Not that this has ANYTHING to do with Christmas....

but, I just had to post it. I found this video of one of my favorite songs, with one of my favorite singers, AND with my favorite male figure skater!!! Please enjoy "Time to Say Goodbye" with Sarah Brightman and Evan Lysacek: (Don't forget to turn off my music on the bottom of the page).

Okay. Now back to Christmas.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful day yesterday! We had a delightful day over here. Fun memories. :-)

The Story of an Empty Stocking

I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear - there was a child's cry

A blazing star hung over a stable. Wise men came with birthday gifts.



We have not forgotten that night down the centuries.

We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, the sound of bells,

And with gifts, but especially with gifts.

You give me a book, I give you a tie,

Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer,

Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe.

We forgot nobody- adult or child,

All the stockings are filled,

All that is - but one

We have even forgotten to hang it up.

The stocking for the child born in a manger

It's his birthday we're celebrating, let us never forget that.



Let us ask ourselves, what he would wish for most

And then, let each put in his share,

Loving kindness, warm hearts,

And the stretched out hand of tolerance,

All the shining gifts, that make for Peace on earth.



From: The Bishop's Wife, 1947

Merry Christmas my friends!!!

The Most Beautiful Baby Ever!

“The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable.

He who had been spirit became pierceable.

He who was larger than the universe became an embryo.

And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.


God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.


God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen.

He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.


God had come near.


He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter.

The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.
No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla.


Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception.

And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.”~Max Lucado

*Courtesy of Alyssa.*

Sweet Sixteen Fun!!!!!

This past weekend I had my sweet sixteen birthday party! It was a lot of fun, and it was really nice having all my friends from the years under one roof for a little while. Of course, some of you blogger friends were not there, and I really wish that you could have been! The theme was from the movie "It is a Wonderful Life," and I had everyone wear black and white....with a touch of red. ;-) It was weird having a party before my birthday though! (My actual birthday is next Monday.) Here are some pictures from the day:

My cake.

Bev and Stef.

Samantha, Gina, and Laura.

Sara and me. And, believe me, I was really standing on my tip-toes!!!

Rosalie and me. Friends since childhood.

Little Shae-Shae!

Group photo.

My reaction after opening Sara's gift: a Phillie's 2008 World Champions T-shirt!!!!!

Nawelle and me!

Jess and me.

My beautiful sister. :-)

Auntie and niece!

Christine, Noelle, and Jess.

Me, Sara, and Laura in front of Sara's amazing Christmas tree!

Me and Laura!

Thank you to all of those people who came!!!! I love you all very much. :-)