Lyrical Thursdays: In the Bleak Midwinter

Along with new beginnings, the new year has brought a lot of snow to Michigan. We've had quite a bit all winter, actually, but never at a time that would grant us a snow day!  Ah, well.  (**Update: ...Until January 5th, when the snow kept falling, snow on snow...and got us a snow day on the 6th!) 

I was out shoveling and snow blowing earlier as the snow continued to swirl around me, and this song came into my head.  It's such a beautiful one, and the poem by Christina Rossetti is so moving.  The last line says it all - all that we can give Him is our heart!  A great thing to think about as we head into the new year.  Happy Thursday! 

In the bleak midwinter

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Sticking to My Strengths

Happy New Year!!!

I hope that your holiday season has been fun and relaxing!  I had a great Christmas with my family, and spent a lot of time resting, relaxing, and eating.  Eating SO MUCH.  New Year's resolutions to diet clearly come from overindulging over the holidays. 

Speaking of New Year's resolutions, several years ago, I took the task of making them VERY seriously.  I wrote down my resolutions, broke them down into manageable tasks, made plans of how to achieve them...and promptly became so overwhelmed with the process that I just chucked the whole thing! I never looked back at those resolutions, and just resolved to do better and be better, generally speaking.  

Since that fateful year, I haven't set many New Year's resolutions.  I set weekly goals, but a yearly goal is a bit much.  I am always trying to improve myself, but have found that I set myself up for failure if I over-think something.  So I keep things simple, like Liz Lemon (I especially like the third one):

 I'm also completely with Calvin here:

I hope that your new year is magical and filled with adventures and wonderful things!!  I'd resolve to be a more consistent blogger, but I'd rather not and then be pleasantly surprised if it happens.  :)