big post

Really wish I could've been at the party :( Looks like it was fun from the photos Dan took. Luca woke up on his birthday (wednesday) sick and is still sick today though no fever. Dr. Ben said it looks like it's just gastrointestinal distress. But yes, really wanted to be there... and was planning on it.
Positively, (Stephen's blog reminded me) I've been listening to one of my favorite Christmas albums and wanted to post the lyrics of a song (maybe two) that I love. They're classics and played often but nevertheless, sometimes reading lyrics and not just hearing them can awaken one's sensibilities...these reminding us he wants only our hearts and what we can give him. We need not try to have and be what we are not before our Lord.

In The Bleak Midwinter (my favorite rendition features Chrissie Hynde with the Blind Boys of Alabama) :

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter,
Long ago.

Our God, heav'n cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heav'n and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign;
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom cherubim
Worship day and night
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air.
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him-
Give my heart.

Christina Rossetti (1872) And

Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me
A newborn King to see pa rum...
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King

So to honor him
When we come

Little baby
I am a poor boy too
I have no gifts to bring (for you)
That's fit to give the King

Shall I play for you
On my drum?

Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for him
I played my best for him
rum pumpumpum...

Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum