BurnSite: December 2007

a mix and a mingle with the jinglin' beat

This is one of my favorite Christmas time things to do. We haul all the Dakota House kids over to our house and have a fat ol' party. It is great fun.

Last night we had 27 kids here, plus a few staff, and a surprise guest.

Okay. Now the jingle hop has begun.

I think this kid in the middle--Daniel--
will run Dakota House someday

Emily and Claudio: we fight over him, but
anyone can clearly see it's me he loves

Christmas carols in front of the manger...
here they are singing the perennial favorite:
'I'm Gettin' Nuthin' for Christmas'

Dee and me. I love this girl.

Angel and Keanu. sugar drunks.

surprise guest: Grampo!!!

fall from grace

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." --1Peter 3:15.

Gentleness and respect, people.

Not violence and hatred.

My stomach hurts.

Fall From Grace movie.

cry when you need milk...

Advent invites us to stand up as children of God. Being children of God requires that we act like children.

Cry when you need milk.

Act silly to make God laugh.

Listen to what God says.

Throw things off the table and experience God’s patience.

Curl up in the arms of God. Ask God to read you a story. Allow God to throw you up in the air.

Play hide and seek with God.

Allow God to play hide and seek with you.

Cry when God goes away.

Squeal with delight when God comes back.

Listen to God say how much you are loved.

Tell God of your love.

This, without a doubt, is what Advent is all about.

--Mark Bozutti-Jones

The Womb of Advent

read this book

‘But Mr. Fred taught me something: how to disconnect. How to disappear in plain sight while I was being screamed at. I can’t hear him because I’m not here, I’d tell myself, standing there, blank-faced. He’s so stupid, he doesn’t even know I’m gone. It was a survival skill I used later on, with my own abusive husbands.’

--Bonnie Forshaw, incarcerated: 45 years without parole
--taken from COULDN'T KEEP IT TO MYSELF:Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution