Wednesday's Hodge Podge Direct to You from Knoxville

Today's Wednesday Hodgepodge, hosted by Joyce From this Side of the Pond, this is our last one for 2010. Joyce is traveling next week, so she's taking a break until January 5.  I don't know about you guys but I will miss next having one next week.  Think about your own answers and enjoy mine.
1. Share your Christmas Eve traditions.  Up until this year we have always had Christmas brunch at either my house or Amanda's....followed by Dirty Santa.  It is so much fun.  For years our mothers did Thanksgiving and then we girls did Christmas.  This year we are having dinner at Amanda's on Christmas night....and RANDY is going to get to be there.  We are so excited!  We did not believe this would happen.  Prayers have been going up so fervently....and God was definitely listening.
2. What was the best book you read in 2010? (we're not going to include The Bible here).  I am a voracious reader and have read probably 50+ books this year....but my favorite(s) would be:  Same Kind of Different As Me (Ron Hall et al.) and the Hat Box (Patsy Clairmont)
3. Do you have pets and if so do you allow them on the furniture?  We have a doxie named Beau....and as for ALLOW on the furniture....well he ALLOWS us to live in his house.  Nuff said?
4. What event from 2010 are you most thankful for?  Randy at the treehouse for Christmas!
5. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before.  Went to Michigan and moved into a parsonage.
6. Brussel sprouts...friend or foe?  Foe....brussel sprouts should be abolished from the face of the earth.  They stink cooking and they taste terrible.
7. Who would you nominate for man/woman of the year?  Beth Moore
8. Insert your own random thought here.  What is your favorite winter/Christmas poem?  Why?  Mine is In the Bleak Midwinter.  I love it because it is so touching.  I hope you enjoy it.  Happy Wednesday!

1. In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan, 
 earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; 
 snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, 
 in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2. Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; 
 heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. 
 In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed 
 the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. 

3. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, 
 cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; 
 but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, 
 worshiped the beloved with a kiss. 

4. What can I give him, poor as I am? 
 If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; 
 if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; 
 yet what I can I give him:  give my heart.