It was 5pm and there I was at the 'puter checking the news when the doorbell rings?
Really? who would want to come by after dark @ 5pm to see me in Firestone?
As I opened the door it brought tears to my eyes, yes really.
A person that we have known for over 8 years, who has lived (until recently) with his family in a trailer with no running water had a gift under his arm. He and his family are the poorest (financially) people we know personally.
They brought us a gift, how can you come to grips with that? This is one of the most heartwarming, tearful nights I have ever encountered. Ah the Christmas spirit...
He has done various landscaping projects for us over the years, bringing his wife and family with him as he did work on our property.
He and his family are always welcome in our home. Many times we would take his sons down into Bryce's train room to play. Or Marg would take time holding the newest baby in their family on the rug in our living room with the proud mother at her side.
Guess that is why it is called a living room...
He is one of the hardest/strongest workers I have ever encountered.
He is one of the most polite & trustworthy people I have ever known.
His family became our extended family, as every year they would knock on our door for Halloween, or come over monthly to fill water jugs for their home.
On one job he brought his Vaquero father from Mexico to help shovel/create a driveway for us. His father does not speak English, I do not speak Spanish. We got along well, as we could both see and respect honest hard working people. I could see and appreciate the respect a father has for a son. No matter where they come from.
It reminded me of my honeymoon in Germany when an older Hausfrau/housewife that my sister in law knew wanted to see my hands. I graciously turned my palms up and presented my hands to her, she looked at them, ran her fingers over them and smiled and told my sister in law that we were welcome in her home. One of the greatest compliments I have ever received.
Every year we would witness his family grow, from one to five children. From a young daughter translating for her father, into a young woman celebrating her Quinceanera that we were invited to attend.
What an honor!
As a tradition, most every time he came over to do work for us we would send him home with extras from our cupboard or freezer for his growing family.
Maybe a cerveza or two for him for a job well done.
Tonight he and his family paid us the greatest honor anyone can give, a simple Christmas gift from a family that has so little.
As he presented the gift to me he apologized for the writing on the wrapping, meaning he was not sure of what he should have written. As I lifted the gift to my chest/heart and held it close, I thanked him and said; "Merry Christmas" and he replied "Merry Christmas." Nothing else needed to be said...
I can not wait to tear open the beautiful green wrapping on Christmas morning and admire a gift from the heart.
The heart of a respected friend.
Merry Christmas
W
P.S. I add this postscript after Christmas. His gift from his family to ours was a special box of Hershey Kisses. Marg was born in Hershey...
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
The Christmas letter
For as many years as I can remember Mom & Dad had always sent out a "Christmas Letter" to family and close friends. Numerous years ago we started this tradition in our family. A great custom to try and uphold, though one that is hard to maintain. This type of endeavour takes dedication, stamina and a good editor, my wife.
Every year the daunting task of condensing your life onto one page shows up around Thanksgiving.
"Oh no, the Christmas letter is due."
Earlier this year my external hard drives (yeah two of them) both died and they were full of 30 years of family pictures!
I started digging, and digging, praying and praying...
Low and behold in my picture file search (from another 2 hard drives that had been removed/stored when the last computer died) I came across a file titled; "Christmas Letter. "
The file was in a drive that had a backup from 8 years ago. When I opened the file there were quite a few years of letters saved and waiting for me to blow the dust off. As I began reading into our past a nostalgic feeling started to warm my soul.
Happening to remember (amazing how the mind works) that I also had a hard copy file of previous letters stashed in an old file cabinet. Along with the left over sheets of unused Christmas letter stationary. Combining these two cherished discoveries 13 years of Christmas letters were now sorted out.
A few years are missing but good to go for now.
You never know what will turn up next time a piece of technology crashes! Maybe I'll find my New Year's resolutions from 20 years ago?
No wait, don't want to see that list...
The Christmas letter has become a family tradition carried forward for what, 50 years?
Goin' ask Mom about that one.
Other family members partake in this practice also (thanks bro).
Reading into the past our past, I became aware of various things.
Every year the daunting task of condensing your life onto one page shows up around Thanksgiving.
"Oh no, the Christmas letter is due."
Earlier this year my external hard drives (yeah two of them) both died and they were full of 30 years of family pictures!
I started digging, and digging, praying and praying...
Low and behold in my picture file search (from another 2 hard drives that had been removed/stored when the last computer died) I came across a file titled; "Christmas Letter. "
The file was in a drive that had a backup from 8 years ago. When I opened the file there were quite a few years of letters saved and waiting for me to blow the dust off. As I began reading into our past a nostalgic feeling started to warm my soul.
Happening to remember (amazing how the mind works) that I also had a hard copy file of previous letters stashed in an old file cabinet. Along with the left over sheets of unused Christmas letter stationary. Combining these two cherished discoveries 13 years of Christmas letters were now sorted out.
A few years are missing but good to go for now.
You never know what will turn up next time a piece of technology crashes! Maybe I'll find my New Year's resolutions from 20 years ago?
No wait, don't want to see that list...
The Christmas letter has become a family tradition carried forward for what, 50 years?
Goin' ask Mom about that one.
Other family members partake in this practice also (thanks bro).
Reading into the past our past, I became aware of various things.
- My style had pretty much stayed the same (content order) not sure why, just the facts?
- I had forgotten some of the key life events that are mentioned in the letters from various years.
- We have been married for going on 35 years and have a wonderful life full of memories.
- We, and our family have been blessed by God in so many ways.
- By combining all the leftover Christmas stationary we don't have to buy any more for a few years...
Looking at the news every morning and witnessing what is taking place in our world, the simple fact that we live in America is truly remarkable. Why did God put us in this wonderful country instead of one of the troubled spots in our world?
What do I have to complain (so much) about?
Not really anything, nothing at all.
I have a loving wife, yeah she still loves me. We have 2 wonderful girls and 3 grand children. All of us have a roof over our heads and well, we live in America. Celebrating traditions freely and openly.
Not really anything, nothing at all.
I have a loving wife, yeah she still loves me. We have 2 wonderful girls and 3 grand children. All of us have a roof over our heads and well, we live in America. Celebrating traditions freely and openly.
No, our lives are not picture perfect. We have all had our difficult times, times that each of us must bear. Through faith and family we have been able to prod along in our given path.
From now on we will make a point of saving the Christmas letters we write/ receive. Placing the hard copy in the 3 ring binder we have started for, "The Christmas Letter".
Our life, one year, one page at a time...
The Christmas Letter.
Thank you Mom (& dad) for your perseverance. Thank you for teaching me how to be a man, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather and well I pray, a decent human being...
Write a letter sometime soon to someone you love just for kicks, & see what happens.
W
From now on we will make a point of saving the Christmas letters we write/ receive. Placing the hard copy in the 3 ring binder we have started for, "The Christmas Letter".
Our life, one year, one page at a time...
Thank you Mom (& dad) for your perseverance. Thank you for teaching me how to be a man, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather and well I pray, a decent human being...
Write a letter sometime soon to someone you love just for kicks, & see what happens.
W
Sunday, December 18, 2016
The meaning of the Candy Cane
By: Rev. Donald J. Barthelmeh (Cincinnati, OH.)
Of the scenes of Christmas none is more beautiful than the shepherds on the hillside watching their flocks by night, with crook in hand, about their humble business of guarding and keeping safe their flocks. From here they receive the announcement "unto you is born a Savior." Then they joined together to go "see the great sight which had come to pass."
The Shepherds' crook was at the first service of worship of the Christ. Its counterpart is our candy cane so old as a symbol that we have nearly forgotten its origin. We are immediately attracted by its color - the red and white. Red is for sacrifice; white is for purity. The body of the cane is white representing the life that is pure, or that may be pure. " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
The broad red stripe is symbolic of our Lord's sacrifice for us. We may celebrate the birth of the child Jesus, but we must also be mindful of the man, Christ. Christmas always brings us ultimately to Calvary. He gave his life of the cross in sacrifice for our sin.
And then the many smaller stripes - these symbolize the sacrifices we must make as Christians - the offerings we would bring to be intertwined with the supreme sacrifice of our Savior. The may mean the wounded sheep he has brought into the fold, or the sufferings we must bear in witness to Him in whom we believe.
The form as a staff suggests a symbol of service, and it suggests life is a service even as the Christian life is a worship. But of course the color and form give way to the aroma of peppermint and its pungent taste. Peppermint is akin to the aromatic herb hyssop. Recall the old Psalmist's plea: Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7
Old Testament scholars suggest the use of hyssop not only for its delightful taste but also for medicinal purpose. A healing nature is suggested. What better symbolism at Christmas for us for we are told, "We are healed by His Stripes."
It is candy and the candy cane is to be shared - broken into pieces for all to share. It draws us into fellowship of sharing. How good it is to remind ourselves of Jesus' statement, " This is my body broken for you." Just as Jesus' body is broken to be shared, just so, our lives as good stewards must be shared. We come to realize as children of God and sharers of Christ's life that "only as we give, shall we live!
Love came down at Christmas all lovely and divine. Now in the Season of Christmas we seek to spread that love among all men. One symbol is the Shepherd's Crook, made visual in its implications through a candy cane. It calls us to serve; its red bands direct us to a life of sacrifice; its essence of mint relates the tastefulness of those who would share. We are also reminded that our life might be pure, made white by who would share. We are also reminded that our life might be pure, made white by sacrifice of the Savior circling ourselves and spiraling up into a life of love and peace.
If you turn the cane upside down, it is a "J" for Jesus. We pray God blesses you and your family at Christmas in the year to come!
W
Of the scenes of Christmas none is more beautiful than the shepherds on the hillside watching their flocks by night, with crook in hand, about their humble business of guarding and keeping safe their flocks. From here they receive the announcement "unto you is born a Savior." Then they joined together to go "see the great sight which had come to pass."
The Shepherds' crook was at the first service of worship of the Christ. Its counterpart is our candy cane so old as a symbol that we have nearly forgotten its origin. We are immediately attracted by its color - the red and white. Red is for sacrifice; white is for purity. The body of the cane is white representing the life that is pure, or that may be pure. " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
The broad red stripe is symbolic of our Lord's sacrifice for us. We may celebrate the birth of the child Jesus, but we must also be mindful of the man, Christ. Christmas always brings us ultimately to Calvary. He gave his life of the cross in sacrifice for our sin.
And then the many smaller stripes - these symbolize the sacrifices we must make as Christians - the offerings we would bring to be intertwined with the supreme sacrifice of our Savior. The may mean the wounded sheep he has brought into the fold, or the sufferings we must bear in witness to Him in whom we believe.
The form as a staff suggests a symbol of service, and it suggests life is a service even as the Christian life is a worship. But of course the color and form give way to the aroma of peppermint and its pungent taste. Peppermint is akin to the aromatic herb hyssop. Recall the old Psalmist's plea: Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7
Old Testament scholars suggest the use of hyssop not only for its delightful taste but also for medicinal purpose. A healing nature is suggested. What better symbolism at Christmas for us for we are told, "We are healed by His Stripes."
It is candy and the candy cane is to be shared - broken into pieces for all to share. It draws us into fellowship of sharing. How good it is to remind ourselves of Jesus' statement, " This is my body broken for you." Just as Jesus' body is broken to be shared, just so, our lives as good stewards must be shared. We come to realize as children of God and sharers of Christ's life that "only as we give, shall we live!
Love came down at Christmas all lovely and divine. Now in the Season of Christmas we seek to spread that love among all men. One symbol is the Shepherd's Crook, made visual in its implications through a candy cane. It calls us to serve; its red bands direct us to a life of sacrifice; its essence of mint relates the tastefulness of those who would share. We are also reminded that our life might be pure, made white by who would share. We are also reminded that our life might be pure, made white by sacrifice of the Savior circling ourselves and spiraling up into a life of love and peace.
If you turn the cane upside down, it is a "J" for Jesus. We pray God blesses you and your family at Christmas in the year to come!
W
Saturday, December 17, 2016
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time is Here Song
How many of you remember watching this every year.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Facebook Hiatus continues
This just amazes me...
Why would you be so stupid to go to Facebook for the news?
Really?
Guess that is why I have stopped my personal FB page interaction. Tired of the BS from friends and family who do not get it, the truth is easy to see, for some...
http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2016/12/news-feed-fyi-addressing-hoaxes-and-fake-news/
Do you really need Zuckerberg to tell you what is happening, truthfully, in our world?
Why would you be so stupid to go to Facebook for the news?
Really?
Guess that is why I have stopped my personal FB page interaction. Tired of the BS from friends and family who do not get it, the truth is easy to see, for some...
http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2016/12/news-feed-fyi-addressing-hoaxes-and-fake-news/
Do you really need Zuckerberg to tell you what is happening, truthfully, in our world?
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
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