to the living room display...

where many lovely things are crowded, willy-nilly, onto shelves

and more shelves.

(Sometimes I'm too lazy to move the regular stuff.)

Okay...lots of times I don't move stuff.

Most of the time.

But again, we like the cluttery look.

Or at least, we do a convincing job of pretending we do!

(I shouldn't say "we," I should say "me.")

My poor hubby actually prefers order and harmony.

He goes for style and elegance...

restraint, not resplendence.

Which must be why he married me... ;-)

the lady of many tsotchkes, Christmas and otherwise.

(Maybe he's something of a masochist??)

(Could be! He's willing, after all, to put all of these away for me.)

But personally? I like to think it's just love.

~ better 'n hot chocolate ~

=)

(drink deeply)

See more Christmas decorating traditions at Jen Denton's Sanatorium.