Okay, Matt, here you go…

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Visit Paris & Italy
2. See my daughter accept Christ
3. Finish my master’s degree
4. Write a book
5. Become a foster parent
6. Become debt free
7. Go on a missions trip

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Ride a bike (well barely – ask Mark about our Berlin bike tour)
2. Dance with anything that resembles rhythm
3. Hit a softball (I bunt really well)
4. Be self-disciplined in an exercise routine
5. Speak a foreign language
6. Run anything over about 400m
7. Get enough of the beach

Seven things that attract me to my spouse:
1. His love for Christ
2. His sense of humor
3. He’s pretty darn handsome
4. How he loves the kids
5. The HUGE heart he has for hurting people
6. He puts up with me and my moodiness
7. He always wants the best for me

Seven things I say most often:
1. “Noah, buckle your seat belt.”
2. “Noah, stop please.”
3. “Natalie, stop whining.”
4. “No way”
5. “Yeah” (when I’m on the phone)
6. “Uh huh” (when I’m on the phone)
7. “Stop hitting your _____” (fill in sister or brother as appropriate)

Seven books (or series) I love:
1. Anything John Grisham
2. Captivating : Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John Eldredge, Stasi Eldredge
3. Anything by Sue Grafton (what will I do when she gets to Z?)
4. Anything by Nicholas Sparks
5. Little House on the Praire Series (I saved them for Natalie)
6. Anne of Green Gables series (ditto)
7. Bringing up Boys by James Dobson

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Phantom of the Opera
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Cutting Edge
4. Mission Impossible
5. Legally Blonde
6. Any good action movie
7. Return to Me

Seven people I want to join in, too:
1. Kelley
2. Tera
3. Mark
4. That’s everyone I know that has a blog

I’ve been curiously watching the debate that is raging over the seeming disappearance of the word “Christmas” at this time of year. Several conservative Christian organizations have gone after retailers like Target who have refrained from using the word “Christmas” in their advertising, instead using “holiday trees”, etc.

The latest victim…President Bush. Seems the White House Christmas card this year wished everyone a happy “holiday season”. I guess the advocacy groups consider that a slap on the face. There is a Bible verse on the card – but it was from Psalms and didn’t mention Jesus’ birth. I don’t think the Bush’s holiday card sentiments reflect their true understanding of the holiday, probably just political correctness run amok.

So what do you think? Are we overreacting or is there really a “war” on Christmas?

More info
Bush Holiday Cards

Anti-Christian Hostility Driving ‘War on Christmas,’ Attorney Says

Target Boycott

National Retailers who are boycotting “Christmas”

I got to borrow my niece Grace for the weekend. She’s in town staying w/ my parents while my brother and his wife are on vacation. Partly because they had Sat plans and partly because I wanted some Auntie time, I took Grace for the weekend. She’s 6 weeks younger than Natalie and the girls had a blast. I wish I had a video camera. They were so cute jumping on the bed and just giggling up a storm. I had flashes of life at 12 and 13. Hopefully they’ll remain close even though Grace lives in Colorado.

Taking care of 3 is definitely different than 2. Now granted, unless I had twins, the spacing would have been different but it’s a lot more tiring trying to keep track of 3! By the time you get the third one rounded up, the first one is off again. We had lots of fun but 2 kids is definitely enough for me.