The Twelve Days of Christmas

I received an email at work this week that I found very interesting, and I wanted to share. If you are like me, when you hearing the carol, the Twelve Days of Christmas, you probably cringe, and promtly tune out -- or change the channel. Well, the email I received had some interesting information about this traditional Christmas carol that I thought might help you to rethink your response to this particular song.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to Practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for the young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning, the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember:

1. The partridge in a pear tree was a symbolic representation of Jesus Christ.

2. The two turtle doves were a representation of the Old, and the New Testaments.

3. The three french hens represented the three foundations of belief: Faith, Hope, and Love.

4. The four calling birds were a reminder of the four Gospels of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

5. The five golden rings are the anchor of the religious law, the Torah's first five books: Genesis, Exodous, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

6. The six laying geese were a reminder of the six days in which God created the heavens, and the Earth.

7. The seven swimming swans represented the gifts of the Spirit, specifically: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

8. The eight milking maids were a reminder of the beatitude teachings of Jesus Christ.

1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kindom of heaven."

2. "Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

3. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth."

4. "Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

5. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

6. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

7. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

8. "Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

9. The nine dancing ladies is a reminder of the nine fruits of the spirit, as taught by Paul: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

10. The ten leaping lords represent the Ten Commandments.

11. The eleven leaping lords represented the eleven faithful apostles.

12. The twelve drummers drumming are a reminder of the twelve points of belief as found in the apostles creed.

Job Applications, Interviews, and Chaos

Most of you are aware that things have been changing in the clerical department of the District Courts. This is the result of a lot of time and money invested by an independent agency, hired by the State, to come in and see what needed to be done to improve the retention of employees for the Courts. While money was a huge factor, there were many other concerns that they identified as well. There was a lot of debate, and things have been crazy here at work for the last several months -- due to all the anticipation of if the Courts were going to put a new system in place for the clerical department or not. As is par for the course with government, these changes have been slow in coming, and have had to go through a lot of red tape before being authorized for implementation.

Three weeks ago, the Courts did decide to move forward, and restructured the entire clerical department, including management. This meant that everyone would have to reapply for their positions, if they wanted to be considered for management positions. I am sure you are aware that I was in this application process, and that these applications, and interviews took place over the last couple of weeks. It has been a lot of confusion, stress, and worry, and many people at work have been having a hard time with these new changes.

On Wednesday, the new management positions were announced here at the court. As many of you have already heard, I did receive one of these new management positions, and I couldn't be happier. While this will bring change -- (not the least of which is no longer having to work at Walmart!) -- it will also bring new challenges and opportunities.

Thank you to all of you for your patience with me during this difficult time. I know I have been on edge, and the stress I have been experiencing has been tremendous. I could not have endured all of these shifts without my friends, and most importantly my family! Thank you so much for standing by me, and lending me your strength and support. It is greatly appreciated.

Thanksgiving -- My gratitude and Memories

With the arrival of the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts have once again returned to to center of my Turkey day memories -- and to the things that I am grateful for the most. Thanksgiving has always been synonymous with Grandma Armstrong -- and I will always make that association. Though she has been gone for a few years, never does she live on stronger than at this time of year. My Thanksgiving memories all revolve around Grandma Armstrong -- and the dinner that was a major an event that took at least a week to prepare. Without fail this dinner entailed the formal china, which once belonged to my great-grandmother -- her mother -- and is now close to 200 years old. And then there was the crystal, and the silver. The silver was polished a week before Thanksgiving, and that was about the time my complaining began. I hated polishing the silver. every little crevice, nook, and cranny -- and not just on the silverware -- but the Turkey platter, and all the serving bowls as well. My grandmother would meticulously plan every little bit of the dinner, and make sure the table looked like a formal, black tie affair.

My mother was usually the on that was on the Turkey detail -- but grandma never allowed anyone else to handle the pumpkin chiffon pie, and the cranberry sauce. One of which (the pie), is my favorite still, to this day, and one (the cranberries), that I could still do without.

Grandma had an old buffet side board cabinet that was used for serving the food, and both it, and the table held long taper candles that were lit just before the dinner was served, and remained burning throughout the whole dinner. The meal was always served on a white table cloth -- and even from my very earliest memories, I remember wondering how she always got it clean -- since we always spilled cranberry sauce on it year after year.

The dinner was a chaotic affair -- as it usually is with children around the table. And grandma spent the entire meal warning us to sit down, and be careful. It is a wonder she never had a heart attack just trying to get through that dinner, without one, or all of us kids bringing down the table, the turkey, or even the entire house.

Once dinner was over, we had the opportunity to sit in grandma's den, and watch the Wizard of Oz -- while the adults ate their pie in peace, and then meticulously cleaned up the mess.

Grandma Armstrong always personified Thanksgiving dinner, and many of the traditions established by her parents, are still carried on today. It is for this reason that I always associate Thanksgiving, with Grandma Armstrong. This meal became a central component of our family life, and eventually turned into Sunday family dinner. Thanksgiving has always been a little bit harder since she has been gone. Probably because all aspects of this meal remind me of her.

As I reflect back on Grandma Armstrong, and all that she did and inspired in my life, I can't help but think of how different things are now that she is gone. But there is so much of her that lives on in the memories, actions, and lives of her loved ones -- those that remember her best. Following her passing, I found in my journal a piece I wrote, and dedicated to her memory. I leave that with you -- as a tribute to one of the greatest women I have ever known. She will always be one of the pillars of my life, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to know her.

The Orchard

I stand at the window,

looking out on the forsaken apple trees;

denuded sentinels protected by faded, fallen foliage.

Behind me whistles an indrawn breath

from the last keeper of a once proud orchard.

Like the wind blowing through the barren branches,

her breath sighs out of the labored, tired lungs.

In the darkness she moves with a quiet rustle of sheets,

shifting in harmony with the dried leaves on the frozen ground.

"If you listen closely -- you'll hear the trees sing."

The words echo in the back of my grieving mind.

Life's Lessons From Walmart

OK -- I JUST COULDN'T RESIST! Sometimes there are moments in life that make you step back and say "what the. . .?" (You fill in the blank.) Most of you are aware that I have a second job, cashiering at Walmart. And I have frequently been asked where I encounter the most unusual situations, and stories; at my primary job with the court, or at Walmart. So, with this question in mind, I decided to share this story -- and let you be the judge.

Last night, a lady and her husband came through one of the lines, with her many kids in tow. Those of you who shop Walmart frequently, know that Walmart is the undesignated zoo for children. This lady had to make a last minute stop at Walmart, to purchase a home pregnancy test, and a box of condoms. My only thought, as this story was being expressed to me is, this is clearly a case of closing the gate, after all the horses have escaped. As the home pregnancy test was scanned, it was noticed that the package was open on one end. Trying to be a a good Walmart employee, and provide outstanding customer service, this observation was brought to the lady's attention. The cashier then asked if she wanted to go get a new box, since boxes are frequently damaged during the shipping process, and often some of these damaged boxes manage to make it to the shelves. The lady promptly replied, with a huge grin on her face that she was already aware the box was open, as she was the one that opened it. She needed to make sure that there wasn't another pregnancy -- before deciding to buy the box of condoms, which would be a waste of money, if she was. So she had taken the pregnancy test -- yes, you guessed it, in the Walmart public restroom, and she was very happy that the test was negative. (Huh? Can you say too much information?) So of course they would have to buy the condoms as well.

Now I ask you -- what do you say to that, and how do you keep a straight face while you are saying it?

"The tragedy today in America is not what becomes of us, but what we become. As Brigham Young used to say, 'if you don't deserve hell and you're sent to hell it doesn't bother you. You just say, I'm in the wrong place; there has been a mistake. It'll be corrected, I don't belong here. But if you belong there, thats the sad thing. Then it's what you are. There is the tragedy." -- As recorded by Hugh Nibley.

This is an incredible story about the internal strengh, and fortitude demonstrated by an American serviceman, under the most extreme of conditions. This book gave me a greater appreciation for the difficulties encountered by those called upon, to serve in a time of war.

I have always admired Hugh Nibley, particularly for his ability to speak his mind, without feeling the need to apologize for all of his beliefs, and ideas. His writings are honest, frank, and spoken in a manner that leaves the reader certain of exactly where he stands in his ideals. This book has added a new dimension to my appreciation of one of my favorite LDS authors.

I frequently have problems with religious/inspirational writings because they often come across as so idealized that it is hard to identify with them, as a regular person, with standard weaknesses. This book has added to my appreciation of what it truly means to live a "Christian" life, in an evil world.

War is one of the more destructive elements of our lives, in this world. I have spoken to my mother, who has a horible fear of war -- having raised her children during the majority of the Vietnam War. I don't believe that she is alone in that natural horror towards war, and the results that war brings to the world as a whole.

This book gave me a greater understanding of the difficulties faced by everyday men and women -- when they are thrown into extrodanary circumstances, and they are forced to have to come to terms with surviving those atrocities. They may not have chosen them, but they chose the service that put them in a position to be exposed to them. These are men an women that should be honored, respected, and given the highest regard that this nation has to offer. They were willing to sacrifice their lives -- not only literally, but mentally, emotionally, and figuratively because they believed in the cause they stood for.

This is a topic that when I talk about it, I always feel like I am doing lip service to a belief that has become antiquated, and even considered unimportant in today's society. But it is these people that continue to service this country, in the most basic, and important means necessary in this country, which reminds me there are others that believe in the basic beliefs this nation is founded on.

Many of us are getting frustrated with politics, and elections, and the course that this country frequently appears to be going. It is more of a popularity contest, than a question of who would be the most beneficial individual for the position. The people we elect to offices, and those that voluntarily go into the service, do exactly that -- they serve their country. It is not a career -- it is a service opportunity -- in an attempt to make this country more than it was before they started. Our goal -- in conjunction with theirs should be to work towards improving this country, building it up, and strengthening it, so it will be better tomorrow than it is today.

In 52 B.C. the Roman Statesman, Marcus Cicero once said, "I did not hesitate to brave the wildest storms and almost the very thunderbolts themselves to protect my countrymen, and, by risking my own life, to win peace and security for the rest. For our country did not give us life and nurture unconditionally, without expecting to receive in return, as it were, some maintenance from us; nor did it engage simply to serve our convenience, providing a safe haven for our leisure and a quiet place for our relaxation. No, it reserved the right to appropriate for its own purpose the largest and most numerous portions of our loyalty, ability, and sagacity, leaving to us for our private use only what might be surplus to its needs."

Service to our country comes in many forms, from service in the military, to holding political office, to the greatest responsibility of all -- that of voting and taking an active part in requiring our government to be responsible to us as a people. This is more than a right -- this is our obligation -- to know what our government officials are doing, in our name -- and speak out when we do not agree with their private agendas. If we fail to do our part, then those that serve, and scrifice so much, do so in vain.

Cicero went on to say, "as if good, brave, and high-minded men could have any stronger reason for entering politics than the determination not to give in to the wicked, and not to allow the state to be torn apart by such people in a situation where they themselves would be powerless to help even if they wished to do so."

In reading this book, I believe that High Nibley believed in these ideals, expressed by Cicero, so long ago. He demonstrated this belief through his service to himself, his family, his country, and his religion. It doesn't matter the denomination, it is time for us to remember what is important to us. For this nation to survive and move forward, we need to quit debating party politics, and start demanding that those who claim to serve this country, do so -- and leave their personal agendas in the background.