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Name: Nate
Country: United States
State: Indiana
Metro: Warsaw
Birthday: 6/29/1983
Gender: Male


Interests: God and Christian spirituality. Books, movies, science fiction/fantasy, history, comic books, politics, anime, board games, strategy games, video games, sports (Go Cubs!), hanging out with friends, and other assorted "nerdy activities."
Expertise: Writing (duh!), leadership, wit, Hamlet-esque introspection, never shutting up, obscure quotes, etc, etc.
Occupation: Delivert Driver
Industry: Food Services


Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM: messenjah1983


Member Since: 6/25/2004

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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Currently
Final Fantasy: The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Perform The Music of Nobuo Uematsu
By Nobuo Uematsu (Composer), Hollywood Symphony Orchestra
see related

Christmas with the Marchands

Christmas unofficially started for my family a month ago when we did our “secret Santa” drawing, something we’ve done since my Dad lost his job last year. This year, I drew Sarah, my sister. I’ll get back to that in a minute.

 

The actual festivities started Christmas Eve. Mom was invited by Jerry Blanchard, our pastor from our Dunfee Missionary Church days, to sing at his current church, Anthony Wayne Church of God in Fort Wayne. The entire family went. Mom sang “O Holy Night” and “Mary, Did You Know?” Everyone loved it. We also got to hear music director Kenny Speakman’s (he was my first youth pastor) teen choir sing. Jerry then gave a short sermon talking about how the Grinch realized there was more to Christmas than just presents. Obviously, Jerry connected that to the birth of Christ. The service ended with communion and a candle lighting.

 

But it wasn’t over for us. Jerry and his wife, Carol (who was my children’s church teacher and my babysitter when I was little), invited us to have treats after everyone had left. They had lots of cookies, drinks, and two tubs of ice cream the size of barrels (I think they were trying to give us diabetes). We visited with them for well over an hour, catching up on what’s been going on in our lives. I hope we get to see them again before next Christmas.

 

Once we were home, we discovered Santa had come early. Our stockings were stuffed with our favorite candies. We also had one present each. We opened them. We each got a new Christmas T-shirt and handmade fleece pajama pants. Mine were mostly Indianapolis Colts logos. I say “mostly” because the elf (i.e. Mom) had run out of that material and had to finish by using some blue fabric that belonged to a wolf design. So, apparently, I’m one-quarter Indian. I’ve been threatening to throw a tomahawk into my sister’s head ever since.

 

As for Christmas morning, I was surprised (and yet not) that half of the family (who shall remain nameless) didn’t get up at a decent hour like they always do. “C’mon! It’s Christmas Day!” I said. I’d have a better chance of waking the dead on Christmas morning.

 

Regardless, we dragged them all out there and opened our presents. My brother Jarod was my “secret Santa.” Here’s what he got me:

     -“Ratatouie” on DVD

     -“Kingdom Hearts” for PS2

     -A Transformer mini-calendar

-Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (which I already had, so I returned it and bought The Four Loves)

-Some mechanical pencils

-The best one: “Boys Will be Boys” by the Newsboys, which is so old they still sound like an ‘80s hair band!

 

Once that was done, Dad went to get Grandma in Columbia City and brought her over. We had lunch together as a family. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon playing “Apples to Apples,” which I’d gotten Sarah. Grandma had several funny moments playing the game:

-Judging some awkward green cards, “Sexy” and “Flirtatious,” back-to-back.

-Putting down “Ninjas” while Jarod was judging a green card even though I had been joking the whole game about how it was a trump card with me. I guess subliminal messages do work.

 

We then took a family photo in front of the Christmas tree and Grandma went home.

 

Other presents I received this year:

     -A Justice League T-shirt

-My first ever Transformers T-shirt (that’s surprising, I know)

-Lots of money and gift cards, which I used to buy the new “Star Trek” movie, season 7 of “Smallville” when it was on post-Christmas sale, and three movies from my brother Josiah

-A new journal

 

So, as you can see, it was a good Christmas.

 

How was your Christmas? What did you get?

 

Coming Soon: “Star Wars: In Concert.”


Do you want to reread the "Narnia' series before the next movie? Read about how you can do it in this article. Please subscribe and share! Resolve to reread "Narnia"


Thursday, December 24, 2009



er, "Merry" Christmas!!!



Currently
A Christmas Story (Full-Screen Edition)
By Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz
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The Ghosts of Past Christmases

When I woke up Saturday, the world was white. It had snowed. The last vestige of autumn was buried under a cold blanket. To top it off, it was my favorite kind of snow: big and flaky, yet wet and soft enough to compact into snowballs with gloved hands. It wasn’t the first snow of the year, but it was the first batch to stick.

It was now Christmas.

After weeks of decorating, shopping, and watching holiday movies, it finally felt like Christmas.

It should never be Christmas in Indiana without snow.

Sadly, my joy melted faster than the snow.

A few days later, the loneliness and uncertainty returned. I remembered that my extended families don’t get together anymore (I miss my crazy cousins). All those things I was waiting on, those I was told I would hear about by Christmas—a decision on my novel, word about a writing job, acceptance (or rejection) of my Dad’s business proposal for a gas station he wants to buy—hadn’t come in. Worst of all, as I hinted at in a poem, I am yet again facing a Christmas where I wish I could trade all my gifts for the love of a good woman.

Christmas isn’t what it once was for me. Like Scrooge, I am haunted by the spirits of those past Christmases. I miss them. Will I ever get them back? Or will they forever remain spectral shadows in my memory?

I wish I knew.

Now, just so you know, Christmas is still a happy time for me, so please don’t think I’ve slipped into some holiday depression that may drive me to jump off a bridge on New Year’s Eve. You can expect an entry in a day or two ranting about my favorite gifts this year. I’m just speaking honestly about how I feel right now.

I also need to write an overdue blog about Star Wars: In Concert.

Until then…have a happy holiday!


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Need ideas for gifts for the Narnia fan you know? Read my latest article! Please subscribe and share. The 10 Best Narnia Gifts



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