I must have one of those dresses!

Day 3: WHITE CHRISTMAS
I have to say that I came to this one later in my life. I can't remember the first time I saw it, but I know I was in my mid to late 20's. I love the song White Christmas, and nobody sings it like Bing, but I had never seen the film. This has everything a movie musical could have. Great music, great dancing, beautiful costumes! Put together a powerhouse cast of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, and how can you go wrong? There are no surprises here, it's your classic movie musical plot. Bing (Bob Wallace) and Danny (Phil Davis) meet while serving together in WWII. They form an entertainment partnership, along their travels they meet the Haynes sisters, Judy, played by Vera Ellen and Betty, played by Rosemary Clooney. The stars align and they end up traveling to an inn in Vermont where the Haynes sisters are booked for the Holidays. Instead of finding beautiful snow covered mountains when they step off the train, it's like springtime, and the inn, that just happens to be run by the boys' old army commanding general, is hurting for business. Now, if you are a movie musical fan, you know the solution to every problem is to put on a show, and that's just what they do. Add to that the classic boy gets girl, girl totally gets the wrong information about something boy does and boy loses girl, boy gets girl back scenario and some great dance and musical numbers, Sisters, The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing, Mandy, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep and Rosemary Clooney does an amazing job on Love, You didn't Do Right By Me, and you have White Christmas! It's not for everybody, but if you're a fan of anything I just mentioned above, you can't miss this one as part of your holiday tradition! Oh, and just to let you know, ever since I saw this film years ago, I have wanted a Christmas dress like the one the Haynes sisters wear in the final number. SIGH....someday!

♫♪ I Fall Asleep Counting My Blessings ♪♫

In recent days I have found myself praying for some very close friends facing major challenges in their life, some  physical, some emotional, all difficult. These people have been on my mind and heart for days. I know that not everyone reading this is a praying person, but I am, and I find that sometimes it is the ONLY thing I can do. Prayer gets a bad rap. So many believe that if they pray for something, and it doesn't happen that their prayer is not being heard or answered. Well, sometimes what we pray for is not what is supposed to be. Now, at this point, some of you are saying, then what is the use of praying? Prayer, for me, is not a time for wishes to be granted, although, there are still many times that I find myself with that list that is more suited to sending to Santa Claus rather than God. Sometimes prayer is just about comfort and guidance, especially in a difficult situation. I do not presume to know all the answers of the universe, which is precisely why I pray. I believe in a God who does. That is comforting to me. One of the situations I am praying for right now is about an infant who is literally fighting for his life. His mother journals about what is going on, and yesterday she said, "Pray for peace." What an incredible faith! Peace may come in many different forms, including the loss of her child, and the human part, the selfish part of us wants that child to stay here with us, no matter what, but staying may mean pain and suffering. I know miracles can happen. I believe that, so please don't take this that I don't have hope, I do. We all do. Hope is something we cling to in the worst of times. It has gotten me through more times than I can count. Praying for others also helps me. I find it comforting that there is a plan, that I am not holding all the cards or controlling the situation. I am able to unburden that, and that is a relief.
All of us go through trials. It is part of life, and there is no comparison when it comes to suffering. I always say suffering is relative. I always hated it, and still do, when I was or am going through something that, to me, was awful, and someone would say that things could be worse, and compare my suffering to someone else's situation that trumped my own. Yes, there are definitely people worse off than I am, but knowing that doesn't make what I'm going through any easier. When I am faced with the hardships that friends and family are enduring, it does make me examine my own life and appreciate the joys and blessings that I do have instead of taking them for granted. In the movie "White Christmas", Bing Crosby sings a song that is exactly what I am talking about. The lyrics are, "When I get worried, and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings." Yes, I have had my share of suffering, but my blessings are abundant. Some of which I would not have had it not been for the suffering, blessings in disguise I guess you could say, and for that I am TRULY grateful!