Dare I say Happy Holidays?

I know, I know. We are to be an example to the world and say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. And I did do that very regularly this season. But I picked this title because I wanted to relate our Christmas but also look ahead to the new year. So please forgive me for deviating from Merry Christmas.

Yes, we had a merry Christmas and I hope you did also. The weather forecast was for 2 days of ice then 20 inches of snow then more ice. So on Wed. we postponed the big family Christmas dinner which I was to host, from Christmas Day to Sunday after. I also changed the menu from ham and turkey and trimmings to soups and snacks and salads and sweets. The storm didn't really materialize as forecast. That was fine with me and I thoroughly enjoyed being "sorta stuck" at home, just the three of us. We got up and opened gifts and ate Land of Nod Rolls for breakfast. Then we played with our new games and then ate lunch. My daughter was really surprised and thrilled with her wii and wii fit plus. She hadn't even asked for one knowing they are expensive. But as a family we had fun bowling and playing tennis on the wii and she has thoroughly enjoyed the wii fit plus, working out for an hour a day every day since then. My big gift from my husband and daughter was a record player that plugs into the computer so you can change your records into MP3 or burn them onto CDs. I will enjoy listening to all my old records once again, when I figure out how to run it. I have my mom's old records of the Chuck Wagon Gang and the Big Brass Marching Band. I have dad's records from his college music appreciation days by all the classical composers. I have the local church groups of my childhood like the Gateway Singers and the New Creations. I have my favorite groups from my college days like The Bee Gees and Bay City Rollers and Cat Stevens. And I may even have some old country like Hank Snow and Hank Thompson. I was excitedly telling my niece about my gift and how excited I was and she tried to burst my bubble by telling me they already sell those old records on CD. Well I doubt they have them all and besides it would cost a lot more to go buy them on CD when I have them already on record and can copy my own. Right? Anyway, we had a good Christmas and I hope you did too.

Today we went to a funeral of a former neighbor of ours. In fact my husband and his brother farm that guy's former land. This guy was 93 and had been in the nursing home for 6 years. As one after another stood up and told stories about this guy and his faith and how he impacted their lives, it became very clear where his priorities had been. And then his son told how he'd been to see his dad on Nov. 28th and they had a nice visit. On the 29th he was called and told his dad was bleeding internally and vomiting. The ER doctors wanted to do surgery but this dear old guy said "nope, I don't want surgery, I just want to go home to Heaven". The son agreed that the family would honor his wishes. So he was put into hospice and when he went to sleep on the 30th, he woke up at 6 AM on Dec. 1st in the presence of his Lord. What more could you ask for? I can't picture anything better than going to sleep and waking up in Heaven. After the funeral another neighbor said to me, "well that is final, there aren't any do-overs" and I said "nope, that's why you have to get it right the first time". So how does this tie into New Years? 2009 is pretty much gone. There are no do-overs. But 2010 is a new year and a new decade and a whole new chance to get it right the first time. I want to live my life in such a way that when I die all the stories told about me will be a testament to my faith and all will know that I woke up in the presence of my Lord.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I hope you have a very blessed and Happy New Year!