Christmas Memories #12

Merry Christmas everyone!   Met with more family today at my home.  We ate and ate and ate.  Soooo full of food, it is really sinful.  We enjoyed our afternoon together with laughter, cheer and happiness.  Everyone loved their gifts and we sent them off until next Christmas when we can do it all over again.  We are sooo blessed to have warm homes, good food and peace in our land.  I never want to forget the real meaning of CHRISTmas!  We wouldn't have a holiday without Christ.  Remember to keep it simple for Him, for sure, He came to earth in simple form, born and laid in a manger.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Memories #9

Only 5 days before Christmas!  Are you ready?   For the lonely one, discouraged one, unemployed one and the list goes on, this hopeless feeling will not last forever!  No matter how hard we try to make our Christmas memories good ones, sometimes life just happens and our whole world turns upside down.  Oh, I have had a few Christmas mornings when all was not well.

 One particular Christmas Eve morning my husband was going to hunt deer with some other men.  He had to travel into the next county to meet the group and have breakfast.  A little over half way to his destination, he slowed the truck to make a turn and the truck motor just cut off.   He got out, darkness all around, raised the hood and started working around the battery connections hoping to get it cranked again.  He took a screw driver and tapped on an area around the battery and suddenly it exploded in his face.  You see the battery was hot and when there was a spark, it just exploded.  Now remember he was out before daylight, alone with acid from that battery in his face and eyes.  There was a house not too far away and he finally made it to the door and knocked.  The people who lived there was about to turn their back on him, but he convinced them to help.  The acid had been on his face long enough to burn not only the skin, but his eyes.

I got a call from his brother some time later telling me he was in the hospital in that town.  I hurriedly made my way to the hospital, not believing my eyes.  He was in a bad way.  Later that day he was released, yet in pain and bandaged, including his eyes.   Well, my Christmas eve plans were ruined from our yearly family get together.  But we made it through that difficult Christmas eve even if we couldn't do as normal.

The next morning we had to be at the eye doctor's office for him to check the eyes.  We were so blessed that Christmas!  He could see, not very well at all, but he still had healing time.  Back home we went and had many visitors come by that day.  My children were happy even at home.
 
Last year my niece went into labor about 4:00 in the morning on Christmas!  They got up and woke their little boy and had their Christmas gifts early and headed off to the hospital.  The baby was born later that day, but it sure made a different Christmas for all of us!  One we will never forget!  He was the most precious gift even if he did mess up our plans.

I guess what I am trying to say, no matter what comes your way, do the best you can in any situation.  God will be with you and the world will not stop turning.  It will make you stronger and appreciate the good times and "normal" times.

Christmas Memory # 6

Many people out of work or hours cut will think it will be better for them and everyone else just to stay out of sight. This is simply not true.   One way to lift your spirit is by going to church. If you are not a member of a church, try to visit one this special time of year.  No time would be greater than now!

Of all the other posts, this one is most special to me.  Church has always been a large part of my life, with my mom and dad being the first to take me.  You have class parties, Christmas plays, caroling and the list could go on.  What more could a family do in a positive way than attend Church.  Jesus is the true reason for Christmas.  There is no Christmas if you take Christ out.