DECISIONS, DECISIONS

So... We need three rugs. Two in the great room--one in the main area and one in the morning room--and one for the entry .

Lots of choices, including these from homedecorators.com

[Selections have been made. I just need an educated eye to determine appropriate sizes and we're good to go!]

Great Room choice...

Morning room choice...

Entry choice...

Or, possibly one of these from Dash and Albert...

SANTA'S CUTEST ELF

No other elves need apply. 4-1/2 month old LC has the Santa's Favorite Elf spot locked down. Who can resist?...

DECEMBER 7, 1943: 70 YEARS LATER

December 7, 1941

As AC, my brother-in-law, was organizing family photos today he saw a date scribbled on the back of this one--70 years ago today. Pearl Harbor Day. Stunned, he called my dad to get more information.

My 90 year-old father recalled, "I was working in Peoria (IL) and Russell was at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Lawrence was 10. I took the bus down there (Bowen, IL) and we had the picture taken on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn't until I returned to Peoria and my roommate said, 'We're almost at war.' that I learned about Pearl Harbor. It's funny that you called because I was just thinking about that photo this morning."

That's my 20 year-old dad--upper left--and 18 year-old Russell next to him. In front on the left is my grandma--Dessie Linita Todd Jacobs--with Lawrence, and grandpa--Oren Lester Jacobs.

SLOVAK CHRISTMAS BAKING

MK decides that while DM is traveling she and the little girls will bake the cookies of her childhood in Slovakia. The only real problem is that the girls mildly resent that they don't get to keep more of these cookies--destined for teachers and friends..

JESUS HAD A FATHER

Joseph, the overlooked figure in the nativity...

Pastor Buchanan at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago gave me a new perspective on the Christmas story in today's message, Jesus had a Father. Yes, Jesus is God's son, but certainly he'd have been influenced, instructed, disciplined, and loved by his earthly father. God chose Mary and he chose Joseph to parent Jesus. Today is the first time I've even thought about Joseph beyond his presence in Jerusalem and in Egypt. He was a carpenter in Nazareth. He supported his family working with his hands. Certainly Jesus learned from Joseph as much or more than he learned from Mary.

Good stuff.