been thinkin'

i have some holiday thoughts whirling around in my brain these days.  it is just 15 days 'til Christmas, after all.  i thought i'd share with you.  click on the links if you are interested...

every Christmas i love these two Christmas classics.  well, not classics in the "classic" sense, but more "80's" classic...sung by bigtime artists with big hair and crazy lifestyles.  even still, the lyrics are thought provoking.  if only we all (including me...so easily side tracked) considered some of the basic truths in these songs 365 days a year...the first, "Do They Know It's Christmastime" was recorded by Band Aid, the British group Bob Geldof put together in 1984.  members of Band Aid included Bono, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Sting. the single raised about $8 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.  Second, in 1985 the USA For Africa project was inspired by Band Aid.  "We Are The World" was a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $60 million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries.  i've included an updated version of that song, created after the earthquake struck Haiti. wow, are the artists ever varied and talented~ some people can really sing!!  Wyclef Jean is Haitian, so it's fitting that he closes the song.  anyway, these songs touch me.  maybe in part because of the era they symbolize, but even more because of their relevance today.

finally, thinking about these families, this town, this tragedy.  still so raw, still so broken.  pray for Newtown this weekend...

on a happy note, did you hear about this? seems to be all over the news. call it shameless advertising, call it genius marketing, but whatever you call it, i still find it incredibly sweet and soooo fun. i wish i worked for WestJet and had been part of pulling off this Christmas surprise. pretty brilliant, i'd say...

now, off to work on making supper...