The 12 Days of - Look! A Bird!

I have to be honest. I don't like ALL Christmas songs. In fact, there are a couple that really kind of get on my nerves. If it weren't for the beauty of the hidden meanings of the tune, I wouldn't be able to STAND listening to "The 12 Days of Christmas." I'm just being real. Actually, now that I think about it - Relient K did a rendition this year that I actually like. Never mind. Forget what I said. Hahahah.

Seriously, check out THIS version of the familiar song, and get ready for a little chuckle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Merry Christmas, and we'll talk with you in a couple of days!

In Christ,

-Fredly.

A Little Christmas Gift...

Hey, gang! I just wanted to let you all know that my wife, our children and I all love you so much! You, our Spirit-FM family, have become a huge part of our lives, and we get a lot of joy from just knowing you're there! Your prayers over the past couple of years have really kept us going, and we are truly grateful. Many of you have been asking for some updated pictures of the kiddos, so I thought I'd put together kind-of a mini Christmas photo album for you here:

Ashleigh's First Gingerbread House

Logan's First Snowy Play Day

Daddy's Little Angels

Logan actually sat STILL for a minute...

...but only for a minute.




Daddy's Pretty Girl





DEFINITELY Daddy's Pretty Girl - Mommy wouldn't teach her this face...



This picture is only going to get funnier over the years!

We love you guys, and pray a VERY merry Christmas to you all! Be good - because there's more than ONE jolly fat man lookin' out for you!

Hahahahaha.....

-Fredly.

God's Yellow Pages

I don't know who put this together, but it had to be a lot of work! It's a great little resource, I think! Enjoy!

Have a blessed afternoon, gang. I love ya!


-Fredly.

http://web2.airmail.net/dpelc/yellow/

Shakin' Things Up for Christmas!

I love Christmas time, and I love the goofy little stuff we can find on the 'web to keep us occupied when we should be doing something else. That said, have you ever wondered what it was like for those people INSIDE the snow globe? My wife and I watched a movie on Hallmark Channel this weekend that made me think about it. I mean, we get to see all the beautiful snow, and the serene little scene depicted inside the glass. But do you ever wonder if those poor little people INSIDE the snow globe have a different experience when we shake it? Here's proof:

http://ww12.e-tractions.com/snowglobe/globe.htm


I know. It's just wrong, but I still can't stop shaking the globe!!!!

Have a good laugh, and a great afternoon!

Love you guys!

-Fredly.

Christmas can be so hectic...but we HAVE to keep our LOVE!

Here is a version of the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) that I read today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime: but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure.

*This TOTALLY spoke to me today - it's so easy to get wrapped up (forgive the pun) in all of our Christmas activities, and allow ourselves if only for a moment to take our eyes off the REASON that we celebrate. It's so vital that we keep our eyes on our savior, and keep the rest of the festivities in their proper perspective, and it's so important to make sure that even we we're dragging our tail feathers after yet another long day - we need to walk...in...love.

I love you all, and hope you have a great weekend! Be BLESSED!

(I'm a winner, I got more than enough peanut-butter, you can't put the bad stuff on me!)

Today's Water-Cooler Quiz...

Already lots of people calling asking about the '12 Days of Christmas!' Here's the basic information as we read today:

The Twelve Days of Christmas is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do Leaping Lords, French Hens, Swimming Swans, and
especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Today I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol
as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of
their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a Pear Tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit; Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution,
Leadership and Mercy. (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, Fear of the Lord)

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.


The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
(Apostles' Creed
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.)

Virtual Christmas Puzzle...

Merry Christmas, everyone! If you're looking for something silly to do with the kiddos on these chilly winter days, try a little Christmas puzzle!

Make up some hot cocoa (extra marshmallows for mine), put on some Christmas tunes (compliments of Spirit-FM), and go to this link:

http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/52055D54E8C4?z=1

HAVE FUN!

(I'm a wimp - my first time was 12 minutes!)

Now THIS is a light display!

Wow! If you're looking for some spectacular Christmas lighting ideas...check out what this family did - talk about having a little too much time on your hands...

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/14736853/index.html

Merry Christmas!

-Fredly.