Christmas Day 2009

I wanted a few things for Christmas, but the main thing was peace and harmony on Christmas Day.

Over the past 10 years, my family has become more and more dysfunctional. Not my parents, but my extended family. We used to be super close, but then some super important stuff got between us...not. Mostly it was crap with less significance than the gum under your chair. That happens, I guess. So as a result, holidays are more stressful and tense than they should be. Christmas is awkward. I prayed that just this once, things would be something resembling normal.

I got my wish.

Aunt Donna kept singing Beyonce (which was bizarre in and of itself), Nicholas stayed cheerful the whole day and helped everyone open presents, and everyone was happy in general. It was the most perfect day.

:)

the most wonderfully-tasting time of the year

4 days until Christmas, 12 days until Caro and I leave for WDW!

Excitement is in the air.

Whenever I'm in a good mood, or simply bored, I like to be in the kitchen. I like cooking, but I love baking. The other day I made a chocolate cream pie for my boss's birthday, and I tried a homemade crust for the first time. Dude. I'm never buying the premade kind again. (I probably will....if I get lazy...but I shouldn't, because homemade rocks, and it's easier than it looks.)

Then I made three coconut creams for my dad's friends, because they always fix my car. I made the biggest mess ever making these pies, because I don't clean the kitchen as I go, but it was so worth it.

For Christmas Day, I'm thinking of trying out fondant for the first time, in the form of a bow, on top of a red velvet square cake with white buttercream. So it'll look like a cute gift box!

Kind of like that, but with the colors inverted. And I want a bigger bow!

There isn't much quite as satisfying as holiday baking.

xoxo and merry Christmas!

breaking news in the DIS world :[

Roy E. Disney, son of Roy O. Disney and nephew to Walt, died this morning at the age of 79. He'd been battling cancer for a while. It's strange because yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of Walt's death, also from cancer.

Roy Jr. was underestimated by many people. Many people don't know who he is because he wasn't one of the "original" Disney brothers, but I remember seeing him on the Disney channel before movies played when I was a little girl. He was proud of his surname, and poured his heart and soul into the company even after the death of his dad.

During the later years of Walt's life, there was constant tension between him and his brother; many sided with them, calling themselves Team Walt or Team Roy (sound familiar)? Walt was the dreamer, never practical, and Roy was strictly business, constantly worrying about his brother's lack of care with financial matters. They made two parts of the whole, and they were both necessary for Walt Disney Productions and the legacy that followed. Roy Jr. took the best of both worlds and continued the Disney dynasty, saving it from financial crisis in the 80s when the company was nearly bought by the formidable stockbroker Saul Steinburg.

Roy ensured that Disney movies and parks remain true to his uncle's vision. There was a slump in the 70s and 80s when the Disney movies that were being made - to be blunt - sucked, at least for the most part. Roy brought in new management, who breathed new life into the company. The results were classics such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, favorites of the 90s.

I fear for the company's future now without the last Disney man guarding the empire. What's to become of the pixie dust?

DISers will never forget him...may he rest in peace.

Roy Edward Disney, January 10, 1030 - December 16, 2009

Sources: Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler;

Storming the Magic Kingdom by John Taylor

dear santa,

This is what I would want for Christmas if the world were perfect.
Note: not in any specific order.

1. ALL A'S. I think this speaks for itself.

2. Respect for life. Love for all babies, everywhere.



Did you swoon when you looked at that baby? So adorable.

3. A library like Belle's.



Yeah. English major's ultimate dream.

4. For everyone to laugh like this, every day.



5. Pick one, Santa:
Disney annual pass;
all the music from the parks straight to my iTunes;
or a membership to Club 33.





Oh, for anyone who likes Disney music...go here. You will be astonished.
And if you don't like Disney music, go there. You might change your mind.


Good luck if you've got finals this week, everyone.
And shout out to Ms. Kelly. She has her birthday the day after Walt Disney had his, isn't that special?

true confessions

I'm more afraid of growing up than anyone you've ever met.

If I could freeze time I'd be content.

But if that happened I'd never grow.

It's a conundrum I struggle with every day.

and the greatest of these is love.

Above all, I'm thankful for this:


What an inexplicably incredible thing that He died for me. Every time I receive the Eucharist, I repeat to myself the lyrics of a favorite song, "You Are My King (Amazing Love)" by the Newsboys:

"I'm forgive, because You were forsaken
I'm accepted; You were condemned
I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.
Amazing love, how can it be that You my King should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You.
You are my King. Jesus, You are my King."

That about sums it up right there. How freaking amazing. And there is no greater sacrifice or more perfect example of love.


As November comes to a close and the Advent season begins, Christmas carols and hymns seem to fill the air everywhere I go. Today I've been pondering the lyrics of the very famous "Mary Did You Know?" It was written by Mark Lowry, who is actually Protestant. It was bothering me because of the line "This child that you've delivered/Will soon deliver you."

Hang on...Mary doesn't need to be saved, right? As a Catholic, I believe that in the Immaculate Conception - that she was born without original sin. As it turns out, after a quick Google search I found that this is actually a commonly-addressed issue within the Catholic community.

I found that the issue was brought up on several websites, including this blog.

I found this particular comment to be enlightening:

"While the song is written from a Protestant standpoint and the future tense gives us pause as Catholics, it is important to remember that God is not bound by time and that it was the (Incarnation,) Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ which gave Mary the grace to be conceived without original sin, not the other way around. Yes, this is a paradox, but it is important to remember.

As to whether Mary knew that Christ was the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, it doesn't seem that the Lucan text demonstrates this. The same goes for Christ as Sacrificial Lamb or High Priest.. Luke's Gospel dwells on messianic language, which did not necessarily carry the high Christological attachments that Christians found to be implicitly contained within them after the resurrection of Christ. In fact, a Jew of the time would not have expected the Messiah (Christ) to be "Heaven's perfect Lamb" or "The Great I AM." Inflated titles like "Son of God" were regularly employed in the coronation rites of Jewish kings and part of the Davidic and messianic traditions, but they were not understood as ascribing divinity to the king.

Could Mary have been given this knowledge, given her unique role and relationship? I don't see why not. But the Lucan text itself doesn't seem to indicate that she must have known this."

Wowsa. Well, that makes sense! God is not bound by time. And of course she knew at the time that she was to be the mother of the Son of God, but she had no idea what that role would entail. She was so incredibly humble.

Anyway, I really hope I don't sound too preachy. It was just something on my mind, and I feel a lot better after reading this - I can listen to the beautiful "Mary Did You Know?" in peace. Hopefully it helps someone out there resolve the same questions I had.

Goodnight, everyone, and good luck with finals!

i'm thankful for computers...

...sometimes.







Thanksgiving was swell. Hoping yours was fabulous as well. :]

Cheers.