Happy New Year!- My Resolutions

As 2007 comes to a close I am pondering what my New Years resolutions should be.  Here is what I have come up with.

1) I am going to organize my house by taking big bags and simply throwing out all the junk that I’ve accumulated over the years.  Take stuff to the Salvation Army that can be reused and recycle paper and plastics.

2) Continue faithfully on the diet that I’m on.  (This is a big one, because I didn’t do so well in 2007.)

3) Go to the gym as often as I am able.

4) Keep a positive attitude.  (Some days this is easier said than done.)

5) Keep working towards (and praying for) peace and justice in the world.

6) ??????

Happy New Years to All!

And my prayers go to Ben and all those troops who are serving in areas of conflict in the world.  May we find solutions to peace soon!

New England Pats WIN final game of season!!!

The New England Patriots, who play at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA (which is about 15 minutes from where I live) won their final game of the season giving them a perfect 16-0 record.  Boy, was tonight’s game a close one against the NY Giants, but the Pats pulled it off, just like they’ve done all season.  I’m not as big a football fan as I am a baseball one (just to remind everyone that my beloved Red Sox won the World Series this year!)  But it’s been cool living here near where the Pats play, especially tonight, because other football records were broken too.  The Pats broke the record for most points scored in a regular season (589) Tom Brady broke the NFL record for most Touchdown passes in a regular season (50) and Randy Moss broke the record for most TD passes received/caught during the regular season (23).  This is so awesome!!!  (And many apologies to my Cheddar Head friends in the Dairy State that I switched my football allegiance from the Packers to the Patriots, um, about 13 years ago.  It’s been much more interesting )

Who would be your most inspiring person of the year?

As the year comes to a close, I am pondering who is my most inspiring person of 2007?  I was asked this question as I was surfing for some religious prayer at Beliefnet. 

Their choice is Liviu Librescu, the Professor at Virginia Tech who was Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who during the horrible killings at Virginia Tech this April, barricaded the classroom door with his body to allow his students to jump out the window.  I agree and think that that is a very inspirational story, but I’m not sure if that’s the one that I would pick.

I’m going to update this post as I think of more inspirational people.

this is the list of people that I’m nominating for the most inspirational person of 2007…send me your additions to the list

1) My cousin Gail who has an advanced stage of breast cancer, but she did not let that stop her from enjoying every minute of her son’s wedding.  In fact I think that Gail danced almost as much as the bride and groom.  If anyone can be a survivor, it’s Gail.

2) Beginning with Jill, and continuing with Sarah, Jillian, Jen, Deb and Krista (and soon to be Quish in April) all these women have shown tremendous strength, courage, faith, happiness, patience and love in becoming moms this year.  (And kudos to the babies other parents too!)

3) Al Gore.  He lost the election, but in his spare time after, instead of becoming bitter he decided to save the universe and won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work.

4) J.K. Rowling.  Not for her history of how hard it was for her to write the Harry Potter series, but for the excitement her final book brought to the THOUSANDS of people who were lined up at the Borders store on Route 1 in North Attleboro to buy Book 7 at midnight and the looks on all of their faces when Addy and I walked out of the store at 12:02 with our copies, because Addy had won a kids contest and her prize was 1st in line to receive her book.  But the best part was that Harry lived and I got to tell seven year old Addy that Harry lives.

5) The rock group the Eagles.  they made their first studio album in decades and it is so beautiful!  I listen to it every day and it touches my heart.

Benazir Bhutto

I just wanted to post how saddened I am on the death assassinationMURDER of the Pakistani leader Ms. Benazir Bhutto.  She became Prime Minister while I was in high school and to have a woman lead a Muslim country in the 1980’s was something that was unheard of.  She was one of the first women of the 20th century to rule a country.  She was one of my role models as a young woman growing up.  I was so glad to see that she wanted to bring “Democracy” back to “her people” (as she told NBC’s Ann Curry in an October interview.)  I feel very sad for the Pakistani people, the people of the region and people from all over the world who are striving for justice and peace.  Ms. Bhutto’s death made me think of the assassination in 1984 of another female political leader- this time from India, their Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.  Again, it is sickening that these leaders, who tried to fight for changes in their countries had their lives cut short. 

May she rest in the peace that she never found on this earth.  Amen

Christmas 2007

I had a great Christmas this year.  This was the first Christmas in many, many years that I didn’t sing in the choir for Christmas eve (I also skipped singing at the 11pm service too.)  And guess what?  I actually got to enjoy the service at Immanuel and being there with my family and then seeing all of my friends after the service.  I think that having not to rush around and be at church at certain times and rehearse made life a lot easier.  I thoroughly enjoyed the church service of lessons and carols.  Then I went to my parents house for a traditional Swedish dinner of meatballs, lingonberries (the equivalent to cranberries,) creamed potatoes, carrots, Swedish Bundost (a kind of cheese) and then cookies.  I was so good.  I skipped the cookies (and ended up losing 3 pounds this week yeah!)

On Christmas morning, my parents came over to my house (after we all slept in !!)  And had Swedish pancakes and sausage, opened our presents.  Hey, Santa found my new house even!  One of the sweetest gifts I received was from my Godparents and I’ve know about it since April.  My godparents are in their 80’s and they had formal pictures taken at Easter and there’s a lovely picture of my Godmother Darlene and my Godfather Jim.  My godmother had a 5×8 picture made for me and she found a beautiful frame to put the picture in.  It’s something that I’ll treasure forever.  Especially since the tag read “To Karen, from your loving Godparents.”  That’s definitely what they are, my loving Godparents.

I hope you all have had a Merry Christmas and I wish you all a very wonderful 2008!

THE TEN MOST COMMON FORMS OF OFFICE ILLNESS

With the New Year Approaching, I thought that some of us might need some excuses for getting off of work for those first couple of days in January.  They are (as usual) provided to us by Mikey’s Funnies.

THE TEN MOST COMMON FORMS OF OFFICE ILLNESS 

1. The Macy’s-One-Day-Sale Flu. 

2. The Drivers-License-Renewal-Appointment-24-Hour Virus. 

3. The Friday-Afternoon-Start-The-Weekend-Early-Sudden-Unbearable Stomach Pains. 

4. The I’m-Looking-For-A-New-Job-And-I-Don’t-Know-How-Long-It’s-Going-to-Take-but-I-Want-To-Stay-On-The-Payroll-Until-Then Mysterious Infection. 

5. The My-Boyfriend’s-Got-The-Week-Off-So-Suddenly-I’m-Too-Contagious-To-Come-In-To-The-Office Disease. 

6. The I-Need-A-Hair-Cut-And-My-Stylist-Doesn’t-Make-Evening Appointments Bout of Influenza. 

7. The There’s-No-Federal-Holidays-For-Two-Months-And-I-Want-A-Day-Off Sickness. 

8. The It’s-Spring-Break-And-I-Want-To-Pretend-I’m-A-Teenager-Again General Ailment. 

9. The I’ve-Messed-Up-Royally-And-I-Won’t-Come-In-To-Face-The-Music Terminal Illness. 

10. The I-Really-Am-Sick-And-I’ve-Got-The-Doctor’s-Bills-And-The-Completed-Medical-Expense-Reimbursement-Forms-To-Prove-It Infirmity  

(I’d like to add this one, which was sent as a comment)

11. The I-Just-Broke-Up-With-My-Coworker-and-I-indefinitely-have-a-bleeding-ulcer-until-I-get-a-different-job.

“Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Clause”

I’m having a very spiritual moment right now and the following fits my mood perfectly.  Straight from Mikey’s Funnies. 

WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUSE

Santa lives at the North Pole…
Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh…
Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year…
Jesus is an ever-present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies…
Jesus supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…
Jesus stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa…
Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap…
Jesus lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s
your name?”…
Jesus knew our name before we were born…
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…
Jesus has a heart full of love

Santa says, “You better not cry”…
Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys…
Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds
mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but…
Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree…
Jesus became our gift and died on a tree…

AMEN

Staci’s Birthday

Yesterday was my cousin Staci’s birthday.  Due to the snowstorm here in Massachusetts that caused me to be stuck in traffic for an hour and a half (to go 2.5 miles) I didn’t really have time to call her, so I am posting an official HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACI here on my blog for her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACE!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 40 Languages

In the spirit of going global, I found this awesome list of how to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 40 different Languages.  (many thanks to  www.mikeysFunnies.com)

“MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR” IN 40 LANGUAGES

Apache (Western) – Gozhqq Keshmish
Arabic – I’D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
Croatian – Sretan Bozic
Danish – Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
Farsi – Sal-e no mubarak
French – Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
German – Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek – Kala Christougenna Ki’eftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
Hawaiian – Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew – Mo’adim Lesimkha. Shanah Tova
Hindi – Shubh Naya Baras
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish – Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Iroquois – Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson homungradon nagwutut & Ojenyunyat osrasay
Italian – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japanese – Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean – Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Kyrghyz – JangI jIlIngIz guttuu bolsun!
Latin – Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
Maori – Kia orana e kia manuia rava i teia Kiritimeti e te Mataiti Ou
Mongolian – Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
Nepali – krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva & Naya Barsa  Ko harkik Shuvakamana
Norweigan/Nynorsk – Eg ynskjer hermed Dykk alle ein God Jul og Godt Nyttår
Polish – Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku.
Portuguese – Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
Romanian – Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!
Russian – Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan – Ia manuia le Kilisimasi ma le tausaga fou
Somali – ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican.
Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Sudanese – Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
Swedish – God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Tagalog – Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
Tahitian – Ia ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti ‘api
Thai – Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
Ukrainian – Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!
Vietnamese – Chuc Mung Giang Sinh – Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Zulu – Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

If you go to http://snipurl.com/350languages you can see how to say Merry Christmas in 350+ languages.

“I Will Light Candles This Christmas”- a poem

 This is a great poem that I came across today, in the spirit of Christmas…

I Will Light Candles This Christmas

Candles of joy, despite all sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all the year long. 
 

by Howard Thurman