Last night I thought of about fourteen things I wanted to tell y’all. Here’s the first part of the linky round-up.
1. Daniel Renstrom’s Christmas CD, On the Incarnation, really is the very best Christmas CD you may not have heard of yet. I listened to it on the way to Memphis and was teary-eyed throughout. It captures the anticipation of this season in a way I can’t even articulate – I can just tell you that it moves me way down deep in my heart. Wonderful. You can find it on iTunes or on Amazon.
(Nobody asked me to say any of this.)
(I just wanted to share.)
2. Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God is the story of Jesus from Genesis to Luke. It’s profoundly good, and your kids will love it. Because it’s the story of Jesus and not just songs about Jesus, it’s most meaningful if you listen to the songs in order from start to finish (the first time I listened to the album my iTunes was on shuffle, and I was a wee bit confused). :-) You can find it on iTunes.
(Nobody asked me to say any of this.)
(I just wanted to share.)
3. I have three giveaways running right now. Here’s a run-down (all are for Visa gift cards): Chef Boyardee ($200), The Laughing Cow ($150) and Welch’s ($100).
4. As you plan your Christmas morning menu, don’t forget the Granite Steps Coffee Cake. I have two pans of it in my oven right now, and SWEET MERCY, THE HEAVEN.
5. This post of Becca’s? Just go. And read.
6. A couple of weeks ago our pastor gave the closing prayer at Deeper Still (and I don’t know if that’s the right terminology or not – I was raised Methodist, so I always think of a closing prayer as a benediction, but I haven’t heard the word benediction very much in the Baptist church, and clearly I’m obsessing way too much about semantics and need to just get on with this little anecdote). A day or two later Melanie (who had been here for DS) and I were on the phone talking about some Deep Life Issues, and I mentioned what an encouragement our pastor’s humility is to me.
I had barely finished my sentence when Melanie jumped in and said, “Oh, I totally got that humility thing from him at Deeper Still. TOTALLY. He looked like Richie Cunningham standing on that stage.”
And it made me so happy.
Anyway, Richie Cunningham (oh, it just delights me) preached a beautiful sermon yesterday on The Mystery of Christmas. And if you’ve maybe felt a little beaten down this holiday season, or if you’re unsure about who this Jesus person is, or maybe if you’ve put your trust in Christ for salvation but feel like you’ve lost your sense of wonder about Emmanuel, God with us – well, I hope you’ll listen. You can watch here or listen here. And just FYI: the actual sermon starts around the 11:50 mark (up until then it’s a wrap-up of last week’s message).
7. I’m going to get my hair cut in a few minutes. This isn’t important at all, of course, but thinking about it reminded me that I forgot to tell y’all that a few weeks ago a huge spark popped out of my hair dryer WHILE I WAS USING IT, and the hair dryer died. It DIED, y’all – after (get this) THIRTEEN YEARS of faithful service.
Thirteen years of faithful service. Can you even believe that? Can you imagine the hair tales that she and I had to tell? Tales of bobs and long layers and bangs and bad home highlights and that time I got my hair cut like Faith Hill’s short cut and then stood in front of the mirror cried.
That hair dryer knew my adult hair woes like no one else. She was a trusted friend. And she will be missed.
Amen.
I TOTALLY read that your hair DRESSER died…I was horrified for you. So, while its super sad that your hair dryer died, I am glad that your hair dresser is alive and well!!! Hope your “new friend” will fill the void and then some left by the old one.
13 years?! I am super ENVIOUS! I am lucky if I get 13 months out of mine…maybe I just buy cheap ones or maybe my hair-drying needs are greater than most but a good hair dryer is hard to find so GOOD LUCK!!
My hair dryer might last 13 years…. but only because I use it about every 6 months. Bedhead, thine name is Hannah.
Oh my word. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never offered 13 years of service to anyone or anything. Bless it.
Lifelong Baptist here…we, too, have a “benediction” at the end of our service. Although come to think of it, I haven’t heard that term for a while.
Sorry about the hairdryer…that’s got to be some kind of record!
Poor hair dryer. After being together that long, you better have given her a name. Like Betty. Or Veronica.
You are so lucky that hairdryer spark didn’t ignite your pinky finger! Not that I would have any experience with that . . .
Girl, you cracked me up w/that hairdryer story! It’s a good thing blowdryers don’t talk b/c mine has seen a ton of ugly in the years I’ve had her!
Thanks for linking to my post friend. They are an extraordinary family, and they continue to challenge and inspire me . . . I’m glad I can share their story! :-)
And you’ll never be able to find another quite right to replace her. Well, you may, but it will take years to get used to her and break her in. I know from experience.
I have read and adored your blog for a while now. This is a little random, but I think you appreciate random connections! I live in Huntsville, but grew up in Georgia. My youth minister for my childhood/teen years and the person taught me what it meant to love the Lord (who was also the minister at my wedding) was Scott Kindig. He has started in a position on the staff at your church recently. He is the most incredible man, and his family is amazing. I hope you get to meet them!
Merry Christmas!
At first I thought you said, “I’m going to cut my hair in a few minutes” and I was all WHAT!?!? Then I thought you said you had the same hairdryer for 13 years. And you did, in fact, say that. Whoa Nelly!
BOOMAMA,
of course i read everything you wrote but i was COMPELLED
comPELLED, i tell you
to leave a reply regarding your faith hill haircut.
because.
the ‘faith hill’ as i like to call it, is the *ONLY* haircut i have *EVER* had that left me in *TEARS*.
TEARS.
i CRIED there at the salon.
wept.
like a baby.
on my birthday.
HORRIBLE.
just.
HORRIBLE.
let’s just not even talk about it. it was well over 10 years ago and it still hurts my feelings.
xo
RIP faithful hairdryer. Mine did the same thing to me a few years ago and when I thought about how long I’d had it, I realized that it had been AT LEAST 20 years! It had taken me through 80’s hair! Now THAT’S loyalty!
You know, of course, that I can never, ever, EVER sit through another service without giggling at Richie Cunningham offering to “dive in and unpack this together.”
Love your hair dryer story. I had a hair dryer like that as well – I still miss her to this day – she carried me through big bangs, then growing out those bangs in the late 80’s (so painful).
Also reminds me of a recent loss I experienced in the land of cookware. Here is the email I sent out to my family and friends:
Ode to Pampered Chef Large Round Baking Stone, 1997-2010
I went home at lunch to find that B had accidentally broken my PC large round baking stone. It had made it through many accidental episodes of leaving the burner on underneath it, but this time, ‘twas not to be.
Fun Facts:
• I bought this stone at the first PC party I’d ever attended.
• HK invited me; it was held at the home of the “curly haired family†at the end of the cul de sac.
• I was still married to BB then.
• When I was selling PC back in 2002-2003, AD remarked it was the most well-seasoned stone she had ever seen.
• I brought it along to my shows to demonstrate how it should look if you were a truly dedicated cook of frozen chicken nuggets and pizza.
• When this stone was purchased, Twitter was the sound a bird made and gas cost $1.22 per gallon.
Goodbye, Pampered Chef Large Round Baking Stone, we will miss you. May you rest in peace.
Oh lawzy! Why? Why can’t we look like her when we cut our hair?
She could go bald…. & it would look amazeballs!
Lady…I bow down to the love and devotion that was your faithful hairdrying friend! RIP, sweet friend!
Becca’s story…well, it just made me so grateful. Thank you for the link. Babies shouldn’t be cold, or hungry, or all kinds of thing. Love always wins. xoxo
Dawn
I’m so sorry to hear about your hair dryer. Hair really is quite an issue for us girls…o.k. that was a total understatement. It is a huge issue! And, to lose the one that has walked with you through thick and thin…well, that is a sad thing. ;)
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Thank you for the link to your pastor’s sermon. It was just what I was looking for…and he does exude humility.
Merry Christmas Boo Mama! Thanks for your posts!
Oh dear.
(Moment of silence.)
So hard to lose a beloved styling appliance anytime, but this time of year? I feel for you, friend.
I have a dryer (a clothes dryer, mind you) who is also 13. She was acting a little puny at Thanksgiving and I feared the worst, but the doc made a house call and told me on the contrary, he’d never seen a dryer so healthy at her age. I was flooded with pride and relief, as you can imagine. Coulda gone either way, though, so I can fully empathize with your pain. Bless you!
YOU.CRACK.ME.UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it truly is a teeny tiny world…i loved seeing that you are a fan of daniel renstrom’s! i actually just sang with him last sunday at a local church, and he is wonderful! what a coincidence :)