Did someone say "poop?"

With Christmas behind us, my family decided to take a small snow skiing trip. My brother and his family made the trek also, and we journeyed to Pomerelle Mountain. The travel was a bit treacherous at times, but we made it to the top of the mountain. The skiing was great and the solitude of the mountain priceless.

However, at one point during a chairlift ride up, the lift suddenly stopped, creating a sort of sling-shot effect, sending the chair backward and down, then up. One of the riders behind us exclaimed, "I almost pooped my pants!" Really? Are you sure? That is not something I expected to hear, but it indeed brought a smile to my face. I'm glad I was not riding with that guy.

His statement reminded me of a survey I have heard about. For the 26th consecutive year, 7 year-old boys have chosen the word "poop" as the Word of the Year. Here is a link to the survey/story. Ok, 1. who is surveying 7 year-old boys, and 2. do you think the 33 year-old males who were the first to be surveyed still choose "poop" as the word of the year? I think it is time for a follow up survey, yeah?

Just thought I would throw that out there. Well, if you are in the mood for a good time, and want to see some of God's best work, head up to Pomerelle for a day and ski the serenity there. Also, if you are in the mood to hear someone completely embarrass themselves by exclaiming the word "poop," a chairlift ride might suit you.

Heavy heart...

Today is Christmas Eve, a time for laughter, joy, family, friends. Yet, my heart is heavy. Last night I witnessed my beloved Boise State Broncos fail to win their football bowl game. These Broncos went 12-1 for the entirety of the season. They traveled to a field "where great teams go to die," Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, and came out victorious over the Ducks. This was a team filled with many freshman and exceeded just about every expectation for this season (and the future looks very bright for this team). Though they lost last night, Ian Johnson became the all-time rushing touchdown leader in the WAC at 58 for his career. He topped Marshall Faulk for the leading spot, and passed LaDainian Tomlinson earlier in the season. Pretty good company to be in, huh?

However, It is a sad day, and I am indeed heavy hearted. No, not just for the loss of last night, but because it is the end of the football season for these Broncos. This is a pastime which I love--maybe too much. There are still bowl games left to watch, which I will do. However, come the night of January 8, after the national champion is crowned, the task will turn to finding something else to fill my Saturdays with. Oh wait, basketball is upon us. Never mind.

I have been learning what the “12 Days of Christmas” signify during this holiday season (thanks to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s newsletter). I would like to share with you the meaning of the 12 different symbols in the beloved holiday song. Check back as I update them, leading up to the big day!

On the first day of Christmas: The partridge in the pear tree is Jesus on the cross. The bird imagery can also be seen as symbolic of Christ’s teaching “as hen doth gather her brood under her wings.” (See Luke 13:34)

On the second day of Christmas: The two turtledoves represent the Old Testament and the New Testament.

On the third day of Christmas: The three french hens represent the members of the Godhead: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Alternatively, they represent the three virtues: faith, hope and charity (or love). (See 1st Corinthians 13:13)

On the fourth day of Christmas: The four colly birds (”colly” is an old word for “black”) stand for the four Evangelists–Matthew, Mark, Luke and John–or the four Gospels they wrote.

On the fifth day of Christmas: The five gold rings correspond to the first five books of the bible, sometimes referred to as the Pentateuch.

On the sixth day of Christmas: The six geese a-laying refer to the six days of the Creation (see Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:11).

On the seventh day of Christmas: The seven swans a-swimming suggest the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12:6-8). Alternately, the seven swans represent the seven sacraments recognized by some faith traditions.

On the eighth day of Christmas: The eight maids a-milking signify the eight Beatitudes from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:3-10).

On the ninth day of Christmas: The nine ladies dancing embody the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

On the tenth day of Christmas: The ten lords a-leaping denote the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:3-17).

On the eleventh day of Christmas: The eleven pipers piping are the eleven faithful Apostles (see Luke 6: 13-16; Acts 1:26).

On the twelfth day of Christmas: The twelve drummers drumming are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' creed (namely: belief in the Father, belief in the Son, the virgin birth, the atonement, his ministry after death, his ascension to Heaven, his role as judge, belief in the Holy Ghost, belief in the church, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, and eternal life).

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Oh, I guess so...

So, I have decided that perhaps, maybe I should embrace the world of blogging. This will be a place, like my home, where I post “stuff” that interests me and the goings-on of my life. As you can tell by the title of this blog, it can get interesting sometimes. So, sit back, relax and enjoy yourself as I learn how to blog and such. Y’all come back often now, ya hear?

-C.Jay