Christmas Tag!

Merry Christmas, everyone! Things are super busy here at the parsonage since Christmas Eve will soon be upon us! This year, i will be presiding at two services on Sunday (9AM and 11AM) and then leading Christmas Eve worship on Monday. It always makes for a busy week when Christmas comes on a Monday but I am really looking forward to it.

I’m also excited because this year we will be doing something a little different this year. This Christmas we will be having a Christmas Eve recital for the young people in our church! Our youngest performer is four years old and she will be doing ballet. The young people range in ages from four to college age.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I apologize for not responding to this tag sooner. I think that tags are a great way to get to know other bloggers.

Blogging Tip: I also appreciate tags because when blogs link to each other (like through tags!) each blog’s DA increases just a tiny bit.

(Note: DA stands for “Domain Authority,” a large website like Facebook has a DA of 100. A small blog is considered a successful if you have a DA of at least 20.) 

I make an effort to respond to all tags (as well as comments, tweets, and e-mails!) but my job must always come first. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding!

I would like to say a very sincere thank you to Girl on the Fly for tagging me! Girl on the Fly is a flight attendant who has been all over the world. Since I also love to travel (and I’ve been blessed to be doing more and more of it for work!) I really appreciate all of her tips. She and I are also both bookworms. You should definitely check her out!

Rules for the tag:

1. Thank the blogger who tagged you and link to their blog. Thanks again, Girl on the Fly!
2. List the rules in the post
3. Answer all questions asked by the blogger
4. Nominate other bloggers and provide them with 12 questions!

 

My Answers:

 

Here are the questions that Girl on the Fly asked me to answer for the Christmas tag! Also, here is a picture of Tinkerbell sitting on some sparkly Christmas garland- just because she is adorable and I love her.

 

1. What’s your favorite Christmas song?

My favorite Christmas song is “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” by Charles Wesley. I actually got the chance to write an entire guest blog post about this song for Ai Love Music. You can read it here!

 

2. Do you prefer a fake Christmas tree or a real Christmas tree?

I prefer a real Christmas tree! Last year was the first time in my entire life I ever had a real Christmas tree. It makes the whole house smell so lovely! Now I would miss it if we didn’t have a real tree.

 

3. How do you think Mistletoe ever came to exist?

One of my best friends is a huge fan of Norse Mythology. She tells this great story about how, according to a legend told by Nordic peoples, there was once a god named Balder who was killed by the mistletoe plant.

Norse mythology is similar to Greek mythology in many ways. It’s very interesting to read their stories. I recommend the book Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman if you would like to read more about the legend of the mistletoe!

 

4. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

My favorite Christmas memory is making Christmas cookies with my grandmother. When I was growing up, my grandmother was my best friend. She even lived in the parsonage with me for a few years.

 

5. If you could have anyone at your Christmas party, former friend or celebrity, who would it be and why?

If I could have anyone at my Christmas party, it would be my grandfather. I miss him very much. Christmas hasn’t been the same since he passed away. I know that he is in heaven now but I still miss him a great deal during the holidays. That is why the Longest Night Service that we hold each year in honor of those who are grieving during the holidays means so much to me. 

 

6. What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

My favorite Christmas movie of all time is the clay-mation version of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. I even used a stuffed toy Rudolf as a prop for the very first Christmas sermon I ever preached!

 

7. Is Eggnog as good as you think it is? Or is it overhyped?

I don’t really drink Eggnog. Methodist preachers are strongly discouraged from consuming alcohol. I’m fairly boring at parties.

 

8. Spiced Apple Cider or Spiced Hot Chocolate?

This is such a hard choice! Can I choose both? If pressed, I would have to choose chocolate; however, it’s a hard decision!

 

9. What’s your favorite Christmas dessert?

My favorite Christmas food is homemade Christmas cookies! One of the perks of my job is that sometimes my wonderful church people bring me delicious homemade Christmas cookies.  This year, I’ve been eating Christmas cookies for breakfast and lunch for the last two weeks. I’m lucky Christmas only comes once a year!

 

10. Have you ever regifted a gift you received?

Yes, I’m embarrassed to admit that I am guilty of re-gifting! Luckily, at least I can say that I haven’t done it since grad school. I was REALLY broke in grad school!

 

11. What is your favorite Christmas memory? 

For my favorite Christmas memory, please see my answer to number four. My second favorite Christmas memory is being in the Christmas Pageant every year at my church.

This is a funny memory now because when I was little I wanted to play the part of the Virgin Mary so badly that every year I would pester the pastor to let me be her in the pageant; however, every year I had either be an angel or the narrator because I had the loudest voice! To this day, I still have a very loud speaking voice.

11. What does Christmas day normally look like in your household?

I’m usually fairly exhausted on Christmas Day. If possible, I prefer to go to church, but most protestant churches in my area don’t have church on Christmas day. The last two years I have attended mass with my spouse because he was Catholic before he became a Methodist. Then we visit my in laws for an early Christmas dinner. His family is Italian so his Aunt makes lasagna. In the evening we exchange Christmas presents.

 

Tag! You’re It!

I’m tagging the following people (and anyone else who wants to play! Simply link back to this post so that I get an alert and know that you completed the tag):

Shanice at Faith and Turtles

Carelle at the Aesthetic Vida 

The Newbury Girl

Stephen Writes 

 

Once more, I apologize that this is so late in the season; however, there are technically 12 Days of Christmas! In the Church Calendar the first day of Christmas starts on December 25th and then the twelve days take us through the feast of Epiphany, when we celebrate the arrival of the three kings. So, if you want to play, you still have plenty of time!

 

Here are your questions: 

1. Do you celebrate Christmas? Or do you celebrate another winter holiday, like Hanukkah? Or, perhaps you don’t celebrate at all. I would like to hear about your traditions!
2. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
3. What are the holidays like in the country where you are from?
4. What is your favorite holiday food?
5. What is your favorite holiday song?
6. If you were going to visit a church or place of worship on the holidays, what could that people there do to make you feel more at home?
7. What is your favorite holiday movie?
8. What is your favorite holiday book?
9. What is your favorite holiday memory?
10. What do you want for Christmas/Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa/ Winter Solstice/ the holidays?
11. What is your favorite present that you have ever received?
12. What Christmas gift do you recommend for my spouse? I’m so bad at purchasing presents! (Also- if you have a holiday gift guide, please leave a link in the comments!)

 

Thanks for playing and may you have a very Merry Christmas!

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