Get Your Hanukkah on Part deux

i always find it ironic listening to Jewish radio hosts editorialize on Christmas songs. Nonetheless, one of my favorite radio programs is All Songs Considered by NPR and today i listened to their Holiday  Music Special program which was delightful. other than a song by Prince, whom normally I like but here was doleful, I enjoyed the entire program and recommend you download and listen to it.

I also discovered my post last year was ahead of the curve as I shared the following by the Maccabeats. Which I enjoyed listening to enough today that I thought I'd share it again.  Go get your Hanukkah on

Hockey

I love skating and playing hockey. Truth be told I don't really love skating but I do love playing hockey. Most nights , when I was in high school, upon returning home from basketball practice, i strapped on the skates and went down in the backyard and played hockey with neighbors and friends. Being a true Minnesotan hockey was the sport that bound us together. The cold didn't matter, the snow could be shoveled, the cracks in the ice smoothed - hockey could be played.

Hockey was even part of my mission to Quebec. Thursday night was Soiree Canadien and far be it from me  to be successful in getting in a door to preach when the Canadiens were playing - just didn't happen. It was a tradition that was honored more than catholicism, and that is saying quite a lot for that time and place.

My brother Brad and I one year tried to convince my dad that the fighting scene had changed with the new North Stars wide open skating approach but we chose the wrong game to make our point, It was the North Stars and the Blackhawks - Gloves and sticks everywhere! they  threw off the gloves and slugged it out in a brawl!. It went on and on and on. In the end the cancelled part of the period and the ice was blood-stained. it was crazy.(for sample click here)


Unfortunately, the fighting has continued in the NHL. I've never been a fan of the fighting and after reading the three part series recently in the New York Times it reinforces the notion that fighting is more than just out of control. The article  Derek Boogaard: A Boy Learns to Brawl is an interesting insight to this underbelly of hockey. Hockey is still a great sport to watch, though I haven't played on ice for some time myself. ( hearken you back to Rindy and Parker getting it on in street hockey) 


Hate the fighting but love the Hockey

A Little Bit Kinder

Howard W Hunter is one of my favorite prophets and no time , more than Christmas, does his counsel resonate more true. In particular the following statement:

"We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us" (Howard W. Hunter, "A More Excellent Way," Ensign, May 1992, 61).


It was brought to mind as our Home Teacher shared the following article from the Chicago Tribune during this month's visit.  It is not a long read - but it gave us pause too reflect as we listened.

December 11, 2011|By Dean P. Johnson

All I wanted to do was take my wife on a leisurely Sunday stroll along the city sidewalks, the busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style.

The temperature was just shy of warm, mild for an early December afternoon in Philadelphia. The streets were bustling with the energy of pre-holiday anticipation and angst as people zigzagged from store to store with bags and boxes, packages and parcels. Rows of doorways were donned with ribbons, bows and wreaths. Buildings were draped in fresh, green garland. Storefronts bragged discounts amid twinkling lights and decorations of silver and gold. If you listened, really listened, you could hear, above all the bustle, the bells from hansom carriages passing nearby.

As we walked, a young woman, sitting on the sidewalk, with a small suitcase and what appeared to be rolled-up bedclothes by her side, asked in a frail voice if we could spare some change. While I try to avoid eye contact with street people, I looked down at her and gave a quick, apologetic smile.

Street people. I really don't like that designation. It too easily marginalizes fellow human beings who find themselves down on their luck — addled maybe with drug and alcohol addictions, mental illnesses or more. But since thousands upon thousands of us can walk past them every day, they are marginalized, so I suppose, the label applies. Besides, the name gives them some legitimacy, which gives a little peace of mind to the rest of us.

I generally do not give street people money beyond the few coins I may happen to find in my pocket. They'll only end up using it to buy drugs and alcohol, or so I've been told.

As we passed her, I heard a faint voice say the name of the small, suburban town where I live. My wife and I turned around.

There sat a young girl we knew. She had lived a few houses up the street from us. We had known her for years. It's no wonder I did not recognize her at first. She was emaciated, ashen complexion, eyelids bloated and red, open sores on her face.

We went back to talk to her. "I thought I recognized you," she said, smiling. Recognize? We had seen you at least a few times a week over the years. We'd had conversations on the sidewalk in front of our house. We remember when you were pregnant with your first child and when you dropped out of high school. When the ambulance and police took you away that night when you were screaming incoherently in the middle of the street. Then you had your second and your third children. Then you disappeared for a while. We would see your parents taking care of your kids. We'd say hello when we would see them outside, neighborly but not intrusive, so we didn't ask. We couldn't ask. Then you were back and had a fourth child. But now that I think about it, we haven't seen you around for a while.

"How are my children? Do you see my children?" We told her we did. In fact, our son and hers are in the same class. We listened as she told us how she's not allowed to see her children, how they did this to her, how they all did this to her.

Standing there talking with her, I couldn't help but notice the people passing meeting vile after vile looks. I recognized that look as one I would have given to someone talking with a street person, especially when I pulled out my wallet and gave her all the dollar bills I had. It wasn't that much, really, a 10 and some ones. I use my debit card more than anything else now, so I rarely carry cash.

She quickly hid the money and thanked us. We told her to take care of herself, stay warm, go inside when it gets cold. What more can you say that she already doesn't know or cares to?

"Tell my mom I said, 'Hi.' "We smiled and said we would, knowing we wouldn't because we are neighborly but not intrusive.

We continued our walk and along our way were met by no less than 10 other street people asking for loose change. I thought of each as daughters and sons and neighbors and rued the fact that I wouldn't be able to see past them so easily anymore amid the shoppers rushing home with their treasures.

Dean P. Johnson is a high school English teacher in Camden, N.J..

Scone Virgin

Ok, i wasn't going to post about Sunday's cousin gathering but Josh forced me. He claimed to have never partaken of any of Rindy's scones in past Scone Sunday activities - shocking, unbelievable, yet somehow true.  We welcomed the initiate into the fold as he lathered jam appropriately. A hearty discussion ensued when Michael was questioned as to the needfulness of syrup but i quickly supported the position, All in all a tasty affair.

We were even able to play games for awhile with the younger set contently playing in the basement. Evan once again pulled some answers out of what appeared to be the blue - but he does consistently surprise one with his wit and gaming skills (unnamed others had a tougher time guessing)

The Jersey

Of late Mackey, Brigham and Evan have taken to wearing my sweaters as it is in vogue to wear ugly sweaters and make a mockery of my historic good taste. That which was tastefully has been rendered cliché and cool in its tackiness.Obviously I'm deeply flattered. Evan in looking for an old sweater of mine , in fact, came across an old sweater of his - affectionately called The Jersey.

The Jersey goes back in TV history - The story-line basically was four teens who discover the magic of "the jersey", a mystical football jersey that transports them into the bodies of professional athletes. This is done in a way similar to the way that the main character in Quantum Leap, Sam, travels from body to body, and there is a different athlete featured in every episode. It showed in the early 2002 - 3 time framework and it was Evan's favorite show. He just knew if he could get The Jersey that he, Evan, could be transported into professional sports.


So, being the enterprising father that I am ; I called up the Producer of The Jersey at Disney and asked if they sold replicas of the sweater. After explaining Evan's situation to him, he decided to send me one of their props - pictured above. The Christmas present was bitter sweet. Evan, while tickled pink and excited to get the sweater was quite disappointed to discover that it didn't work.


But the magic is still there today. And it fits him a little better.

Sing a Little Bit Longer

Music has been deeply engraved in the lives of Rindy and I since our youth; and it has played a significant ongoing role in our family. Surprisingly, at least to us, only two of the kids participated in choir during high school – Evan and Parker. Both had spectacular experiences. (One of their shared directors Dale Cruze leads one of this season’s best Holiday Flash Mobs –

And, to date, only one has participated in college – Evan. He gratefully, had the opportunity to participate in the BYU University Choral with his second cousin Mariah Wilson as one of the conductors / directors. (many thanks to Mariah) Evan loves to sing, though truth be told he has an incredibly limited range, perhaps only matched by my father. But sing he does.

Nonetheless, he was able to participate when the BYU University Chorale sang at the BYU Dec 6^th Devotional. We watched it, teary –eyed and full of gratitude on BYU internet TV live and hope to post it here if I can find a copy of it.

So Michael with Marie makes for an A-game

That was the question of interest tonight at the cousin party.

We gathered to celebrate Adele's 2nd birthday
We sang.
She blew?

Marie was the dazzler with the home made blanket and pillow thingy.
She brings alot to the game.

(the answer was he is strong to the hoop)

Milwaukee

A short drive north of Chicago one finds Milwaukee.
Not a particularly large city but a city with all its incumbent hustle and bustle, pedestrian traffic and cars,  lights and decorations. it has the feel of the holidays. We drove up for an evening party  at the Mason Street Grill. We arrived early and were able to enjoy a bit of lounging time at the neighboring Pfizer Hotel - which really was bedecked for the Holidays.

Afterward it was dinner with Blair & Julie, Dean & Jean, John & Jessica and some other friends of Blair and Julie. Great food - a great night - great company. A great surprise for Julie. In candor it was one of the better steaks that i've eaten for awhile.

 Wisconsin its more than just great hiking trails and grand kids!

(so first video on my phone - cut me some slack)

Fairy Day

Gotta love living close enough to bust out of church, hit the road and be in time for Sunday dinner and a Fairy Birthday Party. Eden has quickly become four and so we gathered in Watertown to celebrate. Happy Birthday E.

Room At The Inn

it is not lightly that i chose to replace the 4-babes photo has been the bellwether of my blog. I've delayed other posts this week in deference and favoritism to the thanksgiving gathering collection of photos. But life moves on to new adventures.

Part of our Saturday morning ritual is listening to NPR. (Though I still prefer the broadcast out of st paul over the chicago version) During today's programming, there was an announcement for a  nativity display at st matthews center for health; A nursing home in a neighboring suburb. At first blush it seemed bizarre to hold a nativity review there - but it has a chapel, they had room to display the 400 nativities, it brought people into interaction with the nursing home community, there were a lot of minnesota luthern connections, and hey its a great way to join in the season.

It wasn't a spectacular showing but it was uplifting and fun to be at. I took a couple photos of a few of the interesting ones. (Perhaps another day I'll post what Rindy has set up in the house - it looks smashing.) In the meantime There was a Room at the Inn.

made out of recycled paper

nepalese with a yak

inuit mary - russian joseph

nice halos

more realistic with Mary laying down

drummer angel is cool