It's begining to look like Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas has filled our hearts and home this year. For the first time in 6 years, we got a Christmas tree! Every ornament has meaning. Carefully hung, every little ornament glimmered as the scent of noble fir filled our tiny apartment.

My Grandpa Cecil had always given us ornaments, as did Cole's Grandma James. Grandma Olga always gave crisp dollar bills. With all three of them gone, those ornaments have an extra special value to us. We are reminded of their best qualities and special quirks, of how they always brought a smile to our faces and gave us more love than humanly possible! We always looked forward to Grandma James' homemade fudge and talking about current events. Grandpa Cecil was our movie buff and DJ. He had a song for every occasion. I can still picture him closing his eyes, feeling the music and tapping out the drum rhythm with his hands and feet. Grandma Olga had an impeccable memory, so conversations with her were packed with details, love and care.

My Auntie K's favorite holiday is Christmas! She also has contributed GREATLY to my Christmas cache. (Thank you! It's getting good use this year!)

She gave me (years ago) a table cloth with Christmas bears in formal parade attire playing the drum and trumpet. Anyway, we used it as our tree skirt. It's just beautiful and again adds to the meaning of Christmas for us. Sharing and spending time with loved ones, whether that "loved one" is in our family or in someone else's.

John 3:16 says "For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." God loves us, all of us. He gave us Jesus. Jesus gave us life. So our aim, for everyday really, is to first LOVE. Love our family, friends, neighbors, and yes- our enemies. Secondly, to GIVE. God gave us the gift that kept on giving... ...Merry Christmas!