This year, for many reasons, I find myself having trouble feeling the Christmas spirit.  I think the fact that Thanksgiving came so late in the season and cut a week from our regular routine of Christmas preparations may have something to do with it.  I also traveled for several days to Chicago just two weeks ago and so that seemed to put more pressure on my already crowded schedule.  The economy is suffering and so the American public in general, I feel, is spending and celebrating more modestly than in recent years.  And I have found that some ongoing family issues have prevented my own family from upholding some holiday traditions as well.

I have no tree up, no decorations, the gifts I’ve thrown in bags instead of wrapping, I haven’t sent Christmas cards, and have only attended family holiday events.  Can we all say, “Bah humbug?”

But despite all that, I have to remember that the holiday is not about what we do or don’t do now, or ever really, it is about what has already been done.  When many years ago on a cold, dark night in a small shed our Lord and Savior was miraculously brought to this earth with the mission to live among us, to teach us, and then to die for us.  What a most amazing gift! 

So I pray that each of you have a Christmas to remember that is shared with family and friends.  But I also hope that each of us never fail to remember the most important Christmas that ever was, the first Noel, and that the gift we received then is the only one we will ever need. 

Merry Christmas!  I love you all!

^{THE CHRISTMAS STORY}

¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
    ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    ¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:1-20

Okay so its been a few weeks since I posted last.  It has been a busy, busy few weeks.  I’ll catch you up on the happenings of my life with brief summaries… more detail to follow.

TSO performance – I went with my mother to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I enjoyed the show and realized that the stage was just as much one of the performers as each musician was.  The lightshow and stage movement work was amazing.  I think my mother enjoyed herself too and that’s the best thing.  I always enjoy my time with her.

Annie visit – Over Thanksgiving I kept Annie, one of my best friend’s dog.  She is the cutest Boston Terrier and was great visitor to have.  Very well behaved and I can’t complain.  My house actually felt a little empty after she left.

Grandma’s for dinner – I spent Thanksgiving Day with the people I love the most.  I had dinner at my grandmother’s house along with my aunt, uncle, mother, and boyfriend.  It was a nice day, wonderful weather, and allowed an opportunity to stop for a brief minute to count my blessings.

Carolina/Clemson game – My boyfriend and I took in the rival game at my friends’ house, Nick and Esther.  All I can say is GO CLEMSON!!!!!!!!

Mom’s second Thanksgiving feast – Mom usually cooks for Thanksgiving and since this year we went to my grandmother’s she cooked a secondary Thanksgiving meal on the Sunday after.  She had already thawed the turkey when my grandmother invited us so it had to be cooked anyway.  But it was a lovely meal shared with the two of the most precious people in my life – my mother and boyfriend.

catch a cold – Two weeks ago I caught a cold that knocked me out of work for two half days.  I’d try to go in and then would have to go home.  Nasty, nasty cold.  But I stocked up on Vitamin C and Tylenol Cold and that seemed to do the trick.

Chicago travel – I got all better in time to travel to Chicago for a work conference.  The city was beautiful all decorated for Christmas and it SNOWED!!!!!!!!  I’ll write more about this soon.

Christmas shopping – I have started Christmas shopping.  I have just a few more things to purchase to finalize this years gifts. 

more petsitting – I have also now become a professional petsitter apparently.  I checked in on Phoebe, my godcat, who is owned by the wonderful pair Matt & Shea.  And then the following weekend I was responsible for checking in on a trio that belong to Nick & Esther… they are Dusty, Ally, and Roscoe.

So that’s been my last few weeks.  Along with working, it has been extremely busy.  I’m hoping it will calm down soon so I can think.  But the holidays are making that difficult.  Hopefully I’ll have more time to write again and more frequently soon.  I still need to make final comments on my California trip and now Chicago as well.  Stay tuned…