:: Thursday, December 22, 2005 ::

Merry Christmas!

"Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!"

Labels: Broiled Brain

:: Bethany Bassett - 10:03 PM :: + ::

Buon Natale, tutti in Italia! Godetevi queste foto della nostra piccola Natalie!

Labels: Christmas Newsletter

:: Bethany Bassett - 8:27 PM :: + ::

And, well, because she’s just so darn cute….

Before…


…After


Cuddly Dad


Piggy-back ride



Shocked baby



Our little Natalie


Natalie “posing”

Labels: Christmas Newsletter

:: Bethany Bassett - 1:13 PM :: + ::

”If somebody made it, someone will mess it up…” (Coldplay)

Commence: Holidayish Ramblings, in no particular order

The song “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” makes me feel like hiding under a bed until I die. Maybe it’s the ironically mournful tune – “Rejoice, rejoice?” Maybe it’s because of my recent foray into Bodie Thoene’s world, full of Jews waiting and desperately hoping for a kind of deliverance that never comes. I hate being reminded of suffering. I hate not understanding God’s reasons to allow it. I hate having to admit that the straight and narrow road is the one of hardship and powerlessness, if only in this world.

I had a staggering realization last night: I’m bored by figure skating! Figure skating used to be the reason to watch the Olympics (which used to be the reason for my parents to borrow our church’s Sunday School TV – how wondrous a thing!), but in watching a skating competition last night, my mind shrugged, “Eh, I’ve seen that spin before. So she can lift her leg? Nothing new here. That man’s tight pants are the bane of my existence.” Maybe I’m the one who’s become boring. Oh, help.

I’m über-joyed about our first little Christmas at home together. My dear husband + my little daughter + our sunny new house + cheery red sofas + vintage stockings over the fireplace + twinkling lights and childhood ornaments + candy canes all over the floor (complements of Natalie) + creative gifts + “Happy Christmas” + brand new traditions all our own = magic.

Labels: Broiled Brain

:: Bethany Bassett - 12:34 PM :: + ::