Hope this brings a smile!  May you love someone like this, and find love like this …

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Over the weekend, my wife, Christy and I took our oldest son to a University of Kentucky basketball game.  Great fun!  They played the Universtity of Tennessee and won the game.  It was my son’s first trip to Rupp Arena, a place of “pilgrimage” for many Kentuckians!

I’ve begun to feel very old with this birthday – can’t believe we’re parents of a pre-teen!  He’s a great young man and I look forward to seeing how God shapes his life over the next few years.

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Some family pictures from the birthday …

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The latest exploits of our family’s labrador retriever, Bella.

Our 9 year old daughter dressed up Bella.  I’m not sure the “look” she was going for!  Notice the belt and purse (top left)!  And then the “close up” with the wig – does she look happy?!  In another “dress up” session, the dog came away with a University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball t-shirt (top right).

Bella has been a pillow for all our kids at one time or another.  Here she is cuddled up with our oldest son (lower left).  Last summer, she entertained us at the lake, chasing sticks and swimming for hours.  And she spent her first Christmas with our family this past year.

“Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” 

- George Eliot

Coming in 2010 to your neighborhood Christian trinket – er, “book” – store:

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It starts for me and my family with a round of hot cocoa and my wife’s homemade fudge on the day after Thanksgiving.  It’s the Christmas-song season!  We put up the tree while listening to favorite songs of the season.  It’s an annual ritual for me to load up all our Christmas albums in iTunes and browse the online store for a new “classic” or two!

So, based on my month-a-year listening, here are 12 of the best Christmas songs ever:

12.  “Little Drummer Boy,” by Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band

11.  “Christmas Eve – Sarejevo 12-24,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

10.  “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee

9. “Sleigh Ride,” by Diana Krall and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

8. “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey

7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Amy Grant

6.  “The Nutcracker Suite,” by The Brian Setzer Orchestra

5.  “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms

4.  “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” by Andrew Peterson

3.  “Face of Love,” by Jewel

2.  “Cool Yule,” by Louis Armstrong and the Commanders

1.  “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home),” by U2

Some traditional carols and a few modern tunes in my list … and coming in at #1 is the song I’ve been loving this season – U2.  Although Jewel’s “Face of Love” is powerful and Louis Armstrong is never a bad choice!

So, what do you think?  What have I missed?  Any that you’d add to the list?

Last week was my worst week of the season, barely above .500 with a record of 7-6 on my picks.  After that pitiful showing, I’m determined to step it up this week!

I love the Thursday night games, though kicking off with the Bears and Forty-Niners isn’t the greatest.  But I’m happy these Thursday night games are back – any NFL match-up is better than regular TV programming!

My Cowboys pulled off a big win last week and if they can go up to Green Bay and take care of business, I think they’re going to be in charge of the division, because I see the Eagles losing at San Diego.  Looking forward to the Sunday night game – I enjoy the “new” rivalry of Colts v. Patriots – hoping for an entertaining one there.  And as good as the Sunday nighter promises to be, the Monday nighter is just as lame … Ravens v. Browns = yuck!

Any games catch your eye this weekend?  Would love to see your picks in the comments below …

Chicago at San Francisco  —  SF

Detroit at Minnesota  —  MIN

Denver at Washington  —  DEN

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh  —  PIT

Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets  —  NYJ

New Orleans at St Louis  —  NO

Buffalo at Tennessee  —  TEN

Tampa Bay at Miami  —  MIA

Atlanta at Carolina  —  CAR

Kansas City at Oakland  —  OAK

Dallas at Green Bay  —  DAL

Seattle at Arizona  —  ARI

Philadelphia at San Diego  —  SD

New England at Indianapolis  —  IND

Baltimore at Cleveland  —  BAL

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OK friends, my latest attempt at displaying prognosticating prowess(!):

Baltimore at Cincinatti  –  BAL

Miami at New England  –  NE

Washington at Atlanta  –  ATL

Green Bay at Tampa Bay  –  GB

Arizona at Chicago  –  ARI

Houston at Indianapolis  –  HOU

Kansas City at Jacksonville  –  JAC

Carolina at New Orleans  –  NO

Detroit at Seattle  –  SEA

Tennessee at San Francisco  –  SF

San Diego at NY Giants  –  NYG

Dallas at Philadelphia  –  DAL

Pittsburgh at Denver  –  PIT

Just to prove that I pick with my heart, I’m going with Dallas over Philly.  But here’s two reasons why my “head” tells me they can’t win:  1) It’s a Sunday night game with a decent bit of hype – these are the games Dallas doesn’t win in recent years.  Even if it only feels like a “big game,” they lose.  2) Philadelphia’s good – lots o’ weapons on offense.

Another game that catches my eye:  Texans coming into Indy.  Seems like a ripe week for a Colts let-down.  Surely, this is not a team that can go undefeated?  Not sure if it’s this week against the Texans at home, but I think the bubble will be bursting soon.

What do you think about the games this week?  Predictions in the comments …

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Last week I came out with a record of 9 – 4 on my picks.  I’m loving this NFL season!  Interesting story lines and surprising teams.  Big question this week: will the Denver Broncos remain undefeated?  Methinks: ‘no’ – picking them to lose at Baltimore.

Any games stand out for you this week?  Share it below in the comments.  Also, would love to see your picks for this week’s games.

Houston at Buffalo  —  BUF

Cleveland at Chicago  —  CHI

Seattle at Dallas  —  DAL

St. Louis at Detroit  —  DET

Denver at Baltimore  —  BAL

San Francisco at Indianapolis  —  IND

Miami at NY Jets  — NYJ

NY Giants at Philadelphia  —  PHI

Jacksonville at Tennessee  —  TEN

Oakland at San Diego  —  SD

Carolina at Arizona  —  ARI

Minnesota at Green Bay  —  GB

Atlanta at New Orleans  —  NO

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After six weeks of picking winners in the weekly professional tackle football match-ups, I have a rather pedestrian record of 56 – 34.  Started out so well!

Last week, I got to watch the games in a pretty stress-free state-of-mind because my ‘Boys were on a bye week.  This week, their back in action against Atlanta in the cozy little arena they just built in Dallas(!).  My heart says pick the Cowboys – and that’s what I’ve done – but my head is telling me something else …

What about you?  What game catches your eye this week?  Pick one game or pick ‘em all in the comments below.

Indianapolis at St. Louis  —  IND

New England at Tampa Bay  —  NE

Green Bay at Cleveland  —  CLE

Minnesota at Pittsburgh  —  PIT

San Francisco at Houston  —  SF

San Diego at Kansas City  —  SD

Buffalo at Carolina  —  CAR

NY Jets at Oakland  —  NYJ

Atlanta at Dallas  — DAL

New Orleans at Miami  —  NO

Chicago at Cincinnati  —  CIN

Arizona at NY Giants  —  NYG

Philadelphia at Washington  —  PHI

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Time for a (folk-driven) invitation to breathe.

Really breathe!

Any day with a Lost Dogs song is a better day …!

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