BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 1 Well...I have been waiting for my biography to arrive. I ordered it a week ago, and this morning my package showed up with a clarinet Christmas music book in it. Not what I ordered. Back to the drawing board I went! So I have now ordered two biographies as you can see in the pictures below! So now for this week's questions! I'm going to give you 3, but bear with me for a minute! One is a go to question to use any week that the question I give you for the week doesn't apply to your book. So just keep it tucked in your back pocket! That question is- What is something you have learned or that surprised you in your reading this week? Now for this week's questions. Why did you choose the book you did? There are thousands upon thousands of biographies out there and this is what you settled on. Why? Is this person someone you already know quite a bit about, a little, or nothing at all?

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 2 I hope that you are enjoying the book you selected for this book club! I started with The Last Ride of the Old Peacekeepers and while this is such a silly comparison for what this book is about, I keep getting flashbacks of John and Ponch from CHiPs episodes in my mind. The book deals with material that the show never touched, but my mind keeps going to that look for these guys. Anyway - onto our question for the week. Was your subject influenced, mentored, etc by someone in their life that helped them become the person they did? I have been spending some time thinking about the value and impact of mentors in people's lives. It can be very powerful! Remember, if this question doesn't apply to your book, you can always answer the question what is something that you have learned about your person this week that you didn't know before? It can be something that amazed you, angered you, made you mourn, made you laugh, etc.

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 3 Often in life we are shaped by hardships that we go through. Sometimes, when at rock bottom, we stop destructive habits, learn who our true friends are, or realize that the doors are closed to dreams we longed for. Sometimes, from that platform of hardship, we are launched onto new paths that later lead us to some of our greatest accomplishments in life. Has your person experienced a "rock bottom" moment in his or her life? How did it affect them?

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 4 So far we've talked about why you chose your book, mentors/experiences in your subjects' lives, and hitting rock bottom. Today, let's talk about quotes. Most likely your person has said some words of wisdom, something that made you laugh, something pithy, etc. What are some words that have resonated with you? Share away in the comments, and if you feel inclined, share why they impacted you. Also, I'm curious. Do you keep a quote book for yourself? I haven't in the past, but after today I'm going to start a section in a notebook.

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 5 Today we're going to talk about relating or not relating to the person we are reading about. Sometimes we pick up a biography about a person because we share common specific interests or beliefs. Sometimes we can relate through a broad topic like sports. Maybe they love football when we like basketball, but the passion is still there. Maybe you can relate in their upbringing, education, desire to help others, etc. Typically, we can find a way to relate in some form. However, usually, there is an area we can't relate to. The same list I gave of how you could relate can be applied in not relating. Can I suggest that there is value in not relating? By not relating you can learn about something you knew nothing about. It can also cause us to make decisions that we will never do something, because we saw what happened to someone else as a result. I hope this makes sense! So how do you relate and not relate to the person you have been reading about?

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 6 Well, here we are at our last post of our Biography/Autobiography books. I hope that you have enjoyed reading about the person you chose! My last question for you can be a deep one. If you could step into your book at any place and "save" your protagonist (that's what the main character is called even in a biography) where would you do it and why? For some of us that doesn't seem very deep, but it really can be. For example in the biography Unbroken, my natural instincts would be to tell Louie not to get into the fighter plane that ends up crashing in the Pacific Ocean. But, through Louie's horrible experiences, he turns his life around. (I'm not going to go into detail, because I don't want to ruin the story if you've never read it.) With these thoughts in mind, because we have the benefit of seeing the entire story, would you intervene? For some of us, it's not a deep question, because our protagonist needs rescuing and the event doesn't lead to redemption or a serious change in their life. With that being said, it's a wrap on our biographies! I hope you enjoyed digging into biographies together. Shakespeare is coming up next!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - INTRO TO CHARLES DICKENS Today, we're going to spend a few minutes talking about Charles Dickens in preparation for tomorrow's first post on A Christmas Carol. I am downright giddy to dive into this Christmas classic with you. I don't like to put words in author's mouths as to the reasons they wrote a book, but I think there are a couple of things we can keep in mind and use for self examination as we travel through these pages! I'll tell you more on those thoughts in a moment, but first... Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812. He was the second of eight children, and he was very sickly. Due to this, he spent a lot of time in bed and passed the time reading books. His father tended to live beyond his means. This landed him in debtors prison when Charles was twelve years old. Charles had to quit school and go to work at a boot blacking factory. The factory was overrun with rodents. Dickens earned 6 shillings a week. Eventually, his father received a small inheritance that allowed him to pay off his debts. Charles was able to return to school, but at age fifteen he had to leave and work again.This time he found employment for two newspapers. Reporting on the news was the beginning of his writing career. Over his lifetime, Dickens wrote fifteen novels. Many of them focused on the despondent and impoverished lives of the working class people. They caused a beacon to be shown on the mistreatment of this class which helped to usher in needed changes. Dickens died on June 9, 1870 at the age of 58. So, what do I think Dickens would have us look at as we read the pages of A Christmas Carol? The first is simple. How do you treat your fellow man, especially those who are in TRUE need around you? I'm not just talking about those in physical need (although that is certainly part of it!), but I'm also talking about their emotional and spiritual needs as well. Second, I don't know about you, and I get a little shameful saying this, but I can see a bit of myself in old Ebenezer Scrooge. Situations in life have made parts of my heart cold, unfeeling, and untouchable, and this Christmas story has a unique way of getting us to examine our past, our present, and our future. So blow the dust off this classic, listen to the sound of the creak as you open the cover, and allow the music of this literary carol to settle into your soul.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 1 Get ready for lots of things to think about as we embark on our Christmas novel! The first thing to ask ourselves is what in the world is a "stave?" It's not Latin, French, or any other language for the word chapter. It's a musical term. It's another word for "staff," the five lines that notes are written on. Right from the start Dickens establishes his musical theme . As you read Stave 1 we must acknowledge Dickens' masterful word use. If you haven't noticed already, note his use of similes throughout the stave. You can find the first one in paragraph one. Images take shape in our minds with all of his descriptive language. Also, the use of foreshadowing. The level of fog and darkness continues to grow which gives the reader a feeling of ominous foreboding. Dickens gives us a complete description of Scrooge. I love, love, love this description. Does he not arise in your mind as you read the words "tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" and on it goes in delightful description. Scrooge is visited by 3 people/groups in his office (I wonder if this is some throw out to the three ghosts. I haven't fully tried to think through any possible connections. I think there may be, and I will try to watch for it as we go through!): his nephew, the men collecting for the poor, and the boy caroling.We have this beautiful juxtaposition of Scrooge and his nephew. The poor, cheerful, married, Christmas-keeping nephew versus the rich, curmudgeon, single, Christmas-hating Scrooge. We have to have quote references as we travel through these visits! We'll start with "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of Holly through his heart." With the men collecting for the poor we have the back and forth conversation of are there no prisons, workhouses, etc. The men shaking their head in sorrow say yes there are. You can almost here Scrooge breathe an audible sigh of relief that he doesn't have to worry about the problem. The government has it covered. The young boy who carols at the door has a ruler thrown at him. (Be on the lookout for a moment of regret later by Scrooge for this action.) Then there is Bob Cratchit, the underpaid, hard-working clerk who works for Scrooge. Despite having nothing in the world materially he partakes of the Christmas joy brought into the office by others. Scrooge accuses him (with another great quote) of stealing from him when he acknowledges that he would like the 25th off. It's "a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!" Scrooge grudgingly gives him the day off, but instructs him to be at work early the next day. And so the workday concludes on the 24th and Scrooge and Cratchit head home. I'm going to skip Scrooge's dreary routine before heading home. Let's key in on some main points. The fog and darkness are swirling more and more. Scrooge lives in Marley's old home. As he goes to let himself in, he notices the doorknocker as it changes shape into the Marley's head. Scrooge even checks to see if Marley's ponytail is sticking out the back of the door. Let's talk about how Dickens layers the suspense once Scrooge reaches the front door. Imagine yourself alone going home and having the following happen: 1. Marley's head on the door 2. The lights flickering 3. Every bell ringing and then suddenly stopping 4. The sounds of chains being dragged up the steps 5. The sound of the cellar door flying open 6. More chains dragging 7. The appearance of Marley Can you imagine? I would have perished right then! Heaven help me! Scrooge refuses to believe what he is seeing. After all there is more "gravy than grave" about Marley. How does he manage to keep some sarcastic humor in the midst of all of this? Well, he does until Marley unwraps the bandage around his head and his chin hits his chest. You know what the wrapping was for right? After dying sometimes a dead person's mouth would be open. If rigor mortis had set in the jaw was broken and a cloth wrapped around to hold the mouth in a more desirable position. Finally Scrooge believes! So why is Marley there? He has been sent to warn Scrooge of his greedy, selfish, uncaring ways. Every one of Marley's links has been forged due to his self focused ways. Scrooge, of course, is still living, and his chains are accumulating greater lengths than Marley's. Marley tells Scrooge he will be visited by 3 ghosts. As he opens the window to depart, we get a glimpse of all the spirits roaming the earth that never stopped to care for another human being. In fact, we get a very moving picture of a ghost wailing as it looks at a mother and child in need and cannot help them. Whew! That was a lot wasn't it?! I'll have Stave 2 up in just a bit on its own post! Comment away on your thoughts and notices throughout this fantastic Stave.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 2 After Scrooge's encounter with Marley it was 2am when he went to bed and fell asleep from exhaustion. As he wakes and listens to his clock chime, he is aware that the clock is chiming midnight. My daughter laughingly pointed out to me Scrooge's reasoning for this, an icicle in the works. He waits, he listens, he looks. No ghost. Relief floods his body and he lays down. All the sudden his mind announces to his body that Marley specifically said a visit would happen at 1, and as the clock strikes 1 our adventure continues. Again Dickens rewards us with a detailed description. This ghost is a bit of a mystery. Part child, yet like an old man. White, long hair, yet skin as smooth as a youth's. Long muscular arms, yet delicate feet. Wearing a dress of summer flowers, yet holding holly in its hand. Why the opposites? This ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge's youth, yet now Scrooge is an old man, so the two parts of him are acknowledged in the ghost's makeup. The one thing that is so important to note is that out of the ghost's head a light shines, like a candle or flashlight. It is there to light up Scrooge's past and help him remember some of the things that made him into the person he is today. However, remember, that the ghost carries a cap, an extinguisher, under its arm, what we would call a candle snuffer. Scrooge begs the ghost to put on its cap, to which the ghost replies that its enough that he forces it to wear it continually all ready. In other words, Scrooge does everything he can to forget his past, but tonight, the cap is removed and memories are remembered. Out the window they go despite Scrooge's misgivings. The first stop is Scrooge's boarding school. Now, I'm not going to retell the story, but we see a little boy left here by his father over the holidays. As his younger self we see him surrounded by the characters from his books. Surprisingly, it is here that we see Scrooge's first melting of an internal icicle. He wishes he had not mistreated the boy who came to his door caroling. Then, we meet Scrooge's sister Fanny. Fanny the peacemaker, who asks her unkind father if Scrooge can come home for good. We are starting to see some of Scrooge's formation beginning with his upbringing and father. Dickens goes on to reveal to us that Fanny died in childbirth, the birth of Scrooge's nephew. We leave and travel on. Old Fezziwig and his generous Christmas party, I think you probably get the gist of this. Note that when the ghost sarcastically remarks about what a little thing the party is to make folks so thankful, Scrooge is quick to correct it. Fezziwig, as the boss, had the power to make his employees "happy or unhappy" to make their work " light or burdensome." The happiness he gave was worth a fortune! Can we just pause a moment and realize that our WORDS are IMPORTANT! Scripture reminds us that "life and death is in the power of the tongue!" Take a moment and reflect on Bob Cratchit and Scrooge's treatment of him. Remember Scrooge has extinguished his past memories. He doesn't reflect on the things that brought him joy and meaning, but after seeing this he desires to speak to Bob. Scrooge's icicles continue to drip. One more stop - a scene between Scrooge and his fiancee, Belle. She is in the process of releasing him. Dickens tells us that greed is already settled in his eyes. That idol and the pursuit of it has replaced his love for this young woman, so she sorrowfully lets him go. The Spirit shows Scrooge a scene of how her life turned out. As Scrooge sat in his office after Marley's death, she is in the midst of a delightful and affectionate home life. Gobs of children, a husband who loves her, warmth and joy from living beings. While Scrooge clings to his cold, heartless riches. Scrooge can bear no more of the self-examination. He grabs the extinguisher and snuffs the light of the past out. Again he falls asleep. As we leave Stave 2, I want to encourage you to look at the hardened spots of your life. We all have them. I'm not going to give you a ten step plan for release, but can I humbly suggest, to myself as well, that we open our hands to the Heavenly Father and allow Him to soften the crusty, hard places. I may not know your name or your situation, but I am lifting you to the Heavenly Father this week in prayer! Blessings!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- STAVE 3 Scrooge is learning. He's not going to be caught unaware this time with the next ghost. He flings open the bed curtains and waits. The bell strikes one. Nothing. He begins to shake. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes go by and still nothing appears. Have mercy, where is the Ghost? Then his attention is arrested by a light from under a door across the room. Did he leave a light on? Leaving the comfort of his bed, he drags his feet across the floor, and stretches out his hand to turn the knob. As he does so, a deep, jolly voice calls out, "Scrooge, enter!" Willing his fingers to obey, he turns the knob and enters a room that he knows as a part of his home, but no longer recognizes. So begins Stave 2. Dickens again blesses us with a vivid description of our ghostly visitor. He is a giant of a man, sitting on mounds of food and plenty. He is joyful and happy and the room reeks of Christmas and feasting. In his hand he bears a torch of sorts. (We will discuss this later.) The biggest oddity of the whole scene is the empty scabbard and the rusted sheath. Why is our ghost wearing these pieces that seem so out of place? It is because Christmas present is a time of no war. Peace is in the air. Our ghost says something odd. He has more than 1800 brothers. What? That's because of the amount of Christmas's that have gone before this present one. We are in the 1800s and it is now his turn. The Ghost instructs Scrooge to take his robe. The room disappears and in its place is Christmas morning outside. Everything is dingy, dirty, and gray, but the overall attitude of the people is one of cheer. As the ghost travels among the people, especially the poor ones, he sprinkles a sort of Christmas joy incense on them from his torch. If bickering is happening it immediately stops and is replaced with wishes of a Merry Christmas! Did you catch the beautiful descriptions of the shops: the grocers', the poulterers', and so on? The paragraphs are overflowing with similes and personifications. The text is delightful to read! It reminds me of the magic of my childhood when Christmas decorations used to feel like they poured out of the stores there were so many! Our first official stop is the Cratchit home where Dickens informs us that poor Bob makes a mere 15 bob a week in salary. Mrs. Cratchit is wearing a dress that has been "twice turned out." That means its been taken apart twice at the seams and turned inside out to the freshest parts of the fabric and resown. Their meal is a pittance compared to what we would consider a festive meal, and yet they celebrate! Despite their poor station in life, this family is rich in their love for each other. However a shadow lingers in the scene. We get a glimpse of foreshadowing as Bob holds onto Tiny Tim's "withered little hand, as if he loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he might be taken from him." Scrooge notices this and questions the Ghost on if Tiny Tim will live. The Ghost replies that he sees an empty seat and an unused crutch. If these things do not change, none of "his race" (remember his brothers) will see him. But it really doesn't matter right? After all, Scrooge told the men collecting for the poor in Stave 1 so what if the poor die. It just decreases the overpopulation. Scrooge hangs his head in grief at his own words. The last bit to note in this scene is that despite Scrooge's mistreatment of Bob, Bob toasts him. I really see myself in Mrs. Cratchit's eyes as she flies off the handle at Bob. How can he say that? They leave the Cratchit's home and go to Scrooge's nephew's where another joyful celebration exists. Scrooge joins in the games even when he's the joke of one. Amazingly, we see that both Bob and Scrooge's nephew have an appreciation for the crotchity old man. Our ghost grows old as Christmas day comes to an end. He has one more thing to show Scrooge. He pulls back his robe and two children are sheltered underneath. Their names are Want and Ignorance and they symbolize the poor and how they have been forgotten by society. The bell strikes twelve. The Ghost of Christmas Present disappears and a shadowy figure makes its appearance.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 4 This Phantom, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, causes Scrooge the greatest unease. The air of mystery, the lack of speech, the black garment, the outstretched hand with the finger that continually propels Scrooge forward in the future. But why no speech? Why no face? Possibly because the events are not written in stone yet. They are on course in certain directions, but they are not finalized. From our first stop we know someone has died. The men discussing the person's death are crass. They are only interested in who has gained the dead person's money and if a meal will be served at the funeral. The spirit points to another couple of men. Scrooge recognizes these two as men he tried to impress in life. They mention the death but quickly move on to a more serious conversation- skating. Why is the spirit showing him these things Scrooge wonders. Still he pays attention as he knows there must be some importance to them, but he doesn't understand. They pass Scrooge's place of business. It's his normal work time, but a stranger stands in his place, but the spirit doesn't stop there. The purpose of that is just a glance on the way to another destination. A shop of thievery and ill-repute. Scrooge is horrified as he hears the conversation of 3 people that have stolen goods from around a dead person's room and off the body directly and are attempting to sell them to a pawn type shop. There was no one to watch over the body, to protect it, to safeguard the personal effects. No one cares. Then the spirit takes Scrooge directly into the room where the dead man lays. Dickens gives us this marvelous personification of Death. However, from this man no good deeds were done to make his memory live on in the minds of men. The spirit urges Scrooge to pull down the cover and see who lays beneath, but Scrooge cannot bring himself to. Scrooge begs to see someone that mourns this man. One couple is found, but as Scrooge finds out they don't miss the man. They celebrate the fact that his death gives them a few more days to be able to pay their debts they owed him. The Ghost leaves this home and they travel the streets to the Cratchit's. Tiny Tim is dead. The whole family mourns. Last stop - the graveyard. Dickens tells us that the burial place choked with weeds and packed full was the worthy resting place of this unmourned man. Scrooge begs the Spirit to reassure him that what he is about to look at is not set in stone. Scrooge pleads with the Spirit and tells him he has mended his ways. He will remember and honor the past, present, and the future, and the lessons they have taught. Still he must glance upon the headstone of the man, and, of course, it is him. He grabs the Spirit's hand trying to imprison the pointing finger. The Spirit disappears and his bedpost stands in its place. While we should not live our lives always wondering what others think of us in a performance- type way, we do need to take a moment at the end of this stave and ask ourselves what type of legacy we are leaving for others? Have we made a difference in people's lives? Have we been a beacon of light sharing Christ's love and care to others. Will we genuinely be missed when we cease to breathe upon this earth anymore? We have one precious lifetime to live, and as I close my book on this stave tonight I am asking myself if it is a life often lived for the betterment of others or myself?

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 5 And so Scrooge wakes up in his own bed and has a chance to live a different life. He doesn't know how much time has been lost, what day it is, anything. It doesn't matter. He is alive and has a chance to redeem his life. Let's pause a moment and take care of some literary business before we dive completely into the meaning of this last stave. Did you note the similes in the chapter - "light as a feather," "happy as an angel," " merry as a school boy," " giddy as a drunken man." The onomatopoeia. Clash! Clang! Ding! Dong! and so on. Foreshadowing - "no fog. No  mist." The darkness is gone. We end the book with a reverse of our first chapter. The boy comes first. I don't know for sure that it was the same boy, but I'm going to do a "Sarah Guess" that it was. Scrooge engages the "delightful boy's" help in securing a huge turkey for the Cratchit family. Then Scrooge dresses himself in his finest and goes out. He runs into one of the gentlemen that attempted to collect money for the poor. He generously donates to those in need. Then it's off to his nephew's home where he spends a delightful Christmas day. And what of Bob Cratchit and his family? Why Scrooge raises his wages and makes his working conditions better. He becomes a benefactor to Tiny Tim who lives! And Scrooge was said to have kept Christmas well from them on. So what does it mean to keep "Christmas well?" Is the "spirit" of Christmas something that should be kept only during a certain time of the year? I am reminded in the scriptures of how the Israelites were commanded to place memorial stones to remember times that God fulfilled His promises. Christmas is a time that should help us remember how our attitude should be year round. A remembrance of the Christ child and what He came to do, a remembrance of generosity and kindness to others, a remembrance of joy in the bleak, cold winter. So what do I think the Christmas Carol ultimately speaks to us? Three words - REDEMPTION, HOPE, and CARE. If you have breath in your body, you have a chance of REDEEMING your life no matter what your past is. You have a HOPE for a different present and future than the one you are currently living if changes need to be made. This is possible only through the gift that Christ gave us by dying in our place. Oh, Joy! Oh, Happy Day! The third word, CARE, is what we need to do for our fellow man. We are all journeying together in this life. We all know people who have needs around us whether it's in monetary form, companionship, or ultimately being a light that points them to Christ. Stop a moment and CARE about your fellow man with the love of Christ this Christmas and New Year. Blessings to you all, and a VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!