I really admire SMART Women...

This morning I was watching a news show and got to see Cokie Roberts, very intelligently in my opinion, speak about healthcare and other "hot topics. She is measured and wise, and thinks about things before reacting. She applies history, current context, and looks to the long term ramifications of challenges, and not the "here-and-now" only.

I like Olympia Snow: she's her own person, and she's a hard worker and listens to her constituents. She takes the time and effort to learn what she needs to know and reacts as she sees fit. She doesn't do that based on popularity or polls. She's just "good stock"

I am partial to Peggie Noonan...don't always agree with her, but like her thought process and how she presents herself.

I enjoy having a very smart and centered 1st lady in Michelle Obama.

I think Laura Ingram, Sara Palin, Michelle Bachman (I think that's her name: it's the crazy lady who really just holds rallies and hates everything and everyone pretty much!) are silly. I think they have settled. It's not just enough to work hard, try to understand, disseminate good information with commentary, they have really bought into the whole "look good, sensationalism, rant and rave, media world. They pontificate and rail against everything and everyone pretty much. Think about it: it's easy, and safe! When everyone and everything is pretty much WRONG you've can have easy targets everywhere, and feel good about yourself and all of your "fights" you are fighting. It's a place of passion and quick sound bites...

It takes a lot of maturity and wisdom to not go that easy route. So thanks...to Cokie, Olympia, Peggie and Michelle...thanks for being strong and steady women...may we have more and more of you...and LESS AND LESS of the other...it's exhausting and frankly, depressing!

Certain things consistently arrive in our lives...Christmas time is one of those things. For me, it's a time to reconnect with my faith in a more simple way. It's also a time I enjoy "loving on" my family and friends. The two things are inexplicably linked in my mind, and I can't separate one from the other. So what's comforting at Christmas about these three things (faith, family, and friends)?

Faith = Back to the basics: the God of the entire universe figures out the perfect way to connect to his creation...he comes as a baby! Could he have made himself any more vulnerable? Now that's an action I can be impressed by! Who could've come up with a better plan, story..."way to start a relationship"? How completely cool is it? How could I NOT want to get to know that kind of God?

Family = remembering where I came from: the family I was destined to be in was the one hand-picked for me...not perfect by all means, but just right for a crazy, impetuous, passionate gal who desperately needs unconditional love, and LOTS and LOTS of forgiveness and grace...and people willing to laugh at her (keeps one humble) and with her (keeps one affirmed)...

Friends = special gifts that keep on giving: I have these amazing gifts that have been given to me in the form of people. Each one is such a HUGE,GINORMOUS blessing....were I to unwrap my passel of gifts right now I'd find": laughter, challenge, grace, forgiveness, double-dog dares, stimulating conversation, comfort, peace, joy, helpfulness, tear-sharers, memories, etc. etc.

This has been a really hard year, so the comforts of Christmas mean more than ever!