A Prayer for the New Year of 2020

A Prayer for the New Year of 2020

By Jean Lee

I pray that no one feels pushed around or left out in their lives;   

    I hope there’ll certainly be the moments they feel their passion respected.


I pray that I’m willingly spare a minute or two to hear my friends and give them high-fives;

    I hope they remember we are always connected.







I pray the crispy air at dawn fills me with brand new hopes for another given day;

    I hope I’ll still pat on my back even if the time is not as meaningful or fruitful as expected.


I pray I always look inside of me and give any pain some leeway;

    I hope every little scab will not be neglected, but rather be protected.







I pray day-to-day smiles and laughter will strongly pave the way for bigger bunch of happiness;

   I hope daily navigation in life will bring me and my friends unshattered wisdom.


I pray by the end of this year, I will write Christmas cards only filled with sweetness;

   I hope those who get my cards will also be singing a song of freedom.

Quotes about Christmas

Is Christmas your favorite time of the year? With all big words or expressions pushed aside, let us just read some quotes about Christmas this week.

Quotes about Christmas

  “Christmas gift suggestions:  To your enemy, forgiveness.  To an opponent,    tolerance.   To a friend, your heart.   To a customer, service.  To all, charity.   To every child, a good example.   To yourself, respect.”  ….Oren Arnold

  “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” …. Charles Dickens from “Christmas Carol”

  “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” …..Edna Ferber

  “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more.” ….Theodor Seuss Geisel from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

  

  “Just remember the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” … The Polar Express

  “We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” …Laura Ingalls Wilder

  “Let’s be naughty and save Santa the trip.”…. Gary Allan

  “Christmas: the only time of year you can sit in front of a dead tree eating candy out of socks.”… Anonymous

  “Santa knows when I’m sleeping. He knows when I’m awake. He knows if I’ve been good or bad. I find that rather creepy.”…..Anonymous

  “I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying 'toys not included. The good news is, they can be used with practically any toy (sold separately, of course).' ” …Bernard Manning.

  “I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.” …Shirley Temple

Word Puzzle from NPR Sunday On-Air Challenge (Dec 8th, 2019)

This week presents the NPR (National Public Radio)’s Sunday Word Puzzle (that was aired on December 8^th, 2019) on my ESL blog. Every answer is a word, name or phrase in which the only consonants are B and L, repeated as often as necessary. All the other letters are vowels.

Ex. Tell a secret --> BLAB

1. Holy book à _________________

2. Reason why you couldn't have committed the crime à ______________________

3. Record company à ___________________

4. "The Hobbit" hero ___ Baggins

5. Tower of _________________

6. Talk rapidly and foolishly à _________________

7. Move up and down, as a doll's head à _________________

8. Air-filled sphere sometimes made by soap à _______________

9. Legally obligated à ______________

10. Spanish explorer who discovered by Pacific in 1513 à _________________

11. Woodcutter who foiled 40 thieves (two words) à ______________

12. Victim of written defamation à _________________

13. Singer Patti with the 1975 #1 hit "Lady Marmalade" à __________________

14. What you might get once a month for heating your home (two words) à __________________

15. Like the hours that a lawyer charges for à ________________

Answer Keys

      

   1.  Bible

   2.  alibi

   3.  label

   4.  Bilbo

   5.  Babel

   6.  babble

   7.  bobble

   8.  bubble

   9.  liable

   10.   Balboa

   11.   Alibaba

   12.   libelee

   13.   Labelle 

   14.   oil bill

   15.  billable