This Week's Top Tunes

This Year's Love by David Gray

That Particular Time by Alanis Morissette

February Seven by The Avett Brothers little side note: Feb 7 is my anniversary.
Out Loud by Dispatch
I'm On Fire by Town Mountain
Let It Be Me by Ray LaMontagne
The Guy That Says Goodbye by Griffin House
New York City Christmas by Rob Thomas
Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones
Carol of the Bells by ANYONE

  

Today is the first day of Advent

Advent is the season in which Christians, especially of the western denominations, prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus as well as the second coming of Christ. Although Catholics are no longer held to the fasting tradition during this season, some do so on their own volition. I have been a Catholic for only three years and have only fasted during Lent. This season I would like to prepare in a similar way but have not exactly decided what I will do. I know that I will refrain from red meat on Fridays, but I will add to that.

I want to share with everyone that although fasting and prayer do not sound like they'd be all the rage, the combination is cleansing and peaceful. Removing things that you don't have the most control over and focusing on allowing God to speak and move through you are great ways to prepare our minds and souls for a wonderful season. It is also a great way to remind ourselves what the season is truly about and not be taken by the commercial aspects the world has made out of Christmas. This does not mean I don't enjoy shopping, eating, and playing "reindeer games"; It simply means I know and I'm teaching my children what Christmas really is. I plan to share as the season moves on.

The Elf's name is Thurman

Avery has a knack for names. They're usually a bunch of syllables thrown together and for a few weeks at a time everything will include some particular favorite sound. Thurman came from nowhere. Now, she does have a little baby doll she named Sherman, but that was last Christmas and she hasn't used any if those sounds recently. The important part here is how adorable this little elf really is.

An Unforturnate Reminder

I'd like to share an experience that my honest, protective, and safe husband, Chris, had only a few hours ago. Let me preface this with some of our views and history. In spite of potential backlash I'm going to put this out there, mainly because I know I'm right. We are not gun toting rednecks or paranoid doomsday preppers. We do not think all people are bad; we know that many of them are. We believe in God, we believe in fiercely protecting ourselves, learning self defense tactics, learning and teaching others about guns, what they should be used for, and what the bad people will use them for. We do not pretend like our heavy purses will save us from a rapist, murderer, robber, but a bullet will. Our home town is no stranger to crime. It has never been a particularly safe city, but there are many safer areas. Those areas are growing smaller, not only in our city but throughout the country and the world. The blinders that some people wear in order to continue in their fictional utopia is uncanny. They tend to ignore or deny reality and fear guns unless they're on the hip of an officer. My husband and I both have concealed weapons permits, but in Louisiana open carry is legal. We also teach our children to hunt...with guns and how to use them safely. So, today...

The family all went in separate directions: our eldest went shopping with her grandmother, I took the youngest Christmas shopping, and my husband took the toddler to Kroger. With his .357 Magnum on his hip. This is not unlike him. Again, we in live in Louisiana; honest people like guns here. We are sportsman, we can live off the land, we can kill our food, we can also kill a guy in ski mask who comes through our bedroom window or a crazed shooter at a movie theater. One bullet halts him. One. Bullet. Not long after his shopping trip began, he was approached by a terrified manager because a woman had complained that she was uncomfortable with this visible weapon. Of course we have the right to bear arms, open carry is legal here, and Kroger has no policy against it. But this woman had decided that she didn't like it. The manager could not legally do anything, but my husband obliged and concealed the weapon. A few minutes later the woman walked by Chris humming and smiling in triumph. I find this appalling. Not only the adolescent behavior but the thought that she just imposed on an innocent man. A man that most likely is the only man in the building able and willing to defeat any actual criminal and thereby saving her pretentious rear end.

We have become a society that allows child molesters to be punished with probation and a little flyer sent out with each new address and then suppresses the rights of honest, hard working tax payers.

Ask any inmate what he or she is most afraid of. They are most afraid that their proposed victim will be armed or that someone within shooting range will be armed. I truly wish that people would learn self defense, gun safety and use. We cannot allow ourselves to be victimized due to trepidation. We should not be finicky around weapons, we should embrace them. There was a time in this country when very few would have argued with this post. What happened to those days?

Thanksgiving success

We spent the day at my parents'. My husband's parents joined us. Mom in law makes the best gumbo ever. 

My mom refused to let me cook. 

I had three patients to see early that morning, then I came home to my family, my favorite people on Earth.

They are what I am thankful for, and of course, out Savior. Thank you, Jesus. None of this is possible without the Father and the Son.

Chris made a peach cobbler that he swore was a gourmet recipe.

I don't eat peach cobbler. I ate that peach cobbler.

It was delightful and delicious.

Then my issues sank in...and I ran three miles.

Hey, I had to finish the day with another cup of gumbo.

 

What are you thankful for?

What do you do the day after that much food?

Some days

are just harder than others.

anhedonia sets in.

I feel unsatisfied, sad, overwhelmed with have-tos.

wishing for time for want-tos.
 

some days i have to work just dilligently just to remain on an even keel.

i have to make a list, at least mentally, of the things i love.

that i am thankful for.

not everyone believes what i do.

i hate having to prove myself.

defend my beliefs.

I think the world is ugly.

I am not always calm.
my job is hard.
i fear the future of health care. not only because of the health care act.
but because of my job as a nurse.

shall we just line them up and hope we get to them
and let the government choose our wages
instead of allowing companies to compete for our skills

i want to stay home and paint and hold my family
and read and write
and cry
and explain why they're wrong

i want to allow myself to treat everyone the same
i know too many truths
those truths are difficult to swallow

I absolutely fear for the ignorant planet.
and for my babies.
 
 

 

This Thursday's Tunes

For some of us this hasn't been a great week. I'll not go into that because I want this post to be lighthearted, simple. So...Here is a list of pretty, soul soothing, mind moving, tear jerking songs that everyone should hear....

Ain't No Reason by Brett Dennen

I Will Follow You Into to Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons

Til the Sun Turns Black by Ray LaMontagne

No Envy No Fear by Joshua Radin

Say Hello Wave Goodbye by David Gray

To Travels and Trunks by Hey Marseilles

Atlantic City by The Band

I'm Gonna Hurt Her on the Radio by Keith Whitley

The Boxer by Jerry Douglas

Into the Mystic by Van Morrison

Arms of a Woman by Amos Lee

Things That You Love by Pepper

Society by Eddie Vedder

Home by Phillip Phillips

Enjoy

Love, Shelley