Jesse Tree Advent Devotional Craft for Christmas

A Jesse Tree is a popular Catholic and Protestant Christian devotion during Advent. The Bible activity tracks teh lineage of Jesus. Here's the verse 'And a shoot shall spring forth from the stump of Jesse: a branch out of his roots.' Isaiah 11:1. This Biblical passage from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah is foretelling the coming of a new branch in the family tree of King David. Jesse was the father of David. David was the king of Israel during her Golden Age. After Solomon, David's son died, the kingdom fell to quarreling and heathen practices. The two kingdoms finally split and ultimately were carried off into slavery by a succession of eastern rulers from Assyria, Babylon, Media and Persia. Read onJesse Tree Advent Devotional Craft

Birthday Depression, Respect Don't Shame the Birthday Girl

Today is my husband’s 50th birthday. They announced it at work last night. Then they displayed it on the “propaganda monitor” as he calls it. He'd asked them not to, but apparently, that was too much to ask. Co-workers mentioned it. One sang to him. Some guys teased him about his age, calling him “old man.” Some good things, some not so much--he hated it all and said so. Some people didn't understand.  I'm writing this to help raise awareness on birthday depression, where it comes from and how to respectfully celebrate someone's special day.
Birthday Depression--Respecting Personal Birthday Wishes, Preferences

Grand Rapids ArtPrize is Great But I Have Some Concerns

ArtPrize is a huge, outdoor public-juried art show and contest downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. I go every year because I love art. And it brings people to the state. And it attracts a diverse mix of interesting artisans. But I've got a few issues with the concept of Artprize.

First, artists shouldn't have to compete for prize money. It degrades and commercializes. It makes art competitive instead of collaborative. Artists who might normally be mutually supportive, end up behaving in tacky, mercenary ways. Like the conclave we overheard kvetching at the Amway Grand. They'd made it to top 25 and it was like they felt they didn't have to be nice anymore. They were very condescending, criticizing people for only checking out the top 25. These were the ones who voted them to top 25 and whom they should be thanking.  Others hawked their art like popcorn sellers. One said said he was "praying" for votes. Well, I guess you would if winning was the ultimate goal. Which it should not be with art. This kind of attitude won't get my vote, well, it wouldn't have if I could have voted which is my next beef. Read on. ArtPrize 2013 Frustrations and Fails Photo is my own taken of our favorite 2013 entry Gon Kirin.

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