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Vacation Rental - Grand-Island, NY 14072 - Real Estate Video Tour

Filmed this place last Thursday. It gets my vote for our family reunion next summer (or winter for that matter). Would also make an exceptional Christmas gift ;-)

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Church was cancelled today, but Tim Hortons was open. So after some Jehovah Java we went home. The girls frolicked in the snow, the first time they've had the joy of snow in their boots in almost three years.

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If you can spare 15 or 20 minutes, listen to this presentation by Evelyn Glennie. You may never listen to music, or people, the same way again. (from TED)

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Lynn and I saw her (formerly known as Jane Siberry) last night at Hugh's Room in Toronto, and were absolutely blown away. She sang this song, and was accompanied by Tim Ray and Adrienne Pierce as well. I don't think I've ever heard anyone so completely embodied in their music and lyrics. If you ever get the chance, go see her. Just listening doesn't do her justice; Issa is an experience. Also cool: she uses predetermined pricing for her albums (you pay what you think they're worth), and she offers a dozen free tickets to all of her concerts (available online at www.sheeba.ca).

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Last night I listened to Carey Nieuwhof's message on the lunacy of what Christmas has become. We celebrate Jesus' birth, by any measure an event immersed in poverty, by spending crazy money (by Carey's research $750 per person) at 18% interest (on the unpaid balance, of course). It's not a new phenomenon. I'm pretty sure my parents spent more than they should have to make Christmas memorable for us back in the day.

Since our return from the DR we've tried to keep things simple, and our finances have made this easier. But once again I'm reminded how far we've drifted from the simplicity of the manger. How would Jesus celebrate his birthday? If His advent was a mission of mercy, maybe we should take that as our impetus and do likewise.

Our small group was planning a Christmas party, complete with games and eggnog. Rather than do the usual, we've opted to take our fun, food and games to the shelter here in town and "share the joy". Sounds like a party Jesus would attend, doesn't it?

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