Catlyn

I recognized "O Holy Night" also after a few seconds in. I agree, she has technique, but no soul. The fingers don't go flying over the keyboard, they work troddingly over it. There's no joy in the playing, she could be typing for all the care she put into it. Do they ever truly smile as they make music or are they concentrating too much on getting it right?

He can tell one of the various legends of the Christmas tree which brings Christianity into it without the Pagan history. I remember one story: When Christianity was first coming into Northern Europe a saint (I can't remember which one. I want to say St. Nicholas) was upset with the Pagans/neophyte Christians worshipping the oak tree during the holy season. The saint with one mighty blow, cut the great oak and as the tree split, a beautiful young fir tree sprang from its center. "This evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven," said the saint, "is a holy tree, the tree of the Christ Child and a symbol of His promise of eternal life." After that, they brought the tree into their houses to remind themselves of the Christ Child and decorate it to show their love for Him and for each other. If the Dillards are really traditional and get a balsam, they can also go on about how the branches have a cross at the end to remind everyone how Jesus died on the cross for them. Fun times!

Which is why I don't live above the Mason-Dixon Line. I get all four seasons and they last enough where I feel I've had them and snow comes round just to say we had a winter and enough to talk about our "harrowing" snow experiences in the coffee room. But on the other hand, it is a pretty populous area so we don't get to see the fabulous sights in less populated states. Hugs to everyone facing the holidays with trepidation. I agree with those who are glad that 2016 is coming to an end. Here's hoping 2017 will be bringing luck and happiness to all.

You know if they hung 19 stockings they would be her old compression socks. They do not splurge on new things for the kids. Picture it. I did and it made me laugh. Thinking about 19 stockings hung reminds me of the Who stockings in the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas." Besides, if they are going to hang 19 for the kids, they probably would have to hang stockings for spouses and grandkids. That would really look like a Who mantle. 16 stockings wouldn't be as impressive to Mechelle.

One's empty, one's just opened and the other is waiting.

Everyone to their own, but I'm of the school, either they all match or none of them match. So, not that it matters, I think you're doing it right. :)

Not always. Sometimes it is hipster barista sandals guitar college campus guitar church. And sometimes its on a military base trying to tie in as many Christians without upsetting anyone. In Germany we went to a non-denominational church and Sunday school. I liked it as we got the basics without the individual dogma.

He also had a dark suite for Josh and Anna's wedding. They all looked dressed up for that wedding.

So, two of the lost girls weren't in the wedding, but Josie was?

Penny told Sheldon if they tried this, she'd tell his mother on him.

But at least Jeremy wasn't spending his days on the honeymoon photoshopping the hedge so it would be just right!

Izzy is a adorable, however. He looks like one of those Franklin/Danbury Mint dolls that were popular years ago.

I don't know. Some stores around here wouldn't put out the shoes I see JB wear. He's wearing those cheap, wanna be ortho shoes. Comfy to wear at first, but falls apart later. I wouldn't be surprised if they were pleather rather than leather, which is why they are not polished. What is wrong with having a good pair of shoes to wear for special occasions, and then just tramp around in tennis shoes or whatever is comfortable? Yes, more money going out in the front, but they'll last longer and look good so if you have to, you can always hand me down. (I'm talking Duggars here, for those who are about to speak up regarding hand-me-down shoes.

Got bored and looked up the one in Maryland: Weile's ice cream. And they were ahead with their drippy sundaes! They also colored the whip cream in pastel shades. It was a favorite place for teens.

We had one here in Maryland, not John's I think Wiley's. They also had the giant concoction with all the ice-cream flavors in a steel bowl and did the same thing, bringing out smaller bowls and spoons. The sundaes were as big as the Duggars sundae, but not messy unless you were a messy eater. We brought my nephews there for special occasions.

Reminds me of when my sister and her daughter in law decided it would be cute to make a lasting memory of grandbaby/daughter. She wasn't new born, but a few weeks/month old and still slept a ton and hard. They started encasing her tiny fist in some sort of goo that would solidify and make a mold, whereby they could fill it with plaster and have a lasting memory of grand/daughter's tiny fist. They put her fist in the goo and baby woke up fast! My sister said for the remainder of the visit, baby always looked at them warily. I wonder if this also affects children who have been photographed in the Geddes mode. Such a poor sad face on that little girl. You really want to rip her out of that picture. She looks shell-shocked.

I have two really big sexist pet peeves and one of them is shown here . I hate pink on boys and men , the other is long hair on them . WTF Jessa !! Pink was originally a boy color. In Victorian times and maybe earlier, it was thought to be too strong a color for a girl. Blue was a softer color so more suited to a sweet girl. ;) He's still a baby, so Jess is probably keeping the hair long because of the curls. I broke down and read the blog. It was as bad as you said. I thought maybe you all were getting a bit too snippy to match the fall weather, but no. My apologies. It really wouldn't have been so bad if it were just a talk about enjoying a family walk. Ben turned it into a lecture as if he were the only one who knew about the greatness of walks. I mean, WOW a little extra planning and we can turn that walk into a picnic! Who knew? He needs to have someone else read his blog back to him aloud. Maybe he'd get a clue how patronizing he sounds.

My sister does this. She tries to keep glasses in each room: Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom, besides the car and her purse. I finally had to break down and get trifocals. Hated that I would need glasses for close up. I always needed them for far distance, but, working on the computer added a new dimension. For sunglasses, I use those wrap around kind you wear over your regular glasses. I hope everyone is able to get their health and meds straightened out. It's scary how we could overlook something small and turn up with a life threatening situation.

Hoping not to go to off topic, my sister married a man from Columbia for her first marriage. My nephews have a hispanic last name, but look totally Anglo. The youngest was pale, green-eyed and red haired. The eldest was pale, brown-eyed and light brown hair. But, there are blond, pale-skinned Castellians, so last names really don't say much when trying to guess someone's ethnic background.

Never before, had Derick seen so many red squiggly lines in a one-paragraph document. Derick reminds me of the time on Big Bang Theory when Penny wrote her paper on Slavery and Leonard was reading it. Derick is thinking how to fix the paper without hurting Jill's feelings on her paper: Sin=Bad/Jesus=Good.

It was Josh in jeans and a T-shirt. Anna was always made up and dressed nicely. He was comparing how they were dressed. (Sorry, didn't realize many others said the same thing.) If the story is true, it's a shame the man and Anna didn't talk. Maybe both Anna and Josh would realize Anna is a pretty woman and desirable to other men. She doesn't have to settle. They both need to wake up.

That's interesting! The Walmarts in my state, VA, definitely do sell alcohol. Yeah, but in VA you can get beer at a 7/11. Here in MD, Walmart does not sell beer and it may be by county, but where I live only one supermarket per district can sell beer and wine. If the wedding is this week, I hope Michelle and Jim Bob are dressed properly for it. No tinfoil dresses and no scuffed up, work shoes for JB even if they are black. If you are going to dress up for a wedding-- Dress UP! There is nothing wrong with a casual wedding, where everyone is dressed comfortable, but they do seem to want to make it a formal wedding. They just do it half-a**ed as usual Duggar style.

I think Josie might be the blonde near the man with the baseball cap. I can't see who is holding her. But, it does look like an older girl being held, and not a toddler or baby.

Oh my word. That was a birthday video for her betrothed? It was impersonal and the only thing she talked about was how Godly or loving God he was. There was nothing that showed she knew anything about Jeremy. She could have mentioned all the God things, and then said, I like being with you, you make me laugh... Take out the parts where they're spending their lives together and she could be saying Happy Birthday to any preacher.

I can't find it, but I think Gothard says something about mothers not getting too attached to their children, that it's the headship's job to take care of their material, emotional and spiritual needs, while Mom is responsible for them as babies. I may not be remembering it correctly, because I can't find back up, but can someone help? I remember reading this (along with his other beliefs) and thinking Gothard was totally a misogynist, sexist, insane pervert who should be locked away.