Good News

Well, it's been a while since I've posted. Keeping busy with all kinds of things and trying to stay warm in the cold and snow.  :-)

Here's my good news: my son has applied to five colleges and actually heard back from one today, and was accepted! Western New England University (Springfield, MA) accepted him into its Civil Engineering program. He was pretty happy and pleased. Unfortunately for us, its a pretty expensive school - but they already offered him a merit scholarship, and then there is the need based aid we can receive. So we'll see. It's still early on in the whole process. Just happy he got accepted - now we'll wait and see what the other schools say.

My other bit of news is that I have used my wood pellet burning fireplace in my study a couple of times now! [Actual picture to the left.] It is really nice. Just hit the "on" button and in a few minutes the fire starts and warms the room up. The pellets auto-feed, so it's pretty fool proof. All I need to do is make sure the hopper doesn't run out of fuel so the fire keeps going. So last week I spent one day sitting by the fire and reading a book for my schools comps. Nice.

Monday Morning Coffee

Well, most of the Christmas hubbub is past. Things are settling down a bit and I am looking forward to getting a lot done these next two months, especially with regard to my schoolwork. Some thoughts on this Monday morn . . .

+ My Eagles made the playoffs! Quite an exciting game last night as they beat the Cowboys 24-22. They are a fun team to watch and their game against the Saints on Saturday night should be good. Lots of good, young players too. Hopefully that means many more years of success.  :-)

+ New Years Eve tomorrow night. I'm not a party sort of guy. We will have an Evening Prayer for the Close of the Year, and then I am thinking of lighting a fire and doing a puzzle with my wife. A nice, quiet, relaxing evening. (And yes, it will be our first fire in our new house! I've never had a fireplace before and we had a chimney sweep come over to clean it out, check it out, and educate me on its use.)

+ Christmas services were again small and intimate this year. Here in the DC area, most people are from somewhere else, so the place empties out this time of year. I know it, but I don't think I will ever get used to it.

+ We got some good games for Christmas! One is called Telestrations, which is like the game "telephone" (passing a message down a line of people) but with drawing. Hilarious! Produced some really funny interpretations and laughs. The other was called Perpetual Commotion, a card game where everyone is trying to get rid of their cards at the same time. Lots of fun. Can get rough. But you can change the rules slightly here and there to make it even. We played these a lot. Good times.

Merry Christmas

A merry and blessed Christmas to you all!

A Good Day

Yesterday was my Christmas shopping day. Apart from the items I had ordered online and which were soon to arrive in the mail, yesterday was spent driving around and looking for the elusive present or two - and to find them at the right price! It was an exhausting day at the end of which I had a raging headache, but I managed to find what I was looking for. So I was pleased. I may need to go out Monday to get a thing or two, but should be mostly set now.

Today, however, is a completely different day! Today I am sitting in my living room, looking at our tree, drinking tea, listening to classical Christmas music, and writing Christmas meditations and sermons. It is relaxing and refreshing, not exhausting, and so much joy in the Word! And if I can get enough done today, the next number of days will be spent with family and church family, rejoicing in the gifts of God with them, and as the gifts of God they are to me.

Perfect!  :-)

Birthday Pictures

This week was my birthday. Yes, I am officially old! Here are a couple of pictures . . .

Beef Stroganoff for dinner! (On special birthday plate)

Grandpa and Pastor Peasant with "Yule Log Ice Cream Cake"

(Yellow cake rolled around peppermint ice cream and covered in chocolate!)

Christmas Photos

The Peasant Family Christmas Photo

And this next photo, just because my daughter wanted me to post it . . .

(I'm not angry . . . this is supposed to be my over-the-shoulder, sultry look . . .

Guess I picked the right profession!  :-)

A Very Busy Week

Well, one of the busiest weeks of the year is again past for me. Many people think that Holy Week is the hardest week of the year for Pastors with all the extra services, but I actually think this time of the year is tougher. During Lent and Holy Week there are lots of services, but not as many outside activities and obligations. I can focus on the services and sermons and its actually quite enjoyable. But during Advent, there are not only some extra services, but a great many other things that demand attention - from Christmas concerts, Annual Voters Meetings, Caroling, Open House, Decorating, Neighborhood events, Christmas Letters, and more. This past week in particular always seems to be the worst of it. So now, while I still need to buy presents for the family, I can breathe a little easier and focus on the last days until Christmas.