pray for Mattie

Well, I actually started and finished reading the play Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead today. Hysterical. I love that play! Tom Stoppard is a genius, and I insist that you agree with me! Is death a boat? No, because you can’t not-be on a boat. But I’ve not been on a boat a lot… HAH. Ok so it’s not a direct quote, but you get the idea.

In other news…

Merry Christmas!

I know I’m a day late, but it’s the best I can do. At the 7pm Christmas Eve service, which I’d actually never attended, I was an angel in the pageant. Apparently my church has the tradition of using the senior girls as angels and senior boys as shepherds. I’m actually glad I had that opportunity, although I will still always treasure my role as inn-keeper when I was little more than anything. At any rate, I stood behind the baby Jesus at one point and raised my arms toward the heavens before the “multitude of angels” joined me. At the end of the service, the 5 angels were used to light the entire congregation’s candles. I had the task of walking in a rather long white angel robe down a side aisle past the entire congregation and up one of the staircases to the balcony. Mind you there were no lights on at all, and I had to attempt to see the stairs by candle light. I also had to not light my hair on fire, not drop the fire, and not light anyone else on fire… especially those in the balcony who lit their candles off of mine. But it went smoothly. No one tripped, no one got scorched, and as we stood in front of the alter facing the congregation, I was happy to find that I knew all of the verses to Silent Night, including the German translation. I felt bad for the 3 angels that didn’t know it. We didn’t have the words with us or anything, so Gretchen and I did our best to compensate. It was actually a pretty awesome experience to stand in front of that many people with lighted candles, all gathering to celebrate Christ’s birth.

When we got home I played through one of my new Christmas piano books, and we watched The Muppet’s Christmas. Granted, the latter activity wasn’t exactly a religious thing to do on Christmas Eve, but it’s a tradition. Carrie and I hadn’t had the chance to watch it yet. Besides, who doesn’t love a bunch of muppets and Sesame Street characters gathering together to celebrate Christmas?

I’m not sure whether or not I should list what I received for Christmas. It becomes a little tedious and boring to read, but perhaps I’ll share anyway. Feel free to skip this next chunk of words.

Family DVD player, pajamas and matching slippers, 5 sweaters, 2 pairs of socks, an (M) sweatshirt and (M) socks, a Handspring (palm pilot), 2 puzzles and a puzzle mat, Santa brought me a little stuffed bear, a watch, a matching necklace and bracelet, A Journety Through Heartsongs, a book of poetry by the Poet Laureate (whose name has momentarily slipped my mind) {Billy Collins}, 2 cookbooks, a Mary Engelbreit desk calendar, the newest CD that Dad plays on, a scarf that Mom crocheted, gloves and a matching ear-band, a new neck gator, new skiing gloves, and a partridge in a pear tree. (or rather a bunch of stocking stuffers) My grandpa gave me a $50 bill as well as a $50 card to Border’s. I’m sorry, but that’s consistently one of my favorite gifts. Beautiful.

Nolan bought me a cross necklace which is 24 K gold over sterling silver, as well as an adorable stuffed cat named Samantha that he stuffed for me at the Build-a-Bear. She meows when you squeeze her belly… I think it’s going to freak Mittens out. At any rate, I could’ve believe he was so sweet to me! On top of that, he gave my parents a gift certificate to Applebee’s and gave my sister a gift certificate to the mall… he barely even knows her! It was quite the unexpected thing.

The book A Journey Through Heartsongs is the second book by a boy named Mattie Stepanek. He has muscular dystrophy, I believe, and has gone against all odds. He’s truly a miracle. His mother suffers from it as well, and his 3 siblings all died from muscular dystrophy. The book is a compilation of poems that he has written since the age of 3. I read the entire thing last night, and trust me, do not expect to read it with dry eyes. I encourage EVERYONE to by either this book, or his first, entitled Heartsongs. I’ve not read the first book, but I have no doubts that it is just as powerful as this one. Mattie has so much faith in God, so much faith in life. I wish that I could be as dedicated to something as Mattie is to bringing peace. What I didn’t understand when I began the book was what kind of peace he was talking about. I assumed he wanted world peace. The kind of peace where wars would end and people would live in relative harmony. And this is, to some extent, a goal of his. But more than anything, I believe he wants to give everyone peace within him/herself. Heartsongs are your soul, and he’s imploring everyone to find their heartsong and accept the life they’ve been given. Even if you don’t buy the books or read them, reflect on his messages. Oprah asked him what he wanted for Christmas, promising to get him anything at all. He asked her to pray for him. She in return asked her entire audience to be praying for Mattie. That’s a simple request, even if it is after Christmas. Pray for Mattie.

~swept away~

@~>~>-dreamergrrl

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