2011 and Beyond

The New Year is upon us once again. Last year I set a goal of reading 30 books.
Well, I didn't make it.

For those who have been around here a while, you know that we lost one of my younger brother's last January. I think I woke up sometime around April; I mean really woke up. I had been here posting, but there was not much thinking going on.
With that lovely bit of a beginning to 2010, I still read 22 books! Not bad if I do say so myself!

I think the one that touched me most--well two actually were "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom, and "Night" by Elie Wiesel.
Corrie Ten Boom and her sister will stay with me always, as shining examples of Christlike Love; of what it can mean to truly follow the Savior and trust in Him; Elie Wiesel will also stay with me, but for an entirely different reason; he taught me what it means to my life if I were to ever give up hope; if I were to ever stop trusting God. It matters not that we worship a different God; God has a firm place in my life, my mind and my heart, through Mr. Wiesel's experience, I know I don't want to alter that.

My favorite history this year was "The Real George Washington" by Jay Parry. Wow! I learned so much about my favorite Founding Father, my love for him grew by leaps and bounds.
I also have high praise for "In Praise of Prejudice" by Theodore Dalrymple. This book is about the positive aspects of prejudice, and how we are born to BE prejudice; how there is obviously bad prejudice, but less obviously there is good prejudice, and how to embrace that. If you choose to read it, and I highly recommend that you do, have a dictionary handy!
Two that I had the most fun reading were "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis.

All in all, I think I did pretty good. Glenn Beck takes top honors as a double contributor, and I found I read more fiction this year than I thought I would, or had intended to for that matter.

I will once again set a goal of 30 books; care to join me?

In the realm of politics, I'm not hopeful; I know we had an excellent election result, and things look good, but pardon me if I don't hold my breath. The Tea Party had amazing success in determining the outcome, and I am grateful, excited even for the possibilities; yet I'm concerned, maybe overly so, that those who we elected to put us back on track, may fall victim to the evil that is Washington D.C.

There are bright lights, in some very strong conservatives, but we have some on the left calling the plan to read the Constitution in Congress a "gimmick"! Of all things! I was flabbergasted. The mentality of the Progressive Left is frightening at the very least.
This brings up a whole First Amendment issue that I'm hoping to talk about in the next little while.

So, I hope your 2010 was better than mine, I'm still healing, but my faith is strong; stronger even than before the accident; I know my Savior lives; I know that whatever happens, the Lord is on my side. I will continue to strive to be on His.

Happy New Year!

The Beginning of Hope

Today is New Year's Eve. The very name implies excitement and merriment, yet as I've expressed before, it is, to me, the darkest day of the year.

The light from the current year is nearly extinguished; the spark of new light on the horizon.

The New Year dawns full of hope; fresh and clean. We have the chance to wipe the slate of procrastination and slothfulness clean; make amends and put our best foot forward…again.

We’ll make resolutions and goals, and we’ll try hard to make them stick. The light from the dawning year will shine brightly, like freshly polished silver.

What a gift! What blessing!

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and have our earthly slate wiped clean; the New Year is a yearly reminder of this gift; a yearly chance to make ourselves better than we are today; a step closer to accepting the gift of the Atonement, and letting it work in our lives.

As we work on these resolutions and goals, let us be reminded of the Ultimate Sacrifice on our behalf, and strive to draw closer to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ; let that be one of our resolutions; one of our goals.

Let every day dawn bright; let every morning be the New Year; polish your silver daily and never forget that the Lord wants us to succeed; wants us to draw near unto Him. Let the light in you be a reflection of His light.


May your New Year be bright.



With Love.

True Meaning of Christmas

Another reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. May we live the Spirit of Christ, now and in the coming New Year.

An Ineffable Light

"...the virgin knelt down with great veneration in an attitude of prayer, and her back was turned to the manger....

And while she was standing thus in prayer, I saw the child in her womb move and suddenly in a moment she gave birth to her son, from whom radiated such an ineffable light and splendour, that the sun was not comparable to it, nor did the candle that St. Joseph had put there, give any light at all, the divine light totally annihilating the material light of the candle....

I saw the glorious infant lying on the ground naked and shining. His body was pure from any kind of soil and impurity. Then I heard also the singing of the angels, which was of miraculous sweetness and great beauty."
(Excerpt from a vision of Catholic "mystic"Saint Bridget of Sweden 1303-1373 (Wikipedia); painting by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1490 (Wikimedia) )

May the Ineffable Light of Christ light your days; this Christmas and always.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Mr. Handel

A lot has been on my mind lately; to turn on the news is to make my blood boil. I haven't posted because there is SO much going on and going wrong; by the time I have an idea, the next thing is making me angry. I've tried to avoid that at this special time of year.
I have a few things brewing, but for the moment, I leave you with this incredible rendition of Handel's Messiah; one of my favorite pieces, this brought tears to my eyes; the spirit testified of the truthfulness of Handel's message.
Handel was a spiritual man, and claimed God's inspiration; I think you can feel that here.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob

Now, on a similar note, a little less moving but quite enjoyable, I give you the Silent Monks; enjoy:

The Silent Monks