Podcasts about twelfth day

"On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Twelve Drummers Drumming ..." sounding out the cadence of what we believe in our lives, the Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle's Creed: 1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. 3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. 5. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7. I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8. The holy catholic Church, 9. The communion of saints, 10. The forgiveness of sins, 11. The resurrection of the body, 12. And life everlasting. The post The Twelfth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

To actually celebrate the Twelfth Day of Christmas may seem strange and overly religious to some, but in a secular age determined to rush past the holy, it's an act of sacred resistance. And the final day of Christmas is a good time to meditate on the Logos in adolescence.

Evening lessons: Psalm 17; Jeremiah 4; Galatians 5.  Hear what is right, O Lord; consider my complaint; hearken to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

Morning lessons: Psalms 12, 13, 14; Genesis 5; John 3:22-36,  Help me, O Lord, for there is no godly one left; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of men.

In the song, on the twelfth days of Christmas, his true love gave to him "12 drummers drumming." But in Catholicism, the twelfth day of Christmas is Epiphany. Among other things, it commemorates the visit of the "magi from the East" to the Christ child and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Greg and Cory discuss the nature, history, and significance of this important feast day. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Twelfth Day of CraftLit (2024) All of CraftLit's Christmas episodes can be found at LINK TO DAY 1 of the Twelve Days of CraftLit— VIDEO: AUDIO ONLY: If you missed the other days, here's a quick directory: DAY 1: DAY 2: DAY 3: DAY 4: DAY 5: DAY 6: DAY 7: DAY 8: DAY 9: DAY 10: DAY 11: DAY TWELVE A Christmas Carol-in prose, being a ghost story of Christmas by Charles Dickens (The original manuscript) narrated by for Part 1 - Staves 1-2 Part 2 - Stave 3 Part 3 - Staves 4-5 _____ Digital Premium Audiobook Shop:  CraftLit's Socials Find everything here:  Join the newsletter: Podcast site: Facebook: Facebook group: Pinterest: TikTok podcast: Spooky Narration: Email: Call and share your thoughts! 1-206-350-1642 SUPPORT THE SHOW! CraftLit App Premium feed  (only one tier available) PATREON:  (all tiers, below) Walter Harright - $5/mo for the same audio as on App Jane Eyre - $10/mo for even-month Book Parties Mina Harker - $15/mo for odd-month Watch Parties All tiers and benefits are also available as —YouTube Channel Memberships —Ko-Fi NEW at CraftLit.com — *Premium SITE Membership*  (identical to Patreon except more of your support goes to the CraftLit Team) If you want to join us for a particular Book or Watch Party but you don't want to subscribe, please use  or CraftLit @ Venmo and include what you want to attend in the message field. Please give us at least 24 hours to get your message and add you to the attendee list. Download the FREE CraftLit App for iOS or Android (you can call or email feedback straight from within the app) Call 1-206-350-1642

For the FINAL RANT...the boys talk about charities, and how important it is to do good, even when it can feel like too much....Then Mike talks about memes.Check Out Our Website!Join our Discord!Check out our Merch Store HERE!Follow us @theneatcast on TikTok!Follow us @neatcastpod on BlueskyFollow us @neatcastpod on Twitter!Follow us @neatcastpod on Instagram!Follow us @theneatcast on Facebook!

Sam has another gift for Jade before Jade pulls the last card of Witchmas.Narrated by Ashley McAnellySupport the showIt's All in the Cards Podcast FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreon

Husbands and cookies are exchanged, to add holiday cheer.Based on a post by SandyMarl, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories. The Chix Annual Christmas Cookie ExchangeMcNally topped off each of the four glasses, then tipped the bottle to her lips to make sure she'd drained the last sweet drop of Gewürztraminer. McNally smacked her lips before inserting her tongue into the brown wine bottle's narrow orifice. "Umm, a sweet little rim job before I recycle this dead soldier," she announced to a kitchen packed with a few of her long-time friends. "This dark guy is so sweet, I just love him," she said as she continued her fellatio pantomime by wrapping her lips around the narrow neck as she encircled her fingers and made a couple of strokes up and down the bottle like she was finishing a masterful blow job.Her friends watched her risqué display and giggled, except for Patricia. Patricia picked through the array of Christmas cookie cutter shapes laid out at the edge of the counter, dropping her eyes as she scolded, "McNally, you should be more thoughtful of Dana. Your tipsy little joke is in poor taste in front of our hostess, especially at this time of year." Patricia meant it as a sobering rebuke, as if any of the girls present needed to be reminded of Dana's recently widowed status, especially around Christmas.McNally pulled the wine bottle's phallic dimensions from her lips, setting it down and turning to Dana, "Oh crap, I'm sorry. You know I had no intention of opening painful memories; I was only trying to lift the holiday spirits with a little bawdy humor... I was just thinking..."Dana turned to McNally, "I know. I know you McNally -- boy do I know you. You're always thinking we Chix should loosen up our inhibitions and take a walk on the steamier side of life; and boy are you always ready with a risqué joke, a steamy story or a naughty pun."Dana broke into a smile, and then spoke to her closest friends, "Hey Chix, you guys are so great! You're the only reason I'm able to get through this time of year. Without y'all, I'd be nothing but a blubbering mess this Christmas. Facing the painful first anniversary of Sander's passing is really hard. It'd be unbearable if I had to go through it alone. The support of my Chix means everything to me right now."Dana forced a cheery voice and continued speaking after dusting the flour off her hands. "I insisted y'all come into my kitchen this year and fill it with holiday cheer, so it'd be like the good times we had before. I want everyone to make a big sugary mess for me to clean up and keep me busy. Our annual Chix Christmas cookie exchange is our tradition; it's now more meaningful to me than ever. I'm dreading the holidays..." Dana paused to collect her emotions before continuing, "... as the holiday season approaches, I fear being all alone, left to deal with the memory of Sander's skiing accident by myself. I need my Chix more than ever right now. I need something to keep my mind from dwelling on the anniversary of the accident."Dana gave a congenial but forced looking smile to the women in her kitchen. "McNally, you go right on giving your Gewurztraminer boyfriend's long, brown glass cock a good sucking, it's fine with me and the rest of these kitchen voyeurs. Keep it up, all of you, be merry and I'll find a way to get by."Annie wiped a tear off her cheek as she stepped to Dana, wrapping her arms and her baggy, ugly Christmas sweater around Dana, managing to get cookie dough crumbs in Dana's hair in the process. Annie hugged Dana tight, embracing her in a prolonged hold to convey her sympathy and shared grief at the loss of Dana's husband last year. Annie teared up again as she remembered gathering with McNally and Patricia to take down the tree and put away all the festive Christmas decorations in Dana's house as Dana planned Sander's funeral.It was all so sad, so hard to deal with. Annie admired McNally's flair to disregard the implicit sadness hanging over their annual Chix Christmas cookie exchange; but didn't want to get between McNally and Patricia as they scuffled over the proper decorum in Dana's kitchen under the circumstances.Annie let go and pulled away from her embrace, and as she did, she gasped, "Oh Dana, I'm sorry. Look what I've done, my dirty apron made a mess on your top. I'm sorry."Dana laughed, "I should've expected this would happen, wearing black when I'm in the middle of a hen party with flour flying all over my kitchen. I thought I'd feel and look slimmer wearing black, a self-deluding effect to counteract my debauched cookie sampling today. I might as well just drop these little Santa cookies down my pants and let 'em stick right there on my hips," smacking her hands on her ass for emphasis.Annie, trying to make up for the accidental flour dusting, began to brush her fingers across Dana's boobs, fussing and worrying she'd ruined Dana's pullover. Dana laughed it off, "Annie, stop fretting, it'll wash out, no problem. Relax. Let's all have a good time making a mess as we bake and decorate our cookies. There's something festive about a busy and messy kitchen. I just love it."McNally watched from the other side of the counter as Annie dabbed and wiped the front of Dana's chest, "I know what you're getting for Christmas - one of those cordless hand vacuums; they market it as a bust duster." Everyone cracked up at McNally's pun, even Patricia.The timer went off; Patricia stepped to the oven to check on the first batch of cookies. She pulled out the cookie sheet and put it on the cooling rack."Those look perfect," Annie announced."They're not perfect until they're decorated," responded Dana. "They're just plain-Jane naked right now. It's our job to get them all dressed up in their Christmas fancy-pants.""Oh, Patricia, can you grab the box of sprinkles and glittery decorating doo-dahs from the cupboard next to the oven?" asked Dana. Patricia set the full box of decorating doo-dahs on the kitchen table.McNally burst into song, "Doo-dah, doo-dah, Camptown ladies sing this song, all the doo-dah day!" McNally's three friends joined in a final chorus, "Doo-dah, doo-dah, all the doo-dah day!""Now things are starting to sound festive," declared Dana as she mixed bowls of red and green frosting. "McNally, there's a bottle of Riesling in the garage fridge -- I know I don't have to ask twice to get you to bring that one in and pour another round."Annie said, "This is sounding and feeling like old times; like back in the beginning when we worked at Dix Chix. Who remembers which of us four started waitressing first at Dix?""Wasn't me," was McNally's contribution from the hallway, "I'm the youngest of the Chix.""It could've been you; you've always had a reputation for starting early McNally," was Patricia's retort.McNally laughed at the ribbing. "I seem to recall that Annie got hired a few days ahead of me.""So, when did we become collectively known as 'The Chix?'" was Dana's follow up question.Annie answered, "It was Patricia. She advertised to all the boys that there were some interesting Chix to be found in the backroom of Dix Chix Family Restaurant after closing. If a boy had the right stuff, he could find his way into the place and get a few drinks, no ID required.""That may be true, but I got the idea from that new girl," said Patricia in a defensive tone. "The new girl suggested it was a crying shame that us four Chix had to close up on Friday and Saturday nights without having any cocks around to make it fun," was Patricia's recollection. "Being the studious college girl, Mrs. Dix trusted me with the keys and the liquor inventory.""And who might have been the corrupting 'new girl' who put that idea of letting some cocks into the back room with those chicks?" asked Dana with a smirk."I hear she's still tending bar somewhere, perhaps more corrupting than ever," Patricia offered in an offhand guess.McNally, a seasoned barmaid, filled the wine glasses scattered around the kitchen, "I just thought it was false advertising to have a big neon sign that flashed Dix Chix, yet only the Chix half of the attraction was available. I merely suggested to the old timer running the show that if we were working to close the place on Friday and Saturday nights, we owed it to ourselves to have a crew of Dix to go with the Chix. Like the sign said."Annie asked, "Patricia, I've always wondered, how did you choose which boys got an after-hours invitation to the backroom?""I delegate," was Patricia's reply. "That's why I'm management material. I consulted a trusted source."McNally gave a curtsey acknowledging her role, and then filled in the story line, "Guys are pretty simple. I'd give the cute ones a line; 'Winner, winner, chicken dinner - Would you prefer a breast or a thigh?' I then slipped 'em an offer, 'Come on by Dix Chix late some night this weekend for a chicken tender special -- tell 'em McNally sent you.'" The three ladies exploded into hearty whoops at McNally's explanation.Dana took a sip out of her glass, thinking for a moment, "McNally are you responsible then for introducing each of us to our future husbands? I'd never thought of it like that.""Ultimately the Chix chooses the Dix. At least, that's how I'd look at it. In collusion with Patricia, I merely helped sow some wild oats in that Dix Chix backroom. But I only sowed the seeds. It was the others who reaped the harvest. I must admit, I did have to run a lot of lame-cock also-rans through that backroom before some of them ended up sticking around for a while.""Well, however you did it, Sander and I hit it off - after Patricia passed on him and I scooped him up, as I seem to recall. I guess I never thanked you for your fine work." Dana raised her glass in a salute to McNally."I'm happy it worked for you Dana," said Patricia, "I had my eye out for one of those solid, basic models, a kind of nerdy, engineering type. My philosophy was that those low-key kinds of guys wear well. I seem to recall McNally telling me that she didn't usually fish in those kinds of nerdy-fish ponds, but she promised she'd expand her repertoire to see if she could toss such a specimen my way.""I remember when Will showed up at the backroom, he looked a little dazed and confused. McNally had to act fast to ease Will into the situation and then gently hand him off to Patricia," recalled Annie. "So, how'd McNally's low-key, nerdish fish land in your lap then Patricia?"Patricia made a wistful smile as she rolled out a sheet of dough, "I guess I got what I wanted. Though, I've wondered some days if I should have dropped my line into a different pond. There've been some days when I wonder what life would've been like with a spicier, adventurous man... but that's normal, right? Don't we all have some days where we wish things were different?"Annie, Dana and McNally were quick to assure Patricia that they all had their moments when they had a twinge of doubt about their choices in husbands. "Yeah, that's pretty normal I think," added Annie.Annie went back to the mixing bowl where she was making rounded, nut-filled Mexican Wedding Cake cookies and dusting them with flour. "Nelson has always been supportive of me, I have to think that our marriage is better than some that I know of, but over the years some of the spark has dimmed. Maybe it's me, but honestly, if he wanted more sex, I'd consider letting the ol' boy find a fling with another woman, as long as she agreed to clean my house in exchange for Nelson's services."Dana gave up a small squeak, "Serious?""Oh, just a quirky idea. It's not like we'd be on the brink of a divorce, we're perfectly compatible. It would merely be a convenient arrangement, Nelson the ol' goat, would get more action and stop pestering me and I'd get a clean house and more time. I think it'd be a fair exchange." Annie shrugged as she spooned out a lump of dough and patted it into a little ball.Dana sighed, "Oh Annie. Annie, you should enjoy the little things from Nelson. You know what I miss most from Sander? It's little things like tangling our feet together in bed, I really miss the feeling of when Sander would reach across the bed and pull me over close to him. It didn't have to be sex, sometimes it was so good just to have him spoon into my backside and reach over to caress my breasts." Dana took a deep breath, "I'm just here to remind The Chix, like they say, 'You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.'"Annie's eyes moistened again, "I'm sorry Dana, I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I'm so sorry.""They're good memories Annie, I don't feel bad. Just sad at Christmas now. Get back to making cookies and a mess; it's the only thing that'll save me, girl."Patricia began pressing the cookie cutter into her sheet of dough while pressing this girl-talk topic a little further, "McNally, I'm kind of surprised you and Orlando have made it work so well all of these years. It has always seemed to me that you two traveled in different orbits."McNally laughed as she put down her half-empty wine glass, concentrating on mixing up some chocolate frosting. "It's a beautiful cosmic dance between me and Orlando. We're a pair of heavenly bodies sharing our orbits when the gravitational attraction pulls us close. Otherwise, we each have our own interests as y'all know perfectly well. Orlando has his poetry, music and writing projects. I love lending my graphic and artistic vision to Orlando's projects when it fits. When we collaborate, we make beautiful art. When we're not collaborating on something, that's when I fill my orbit with my animals and other pets."Patricia raised an eyebrow, "Do you care for your 'pets' as much as you do your animals?""Me and my pets share a sensual bond and an understanding. I will never abandon one of my animals. But my pets come and then my pets go, every pet in his own season. I enjoy a wide orbit in this life Patricia."McNally took another sip, becoming introspective, "Hey you know what? I'd have to say that The Chix is my longest held orbit. It's so good to have you gals around for me for all of these years." McNally raised her glass in a toast, "To The Chix. To the long and strong bond of three great gals who have kept me in their orbit as the rest of this crazy world spins out of control. Merry fucking Christmas, to one and to all!" McNally gave a swift motion with her hand, directing her three friends to join her in her toast.Everyone stepped to McNally's end of the counter, touching their glasses, creating a resounding chime as the glassware clinked. "Here! Here!" said Dana, "Let's make this a Merry fucking Christmas for one and for all!""I'll drink to that," offered McNally."Of course, you will," noted Patricia.Annie gave her signature tipsy laugh, "I'll drink to that Patricia!" and took a gulp."May I join you?" asked McNally.Dana laughed, "Wait for me! I'll drink to that too!"McNally turned and walked away from the circled Chix. "Where are you off to McNally?""Time for the Pinot Noir - any arguments?""Yeah. What about the Pinot Grigio?" asked Dana in a mock argumentative voice."No blow back from me. I'll get both." With that McNally disappeared into the garage.The cookie production line clicked into gear as The Chix rolled out a pile of baked cookie shapes and an assortment of buttery spritz cookies, chocolate drops, nut bars to go with the gooey lemon bars and shortbread. "My favorite thing in this whole kitchen, other than maybe the wine, is doing the detailed decorations with colored frosting and sprinkles," announced Dana."Here you go then Dana," said Patricia as she set two hot cookie sheets on the cooling racks, "you've got your work cut out for you with all of these shapes." Patricia brandished a pair of cookie cutters, "You have me to thank for 'cutting your work out for you'; you've got Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Christmas trees, wreathes, ornaments, stockings, snowmen, reindeer and candy canes galore.""'Work cut out for you', I see what you did there," observed Annie. "You've been hanging around McNally too much."McNally grabbed a couple of the round Mexican Wedding Cakes from Annie's station and then a candy cane shaped cookie off the pile of undecorated cookies."What are you working on McNally?" was Dana's question."I've been inspired by Annie's earlier comments and her idea of exchanging Nelson's candy cane for housework."Annie chortled, "What? Something creative for me? My, my, what could it be McNally?""Avert your eyes; I'm making you a little surprise." Annie laughed and pretended to look away, but she and the others watched to see what culinary form McNally's inspiration took. McNally coated both sides of the candy cane in pink frosting and then covered the straight end of the candy cane with a thin white glaze. She grabbed two pecan halves from the bowl, placing them on top of the round Mexican Wedding Cakes and then wedged the decorated pink candy cane between the two, projecting upward. McNally handed the 3D cookie sculpture to Annie on a small paper plate. "Here you go girl, a little something sweet to enjoy stuffing into your stocking while Nelson is out with your domestic help."The Chix all laughed, applauding McNally's skill at coming up with a naughty little cookie. "See, he comes with a pair of real nuts, and I've given his sweet candy cane a condom coating of sugar glaze. And if you've been feeling pressure to put out Annie, be assured that he only wants to cum in your chimney once a year."Annie was laughing pretty hard, "You're so thoughtful McNally. But I've been a good girl all year; I think I deserve to get a bigger candy cane.""Ho, ho, ho," chuckled McNally, "What you're asking for is reserved for the naughty girls on my list." With that, McNally grabbed a fistful of dough and rolled out a fourteen-inch cylinder, molded the tip to look like a cock and attached it to a tiny Santa cookie. The Chix screamed and giggled with perverse delight at the bawdy levity being infused into their traditional cookie exchange and baking extravaganza.It was open season, every one of The Chix was striving to out-do one another, Rudolph's bright red nose was repurposed into a pair of glowing nipples on Mrs. Clause's boobs. The reindeer grew large erections and Christmas wreaths were transformed into edible pussies. Their fired-up imaginations formed many an outlandish and erotic cookie decoration as they polished off both bottles of Pinot."Whoa girls, we've outdone ourselves this year. That's a lot of cookies," said Dana as she surveyed the plates piled high with sweets and many obscene holiday cookies."That was a lot of wine, I believe we outdid ourselves this year too," was Annie's observation as she untied her apron and took a seat at the kitchen table.Dana agreed, "I'll brew some coffee while the rest of you Chix take a seat and put your feet up.""I'll take an Irish coffee," said McNally."Sorry, the bar's closed," said Dana, shaking her head. "At least until the next time - which I hope will be soon."Each of the Chix had their fill of caffeine, the effect of the alcohol ebbed as did the energy in their exchange of stories. The time had come to exchange samples of their kitchen handiwork and take their haul of Christmas cookies back home. "Y'all leave the dishes for me to tackle," insisted Dana. "Cleaning my kitchen is good therapy for me. All of this was so good for me. I needed this to help me see me through the memory of Sander's passing. Nothing better for the soul than a kitchen full of Chix."Even though they knew Dana's words were genuine, each insisted on helping clean up. Dana wasn't having any of it, trumping their good intentions with her need for kitchen-cleaning therapy.A Twisted Twist To The Annual Cookie ExchangeOnce The Chix were successfully shooed out the door, McNally tapped Patricia and Annie, "Unload your cookie plates and meet me at The Daily Grind coffee shop; I've got a proposal I need to discuss with The Chix."McNally bartered with the night manager, offering him some erotic Mrs. Claus cookies along with some shortbread, lemon bars and a few acceptable holiday cookies for a cup of espresso and paid cash for two more cups. He brought the cups to the table in the corner where three women were deep in personal conversation. "Let's hear your proposal McNally, then I gotta get home," was Patricia's opening."All right Chix, this is it: we've just had our annual cookie exchange, it's obvious that this was something that Dana in her grief truly needed. I believe she could use a little more than a messy kitchen and a stack of erotic holiday cookies to see her through this holiday season. I think we should each chip in and send Dana a comforting and special erotic gift.""What'd you have in mind McNally?" was Patricia's suspicious question."Back in the day, Will, Nelson and Orlando were part of The Chix backroom 'chicken tender banquet'. So, they're a pretty much a known quantity for Dana; my proposal is that we send our guys over toDana as our gift to her, for a little holiday spice."Patricia drew back, "Oh, that's pretty far out there McNally."McNally leaned across the table, speaking in a harsh whisper, "Maybe not - Annie here has already confessed to a willingness to let her ol' goat Nelson get some more action in greener pastures. I'm just hoping that I can negotiate her down from making Dana clean her house this time around. You're in, aren't you Annie?"Annie looked serious. "What about Orlando? Is he part of your proposal?""Of course, Orlando is included; otherwise, I'd never have mentioned this to The Chix. He's always thought Dana was cute. I'm OK with him falling into Dana's orbit and her bed. All for a good friend in need.""It'll be kind of weird to bring this up with Nelson; but if he agrees, then I don't see why not. I guess I already confessed my willingness to allow such an arrangement." Annie took a hit of her espresso, "OK McNally. I'm in if it's for Dana."McNally and Annie turned to Patricia, "Are you going to throw your chip into the kitty? It's three or it's zero for Dana's Christmas gifts."Patricia mulled over the proposal in her mind. "Dana did echo your toast, 'A Merry fucking Christmas, to one and to all.'" It looks like it comes down to me as to whether Dana's wishful toast is literally fulfilled. I'm not sure Will would go for it - but he might. He hung around with Sander and Dana in the beginning and I know that Sander coached Will on some of his moves with me back in the awkward days. I suspect Sander let Will practice a few things on Dana and take instruction from her before he had the confidence to take me on.""It'll be like returning a favor to your friend Dana. Now that Will has done you for a while, he can hop back to square one where it all started. I think you owe it to Will to let him give Dana a polished performance." Annie smiled at her suggestions, then broke into a laugh as she thought about what she had just said."Will did get a lot better over time. Maybe this will be like a refresher course for the boy. It could be good for everyone," were Patricia's words as she worked through McNally's proposal out loud."That's the giving spirit of the season!" crowed McNally. "Chix, we've got ourselves a plan.""Not quite yet," said Patricia. "We've selected the gifts, but in this case how they're wrapped and presented is going to be just as important. We need to think about those details."Annie asked, "Which gift package arrives first?"McNally answered, "It was my idea, at least after Annie suggested it; so, I'll be happy to send Orlando's package over to Dana first. You guys can decide who's next after Orlando.""I can make some naughty little gift labels to attach to each package," said Annie with a chuckle.McNally raised her eyebrows, "How are these labels going to attach to our gift packages as you see it Annie?""I see the labels dangling off our package's 'package.'""Like package, package?" asked Patricia."Of course." Annie threw back the question with a confident smirk. "They come gift wrapped and have a label on each of their packages. How else would it work?" answered Annie in exaggerated exasperation.Patricia suggested, "Okay. In the spirit of this generous, yet twisted holiday season of giving; may I suggest that if Orlando is the first one to be unwrapped, that he arrives with a label offering to put his 'partridge' in Dana's 'pear tree' - or bush, it all depends on volume I guess.""Oh. Why hell yes!" McNally got excited at the suggestion. "You've got a twisted imagination Patricia. Sometimes you surprise me. That's great. What comes after the partridge in a pear tree?""Two turtle doves, then three French hens," was Annie's quick reply. "Then we Chix are out of gifts with nine more days to go before we come to the Twelfth Day of Christmas. I guess it can't be helped."Annie mused, "Nelson is a titty man. I'd love to send him over to Dana's as the second gift; he knows right where to find a girl's two turtle doves. He'd do a lovely job with Dana's pair of white turtle doves.""Then that leaves me to present Will with three French hens," mused Patricia. "Hmm, hens, nests, chicks, eggs..." Patricia looked stumped for a moment, "Right! I know the perfect erotic set up for Will and his Third Day of Christmas. Now we have a plan, McNally.""Let's go home, get some sleep and begin putting together the gift-boy exchange now that we've finished the cookie exchange," said McNally. "I'll want to hear more about your holiday cheer ideas real soon."Annie got busy and sowed three elastic loops, attached a pretty ribbon bow to each elastic band with a strip of ribbon that held a small gift label for each of the Chix to fill out. Each of their gift guys was to be tagged with the festive bow and elastic band fitted over the base of his cock.The three Chix met to finalize their husband-exchange gift plan. Annie handed out her gift label craftwork to her friends. "I believe it is obvious how this attaches to the male anatomy," she said as she slipped the circle over her four fingers. They admired the loopy calligraphy on each cock-mounted gift card where Annie had written: 'On the First Day of Christmas My True Friend Gave to Me -; leaving room for her other Chix to write a brief explanation of what they had in mind for Dana, as if it wasn't obvious to Dana by the time, she'd unwrapped her gift this far.McNally admitted, "I felt a small amount of disappointment that it had been so easy to convince Orlando to join in the holiday giving spirit. He seemed positively jubilant at the idea.""I always thought your Orlando would go for it, but I wasn't sure about Will. But I got the same jubilant response. There was a mischievous new spark in Will's eyes. Yeah, me too; I was a little disappointed that Will was so easy to convince," Patricia shrugged as she found common ground with the free-spirit McNally."Pretty much the same here," agreed Annie, "the same response as from both of your hubby exchange gifts. But of course, I didn't let on that I had a tinge of disappointment; after all, I guess I started this by sharing my idea of letting Nelson roam in new goat pastures.""So, you've had a tinge of disappointment - is that because you didn't get an agreement to get your house cleaned in the exchange?" asked McNally with a smirk."Yeah, that's it," acknowledged Annie with a full dose of irony dripping from her lips.Patricia directed The Chix back to business, "So how are we going to pull this off? It's got to be a surprise for Dana, right?""Of course, it needs to be a surprise," answered McNally, "Otherwise, I fear Dana would chicken out.""Then this is how it happens," Patricia pressed her palms into the table, "The morning before Dana's surprise package arrives on her doorstep, we text her to say that she is to expect a gift to cheer her up. She needs to be home in the evening and have her entire night free." Patricia then asked Annie, "Would you write up a little parchment scroll with some sort of introduction for our guys to hand Dana, letting her know that we put our guys up to this. It would be bad form if Dana rejected our offerings out of doubt as to our genuine intentions and fearing that she would be doing something with our menfolk behind our backs."Annie agreed to write a scroll of introduction for each husband, but then inquired, "These guys seemed so eager to, I'm afraid that they may botch their opening; at least that's my concern for Nelson. He might rush it and come on too strong.""Exactly," said McNally, "I don't trust any boy to get it right. That's why our men need to show up with an appropriate gift to set the mood. And we should coach up these fellows to remind them to be snuggly, cuddly and do plenty of kissing and slow finger play on bare skin before their partridge nests into her pear tree and whatever gifts they may bear on the second and third days of Christmas." A Partridge In A Pear TreeDana puttered around the house all morning, intrigued by the curious text she'd received from McNally. McNally was uncharacteristically vague when Dana replied asking for details about what she should expect later that evening. Despite a flurry of pleading text exchanges, Dana was unable to pry a clue loose from her free-spirited friend.When Dana answered the knock on her door in the fading light of a mid-December early evening, she was amused to find Orlando standing in front of her wearing a white, three-piece suit, an outfit she'd remembered from several decades ago. "Where's McNally?" asked Dana as she craned her head around her porch looking for her friend who promised a warm holiday surprise coming to her house earlier in the day.Orlando stepped inside, shut the door and bolted it behind him, handing a scroll tied with a festive red ribbon to the surprised woman standing in front of him. "What's this?" Dana asked as she cocked her head, taking the scroll from Orlando. "This is all so mysterious," acknowledged Dana with her eyes and smile flashing in obvious enjoyment of the unfolding mystery in her entry hall. "Orlando, why are you dressed up in your white disco suit? You're looking like the Ghost of Christmas Past coming to visit me." Dana laughed at her observation as she ran her eyes up and down the willowy frame of the long-haired artisan and old friend standing before her looking rather pleased with himself.Dana unfurled the scroll, feeling a hot flush ignite her skin as she red McNally's words while her cheeks flashed a bright red to match the scroll's ribbon. Dana sucked in her breath, her eyes grew wide in shock, it sounded like McNally had sent her husband Orlando over to her as an intimate gift. Orlando was here alone, sent to give her 'a night of holiday magic', as was written on the scroll. McNally's introduction stated that 'Orlando was 'prepared to fulfill her wish list', and for this one time only, Santa would be unloading his sack and giving his gifts to one of the naughty girls on his list.' According to the instructions, all she had to do was 'climb into bed and be surprised by the goodies that were stuffed into her stocking.'Dana took another short breath as she finished reading, now understanding the set up for McNally's enigmatic texts from the morning. Her jaw went slack as she realized that there were waves of warm desire whirling in her center as she detected a sudden firming within her lady parts. She was pleasantly embarrassed as she felt another blush rise to her nipples, throat, and face.She jumped as the doorbell rang. Orlando took his light blue eyes off her, turning to open the door. He took the bags from the delivery girl, tipped her well before closing the door and bolting it again. Dana managed to recover from her weak-kneed response, "Well, well, what do we have here?" she asked as she shook her head to clear her swirling thoughts.With a debonair stroke of his hand, he motioned Dana toward the dining room, "I will be serving you tonight. I will begin serving you with roasted quail in a pear infused demi-glace sauce. How I finish serving you tonight is yet to be told." Orlando swept his hand to Dana's lower back to escort her to the table. She didn't seem to mind.Orlando held the chair for Dana as she took her seat. Orlando produced two candles from his jacket's inside pocket and set them at the center of the table, lighting them to complete the mood. Not knowing how she should respond to this romantic attention with its hinted, soon to be sexual direction; Dana forced herself to fall into the flow of these unanticipated events. "I'm truly overwhelmed. What's the meaning of this feast?"Orlando held still for a moment, catching Dana's eye, "Is it not obvious to you yet, my little chickpea? I am your Partridge in a Pear Tree," he said as he motioned the back of his hands down over his wide white lapels and then preened his wavy blond locks while bobbing his head like a partridge dancing to the echoes of a long-gone disco beat. "This feast my little chickpea is as literal a beginning as I could get, offering you a quail in a pear sauce. But, as was explained to you in my introduction scroll, there is an opportunity for a more figurative pairing of my partridge with your pear tree." Orlando gave Dana a nod and a sly smile.Dana blushed once again.Orlando cleared the dishes, returning to rub Dana's shoulders. She enjoyed his strong fingers kneading her muscles, feeling very satisfied after an elegant supper and wishing for her visitor to invite her into further pleasures. Orlando played with her hair as he suggested she release him for a moment to clean up the meal, "With a rendezvous in a more comfortable location."Dana took the opportunity to excuse herself and slip into some of her fancy lingerie and freshen up. She wondered if Orlando would notice that she had shed her basic bra for another; a black, fancy feminine garment. It may not matter, she thought, but whatever happens later this evening, she knew she felt better about herself wearing pretty black underthings.To be continued in part 2, based on the post by SandyMarl for Literotica.

Husbands and cookies are exchanged, to add holiday cheer.Based on a post by SandyMarl, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories. The Chix Annual Christmas Cookie ExchangeMcNally topped off each of the four glasses, then tipped the bottle to her lips to make sure she'd drained the last sweet drop of Gewürztraminer. McNally smacked her lips before inserting her tongue into the brown wine bottle's narrow orifice. "Umm, a sweet little rim job before I recycle this dead soldier," she announced to a kitchen packed with a few of her long-time friends. "This dark guy is so sweet, I just love him," she said as she continued her fellatio pantomime by wrapping her lips around the narrow neck as she encircled her fingers and made a couple of strokes up and down the bottle like she was finishing a masterful blow job.Her friends watched her risqué display and giggled, except for Patricia. Patricia picked through the array of Christmas cookie cutter shapes laid out at the edge of the counter, dropping her eyes as she scolded, "McNally, you should be more thoughtful of Dana. Your tipsy little joke is in poor taste in front of our hostess, especially at this time of year." Patricia meant it as a sobering rebuke, as if any of the girls present needed to be reminded of Dana's recently widowed status, especially around Christmas.McNally pulled the wine bottle's phallic dimensions from her lips, setting it down and turning to Dana, "Oh crap, I'm sorry. You know I had no intention of opening painful memories; I was only trying to lift the holiday spirits with a little bawdy humor... I was just thinking..."Dana turned to McNally, "I know. I know you McNally -- boy do I know you. You're always thinking we Chix should loosen up our inhibitions and take a walk on the steamier side of life; and boy are you always ready with a risqué joke, a steamy story or a naughty pun."Dana broke into a smile, and then spoke to her closest friends, "Hey Chix, you guys are so great! You're the only reason I'm able to get through this time of year. Without y'all, I'd be nothing but a blubbering mess this Christmas. Facing the painful first anniversary of Sander's passing is really hard. It'd be unbearable if I had to go through it alone. The support of my Chix means everything to me right now."Dana forced a cheery voice and continued speaking after dusting the flour off her hands. "I insisted y'all come into my kitchen this year and fill it with holiday cheer, so it'd be like the good times we had before. I want everyone to make a big sugary mess for me to clean up and keep me busy. Our annual Chix Christmas cookie exchange is our tradition; it's now more meaningful to me than ever. I'm dreading the holidays..." Dana paused to collect her emotions before continuing, "... as the holiday season approaches, I fear being all alone, left to deal with the memory of Sander's skiing accident by myself. I need my Chix more than ever right now. I need something to keep my mind from dwelling on the anniversary of the accident."Dana gave a congenial but forced looking smile to the women in her kitchen. "McNally, you go right on giving your Gewurztraminer boyfriend's long, brown glass cock a good sucking, it's fine with me and the rest of these kitchen voyeurs. Keep it up, all of you, be merry and I'll find a way to get by."Annie wiped a tear off her cheek as she stepped to Dana, wrapping her arms and her baggy, ugly Christmas sweater around Dana, managing to get cookie dough crumbs in Dana's hair in the process. Annie hugged Dana tight, embracing her in a prolonged hold to convey her sympathy and shared grief at the loss of Dana's husband last year. Annie teared up again as she remembered gathering with McNally and Patricia to take down the tree and put away all the festive Christmas decorations in Dana's house as Dana planned Sander's funeral.It was all so sad, so hard to deal with. Annie admired McNally's flair to disregard the implicit sadness hanging over their annual Chix Christmas cookie exchange; but didn't want to get between McNally and Patricia as they scuffled over the proper decorum in Dana's kitchen under the circumstances.Annie let go and pulled away from her embrace, and as she did, she gasped, "Oh Dana, I'm sorry. Look what I've done, my dirty apron made a mess on your top. I'm sorry."Dana laughed, "I should've expected this would happen, wearing black when I'm in the middle of a hen party with flour flying all over my kitchen. I thought I'd feel and look slimmer wearing black, a self-deluding effect to counteract my debauched cookie sampling today. I might as well just drop these little Santa cookies down my pants and let 'em stick right there on my hips," smacking her hands on her ass for emphasis.Annie, trying to make up for the accidental flour dusting, began to brush her fingers across Dana's boobs, fussing and worrying she'd ruined Dana's pullover. Dana laughed it off, "Annie, stop fretting, it'll wash out, no problem. Relax. Let's all have a good time making a mess as we bake and decorate our cookies. There's something festive about a busy and messy kitchen. I just love it."McNally watched from the other side of the counter as Annie dabbed and wiped the front of Dana's chest, "I know what you're getting for Christmas - one of those cordless hand vacuums; they market it as a bust duster." Everyone cracked up at McNally's pun, even Patricia.The timer went off; Patricia stepped to the oven to check on the first batch of cookies. She pulled out the cookie sheet and put it on the cooling rack."Those look perfect," Annie announced."They're not perfect until they're decorated," responded Dana. "They're just plain-Jane naked right now. It's our job to get them all dressed up in their Christmas fancy-pants.""Oh, Patricia, can you grab the box of sprinkles and glittery decorating doo-dahs from the cupboard next to the oven?" asked Dana. Patricia set the full box of decorating doo-dahs on the kitchen table.McNally burst into song, "Doo-dah, doo-dah, Camptown ladies sing this song, all the doo-dah day!" McNally's three friends joined in a final chorus, "Doo-dah, doo-dah, all the doo-dah day!""Now things are starting to sound festive," declared Dana as she mixed bowls of red and green frosting. "McNally, there's a bottle of Riesling in the garage fridge -- I know I don't have to ask twice to get you to bring that one in and pour another round."Annie said, "This is sounding and feeling like old times; like back in the beginning when we worked at Dix Chix. Who remembers which of us four started waitressing first at Dix?""Wasn't me," was McNally's contribution from the hallway, "I'm the youngest of the Chix.""It could've been you; you've always had a reputation for starting early McNally," was Patricia's retort.McNally laughed at the ribbing. "I seem to recall that Annie got hired a few days ahead of me.""So, when did we become collectively known as 'The Chix?'" was Dana's follow up question.Annie answered, "It was Patricia. She advertised to all the boys that there were some interesting Chix to be found in the backroom of Dix Chix Family Restaurant after closing. If a boy had the right stuff, he could find his way into the place and get a few drinks, no ID required.""That may be true, but I got the idea from that new girl," said Patricia in a defensive tone. "The new girl suggested it was a crying shame that us four Chix had to close up on Friday and Saturday nights without having any cocks around to make it fun," was Patricia's recollection. "Being the studious college girl, Mrs. Dix trusted me with the keys and the liquor inventory.""And who might have been the corrupting 'new girl' who put that idea of letting some cocks into the back room with those chicks?" asked Dana with a smirk."I hear she's still tending bar somewhere, perhaps more corrupting than ever," Patricia offered in an offhand guess.McNally, a seasoned barmaid, filled the wine glasses scattered around the kitchen, "I just thought it was false advertising to have a big neon sign that flashed Dix Chix, yet only the Chix half of the attraction was available. I merely suggested to the old timer running the show that if we were working to close the place on Friday and Saturday nights, we owed it to ourselves to have a crew of Dix to go with the Chix. Like the sign said."Annie asked, "Patricia, I've always wondered, how did you choose which boys got an after-hours invitation to the backroom?""I delegate," was Patricia's reply. "That's why I'm management material. I consulted a trusted source."McNally gave a curtsey acknowledging her role, and then filled in the story line, "Guys are pretty simple. I'd give the cute ones a line; 'Winner, winner, chicken dinner - Would you prefer a breast or a thigh?' I then slipped 'em an offer, 'Come on by Dix Chix late some night this weekend for a chicken tender special -- tell 'em McNally sent you.'" The three ladies exploded into hearty whoops at McNally's explanation.Dana took a sip out of her glass, thinking for a moment, "McNally are you responsible then for introducing each of us to our future husbands? I'd never thought of it like that.""Ultimately the Chix chooses the Dix. At least, that's how I'd look at it. In collusion with Patricia, I merely helped sow some wild oats in that Dix Chix backroom. But I only sowed the seeds. It was the others who reaped the harvest. I must admit, I did have to run a lot of lame-cock also-rans through that backroom before some of them ended up sticking around for a while.""Well, however you did it, Sander and I hit it off - after Patricia passed on him and I scooped him up, as I seem to recall. I guess I never thanked you for your fine work." Dana raised her glass in a salute to McNally."I'm happy it worked for you Dana," said Patricia, "I had my eye out for one of those solid, basic models, a kind of nerdy, engineering type. My philosophy was that those low-key kinds of guys wear well. I seem to recall McNally telling me that she didn't usually fish in those kinds of nerdy-fish ponds, but she promised she'd expand her repertoire to see if she could toss such a specimen my way.""I remember when Will showed up at the backroom, he looked a little dazed and confused. McNally had to act fast to ease Will into the situation and then gently hand him off to Patricia," recalled Annie. "So, how'd McNally's low-key, nerdish fish land in your lap then Patricia?"Patricia made a wistful smile as she rolled out a sheet of dough, "I guess I got what I wanted. Though, I've wondered some days if I should have dropped my line into a different pond. There've been some days when I wonder what life would've been like with a spicier, adventurous man... but that's normal, right? Don't we all have some days where we wish things were different?"Annie, Dana and McNally were quick to assure Patricia that they all had their moments when they had a twinge of doubt about their choices in husbands. "Yeah, that's pretty normal I think," added Annie.Annie went back to the mixing bowl where she was making rounded, nut-filled Mexican Wedding Cake cookies and dusting them with flour. "Nelson has always been supportive of me, I have to think that our marriage is better than some that I know of, but over the years some of the spark has dimmed. Maybe it's me, but honestly, if he wanted more sex, I'd consider letting the ol' boy find a fling with another woman, as long as she agreed to clean my house in exchange for Nelson's services."Dana gave up a small squeak, "Serious?""Oh, just a quirky idea. It's not like we'd be on the brink of a divorce, we're perfectly compatible. It would merely be a convenient arrangement, Nelson the ol' goat, would get more action and stop pestering me and I'd get a clean house and more time. I think it'd be a fair exchange." Annie shrugged as she spooned out a lump of dough and patted it into a little ball.Dana sighed, "Oh Annie. Annie, you should enjoy the little things from Nelson. You know what I miss most from Sander? It's little things like tangling our feet together in bed, I really miss the feeling of when Sander would reach across the bed and pull me over close to him. It didn't have to be sex, sometimes it was so good just to have him spoon into my backside and reach over to caress my breasts." Dana took a deep breath, "I'm just here to remind The Chix, like they say, 'You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.'"Annie's eyes moistened again, "I'm sorry Dana, I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I'm so sorry.""They're good memories Annie, I don't feel bad. Just sad at Christmas now. Get back to making cookies and a mess; it's the only thing that'll save me, girl."Patricia began pressing the cookie cutter into her sheet of dough while pressing this girl-talk topic a little further, "McNally, I'm kind of surprised you and Orlando have made it work so well all of these years. It has always seemed to me that you two traveled in different orbits."McNally laughed as she put down her half-empty wine glass, concentrating on mixing up some chocolate frosting. "It's a beautiful cosmic dance between me and Orlando. We're a pair of heavenly bodies sharing our orbits when the gravitational attraction pulls us close. Otherwise, we each have our own interests as y'all know perfectly well. Orlando has his poetry, music and writing projects. I love lending my graphic and artistic vision to Orlando's projects when it fits. When we collaborate, we make beautiful art. When we're not collaborating on something, that's when I fill my orbit with my animals and other pets."Patricia raised an eyebrow, "Do you care for your 'pets' as much as you do your animals?""Me and my pets share a sensual bond and an understanding. I will never abandon one of my animals. But my pets come and then my pets go, every pet in his own season. I enjoy a wide orbit in this life Patricia."McNally took another sip, becoming introspective, "Hey you know what? I'd have to say that The Chix is my longest held orbit. It's so good to have you gals around for me for all of these years." McNally raised her glass in a toast, "To The Chix. To the long and strong bond of three great gals who have kept me in their orbit as the rest of this crazy world spins out of control. Merry fucking Christmas, to one and to all!" McNally gave a swift motion with her hand, directing her three friends to join her in her toast.Everyone stepped to McNally's end of the counter, touching their glasses, creating a resounding chime as the glassware clinked. "Here! Here!" said Dana, "Let's make this a Merry fucking Christmas for one and for all!""I'll drink to that," offered McNally."Of course, you will," noted Patricia.Annie gave her signature tipsy laugh, "I'll drink to that Patricia!" and took a gulp."May I join you?" asked McNally.Dana laughed, "Wait for me! I'll drink to that too!"McNally turned and walked away from the circled Chix. "Where are you off to McNally?""Time for the Pinot Noir - any arguments?""Yeah. What about the Pinot Grigio?" asked Dana in a mock argumentative voice."No blow back from me. I'll get both." With that McNally disappeared into the garage.The cookie production line clicked into gear as The Chix rolled out a pile of baked cookie shapes and an assortment of buttery spritz cookies, chocolate drops, nut bars to go with the gooey lemon bars and shortbread. "My favorite thing in this whole kitchen, other than maybe the wine, is doing the detailed decorations with colored frosting and sprinkles," announced Dana."Here you go then Dana," said Patricia as she set two hot cookie sheets on the cooling racks, "you've got your work cut out for you with all of these shapes." Patricia brandished a pair of cookie cutters, "You have me to thank for 'cutting your work out for you'; you've got Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Christmas trees, wreathes, ornaments, stockings, snowmen, reindeer and candy canes galore.""'Work cut out for you', I see what you did there," observed Annie. "You've been hanging around McNally too much."McNally grabbed a couple of the round Mexican Wedding Cakes from Annie's station and then a candy cane shaped cookie off the pile of undecorated cookies."What are you working on McNally?" was Dana's question."I've been inspired by Annie's earlier comments and her idea of exchanging Nelson's candy cane for housework."Annie chortled, "What? Something creative for me? My, my, what could it be McNally?""Avert your eyes; I'm making you a little surprise." Annie laughed and pretended to look away, but she and the others watched to see what culinary form McNally's inspiration took. McNally coated both sides of the candy cane in pink frosting and then covered the straight end of the candy cane with a thin white glaze. She grabbed two pecan halves from the bowl, placing them on top of the round Mexican Wedding Cakes and then wedged the decorated pink candy cane between the two, projecting upward. McNally handed the 3D cookie sculpture to Annie on a small paper plate. "Here you go girl, a little something sweet to enjoy stuffing into your stocking while Nelson is out with your domestic help."The Chix all laughed, applauding McNally's skill at coming up with a naughty little cookie. "See, he comes with a pair of real nuts, and I've given his sweet candy cane a condom coating of sugar glaze. And if you've been feeling pressure to put out Annie, be assured that he only wants to cum in your chimney once a year."Annie was laughing pretty hard, "You're so thoughtful McNally. But I've been a good girl all year; I think I deserve to get a bigger candy cane.""Ho, ho, ho," chuckled McNally, "What you're asking for is reserved for the naughty girls on my list." With that, McNally grabbed a fistful of dough and rolled out a fourteen-inch cylinder, molded the tip to look like a cock and attached it to a tiny Santa cookie. The Chix screamed and giggled with perverse delight at the bawdy levity being infused into their traditional cookie exchange and baking extravaganza.It was open season, every one of The Chix was striving to out-do one another, Rudolph's bright red nose was repurposed into a pair of glowing nipples on Mrs. Clause's boobs. The reindeer grew large erections and Christmas wreaths were transformed into edible pussies. Their fired-up imaginations formed many an outlandish and erotic cookie decoration as they polished off both bottles of Pinot."Whoa girls, we've outdone ourselves this year. That's a lot of cookies," said Dana as she surveyed the plates piled high with sweets and many obscene holiday cookies."That was a lot of wine, I believe we outdid ourselves this year too," was Annie's observation as she untied her apron and took a seat at the kitchen table.Dana agreed, "I'll brew some coffee while the rest of you Chix take a seat and put your feet up.""I'll take an Irish coffee," said McNally."Sorry, the bar's closed," said Dana, shaking her head. "At least until the next time - which I hope will be soon."Each of the Chix had their fill of caffeine, the effect of the alcohol ebbed as did the energy in their exchange of stories. The time had come to exchange samples of their kitchen handiwork and take their haul of Christmas cookies back home. "Y'all leave the dishes for me to tackle," insisted Dana. "Cleaning my kitchen is good therapy for me. All of this was so good for me. I needed this to help me see me through the memory of Sander's passing. Nothing better for the soul than a kitchen full of Chix."Even though they knew Dana's words were genuine, each insisted on helping clean up. Dana wasn't having any of it, trumping their good intentions with her need for kitchen-cleaning therapy.A Twisted Twist To The Annual Cookie ExchangeOnce The Chix were successfully shooed out the door, McNally tapped Patricia and Annie, "Unload your cookie plates and meet me at The Daily Grind coffee shop; I've got a proposal I need to discuss with The Chix."McNally bartered with the night manager, offering him some erotic Mrs. Claus cookies along with some shortbread, lemon bars and a few acceptable holiday cookies for a cup of espresso and paid cash for two more cups. He brought the cups to the table in the corner where three women were deep in personal conversation. "Let's hear your proposal McNally, then I gotta get home," was Patricia's opening."All right Chix, this is it: we've just had our annual cookie exchange, it's obvious that this was something that Dana in her grief truly needed. I believe she could use a little more than a messy kitchen and a stack of erotic holiday cookies to see her through this holiday season. I think we should each chip in and send Dana a comforting and special erotic gift.""What'd you have in mind McNally?" was Patricia's suspicious question."Back in the day, Will, Nelson and Orlando were part of The Chix backroom 'chicken tender banquet'. So, they're a pretty much a known quantity for Dana; my proposal is that we send our guys over toDana as our gift to her, for a little holiday spice."Patricia drew back, "Oh, that's pretty far out there McNally."McNally leaned across the table, speaking in a harsh whisper, "Maybe not - Annie here has already confessed to a willingness to let her ol' goat Nelson get some more action in greener pastures. I'm just hoping that I can negotiate her down from making Dana clean her house this time around. You're in, aren't you Annie?"Annie looked serious. "What about Orlando? Is he part of your proposal?""Of course, Orlando is included; otherwise, I'd never have mentioned this to The Chix. He's always thought Dana was cute. I'm OK with him falling into Dana's orbit and her bed. All for a good friend in need.""It'll be kind of weird to bring this up with Nelson; but if he agrees, then I don't see why not. I guess I already confessed my willingness to allow such an arrangement." Annie took a hit of her espresso, "OK McNally. I'm in if it's for Dana."McNally and Annie turned to Patricia, "Are you going to throw your chip into the kitty? It's three or it's zero for Dana's Christmas gifts."Patricia mulled over the proposal in her mind. "Dana did echo your toast, 'A Merry fucking Christmas, to one and to all.'" It looks like it comes down to me as to whether Dana's wishful toast is literally fulfilled. I'm not sure Will would go for it - but he might. He hung around with Sander and Dana in the beginning and I know that Sander coached Will on some of his moves with me back in the awkward days. I suspect Sander let Will practice a few things on Dana and take instruction from her before he had the confidence to take me on.""It'll be like returning a favor to your friend Dana. Now that Will has done you for a while, he can hop back to square one where it all started. I think you owe it to Will to let him give Dana a polished performance." Annie smiled at her suggestions, then broke into a laugh as she thought about what she had just said."Will did get a lot better over time. Maybe this will be like a refresher course for the boy. It could be good for everyone," were Patricia's words as she worked through McNally's proposal out loud."That's the giving spirit of the season!" crowed McNally. "Chix, we've got ourselves a plan.""Not quite yet," said Patricia. "We've selected the gifts, but in this case how they're wrapped and presented is going to be just as important. We need to think about those details."Annie asked, "Which gift package arrives first?"McNally answered, "It was my idea, at least after Annie suggested it; so, I'll be happy to send Orlando's package over to Dana first. You guys can decide who's next after Orlando.""I can make some naughty little gift labels to attach to each package," said Annie with a chuckle.McNally raised her eyebrows, "How are these labels going to attach to our gift packages as you see it Annie?""I see the labels dangling off our package's 'package.'""Like package, package?" asked Patricia."Of course." Annie threw back the question with a confident smirk. "They come gift wrapped and have a label on each of their packages. How else would it work?" answered Annie in exaggerated exasperation.Patricia suggested, "Okay. In the spirit of this generous, yet twisted holiday season of giving; may I suggest that if Orlando is the first one to be unwrapped, that he arrives with a label offering to put his 'partridge' in Dana's 'pear tree' - or bush, it all depends on volume I guess.""Oh. Why hell yes!" McNally got excited at the suggestion. "You've got a twisted imagination Patricia. Sometimes you surprise me. That's great. What comes after the partridge in a pear tree?""Two turtle doves, then three French hens," was Annie's quick reply. "Then we Chix are out of gifts with nine more days to go before we come to the Twelfth Day of Christmas. I guess it can't be helped."Annie mused, "Nelson is a titty man. I'd love to send him over to Dana's as the second gift; he knows right where to find a girl's two turtle doves. He'd do a lovely job with Dana's pair of white turtle doves.""Then that leaves me to present Will with three French hens," mused Patricia. "Hmm, hens, nests, chicks, eggs..." Patricia looked stumped for a moment, "Right! I know the perfect erotic set up for Will and his Third Day of Christmas. Now we have a plan, McNally.""Let's go home, get some sleep and begin putting together the gift-boy exchange now that we've finished the cookie exchange," said McNally. "I'll want to hear more about your holiday cheer ideas real soon."Annie got busy and sowed three elastic loops, attached a pretty ribbon bow to each elastic band with a strip of ribbon that held a small gift label for each of the Chix to fill out. Each of their gift guys was to be tagged with the festive bow and elastic band fitted over the base of his cock.The three Chix met to finalize their husband-exchange gift plan. Annie handed out her gift label craftwork to her friends. "I believe it is obvious how this attaches to the male anatomy," she said as she slipped the circle over her four fingers. They admired the loopy calligraphy on each cock-mounted gift card where Annie had written: 'On the First Day of Christmas My True Friend Gave to Me -; leaving room for her other Chix to write a brief explanation of what they had in mind for Dana, as if it wasn't obvious to Dana by the time, she'd unwrapped her gift this far.McNally admitted, "I felt a small amount of disappointment that it had been so easy to convince Orlando to join in the holiday giving spirit. He seemed positively jubilant at the idea.""I always thought your Orlando would go for it, but I wasn't sure about Will. But I got the same jubilant response. There was a mischievous new spark in Will's eyes. Yeah, me too; I was a little disappointed that Will was so easy to convince," Patricia shrugged as she found common ground with the free-spirit McNally."Pretty much the same here," agreed Annie, "the same response as from both of your hubby exchange gifts. But of course, I didn't let on that I had a tinge of disappointment; after all, I guess I started this by sharing my idea of letting Nelson roam in new goat pastures.""So, you've had a tinge of disappointment - is that because you didn't get an agreement to get your house cleaned in the exchange?" asked McNally with a smirk."Yeah, that's it," acknowledged Annie with a full dose of irony dripping from her lips.Patricia directed The Chix back to business, "So how are we going to pull this off? It's got to be a surprise for Dana, right?""Of course, it needs to be a surprise," answered McNally, "Otherwise, I fear Dana would chicken out.""Then this is how it happens," Patricia pressed her palms into the table, "The morning before Dana's surprise package arrives on her doorstep, we text her to say that she is to expect a gift to cheer her up. She needs to be home in the evening and have her entire night free." Patricia then asked Annie, "Would you write up a little parchment scroll with some sort of introduction for our guys to hand Dana, letting her know that we put our guys up to this. It would be bad form if Dana rejected our offerings out of doubt as to our genuine intentions and fearing that she would be doing something with our menfolk behind our backs."Annie agreed to write a scroll of introduction for each husband, but then inquired, "These guys seemed so eager to, I'm afraid that they may botch their opening; at least that's my concern for Nelson. He might rush it and come on too strong.""Exactly," said McNally, "I don't trust any boy to get it right. That's why our men need to show up with an appropriate gift to set the mood. And we should coach up these fellows to remind them to be snuggly, cuddly and do plenty of kissing and slow finger play on bare skin before their partridge nests into her pear tree and whatever gifts they may bear on the second and third days of Christmas." A Partridge In A Pear TreeDana puttered around the house all morning, intrigued by the curious text she'd received from McNally. McNally was uncharacteristically vague when Dana replied asking for details about what she should expect later that evening. Despite a flurry of pleading text exchanges, Dana was unable to pry a clue loose from her free-spirited friend.When Dana answered the knock on her door in the fading light of a mid-December early evening, she was amused to find Orlando standing in front of her wearing a white, three-piece suit, an outfit she'd remembered from several decades ago. "Where's McNally?" asked Dana as she craned her head around her porch looking for her friend who promised a warm holiday surprise coming to her house earlier in the day.Orlando stepped inside, shut the door and bolted it behind him, handing a scroll tied with a festive red ribbon to the surprised woman standing in front of him. "What's this?" Dana asked as she cocked her head, taking the scroll from Orlando. "This is all so mysterious," acknowledged Dana with her eyes and smile flashing in obvious enjoyment of the unfolding mystery in her entry hall. "Orlando, why are you dressed up in your white disco suit? You're looking like the Ghost of Christmas Past coming to visit me." Dana laughed at her observation as she ran her eyes up and down the willowy frame of the long-haired artisan and old friend standing before her looking rather pleased with himself.Dana unfurled the scroll, feeling a hot flush ignite her skin as she red McNally's words while her cheeks flashed a bright red to match the scroll's ribbon. Dana sucked in her breath, her eyes grew wide in shock, it sounded like McNally had sent her husband Orlando over to her as an intimate gift. Orlando was here alone, sent to give her 'a night of holiday magic', as was written on the scroll. McNally's introduction stated that 'Orlando was 'prepared to fulfill her wish list', and for this one time only, Santa would be unloading his sack and giving his gifts to one of the naughty girls on his list.' According to the instructions, all she had to do was 'climb into bed and be surprised by the goodies that were stuffed into her stocking.'Dana took another short breath as she finished reading, now understanding the set up for McNally's enigmatic texts from the morning. Her jaw went slack as she realized that there were waves of warm desire whirling in her center as she detected a sudden firming within her lady parts. She was pleasantly embarrassed as she felt another blush rise to her nipples, throat, and face.She jumped as the doorbell rang. Orlando took his light blue eyes off her, turning to open the door. He took the bags from the delivery girl, tipped her well before closing the door and bolting it again. Dana managed to recover from her weak-kneed response, "Well, well, what do we have here?" she asked as she shook her head to clear her swirling thoughts.With a debonair stroke of his hand, he motioned Dana toward the dining room, "I will be serving you tonight. I will begin serving you with roasted quail in a pear infused demi-glace sauce. How I finish serving you tonight is yet to be told." Orlando swept his hand to Dana's lower back to escort her to the table. She didn't seem to mind.Orlando held the chair for Dana as she took her seat. Orlando produced two candles from his jacket's inside pocket and set them at the center of the table, lighting them to complete the mood. Not knowing how she should respond to this romantic attention with its hinted, soon to be sexual direction; Dana forced herself to fall into the flow of these unanticipated events. "I'm truly overwhelmed. What's the meaning of this feast?"Orlando held still for a moment, catching Dana's eye, "Is it not obvious to you yet, my little chickpea? I am your Partridge in a Pear Tree," he said as he motioned the back of his hands down over his wide white lapels and then preened his wavy blond locks while bobbing his head like a partridge dancing to the echoes of a long-gone disco beat. "This feast my little chickpea is as literal a beginning as I could get, offering you a quail in a pear sauce. But, as was explained to you in my introduction scroll, there is an opportunity for a more figurative pairing of my partridge with your pear tree." Orlando gave Dana a nod and a sly smile.Dana blushed once again.Orlando cleared the dishes, returning to rub Dana's shoulders. She enjoyed his strong fingers kneading her muscles, feeling very satisfied after an elegant supper and wishing for her visitor to invite her into further pleasures. Orlando played with her hair as he suggested she release him for a moment to clean up the meal, "With a rendezvous in a more comfortable location."Dana took the opportunity to excuse herself and slip into some of her fancy lingerie and freshen up. She wondered if Orlando would notice that she had shed her basic bra for another; a black, fancy feminine garment. It may not matter, she thought, but whatever happens later this evening, she knew she felt better about herself wearing pretty black underthings.To be continued in part 2, based on the post by SandyMarl for Literotica.

Sally and James discuss the 12 days (if you include the rest day) of COP 29 for the twelfth and final day of UKSIF-mas. They discuss what the function of COP is, what its biggest issues are, what came out of this year and what's happening on a global level. The GSIA report they reference can be found here. Remember to like and subscribe to ensure you don't miss any of our other updates and interviews. To find out more about us, you can follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uksif.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get ready for an exciting episode of Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan and Wendy are back with their review of Hallmark Channel's newest film, "Falling in Love in Niagara." But hold on tight because this time, things are about to get interesting. It's been a while since Megan and Wendy disagreed on a movie, and this one is no exception. Tune in to hear their contrasting takes on the film and see which side of the Niagara Falls they each land on. Don't miss out on this discussion – dive in now! Are you with Megan or with Wendy on this movie? Email us your thoughts or review to meganandwendy@gmail.com. We Need Your 5-STAR Ratings and Reviews Spotify Podcast listeners: Spotify allows listeners to rate podcast episodes. Once you listen to a podcast for at least 30 seconds, you get the option to rate it between one and five stars. Return to the podcast's main page and tap the star icon. Then, tap submit. News and Notes About "Falling in Love in Niagara" This movie was directed by Marita Grabiak. Marita has 59 directing credits including Hallmark's "Fly Away with Me," "Feeling Butterflies," "Fit for a Prince" and "Baby It's Cold Inside" to name a few. Carley Smale wrote "Falling in Love in Niagara." She has 15 writing credits, most which are Hallmark and Hallmark-esque Christmas movies. Her titles include "Navigating Christmas," "A Gingerbread Christmas," and "On the Twelfth Day of Christmas." Related Podcast: What did GGH think about Jocelyn Hudon in "Romance with a Twist?" Jocelyn Hudon stars as Madeline. Jocelyn has 40 acting credits with FIVE upcoming projects. We recently saw her in "Romance with a Twist" earlier this year. Dan Jeannottee co-stars as Mike. Dan is probably best known for his roles on "The Good Witch" and "The Bold Type" but he is quickly becoming a Hallmark staple with rolls in "The Royal Nanny," "Sweeter than Chocolate" and "Sense & Sensibility" to name a few. Related Podcast: Girls Gone Hallmark review "Sweeter than Chocolate" Masa Lizdek plays sister Harley. Masa has 23 acting credits and this appears to be her first Hallmark movie. Jinesea Bianca Lewis plays Emily. She has 10 acting credits and appeared in "An Ice Palace Romance" and "Christmas By Design" for Hallmark in 2023. Chris Violette plays terrible fiancé Jason. Chris has 59 acting credits, including a number of Hallmark style movies but this appears to be his first project for the network. Watch the Trailer for "Falling in Love in Niagara"

Jeff Keyzer of Mightyohm.com joins Chris for a later-than-usual holiday episode, recording on what will be known as The Twelfth Day of Keyzermas

Welcome to the twelve days of Edition Wars - in this year's series we are taking a deep dive into the iconic spells of Dungeons and Dragons! What were they like at first? How have they changed? Are they better than ever? We are going to talk about all that, and more! On the Twelfth Day of Edition Wars, Brandes and Sam talk about WISH Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email us at DnDeBrief@gmail.com Sam on Twitter Brandes on Twitter Sam on the Web Brandes on the Web Sam on You Tube Sam on Blue Sky Brandes on Bluesky Sam on Mastodon Brandes on Mastodon Brandes at Tribality Thetomeshow.com Patreon.com/thetomeshow Patreon.com/BrandesStoddard

Twelfth Day of Christmas with the Rev. Jeff Morlock. Kaj (pronounced KYE like “sky”) Munk, Martyr, 1944 Joshua 3:14—4:7; Ephesians 5:1–20; John 9:1–12, 35–38; Psalms 99 & 148 (AM); Psalms 96 & 110 (PM) Read full devotion at thenalc.org/advent.

Twelfth Day of Christmas Memorial of St. John Neumann, 1811-1860; born in what is now the Czech Republic, came to New York at 25, was ordained a priest, and joined the Redemptorists; at 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, attracting teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers to the city; first American bishop to be beatified; canonized in 1977 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/5/24 Gospel: John 1:43-51

Welcome to the twelve days of Edition Wars - in this year's series we are taking a deep dive into the iconic spells of Dungeons and Dragons! What were they like at first? How have they changed? Are they better than ever? We are going to talk about all that, and more! On the Twelfth Day of Edition Wars, Brandes and Sam talk about WISH Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email us at DnDeBrief@gmail.com Sam on Twitter Brandes on Twitter Sam on the Web Brandes on the Web Sam on You Tube Sam on Blue Sky Brandes on Bluesky Sam on Mastodon Brandes on Mastodon Brandes at Tribality Thetomeshow.com Patreon.com/thetomeshow Patreon.com/BrandesStoddard

In preparing for the arrival of the Wiseman, Abby and Amy ask you to consider the gifts you have been given to extend Christ's peace into the world.  Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to receive each new reflection throughout the 12 Days of Christmas and to receive our weekly Between Sundays in the new year!  Listen on the BLC website at blcfairport.org/between-sundays. Help us spread the word by liking, commenting and sharing!

Morning lessons: Psalms 12, 13, 14; Genesis 5; John 3:22-36.  Help me, O Lord, for there is no godly one left; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of men.

Evening lessons: Psalm 17; Jeremiah 4; Galatians 5.  Hear what is right, O Lord; consider my complaint; hearken to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips. 

Twelfth Day of CraftLit LINK TO DAY 1 of the Twelve Days of CraftLit— VIDEO:  AUDIO ONLY:   On the twelfth day of CraftLit, grab your cocoa and settle in, as we unwrap the final chapters of E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale, 'Nutcracker and Mouse-King.' Get ready for a festive finale that's sure to dance its way into your holiday hearts. Wishing you all a joyous holiday season! We'll see you in wintery 2024 for another twelve days of delight on CraftLit. Until then, may your days be merry and your books be full of enchantment. If you missed the other days, here's a quick directory: DAY 1:   DAY 2:   DAY 3:  DAY 4:  DAY 5: DAY 6: DAY 7: DAY 8: DAY 9: DAY 10: DAY 11:   DAY TWELVE Nutcracker and Mouse-King (1816) By: E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776 - 1822) -   Translated by: Mrs. St. Simon -   From: Nutcracker and Mouse-King (version 2) -   eText:   Read by: Sandra Cullum -   CraftLit's socials: Find everything here: Join the newsletter:   Podcast site: Twitter: @CraftLit Facebook: Facebook group: Pinterest: Youtube:  • Download the FREE CraftLit App for  or  (you can call or email feedback straight from within the app) • Call 1-206-350-1642 • Email: heather@craftlit.com • Use our !

In which John Christopher Kringle attempts to conclude this series, speaking now to the assembled crowd in a general meeting room on board the Arcship... Continue reading →

Amber and Maddie join the Neatcast boys for a SUPER SIZED Christmas Eve rant about  the worst kinda people who are out here practicing magic. Wait we're done with the rants and it's only Christmas Eve? WTF WILL THEY DO TOMORROW? BEATS ME!Join our Discord!Check out our Merch Store HERE!Follow us @theneatcast on TikTokFollow us @neatcastpod on Twitter!Follow us @neatcastpod on Instagram!Follow us @theneatcast on Facebook!

Are you currently building a baby registry with hopes that you will pick all of the most perfect items for your baby? How do you know which items are necessary and which items you can leave off? How do you make room on your registry for friends and family to help you get the support you may need in the postpartum period?It is day 12 of The Milk Making Minutes Postpartum Christmas. On this episode you will:List all the tasks you will still need to do for your household while caring for a babyGet creative about how to get those tasks taken care ofCreate a postpartum plan that emphasizes feeling supportedHere is my full episode about baby sleep cycles. Ready to feel prepared for birth AND the postpartum period? Sign up for the FIRST cohort of the childbirth education course at a 50% discount. Find Lisa on her website: www.empoweredbirthcoaching.com And on her social media: Facebook, Instagram and TikTokHead to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for more Milk Making Minutes episodes!Make your voice heard on The Milk Making Community Group on Facebook!Find Lo's information at her website: www.quabbinbirthservices.comTo purchase books about breastfeeding, birth, or parenting that I love and help support the show, go here.

Find more information on this episode and the many resources offered by Niki Olsen Coachinghttps://www.nikiolsencoaching.com/blog/143Grab the 12 Days of Christ Connections printable PDF herehttps://www.nikiolsencoaching.com/12days

Did Mother see her life in special relation to Mary? Yes, she especially wanted to live with the Risen Christ as Our Lady did. She looked on Mary not only as the model of humility as Our Lady of Sorrows, but also as the Queen of Heaven. Mary could teach her how to be joyful.

Hi again! A poem on the very last day of the Most Great Festival for the Bahá'ís. Enjoy!

Tuesday • March 7• The Twelfth Day of LentOur passage today comes from the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 6, verses 9-12.----- “Sound & Season” is written and produced by Jeffrey HeineMusic is “Always Remember” by Bytheway-MayMusicbed SyncID MB010QUO2AEDRRR ----- “Sound & Season” is a devotional ministry of Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. To find out more about our church, visit rccbirmingham.org.

It's the Twelfth Day of Christmas!...

It's the Twelfth Day of Christmas!...

Welcome to the 12 days of Edition Wars, in this year's series we will be taking a deep dive into the things we love about this game and why we love them. On the Twelfth Day of edition wars, Brandes and Sam talk about the games they want to play! Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email us at DnDeBrief@gmail.com Sam on Twitter Sam on the Web Sam's DnDeBrief Podcast Brandes on Twitter Brandes on the Web Brandes at Tribality Thetomeshow.com Patreon.com/thetomeshow Patreon.com/BrandesStoddard

In the 2022 series of Redeemer Talk's 12 Days of Christmas podcast series, listen on this Twelfth Day to an old time radio show performed by the 11th and 12th grade students at Geneva Academy. Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 65:8-25; Luke 3:1-20So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. (Luke 3:18)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  A blessed and joy filled Christmas to all the Saints of God!  John the Baptist is making ready the people of God for the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  We have journeyed with the Christ child through this season of Christmas.  The angels have sung, the shepherds have shared, Jesus is named and circumcised, the Magi are arriving, and we are getting ready for the Baptism of Jesus.  John is proclaiming the law and Gospel to the people of Israel.  The kingdom of God is at hand and John is preparing the people as the last of the prophets.  John is that final prophet that ushers in the era of the Kingdom of God in our presence.  Christ will come to the waters of the Jordan, the Heavens will be open, the dove will descend and the voice from Heaven will proclaim the arrival of God's Son.  John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah.The final day of Christmas connects us to the ministry and work of Christ as our redeemer.  John not only proclaims the Law, but he also proclaims the “good news.”  He proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He proclaims that the Messiah is here to deliver the people of God.  The Law will be fulfilled, and the final sacrifice will be given for the forgiveness of sins.  John's words of the Gospel are for us too!  We have journeyed through Christmas and are on the eve of Epiphany.  The way for our salvation is prepared.  We have heard the message of repentance and forgiveness.  We are washed in the waters of Baptism.  We are brought into His family.  We are declared the first-born son and are given the inheritance of life everlasting. The world works on hearts and minds to deceive us that we are not ready or nor worthy of this free gift but through our Baptism we are made ready and prepared for eternal life and the glorious return of our Savior Jesus Christ.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Grant us, O God, the strength and courage, To live the faith our lips declare; Bless us in our baptismal calling; Christ's royal priesthood help us share. Turn us from every false allegiance,That we may trust in Christ alone; Raise up in us a chosen people, Transformed by love to be Your own.(LSB 600-Mark How the Lamb of God's Self-Offering stz 3)-Pastor Timothy Paul Davis is Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church  in Athens Georgia.Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

Welcome to the 12 days of Edition Wars, in this year's series we will be taking a deep dive into the things we love about this game and why we love them. On the Twelfth Day of edition wars, Brandes and Sam talk about the games they want to play! Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email us at DnDeBrief@gmail.com Sam on Twitter Sam on the Web Sam's DnDeBrief Podcast Brandes on Twitter Brandes on the Web Brandes at Tribality Thetomeshow.com Patreon.com/thetomeshow Patreon.com/BrandesStoddard

On the twelfth day of Christmas, I chose E. Jill Riley. Just a great connection and a great human being who shared her personal story. She was on episode 59 on the podcast. She was also on episode 9 on YouTube. Her podcast is The Post-Traumatic Faith podcast, available on all platforms.All links above are clickable. 

Mike, Zack, and Jer are joined by long departed Neatcast host Mark aka Sports Daddy! And Mark is seemingly here for the sole purpose of making Mike EXTREMELY A N G E R Y. When he's done, Jer and Zack round us off with a couple quick rants of their own! Okay, we're done. You may eat Christmas dinner now.It's Christmas Day! Why not buy the biggest goose in the market for one of these charities?Beacon for Change!Children's Auction!

Welcome to a special series from The Arcanist Team. Over the next twelve days, we'll be featuring flash fiction from Christopher Stanley's collection The Lamppost Huggers and Other Wretched Tales. Welcome to The Twelve Days of Horror. On the twelfth day of horror, we're learning what it means to never let go, trying our hand at a new career, and anxious to spend the holidays with those we love. Christopher Stanley is the author of numerous prize-winning flash fictions, the darkest of which can be found spreading misery and mayhem in his debut collection, The Lamppost Huggers and Other Wretched Tales (The Arcanist, June 2020). He's also the author of the horror novelette, The Forest is Hungry (Demain Publishing, April 2019). Follow him on Twitter @allthosestrings or visit his website: christopherstanleyauthor.com Love speculative literature? Read hundreds of other science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories online for free at TheArcanist.io. To support our writers, visit Patreon.com/TheArcanist.    Tales From The Arcanist and Twelve Days of Horror are produced by the editors of The Arcanist. Music provided by WATERCAT from Fugue.

All good things must come to an end, and that includes our time at the Columbia Inn. Everyone gets to kiss and make up, except for the poor charger statue that gets thrown into a tree. Join us one last time as we finish up the movie and look back on the memories we made along the way. Hosts: Roger Wistar & Marcie Wistar

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas Loud About Nothing gave to me, Kate Sisk. We went to an outdoor concert at Gramercy Park, with a very interesting announcer. After that we went to a diner and to Macy's 34th Street. They recorded and had an absolute blast. Sebastian declares himself new money because it is a state of mind. We talk about Kate's chain and her possibly getting an earring. They end by playing FMK with water, fire and wind. They also talk Christmas of course and keeping Christ out of Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today Elaine chats with the creative team of the film On The Twelfth Day of Findom. This wonderful bunch discuss the story, the inspiration behind it and their fundraising campaigns to get this brilliant project made. We have writer and co-director Joanne Thomson; co-director Caitlin Black and the producer is our very own Misha McCullagh. On the Twelfth Day of Findom KICKSTARTER LINK ONLYFANS FUN-RAISER A tinny rendition of Twelve Days of Christmas fills a fluorescently lit supermarket aisle as Emma stacks shelves lethargically. A message comes through on her phone. She fishes it out her bra and wipes her boob imprints from the screen. Another rejection from uni. “Unfortunately, we felt you lacked a certain empirical grasp on the subject of Economics and therefore-” Great. She spots another notification. Instagram. 1 message request. Tap. “Ur feet look good. They must be sweaty against those patent loafers. Please may I spoil you?”. Uh-oh. Emma has stumbled upon the world of Findom. And she likes it. Money for nothing? What could go wrong? Over the course of 12 days, the story looks at the culture of our bodies as commodities and where consent lies within that sexual exploration. We go on a rollercoaster of morals behind sex work with a character who's never really had to think about it; until she takes an involuntary dive into the world herself. Left to question her own empowerment within a new-fangled relationship, she wonders if she really is coming out on top. A window into a little-known world, this is a sexual power trip gone wrong. With Christmas fast approaching, Emma comes to the realisation that a trickle of money has made her unknowingly trade her own safety. Buy one get one free. From behind the camera, we watch her boundary lines become less and less defined until we are left with the sinking feeling that we're the ones who've been complicit all along. Instagram: @onthetwelfthday Twitter: @twelfthdayfilm Become a Persistent Pal and a Nasty Hero and keep Persistent and Nasty alive and smashing the patriarchy. Pals and Hero Membership

Thursday • December 8th • The Twelfth Day of AdventToday's passage is Psalm 47, and today's reflection and prayer were written by Kari Callahan, our Children's Coordinator. All of the daily scriptures, reflections, and prayers can be found on our Advent website. ----- “Sound & Season” is developed by Jeffrey Heine Engineering by Jonathan HaasProduction by Jonathan Haas & Jeffrey HeineWebsite by Ella Anderson & Jonathan Haas Music is "Reverie" by Jacob LaValleeMusicbed SyncID MB010QUO2AEDRRR ----- “Sound & Season” is a devotional ministry of Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. To find out more about our church, visit rccbirmingham.org.

Only three ways to describe this episode. Gatekeep. Gaslight. Girlboss. Also, Trey's heart is messed up! Check out our website: mistletoesecret.com, and our Twitter: @HCUsecret Make sure to leave a review on iTunes if you're enjoying the show! Special thanks to Colin Robertson for providing our theme music. You can find more of Colin's great music at: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/colinrobertson/love-songs-from-far-away

Richie has taken all of the clues and honed in on his prime suspect... Santa Maybe, a Criminal is a limited true-crime satire podcast created by Jason Usry. This is the Twelfth Day of Christmas – “Down the Rabbit Hole” Created by: Jason Usry Rebekah Sebastian, host of DIE-ALOGUE a true-crime conversation Dr. Shiloh Catanese, & Dr. Scott Musgrove, co-hosts of the LA Not So Confidential Podcast and our very own Legal Eagle, Michelle Kaszuba.   It is written and produced by Jason Usry. Besides host Richie Buck, this week's cast included (in order of appearance)… Sheriff Bradley Dewberry voiced by Kevin Grogan Ruthie Barker Guest (RIP) voiced by Kristi Chandler Detective Samantha Strong voiced by Shiloh Catanese Easter Bunny voiced by The Easter Bunny Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Motion Array, and Audioblocks. Additional music and atmospheres were provided by Captain Fathands. This show does contain satire and the only character based on a real person is Santa Claus and Easter Bunny. Any other names or likenesses are purely coincidental. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Redeemer Talk's 77th episode, we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with a special series featuring a member of our congregation reading passages from the Bible as well as sermons, essays, and Christmas carols. This episode closes out our 12 Days of Christmas, with Scott Vaughan reading from Psalm 72 and Augustine's Prayer on the Eve of Epiphany. Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas.

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, to Employers and SupervisorsDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 65:8-25; Luke 3:1-20Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," wrote Lord Acton at the end of the 19th century. Lords know about power. In fact, the definition of lord is "one who wields power, authority, or influence." It can also be a verb that means to wield power in a domineering way. Lord Acton recognized the problem that comes with lordship--you tend to lord it over people. It's a common human trait. Power tends to go to your head. Once you get a little taste of it, you want more and more. Jesus once said to His disciples, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them" (Matthew 20:25). The way of the world is to exercise lordship in a domineering way. "It shall not be so among you," Jesus continues. "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26–28).In the upside-down, topsy-turvy kingdom of God, lordship means becoming a servant, a slave, and to give your life for the sake of another. The nature of God's kingdom, then, impacts the way that Christians act as masters or lords. Masters and lords must not threaten—that's wielding power. Instead, they should serve. Masters and lords are not authorized to take from those they manage; they are placed in a position of authority to give. Even the most powerful masters and lords on this earth must admit that they are at best middle management in light of the lordship of Jesus. He is the Lord of lords and every lord on earth derives his name and office from Christ. Servant, slave, and master alike all benefit from our Master in heaven, who shows no partiality, but gives His life for the benefit of all. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Dear Father in heaven, You are the Lord of lords and Master of all, and You show no partiality. Thank You for removing the threat of punishment by the grace given us in Your Son. We confess that we love to lord our power over others, and for that we need Your forgiveness. Give us hearts willing to serve, even as we have received from Your Divine Service. For the sake of Jesus. Amen.-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard is pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Billy & Christi are back for the twelfth and final day of Front Porchmas 2021 and are joined by a very special guest.

This is Father Jared Cramer from St. John's Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, here with today's edition of Christian Mythbusters, a regular segment I offer to counter some common misconceptions about the Christian faith. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…According to stores, Christmas has been almost here since before Halloween. But for many families, the first weekend after Thanksgiving marks the true beginning of the holiday season. I know I talked my wife into beginning our own decorating, though I couldn't convince her to go with me to the Christmas Tree Farm… not yet.Part of the reason for that is that our family leaves our tree up for the entire Christmas season—which actually only begins on December 25 and lasts until the Twelfth Day of Christmas, January 5. However, aware that that may confuse some of you, I thought this would be a good week to break the myth of the idea that it's already Christmas by talking a little bit about the gift of the Season of Advent. Advent always begins four Sundays before the Christmas holiday. In some churches, Advent is kind of an extended experience of the Christmas season. There are candles on a wreath named for such gentle and heartwarming concepts as hope, peace, joy, and love. But traditionally, that's not what the Advent season is like. Instead, Advent is a darker season, a season that is meant to prepare us for the celebrations of Christmas, one in which we are invited to cast off our sins and prepare for the coming of Christ. In fact, traditionally the themes for the four Sunday of Advent are known as the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. In Advent, however, the darkness of our world is met with the light and power of the Gospel, and that means the Four Last Things are profoundly important opportunities to see how the good news of God interacts with the Last Things of Christian theology.Let's give it a shot.We believe in death. Which is to say, we believe we will all die someday. True, for the Christian we believe life is changed, not ended, but in a world where we seem to deny the reality of our mortality, a reminder that we are all indeed mortal is important. That doesn't mean we chase death (get that vaccine, folks!), but it also means we do not look at death as the end. It also means that we take very seriously our responsibility not to hasten someone else's death through our own choices (once more, get the vaccine, Christians killing people by not being vaccinated during a pandemic is the antithesis of the Christian faith!). As Christians we also believe in judgment. Don't get me wrong, we believe God's judgment is always tempered by God's mercy. I know I believe that in the end, all those who chose God will find God, that God's love will heal all things. But when we acknowledge the brokenness of this world, we must also acknowledge the importance of believing in God's judgment, believing that God's justice will make right those things in this world that have been broken by sin, selfishness, violence, hate, and systems of oppression. Salvation means nothing—particularly to those who are marginalized and powerless—if it doesn't also involve God's justice being made manifest in people's real lives.Heaven, the third of the Last Things, is a bit easier for people to believe in. But heaven is not about pearly gates and mansions. It's not the place where good people get to go when they die. Heaven is about the final healing of all things, of finally being in new and perfect relationship with God and all creation. Heaven is about all things being made new, all things being brought to their perfection through God's love. And in the end, you don't go to heaven because you earned it, you go because you've been willing to be embraced by God's love and forgiveness.And just like belief in Judgment and the justice of God is essential, the fourth Last Thing, Hell, is also an important part of Christian theology. I often say that Hell has to exist to preserve free choice. People must have the freedom to choose an eternity with God (also known as heaven) or an eternity without God (best understood as hell). However, the early Church, along with my own Anglican tradition, has taught that even in hell we do not lose the ability to change that choice and so even those who reject God in this life can still choose God in the life to come. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Great Divorce, for people like that hell was actually purgatory, the difficult place where they finally learned to choose God.Which is why I know I believe that, at the end of eternity, given the power of God's love, hell will find itself empty as all things are brought together in Christ.This is what the season of Advent is about: God's light entering the real and difficult places of our world, of our mortal existence, in small and yet powerful ways. So, don't just celebrate Christmas early these next few weeks. Instead, look into the darkness of this world but find yourself held by God's love. That's an Advent that will truly prepare you for the real joy of Christmas. Thanks for being with me. To find out more about my parish, you can go to sjegh.com. Until next time, remember, protest like Jesus, love recklessly, and live your faith out in a community that accepts you but also challenges you to be better tomorrow than you are today. 

The Red Sea Exodus 14:5-31 - Read by William Marbaker 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, “What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?” 6 So he had his chariot made ready, and took his army with him; 7 he took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out boldly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”   15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16 But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. 17 Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.”   19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.   21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”   26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.   30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Reflection Today's reading recounts how God made possible the seemingly impossible escape from the powerful Egyptian army through the middle of the Red Sea.  Yet, God didn't do this by giving the Israelites incredible strength to overpower the Egyptians, instead God told the people to simply “stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today.”  This demonstration of God's power resulted in the deliverance of the Israelites as well as the conversion of many people who now believed in the Lord (verse 31). At this point in our Advent season we're two weeks away from Christmas, and there can be a tendency to work so hard at making the “perfect” family Christmas that we lose focus of the meaning of the season. Take time each day to just stand and recall the deliverance that the Lord has accomplished for you through Jesus.  And then let the power of God be demonstrated through you so that others may see and believe. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

The genre-bending violin and harp duo Twelfth Day joins us to discuss their work weaving the Scottish folk and Western classical traditions, songwriting, infusing their music with other stylistic influences, their collaborations with artists Québec to Brazil to Malawi to Mongolia, the album and EP recording process, their Routes to Roots project, writing business plans and grants, and writing music that makes you think. Why limit yourself to a label? That's the mantra of Twelfth Day, the duo that has been challenging its broad spectrum of listeners with its genre-bending music for almost a decade. Though Twelfth Day wear their rich and varied experience with pride – their folk roots, their classical training – they are more than a simple product, an exponent of their practice. It is their inherent curiosity, their need to understand through experimentation, that compels them to reach for new ways and means. It results in music that combines their technical proficiency and deep knowledge of their instruments with their desire to make soulful, meaningful and intuitive music, that you would expect from musicians who have grown up learning music by ear; passing, trading and improvising with musicians from other genres, other cultures. Resources discussed in today's episode: Twelfth Day's Podcast: Figuring Out How to Be at Home Twelfth Day's Album: Cracks in the Room Twelfth Day's Patreon The transcript for this episode can be found here. For more information about Twelfth Day, please visit them at their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and iTunes.