New Year's Bell

Sabang City on Weh Island in Aceh – the only region in Muslim-majority Indonesia that has implemented Sharia law – has banned residents from celebrating the new year. “Irresponsible” activities such as those involving air horns, noise makers or fireworks are strictly forbidden. Tourists and other visitors are included in the prohibition. Sabang’s Mayor Nazaruddin offered this clarification: “We are not banning local or international tourists coming to Sabang. We would be happy if Sabang was crowded with tourists. But we expect incoming tourists to adapt to the customs and cultures of Sabang City.” The city is even barring Islamic activities such as zikir (chants praising God), yasinan (Quran recitals), tausiyah (sermons) and similar activities on New Year's Eve as it would make it feel as if the Gregorian New Year celebration was allowed in Islam. Luckily, I don’t live in Sabang, and I don’t intend to visit. I’ll just wish you a happy new year from here.

Double Dutch

“I ask anew the question offered by Pilate two thousand years ago, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22) Indeed, we need continually to ask ourselves, ‘What shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ? What shall we do with his teachings, and how can we make them an inseparable part of our lives?’ In light of these questions, at this season we ask another: ‘What does Christmas really mean?’ May I suggest some things that it should mean? Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship. There is more to Christmas than neckties, earrings, toys, and all the tinseled stuff of which we make so much.” - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Sunlight and Shadow

One tree can start a forest.

One smile can begin a friendship.

One hand can lift a soul.

One word can frame a goal.

One candle can wipe out darkness.

One laugh can conquer gloom.

One hope can raise your spirits.

One touch can show you care.

One life can make a difference.

Be that One today.

-          Source unknown

Four Inch Flying Dutchman

We’ve been so preoccupied with all our holiday preparations, it went unnoticed. Winter solstice slipped by about a week ago. That means we’ve at least another 83 days of ice and snow ahead before the spring equinox. Here are a few quotes to help us plow through:

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.’” – Lewis Carroll

“People don’t notice whether it’s spring or winter when they’re happy.” – Anton Chekov

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” – Hal Borland

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” – Percy Bysshe Shelley

Log Cabin Star

Jack and Emily Jokinen live in Philadelphia with their month-old daughter Johanna and a yellow dog named George. In the wee hours of the morning two Saturdays ago, Emily woke Jack to tell him there was a second dog in the house. The windows and doors were all locked. Was this dog some sort of magician? Jack checked footage from his security camera and found he hadn’t completely shut the front door after walking George the night before. The door had blown open, and a good Samaritan passing by had shut it. But while it was open, an injured and emaciated pup had limped inside. The Jokinens took her to a vet to check for a microchip. When they found she didn’t have one, they decided to keep her and name her Suzy. “Of all the bad things that could happen when your front door is left open, to end up with a sweet dog who just needs a good home, I mean, wow.”

Nine Santa Stars

The columnist Gladys Bagg Taylor once said, “Christmas is a bridge. We need bridges as the river of time flows past. Today's Christmas should mean creating happy hours for tomorrow and reliving those of yesterday.” When I make Grandma’s popcorn balls or divinity and when I hang the Christmas stocking my mother knitted for me, I know Gladys was right. When I smell gingerbread cookies or ham baking in the oven, it instantly brings back the Christmases of my childhood. For the past few Friday mornings KSL has been running snippets from Yogi Yorgesson’s “I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas,” and I’m reminded of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s laughter. Dean Martin’s “The Christmas Blues” was another of their favorites, along with almost anything sung by Bing Crosby. I watch my grandkids enjoying the holiday season, and I can’t help but wonder. Which of the traditions of Christmas will they remember and cherish? Which will they try to pass on to their grandchildren?

Cloverleaf

I love the smell of holiday candles – in the store. Somehow when I get them home and finally get around to lighting them, they’re not quite the same. If I really want my house to smell like Christmas, I bake something. Or I load my slow cooker with something like this:

  

Holiday Potpourri

  

1 cup fresh cranberries

3 tangerines, halved

3 whole cinnamon sticks

Star anise (This has a strong black licorice smell. If you don’t like that, skip it.)

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1-inch piece fresh ginger

1 tablespoon vanilla bean

1 small branch fresh pine (You can grab a twig from a Christmas tree lot.) 

1 cup apple cider

Place all ingredients in slow cooker; add enough water to fill 2/3 of the way up. Cover and cook on low four to eight hours. You can let it cool at night and reheat in the morning, if you don’t let the water level get too low.