Christmas Week: Day 3

I saw this over on Heather's Blog and (of course) had to do it!

My Holiday Survey...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Almost all wrapping paper. I love love love to wrap presents and make them gorgeous! But this year I actually let Mr.Pate help (he is a messy wrapper) so we could be done and not stress.

2. Real tree or artificial?Fake all the way. When I was in high school we tried the real tree a few times but I was just not impressed. It made a mess and the limbs were not strong enough to hold up the ornaments. Plus it is just cheaper.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The day after Thanksgiving!

4. Do you like eggnog?
No no no. gross.

5. Favorite gift received as a child?
Probably the year I got my barbie power wheels or the year I got the american girl trunk and stuff.

6. Do you have a nativity scene?
Kinda. This year we bought this:

which has the 3 main players, so I guess it counts?

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Misty, my sister. 2nd hardest is my Father-in-law

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My nieces.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither. I am just bad at "cards" in general.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?
I don't have one fav. But here are some top ones: Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Prancer, All I want for Christmas, The Polar Express.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Black Friday. I wish I could start earlier, but all of our families dont figure out what they might like till then.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My dad's crispy bacon on Christmas morning! I cant wait!

13. Clear lights or colored lights on the tree?
Clear

14. Favorite Christmas song?
I don't think I can pick one. See this post for my top 27 though! Ha!

15. Travel or stay home at Christmas?
Travel travel travel. We go to Louisville before Christmas and then head to TN on Christmas morning.

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Rudolph... I seriously got all of those without googling! But I apparently left out Vixen, sorry dude.

17. Angel on tree top or star?
Star, which is more natural looking and reminds us of the stable.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We do presents with Justin's extended family on his dad's side around lunch on Christmas Eve, then with his mom around dinner Christmas eve, then with his dad that night! Then on Christmas morning with my family and mid-day with my dad's side of the fam. Whew... its exhausting but good.

19. The most annoying thing about this time of year?
It goes by way too fast, and too much time is spent shopping. There just isnt enough time for hot chocolate and a christmas movie each night!

20. What I love most about Christmas
The way everyone gets sweeter and more focused on family. I love getting to see our families! And this year my favorite part has been our Jesse Tree devos.

Ok now its your turn! If you have a blog copy these questions and answer them yourself, then leave the link here in the MckLinky (leave a comment asking for help if you dont know how). If you dont have a blog (Misty, Duke, Julie, whomever else) then leave the answers in the comments!

Merry Christmas!

Fall into Reading 2009: Wrap Up

Well, Christmas is almost here and that means Fall is a thing of the past. I joined in with Callapidder Days on the "Fall into Reading Challenge" this year, and I am here to share the outcome.

• Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?

I finished 6 on my original list, and 8 from my altered list (which I am hoping to make 9 this week). I did not finish "TrueFaced" because I am going through it with my youth on a week to week basis, "Treasuring God in our Traditions" because I am slow (but its almost done).

• Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

I changed the list because I just found that halfway through I just didnt have the desire to read some of the ones on my list anymore, or I just wanted to read some seasonal ones.

• What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why?

Either Life Together or The Giver! Life Together was just a really good spiritual challenge for me. And the Giver is just a great book and a great memory of childhood reading.

My least favorite was "Instructing a Child's Heart". It was boring and I dont like his writing style.

• Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them?

I read Julie Powell for the first time and oddly enough liked her writing. So I am planning on reading her new book too.

• Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2009 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about?

I learned a ton! Since I read a wide assortment of books, I feel I grew in my personal walk with the Lord, in knowledge about parenting techniques, in learning the history of Christmas, etc.

• What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

That I had a timeline and somewhere to check in at. This helped me stay motivated to read now instead of "later" (which usually turns into never).

Overall, I enjoyed the Challenge alot. I have been blessed by most of the books I have read and just really enjoyed reading again. Here is the final tally on the books I read and a link to my book review (if I did one).

1. Hundred Dollar Christmas - I saw this recommended on a blog recently and my curiosity was peaked. It is a short book about one families experiences during the holidays once they set a $100 budget. [Book review coming soon]

2. Treasuring our Traditions- I wanted to read this last year, but never got around to it. She talks about celebrating traditions as a family all year, and then also on the Holidays. [Hopefully finishing this right before Christmas]

3. The Fuel and the Flame- This is one of my favorite books! I am rereading it again with my dgroup this semester, and it is a great reminder to stay passionate about my Lord. [No book review]

4. TruFaced- Our high school youth small group is going through this right now, and boy is it amazing. Mr.Pate read this book in a counseling class at seminary and loved what it taught. This book focuses on living in community and dealing with sin. It teaches against putting on masks and hiding from God and each other, and it encourages learning to live in God's grace. It encourages knowing that we cant work on our sin and then come to God, instead we must just come as we are to God and work with Him on our sin. You will hear more later on this one, but so far i highly recommend it! [Still going thru it]

5.Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: This is the book that the recent movie Julie and Julia is based on. I have started it and can tell you it is way different than the movie and pretty crude at parts, but overall I am liking the point. [Book review found here]

6.The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar:This is a book the Duggars wrote to share their family philosophies and everyday habits etc. I dont have cable, so I dont watch the show but I am intrigued. [Book Review found here]

7. Teach them Diligently by Lou Priolo: Saw this book on Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking's booklist and wanted to read it for myself. I think it will be helpful for when I have kids but also now with my sunday school class etc. [Book Review found here]

8. Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp: mr.pate and I took a class based on one of Tripp's other books and loved it. So if the library can get it on interlibrary loan then this one is in. [Book Review found here]

9. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:currently reading this book and totally loving it! it is a hard read, but so worth it. anyone who really wants to improve in how they love the people around them, i would suggest this book! [Book review found here]

10. The Giver by Lois Lowry: My childhood favorite, I figured it was a good time to revisit it! [Book Review found here]

You can see how others did and what they enjoyed here.

Whewww... that was alot of hyperlinking action going on. I am going to go rest the fingers by watching some "Say Yes to the Dress Now!"

Christmas Week: Day 2... 27

27: Christmas Songs I love

1. Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant: Duh! I am a TN girl and grew up loving this song. It just takes me back to all of my childhood Christmas's.
2. All I want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey: Who doesn't love this song?
3. Mary Did You Know: I love the way this song talks about Christ... "the blind will see the deaf will hear the dead will live again". Praise Him!
4. Breath of Heaven
5. The Chipmunk Song: Cracks me up! I sing it all year in my best impersonation, which Mr.Pate says is horrid.
6. Winter Wonderland: So dreamy.
7. Rockin around the Christmas Tree: I want to be at a party with this blaring just like in Home Alone, only with real people.
8. It's Beginning to Look alot like Christmas: It will just put you in the mood.
9. Labour of Love on the Behold the Lamb of God cd: This is my new favorite this year. What a neat perspective on that night. I love this way it starts: "it was not a silent night, there was blood on the ground"
10. The Christmas Song: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"... I have never seen chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but this song just makes you feel all warm and cozy.
11. Have yourself a Merry Christmas: My fav version is the one on the red WOW cd. Upbeat and makes you want to dance.
12. Gather Round,Ye Children, Come: Can you tell I have gotten into the Behold the Lamb of God cd? Love this song, just makes me praise the Lord for the crazy love of the Gospel.
13. Santa Baby: Fun and flirty. When I was young I loved going to my sister's chorus shows and hearing this!
14. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Mariah Carey: Again, upbeat and fun (even though she is asking him to come home so I guess its sad?).
15. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by NSync: I love the NSync Christmas cd and this song is my fav off of it.
16. Jingle Bell Rock: Classic.
17. Christmas Shoes: Makes me cry every time.
18. I need a Silent night by Amy Grant: This is also a new fav. It talks about how she needs a silent night, a holy night, instead of the craziness that Christmas can be today with shopping and events etc.
19. We Three Kings: This has always been one of my fav Christmas hymns.
20. Let it Snow!: Being someone who rarely sees a good snow, it is a romantic idea, this song.
21. O Holy Night: Beautiful.
22. Little Drummer Boy: Its different sounding and I love that.
23. It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year: Yes it is!
24. Baby, It's Cold Outside
25. Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC: Oh yeah, ghetto style!
26. Do You Hear What I Hear
27. Passover Us by Andrew Peterson: What a great look at how the Old Testament proclaimed the coming of Christ.

Now if you you don't have any Christmas music to listen to this season, here is a link to help you out:

My Christmas playlist at playlist.org:

http://www.playlist.com/SabrinaPate

So what is your favorite Christmas Song??

And the winner is...

Well I was putting this off, hoping more of you would take a stab at some of these holiday movies, but apparently you aren't Christmas movie peps? Or you are just ignoring me... either way, thanks alot people! Ha. There is no offical winner this week, but both Angel and Sarah got some right- so way to go girls! The answers are:

1. "... if you rub the bunyun on my foot, I'll give you a whole quarter and I'll give a quarter to Audrey too." Christmas Vacation (gross by the way!)
2. Whoa, Dad! You're flying!
   It's okay, I'm used to it. I lived through the '60s.The Santa Claus
3. "You forgot the white chocolate!
   They didn't have any.
   Did you talk to Rex?
   Who's Rex?
   The butcher.
   ...as odd as it sounds, I didn't think to ask the butcher where the chocolate was!" Christmas with the Cranks
4. "Of course you're not an elf. You're six-foot-three and had a beard since you were fifteen." Elf
5. Here we are. Denny's. Always open.
   I don't wanna eat here.
   What are you talking about? Everybody likes Denny's, it's an American institution. The Santa Claus
6. Being an apple farmer may not be a job full of glamour but there is still satisfaction to be had with it.Prancer (have you ever seen it? I love it!)
7. "Oh, you're back.
   "This time we really need to talk. Can I use the lap?" All I want for Christmas (one of my fav Christmas movies, it was never a big hit but I just love it. go rent it this week people!)
8. "The thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." The Polar Express

What are your fav holiday movies?

Christmas Week: Day 1

Welcome to Christmas Week at Patelife! Christmas is a week from today already, it sure did get here fast. I want to invite all of you to take a few minutes this week and join me in reflecting on the "reason for the season", enjoying the celebrations and traditions, and sharing ideas & tips with one another.

Christmas Week: Day 1

What the heck "the Twelve Days of Christmas" is all about

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,

swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out

of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were

not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone

during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning

plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each

element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality

which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,

Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

** This was a forward I received this week, and I enjoyed it so much I thought I would share it with you. I will never sing the 12 days of Christmas with major confusion again!