A Very Merry Christmas

So, with all of our expenses this year -- the wedding, the move, the car -- we decided not to buy gifts for each other. We planned on having breakfast souffle (a tradition from both of our families) and enjoying the day together. Besides missing my family, there are so many things to be grateful for and we both decided that there was nothing that we 'needed' besides each other to have a wonderful Christmas. However, there was one thing that I wanted this year -- a Christmas tree. Because of my upbringing, we didn't celebrate Christmas until I was a teenager. So, when I moved out on my own, I just didn't see the need for a tree, especially when I was living by myself. But this year, I wanted to start new traditions with my hubbie. But, because of the the aforementioned expenses, I just couldn't bring myself to buy a tree and all the trimmings. I don't own any ornaments or lights or anything.

Imagine my surprise when I woke up Christmas morning and there was a sparkly tree in my dining room and a gift from my husband underneath it -- a beautiful silver bracelet. Words cannot describe how touched I was!!!

I didn't even feel like a dork for not getting anything for him. I could tell that it meant a lot for him to do this for me -- and to pull off the surprise. I'm too observant and (thankfully) he's no good at lying to me :)

Monday Madness

1. What song gives you the most holiday cheer? I love the carols, especially Hark the Herald, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Emmanuel, We Three Kings
2. Who is the hardest person to shop for on your holiday list? my husband
3. When do you start your holiday shopping? usually I shop early (like August), but this year I haven't even started, yet
4. What food or drink do you love when it's cold out? (Recipes andrecommendations, please!) hot chocolate, hot cider
5. What do you do to get rid of a cold or flu? lots of rest and fluids

To participate: Monday Madness

Ring Them Bells - by Bob Dylan

Ring them bells, ye heathen
From the city that dreams,
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
Cross the valleys and streams,
For they're deep and they're wide
And the world's on its side
And time is running backwards
And so is the bride.

Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow,
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know.
Oh it's rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow.

Ring them bells Sweet Martha,
For the poor man's son,
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one.
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filledWith lost sheep.

Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf,
Ring them bells for all of us who are left,
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through.
Ring them bells, for the time that flies,
For the child that cries
When innocence dies.

Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room,
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom.
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they're breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong.

Copyright © 1989 Special Rider Music