it's been awhile.

i am literally dreaming of next wednesday at 7:30 pm. this season has been wonderfully exhausting.

the jewett clan will all be together on christmas day, a feat in and of itself. daniel will be with us too, an added canadian blessing.

i am remembering christmases past...before jack and flo died...in other cities...in what seems like another lifetime. i think about where we all were 5 years ago, and 10 years ago. and then i realize that i must be getting older if i think about memories in terms of decades.

my dad just turned 61. this is hard to believe. and as i keep hearing, the man needs some grandkids. not to leave my mom out of that....if she doesn't get a grandchild soon, she may run off with brody. seriously, jess, lock up your kid.

so....anna and justin? it's time to get on it.

merry christmas to everyone.

current favorite:

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars
or sailed an uncharted land,
or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

Helen Keller

i have picked up a digging habit from my husband.

i came across this tonight and i am glad i did:

--

25 Ways to Help a Fellow Human Being Today

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Dalai Lama

Too often the trend in our society is for people to be separated from either other, to be cut off from the great mass of humanity, and in doing so to be dehumanized a little bit more with each step.

Cars have taken us off the streets, where we used to greet each other and stop to chat. Cubicles have taken away a bit of the humanity in working, as have factories and even computers to some extent.

Television has planted us firmly in our living rooms, instead of out with other people. Even movie theaters, where many people get together, cut us off from true conversation because we’re staring at a big screen.

And while I’m not railing against any of these inventions (except perhaps the cubicle), what we must guard against is the tendency of that individuality to have us focused on ourselves to the exclusion of our fellow human beings. The tendency towards selfishness rather than giving, on helping ourselves rather than helping our brothers and sisters in humanity.

I’m not saying we’re all like that, but it can happen, if we’re not careful.

So strike back against the selfishness and greed of our modern world, and help out a fellow human being today. Not next month, but today.

Helping a fellow human being, while it can be inconvenient, has a few humble advantages:

1. It makes you feel better about yourself;
2. It connects you with another person, at least for a moment, if not for life;
3. It improves the life of another, at least a little;
4. It makes the world a better place, one little step at a time;
5. And if that kindness is passed on, it can multiply, and multipy.

-- above taken from zenhabits.com -- click here for the rest--

far too often, i get caught up in my own issues, work, concerns and don't really see those around me, much less connect with them.

the post went on with a list of ideas on how to connect, think of others and show simple kindnesses to those in our sphere. many of the things on that list made me think of my friend kristy, who has one of the kindest and most compassionate spirits of anyone i know. kristy, you often inspire me.

today i will try to be a blessing, and be blessed.

WARNING: "That liberal Jewett girl" is about to go off.
Don't read on if that scares you.

I recently received this video in an email from a friend I dearly love but with whom I do not typically see eye to eye with politically.

I don't know who I will ultimately vote for. But I am really offended by what has been going on throughout this election and especially with regard to email smears about Obama. Many of the points in that video are SIMPLY untrue. And hate-driven.

It begins by attempting to scare people because he has "3 Islamic names" and shows a clip twice of Edward Kennedy calling him Osama bin Laden (which Rush Limbaugh also likes to do). Seriously? And making the point right off the bat that he is the child of a black man and a white woman, clearly attempting to deepen the racial divide that is so deep in this country. How is that ok?

Anyway, a few fact checks:

Obama attended a muslim school: He went to public school for 2 years in Indonesia, which is indeed a Muslim country and the schools undoubtedly reflect the dominant religion of the country. But the point of this "fact" is usually to convince people that Obama is some kind of a closet Muslim, which is just inaccurate.

John Edwards talking about his voting record - not only does it not include the context of the statement, but what did Obama say in response? They conveniently did not include anything actually said by Obama.

Che Guevara flag hanging in "Houston Obama headquarters." "This is a volunteer office that is not in any way controlled by the Obama campaign. We were disappointed to see this picture because it is both offensive to many Cuban-Americans -- and Americans of all backgrounds -- and because it does not reflect Senator Obama's views. Barack Obama has been very clear in putting forward a Cuba policy that is based on one principle: freedom for the Cuban people." -- Obama Campaign, February 12, 2008

Obama refusing to wear the American flag as a pin. "I'm less concerned about what you are wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart,' he said under a county fairgrounds pavilion here, a giant American flag draped behind him. 'You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those ones who served.' He suggested that some politicians who wear such pins act in disingenuous ways. 'After a while, you know, you start noticing people wearing a lapel pin, but not acting very patriotic, not voting to provide veterans with the resources that they need,' he said." [Chicago Tribune, 10/5/07]

Refuses to place his hand over his heart during the Star Spangled Banner. Obama said, "My grandfather taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was 2...During the Pledge of Allegiance you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem you sing." [AP, 11/7/07]

Michelle Obama not proud of her country. Taken so out of context. And I am frankly tired of the insistent idea that we all must be unquestioningly allegiant to a country instead of our values.

And uh oh.....gun control and welfare. Clearly un-American.

Obama will meet with hostile foreign leaders. Obama says, "If we continue to set preconditions for discussions that are hostile to us, I think that's what loses the PR battle worldwide because it implies the United States is the superior power and other states have to give in to our demands before we even deign to meet with them. And that reinforces the sense of the arrogance of U.S. power around the world, which is a source of great damage -- and makes us less safe." [Washington Post, 8/15/07]

The Rev. Wright business has been addressed incessantly in the media. Obama has denounced the majority of what Wright teaches. Not only that, but the national Republican party and John McCain have BOTH said that the ads putting Obama and that video clip side by side are an unfair comparison and asked that they be pulled off the air. In that clip they cut Obama off before he finishes responding that HE DOES repudiate the remarks. I completely agree that the majority of what Wright says is so off base it's not even funny. The greater question here is whether Obama is accountable for this man's words.

Did you notice how many minutes were devoted to Rev. Wright and Black Liberation Theology - which Obama does not subscribe to?

McCain briefly underwent the same criticisms after he was endorsed by John Hagee, famously criticized for calling Catholocism "the great whore."

Thought: As a popular Christian leader (although I really don't understand HOW), Pat Robertson is thought by many unbelievers to be the voice of Christians in our country. This is unfortunate. Since I claim to be a Christian, as he does, do his many hate-filled and un-Christian remarks automatically reflect on me?

To me, this video totally illustrates what is WRONG and why things need to change.

.

brody james hedgren has arrived!

8.5 lbs, 22.5 inches long

lovelovelove my friends having babies.

stripped and filled
brennan manning

the sadness of not being perfect, the discovery that you really are sinful, is a feeling much too human, even borders on idolatry.

focus your vision outside yourself on the beauty, graciousness and compassion of Jesus Christ.

the pure of heart praise him from sunrise to sundown.

even when they feel broken, feeble, distracted, insecure and uncertain, they are able to release it into his peace.

a heart like that is stripped and filled - stripped of self and filled with the fullness of God.

it is enough that Jesus is Lord.

i just got a call on my cell phone that began with an automated message warning me that my car warranty just expired and although i have been sent several notices about this, i have not responded. "please press 1 to speak with a warranty specialist."

so i did.

woman: "good evening, may i have the year and model of your car or truck, please?

me: "i actually want to talk to someone about getting my phone number off of..."

:: click ::

she hung up on me. mid-sentence. guess that's why they don't mention their company name on the automated message....

i mean, i'm on the do-not-call list. what the heck?

quickest trip to florida ever.



soooo good to spend time with friends. and brody james hedgren will make his debut any day now, and i can't wait!

man. babies everywhere!

while jeff is living it up with two davids somewhere in south carolina tonight, i'm working on a direct mail piece and letting a few things simmer in my thoughts.

i am loving life. i am married to the best man i know and we have so much fun together. we are blessed to own a home that is perfect for us. i have a great job that constantly stretches and fulfills me. we get to hang out with a great group of kids who have more potential to change the world than they know. one day, we will grow our little family and our parents will have grandchildren to love. by then i'll be less of a workaholic and will embrace motherhood and all that it will bring. and life will continue to change.

.

on another note, i realized that i neglected to take pictures with jill and abby over the weekend. but i can share this:



haha....realizing that some things haven't changed.

i'm so tired of hearing the first part with no thought to the second.

:: sigh ::

tonight.
8 pm.

i want her.




we'll see...

for once, jeff is asleep on the couch while i sit here awake.

life is good. we are busy in a good way. we have several lovely trips visible on the horizon, which makes it all even better.

several celebrations lately, including work/personal for us both. one of the kids who had dropped out of school went back and we had a party. we successfully completed a $3 million-plus capital campaign and my work was a part of that. we are reminded daily why we chose each other *and keep choosing each other.*

lost returns january 31st. we may get a dog. our christmas tree is still up.

my aunt lolly died. well, lolly wasn't her real name - it was violet hasney, and she was my grandma jewett's sister. we saw her a lot growing up in florida where she would faithfully send all three of us birthday cards with a check for twenty dollars (cashable at the bank of dad). in the later years, as she started to fade, those cards would be addressed to any one of us on any given day - my favorite was when i was congratulated on my birthday in april, on anna's in september and on booth's in december. it makes me smile to tell that story.

many friends are having babies and i am happy. aunt sarah will spoil you all.

upcoming events:
tonight: wake forest/va tech game with the kids
tomorrow: short work day then leaving for canada
jan 4-6: ski retreat
april 24: WICKED in charlotte because my dad is awesome.

love.

it was really good to see aunt becky and uncle nestor while they were in the states. once i get the pictures from my grandomther's 83rd birthday party i will post them. she's awesome.



and you'll be glad to know that kally has been working with both mom and aunt becky on their own posing skills. see here at iguazu falls:



speaking of kally, i miss her.



but alas, she is busy with impossibly cute kids in buenos aires:





she also manages to get aunt becky and uncle nestor to let loose like kids again. which is awesome.



that's all for now. check out anna and justin's blog for pics of their life in nyc.

2 things:

and

"Make the All-Dressed Flavor Ruffles Available
in the United States"

sign the petition at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ruff411d/

.

welcome abigail grace snelson!

3 lbs, 10.5 ounces and 15 inches long

congratulations jill and robert!

happy birthday to....

What it's like to be OCD

man, my brothers-in-law are freaking awesome. see justin in this one....

my brother-in-law daniel is a rock star.

and he's single, last time i checked.

summer from decatur, georgia says she found this note “left on a car piously parked" while attempting to attend mass on vacation in galveston, texas.




passiveagressivenotes

i really hope that when i get old i am not so set in my ways that i literally don't care about anyone or anything outside of myself.

selfish "ministry" that doesn't love has no part in the body.

sometimes it really gets to me.

i have this friend that is really struggling...her children's father is livid that she is suing him for child support (their oldest child together is 12....twelve years that he hasn't been paying for two kids). he said he'd kill her before paying the child support...

these aren't just stories you read in magazines.

SIX RESOLUTIONS by William Booth (age 20)

1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than four chapters in God’s Word every day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.

“God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love to the redeemer of the world.”

from "comments@whitehouse.gov"
6:35 pm (2 minutes ago)
to sej1032@gmail.com
date Aug 29, 2007 6:35 PM
mailed-by whitehouse.gov

On behalf of President Bush, thank you for your correspondence.

We appreciate hearing your views and welcome your suggestions.

Due to the large volume of e-mail received, the White House cannot respond to every message.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

sorry, still no cell phone.

call jeff's if you need me.

a 60-year old woman in guillford county died from rocky mountain spotted fever.