Yet another Random Dozen Questions to get to know each other better......
Head over to Linda's to participate and/or read more. You can get to her blog by scrolling down my right side bar and clicking on the link for 2nd Cup of Coffee........thanks!



1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss.

I can take it or leave it. When my daughters were little (preschoolers) I used to bake gingerbread babies with them after reading The Gingerbread Baby by one of my favorite children's authors, Jan Brett. I also read them a copy of the original Gingerbread Man, a book I owned when I was a young girl. We would follow this activity up, in true whole language style (remember, the bulk of my career has been as a Special Education PreK teacher!) by doing a craft project (a construction paper gingerbread girl with wiggle eyes, buttons, etc.) and then bake the cookies. Alas...neither of my children care for the taste of gingerbread. We no longer bake them. Once in a great while I will make our "happy birthday Jesus" cake a gingerbread cake. With vanilla ice cream for the top.

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family?

Not at all. What is more important to me is keeping in touch with them. My parents live about 1 1/2 hours west of us here in NYS. My husband's folks live in south shore MA, about an hour from Boston and about 4 hours from us. His siblings are in NH, MA, and CA. We get together once a year at the beach house for Thanksgiving as most of you know by now! My 3 siblings, all sisters, live about an hour from me.....one to the west and 2 to the north. We are close emotionally but not physically. To me that is more important.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed?

Oh brother. Ihave no idea....but..if I had to choose I'd say the angel from It's a Wonderful Life. I mean, he is sweet, kinda dippy, but his soul is gentle.....and we all could use a dose of what his message portrays, couldn't we??

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life?

White Christmas. A busy, hectic life....but....with moments of singing, soul-searching, love, friendship, kindness, hilarity, dancing and most of all....knowing the true meaning of the season.

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of?

I am especially enjoying any of the music from the Mannheim Steamroller cd's that we have owned for years. I am also enjoying listening to my youngest play xmas carols on her violin! Ones that I could totally live without: Rocking around the xmas tree and Jingle Bell Rock. ick.
6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime?

Our fave ministry to support and participate in is the one that is a part of Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child. And each year we choose a family in need to help. On a personal level, I choose a friend or 2 who have had special meaning in my life over the course of the last year, to bless in some way, whether it is through a gift, time or baking something special. My children give to people in need in the community through the schools' PTA projects.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?"
Not at all. The X I have been told by my husband and other scholarly people stands for Christ...maybe it is Greek? I can't remember. And I know in my heart and as a family that we know the real meaning of Christmas...we don't get hung up on language usage this time of year. As for Happy Holidays...we live in a very diverse neighborhood and school district where every December holiday is celebrated by someone.....e.g. in my oldest daughter's high school there are Jewish teens, teens who celebrate Eid (we have many people from the Middle East living in the capital region right now). We also have a few people living in our town who celebrate Kwaanza. And I even know one family who like to participate in St. Nicholas Day (MINE!)...so...Happy HOlidays seems fitting when I don't know someone super well nor do I know if they celebrate Christmas or not. It is just a matter of respect. As a Christian though I tend to say Merry Christmas on my cards I send out. I avoid the more generic ones...although this year Snapfish did NOT have a good Merry Christmas one that fit my photo! So we went with Seasons Greetings and wrote "have a blessed Christmas"!

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month?

We have already attended Claire's Orchestra and Chorus concert for school (last week) and are attending Courtney's Orchestra concert next Monday evening. The HizKidzPraise show (Operation Christmas Child!) was already performed in November. So..that is a total of just 2 this month. That is more than enough!

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality?
Not at all. I am dreaming of hiking the day after! lol...seriously: a bit of snow covering the ground (i.e. less than an inch) would be pretty. Don't think we'll have much of a white xmas around here as most of what we got last week (7 inches) is pretty much gone to a warm spell and rain.
10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice.

Don't have time to scan any pics. I LOVED when I received a Grand Piano music box. I was in 8th grade. I had been collecting music boxes. (I was a music major in college for undergrad work and VERY into my music/piano as a child and teen). Hm....I wonder where that music box is nowadays??? probably bured in a basement box!

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month?

have already attended 3 plus a wedding reception. we have one more to go...at my neighbors but I think technically it will be a new year's eve party, IF she decides to have it...she hasn't been feeling well so I am not sure. And we plan on hosting one on New Year's Day IF we get our bathroom done in time :)

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas?

The word of God....Luke, Matthew and Isaiah specifically (portions of each book) plus devotionals related to Christmas and just meditating on the wonder of how God sent His very own Son in human form......church, worship and talking as a family about the real reason for the season is also something we partake in. I also make sure I don't overextend my self; I make sure the girls are not being overextended and I make sure we all have some down time to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. I also have parred down our gift exchange and will be writing a post about what we are now doing to help with that. Look for that post sometime this weekend!


Thank you to Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for this fun meme!!