Laughing All the Way?

"...Laughing all the way..." ~Jingle Bells, James Lord Pierpont (1857)

     The holiday season is upon us, and with all the merry songs bursting forth from our radios, throughout stores, and really from just about everywhere, I have to stop and wonder: "Really? Is anyone actually 'laughing all the way'?"

     Now, I don't personally celebrate the Christmas season, but I used to. It's not because I don't believe in Jesus and His birth. It isn't because I hate holiday cheer. It isn't because my nickname is Scrooge. Although I have heard rumors... Just kidding. No, it's mainly because I feel the holiday is a traditionalized, humanisitc, pagan holiday that doesn't really promote any "Christian" love and goodwill towards men in general. 

     What many in our culture today have come to celebrate is a fat man in a red suit. Which is a little creepy. Okay. A lot creepy. We force our kids to believe in this jolly character, whose past isn't very clean, and make them sit on this stranger's lap in order to get a quick pic. Because apparently this type of creepy picture is "adorable". 

     Yeah. There went the whole "stranger danger" concept as well as the hope for children across America to have faith in the respectability and honesty of their parents. Someone, somewhere is crying "Liar!" right about now. I think the image I described above fairly sums up the truth in that statement as well as the accuracy of the stupidity of people worldwide. 

     I'm sorry. Maybe that's just me? 

     Plus, I really love the validity of how people justify these actions: "It's the holiday." "It's just for fun." "It's a tradition that we have handed down through our family's generations."

     Sure. That will make everything better. White lies = Bliss. Traditions = Nonconformity. Saying you are really all about the true meaning of Christmas and Christ's birth and how that has made such a difference in your life even as you put up the Christmas tree and leave cookies for the imaginary Santa who has nothing to do with Christ as well as the presents that have put you in debt and drove you crazy trying to find and pay for = Priceless. 

     I totally get it. How's that debt treating you by the way? Do you have an ulcer yet? 

     Family get-togethers, sharing, and focusing on Christ's birth are all VERY important. They are essential to our lives here on Earth. However, are you really celebrating those things? 

     When I see people in a frenzy shopping at their local Wal-Mart and being mean to others, I don't see love and goodwill. When I hear people getting angry over not getting what they want for Christmas, I cringe. When I see people fighting over a stupid toy for their child, I shake my head in disbelief. 

     So for this holiday season, I want you to pause. I know many hearts are in the right place, but ask yourself: "Is this really what Christmas should be?" Ask yourself about what you are really celebrating and what example you are setting for your children. 

     If Christmas is really about all of those good things: family, friends, sharing, love and more importantly, CHRIST-- then shouldn't we be doing those things all year long? Do we really need a commercialized holiday to invite family and friends over to eat and share and laugh? Do we really need to buy presents, and so many of them, when it's a fact that we feed people, clothe people, and share all year long? Does it really matter in the long run what toy your child gets? 

     What about peoples' souls? What about those who are homeless and starving? What about Christ everyday, all day? Not just once a year. 

     I invite you to think about the important matters in life and really be grateful for what and whom you have. A Barbie doll or Elmo won't get you or your kids into Heaven. Debt won't make the New Year fun and exciting. Labeling your actions as "Christian" doesn't make them such either. 

     I wish you Happy Holidays, but from the perspective of peace and joy and freedom from all of your daily trials and worries. May your blessings not come in boxes but in everyday triumphs. 

~Love and Hugs!! :) 

      

Write-Oh!

Random Quote: "Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."  ~E. L. Doctorow

     Soooo, I've been editing a fairtale story I remade for a contest. I submitted a less-than-20,000 word novella to a great panel of judges at Rooglewood Press. I finished writing it in about two days, and may I say, it showed. Now that I'm rereading it, I am seeing mistakes I didn't notice the first time. As a perfectionist, the acknowledgment of these errors makes me blush. 

     Really. You would think I'd be able to tell when my own writing doesn't make sense. However, in the midst of excitement and the thrill of writing a new story in, like, two days, I was unaware of my blunders. Now, though, I can see why it didn't win the contest. Still, I am determined not to allow that to stop me. 

     It's been very interesting. I have learned that making a known story into something new is both difficult and rewarding. Difficult because it's hard to include the key details of the theme without feeling a little plagiaristic, but also, rewarding because it's fun to create a fresh take on an old story. 

     I feel I am up to the challenge of remaking and editing this story into something better. I'm excited at the prospect of what it will turn into! I do have to say that I am enjoying the herione's character. She's a little sassy. Quietly, of course. 

     Is there anyone interested in volunteering to be a beta reader for my mystery fairytale story when I'm finished with the rewrite? 

     For those of you who are unaware of what a beta-reader is, allow me to enlighten you:

     Taken directly from my friends at Wikipedia, they have defined "beta reader" as the following:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_reader

"An alpha reader or beta reader (also spelled alphareader / betareader, or shortened to alpha / beta), also pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the story, its characters, or its setting. Beta reading is typically done before the story is released for public consumption.^[1]"

     If anyone would be interested, I would be excited for you to read and answer a few questions to give me your feedback. Let me know!

For now, I wish you a HAPPY week!! 

I hope to hear from some prospective beta readers soon!!

~Love and Hugs!! :)

     

     

If Only I Had a Genie!

Random Quote: "When you really love someone, you don’t need proof. You can feel it.” ~Cyrus, the genie, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

     Okay. I'll admit it. The above random quote really hasn't anything to do with this post. However, the fact that it was espoused by the adorable actor, Peter Gadiot, from the short-lived television show-Once Upon a Time in Wonderland- just needed to be shared. And he did play a genie on the show, so it does fit in actually... Seriously. It's a good quote. And he is handsome. I will claim the fifth to any questions beyond that. Thank you. 

     Moving on. 

     I was thinking just the other day: what would I do if I were given three wishes? 

     We all know this is a very important question. Mainly because it would never happen. I don't lend genies any credence. I know they have no bearing on life and can't take the place of Jesus in any way. That said, I did think of what would happen if one day I were given the blessing of three wishes. 

     Let's be real. Everyone wants three wishes. So, I thought about my own wishes. For about three seconds. It didn't take long to come up with truly selfish wishes. Granted, I didn't say these wishes would be anything but selfish. I mean, they are wishes afterall and this is just pretend. 

     So, go with me on this journey. 

     Wish #1: A never-ending library filled with books. Tons of books. Never-ending rooms of books. Books. Books. Books. 

     Yes, I know you saw that one coming. 

     Wish #2: The ability to live in this library without encountering anything unpleasant; i.e. bills, people, etc. 

     Okay. I may give myself a loophole for seeing people and all of that. And I'll need a way to eat. I'll figure that into wish #2 at some point. Stop getting nit-picky people! Remember, this is pretend! 

     Wish #3: Enough money to cover the cost of living so that I may never be obliged to leave said library. 

     Well. I have to be practical afterall. 

     You may be wondering why I wouldn't wish for world peace or something. Instead, I've been completely selfish with my three wishes. You have a point. Yet, I don't want to wish for something which I hope will happen without the trickery of a genie wish. I don't want to wish for something that needs to happen because of the unity of hearts and minds. Zion will be whether I get my three wishes or not. I don't think I have to worry about that at all. 

     So, yeah. I wished for three selfish wishes. I know they won't be coming true any time soon, but at least I've thrown them out into the abyss of hope. Remember last week in my Thanks for Giving 5, I mentioned my thanksgiving for faith and hope? That's what I'm sharing with you now. 

It's nice to have hopes and dreams and wishes. 

What are your hopes and dreams? 

What would you wish for if you had three wishes? 

    Feel free to share! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading! 

~Love and Hugs!! :)