So much has changed in the last three years!

 Three years ago, our world changed.  We were locked down. Kept in our houses.  Fear was so great that at any time, our family could be hit with this "mystery virus".  Ken and I were mostly at home anyway, since he was not doing well physically.  The long stint in the ICU in January/February  2020 had left us shaken.  And  knowing that his health was compromised, we were thinking that our lives would never look the same.  And that was most certianly true.  

During one of my recent times watching Grace and Jimmy, I captured this photo of Jimmy "cooking" his play food!

He is quite the kiddo!  His vocabulary, at 22 months, is unbelievable and matched only by his climbing abilities.  He can scale a table faster than anything.  But on this day, I was especially thinking about all that has changed in three years.  It will always be sad to remember that Ken never got to know his little "namesake" (James Kenneth Rowley).  Jimmy is so much like Doug and I know Ken would have appreciated seeing Doug trying to "wrangle" Jimmy into his booster chair. Jimmy is one determined kid and if he doesn't want to do it, there is no getting it done.  These kids who were born or lived during the pandemic, are a different breed.   It is as if God has gifted them an added dose of stamina and vitality to survive and thrive.  It will be amazing to watch just what they accomplish in the future.  As hard as it was on the adults to get through this world changing event, it was even harder on the kids.

At first three years ago,  I was mostly worried for the kids.  They all had jobs and families and I tried to imagine how difficult this situation would be for them.  Doug and Susie had a preschooler and were trying to work from home, while keeping a three year old busy.  Gwen and Tim had a slightly better situation because they were already homeschooling the kids.  Tim was able to work from home and didn't have a long commute.  Gwen's job was another story.  Church workers were faced with an almost impossible situation.  Would church have to stop?  What exactly was going to happen.  Nobody really knew.  

That first year, 2020,  Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter passed in a cold, sterile fashion.  Reality hit us all, realizing that we were seperated from our families at a time when we were so used to being together.  There were no new spring dresses.  No Easter Egg hunts, No family dinner.  In my heart I was already grieving these times, since I just had an inner "knowing" that Ken's time was short.  No one knew just how long this was going to last.  

After Ken had several very challenging hospital visits and doctor appointments that I was not allowed to attend, I had sort of reached my limit.  Thankfully, the kids recognized this and stepped in.  Finally, in early May, we "celebrated" Easter with the kids.  

Gwen and Tim had managed to sell their home and buy a new one, in the midst of this pandemic.  It was truely a God thing!  I can't tell you how grateful I was to see those grandkids again!  

And here we are, three years later.  Ken has been gone for two and half of those three years.  The kids have grown and changed and of course, we have added Jimmy to our family.  These have been years of adjustments for me.  No longer married, but widowed.  No longer we but me.  Family times together are now cherished in a way that feels different than three years ago.  I just took those times for granted.  But now, each time I am with the kids, I feel the thankfulness and joy of being together.  I love to have the kids sit by me or run up to give me hugs.  I even appreciate the dogs joyful greeting when I get to their house.  Sitting across the table from friends just sharing and laughing together, is the sweetest thing.  Gathering together with my church family has a new meaning, after a time of just watching on a screen.  Being with my adult children brings me such joy and peace.  My life is truly blessed.  

Recently someone asked me how long I plan on seeing my grandkids every week.  At first, I couldn't quite understand the question!  Being with my kids and grandkids is a privilege not a burden.  Caring for Grace and Jimmy one day a week and spending a day with Anna, Zeke, Ellie and Lia fills my heart and my spirit in ways nothing else would.  My answer to that question was - "A very long time hopefully!' Looking ahead three years, I am sure there will be many changes.  But it is with great hope, faith and trust that I walk out into the future.  

I am learning so much from my grandchildren.  Each time I see them, I am amazed at the people they are becoming.  They have a confidence that is unlike any past generation.  They believe that they can change the world for the better and I believe that they will.  Some may see this as the darkest time in the history of the United States.  But I am encouraged by the courage and boldness that I see in the youth today.  They see the problems around us, but they are also seeing ways that they can solve some of those issues.  I am so proud of the Christ followers they are!

It has been three long years since that first "lock-down" of the pandemic.  Yes, some things have been changed forever.  But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Having Jesus in my life has been the key to seeing me through the changes.  Jesus gives me the courage to face whatever is ahead.  And Jesus is the peace that passes understanding when there seemingly is no peace around us.  I was thinking this week about this line from the 23rd Psalm -

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

These three years have felt like a valley - far from the mountain top.  And the shadow of death seemed to loom around us.  We heard daily reports about the number of deaths from Covid-19.  Fear, discouragment and doubt were in every home.  The smiles and laughter were hidden from view by the masks we had to wear.  But, see the good news in that passage!  We are walking THROUGH the valley.  We did not have to stay there forever.  It was truly a season.  We have walked through it and now are on the other side.  There is no better news than that!  

Jesus, thank you so much for sending the Holy Spirit who is with us and in us!  Thank you for the peace that fills us in times of trouble.  Keep our eyes focused on you, as we continue to walk forward.  Give us courage and boldness as we face the future.  Thank you for hugs and smiles and time together. Amen

Knowing your identity

 As usual, our family has been busy over the last few weeks.  I am always surprised when I look at a calendar and realize just how fast time seems to be slippling by.  Here it is, already almost the middle of March and almost spring.  However, a glance out my window this morning says Spring is far, far away after a nighttime snowfall.  It did feel much more "spring-like" a few weeks ago when our family got together for a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, thanks to a generous Christmas gift from Doug and Susie.  If you have never been to an indoor waterpark resort, geared for children, you will not appreciate just how wonderful these places can be.  

The first picture, taken on our arrival to the park, did not include Tim. He was working and joined us a few hours later.  So I had to include the bottom picture as proof that he really was there!  Recently, I saw a post from an unhappy person, complaining that Great Wolf Lodge was overcrowded with kids!  EXACTLY!  Its wonderful to have a place where kids can just have fun.  Even Jimmy, not yet two years old, had an incredibly great time.  There were slides and pools just right for him.  We even had ajoining rooms so that we could relax and have dinner at our leisure.  It actually snowed the night we were there, which made the warm water and air temperature even better.  Fun was had by every member of the family.  

Before we knew it, it was Ellie's 14th birthday and Doug's 41st birthday.  This shared birthday is always memorable.  Ellie was born a few weeks before her due date and being on Doug's birthday was unexpected!  

I is always difficult to find exactly the right gift for a teenager.  Thankfully Ellie made an Amazon wish list, so this Grandma was successful at finding things.

This dress and purse brought a smie to Ellie's face.  The funny thing about this dress is that I had an almost identical dress, way back in 1969 or 1970!  It was even almost the same pattern.  It sure is funny how fashion comes and goes and then comes back.  I haven't gotten to celebrate Doug's birthday yet (coming later today), but his gift came off of an Amazon wish list also!  What did we do before Amazon?

Around Anna's birthday, Gwen mentioned that I had never made Anna a blanket!  In thinking back on this, I realized that I needed to correct that oversight!  So I let Anna pick out the yarn that she wanted for her special blanket.  

She asked for the blanket to have her name on it, so this is the result!  I have made "name" blankets for Grace and Jimmy and Anna wanted something similar!  This blanket turned out to have a very special connection to the prophetic word I had for Anna before she was born.  The colors, the decoration and her name make this exactly the right blanket for her today! That is a story for another time.

And then, last week, I snapped this photo of my "Grand-dogs" while I was at Gwen's house.

Chandler and Sunny are almost always as glad to see me as the kids are!  And I love seeing them.  They are surely part of our family.  Chandler is getting older now and is much less likely to stray very far from home.  Sunny, on the other hand, is young and new to the family.  Additionally, because of being rescued out of a really bad situation, her behavior is still unpredicable.  Gwen and Tim immediately bought a tracker tag for Sunny's collar so that she could be found quickly if she got away.  Chandler wears a name tag with information in case he ever ventured away.  These tags are evidence that Chandler and Sunny are part of our family - it is their identity. 

Today, as I was preparing to write this blog, Gwen sent me this photo on a text. Apparently, Tim discovered this in the bottom of a box of "stuff" in their garage.  Gwen had no idea it was even there.

If you squint really hard at the picture, you will see that this is the tag that Sheba, the dog Ken and I bought before Gwen was born, wore on her collar. 

She had no idea that I was going to be writing this blog and including informtion about Chandler and Sunny and their tags.  But it is a reminder that our identity is not lost, no matter how many years pass.  Sheba was part of my family and that was her identity.  Here is a bonus photo or Sheba and me taken in 1978, shortly after Ken and I got her.

Additionally, it is certainly evidence to me, that God is in the writing of this blog!  He knew that today - exactly - I would want that picture, of that tag.  Isn't it amazing to be a part of God's familly?

Knowing and celebrating our idenities is so important!  Every time my family is together, it represents an acknowledgment of our belonging.  Our birthdays, our names, our family - this is all one part of who we are.  Knowing your identity in Christ is even more important than all of those.  When we are following Jesus, our identity shapes how we live our life and what is important to us.  If we forget WHOSE we are, we can be confused about WHO we are.  And I was realized today, that it is because of knowing that my identity is in Jesus, that I was called to even be sharing these blogs.  I may not be a "professional" writer or have a degree in Literature, but Jesus has told me to write, so I write!  And that is part of my identity.  Celebrate your identity today.

Jesus, thank you for bringing me into your family.  Holy Spirit, remind us that we belong and we are not alone.  Give us courage and boldness to be and do the things that you put before us.  Help us see and follow your direction.  Give us peace when we step out into places that seem scary.  Give us assurance that you are with us.  Thank you for caring about the small things!  Amen

When you miss an important anniversary....

Sometime in the last week, I realized that I had completely missed one of the biggest anniversary dates of my life.  I can tell you exactly when this picture was taken.  I remember that evening with clarity.  Ken and I had come from our first ever (and only) closing on the purchase of our new home. We moved in two days later.  My parents had taken us out to dinner to celebrate and my mom snapped this photo of Ken and I.  Our closing had been delayed on our new construction home because of a huge blizzard.  Originally we were supposed to close and move in by January 15th.  The date was continually moved back, due to weather delays.  I can't imagine what we were thinking when we signed the contract to buy our house in October of 1977 and it was a slab in the ground.  Given the weather and general issues that always happen, now I can see that it was a miracle that we were able to get in when we did. 

This is what our house looked like the day we moved in.  The date was February 16, 1978.  That was 45 years ago.  I have lived in this same house for 45 years.  

Here I am standing on the front porch, a couple of months later.  We still didn't have backfill or grass or a sidewalk or a driveway.  But we had a house!  Ken and I were so young back then!  I was 23 and Ken was 25 when we bought our home.   It doesn't seem possible to say, I have lived in the same house for 45 years!!!  I never imagined that I would be one of those people that never moved.  But, here I am.  And I am so grateful for the provision of the Lord of this very house.  Our parents thought that we might be making a mistake to buy this home.  It was in a very small and not well known town and also very "far away" from everything.  As a matter of fact, my dad said it wasn't even really a suburb of Chicago!  And, 45 years ago, I guess that was true.  While the town is still "small-ish" with a population around 15,000, one town that has a shared border with ours is the well known giant of Naperville (population 149,000) and clearly a suburb of Chicago.  So it was a tiny, rural town 45 years ago, it is not that now!  I have never been sorry that we made this purchase. 

Ken had always thought of our house as a "starter" home.  It is small with only 1200 square feet.  We certainly had a few years, when Gwen and Doug were in their teenage years, that our house felt very small.  But it was a short time.  Soon enough, they were out of the house and it was just us again.  Ken's dream home would have had a three car garage and a basement.  It would have not had an HOA to deal with.  I suppose there were times that I thought about how it might have been good to move.  But financially, it just wasn't possible for us.  We had chosen to refinance our mortgage several times to pay off medical debt and also to shorten the term of our mortgage.  When our mortgage was finally paid off, we took an equity loan to upgrade siding, windows, doors, floors and roof.  I can't tell you the peace of mind that I have now, as a widow, to live in a relatively upgraded home, without any debt.  I am thankful for this every single day.  

I suppose that some would say that I have a much bigger house than is necessary for me right now.  But these walls are home.  And more than that, I couldn't live anywhere else as ecomonically  as I can right here.  I know that there will be a time in the future when it will make sense for me to move.  But, right now, that is not the case. 

I have written about the clearing out that has happened since Ken has died. Ken had found ways to fill up every space (A very overstuffed garage and two storage sheds plus two attics and two closets).  With my kids help, we have mostly taken care of all of that.   I can now park in my clear garage. My attics are empty.  Most of my closets are pretty clear.  I have very little clutter around and try to get rid of more than I acquire.  It is certainly an ongoing process.  But getting rid of "stuff" has also brought me a wonderful feeling of freedom.   So, thankfully, I can say that I do not have 45 years of junk in this house.  I think this is one benefit of living in a small square footage home. 

So, if you have been seeing people suggest clearing out your home of "stuff", I strongly urge you to consider doing this.  It doesn't matter how old you are.  If you live in the United States, you most likely have too many things.  There are so many ways to accomplish this.   Some people are doing a space at a time.  Some do a bag at a time.  Some people choose a specific thing to downsize - like a book or DVD collection.  Do you really need to hang on to boxes for things that you may not even use anymore?  Or that may already be thrown out?    Having fewer things to take care, to clean, to move from place to place will give you more than just physical space.  It will give you mental and spiritual space as well.  

Many of my friends are now facing clearing out their parents belongings after their death.  This is never fun and never something that you want to do.  Take my word for it, your kids will not want your silver, your fine china or your matched glassware.  They just will not.   Make sure you give your kids those items that you want them to have NOW!  Let them have a chance to say no to things now, and then you decide what to do with them.  I have taken my own advice and sent a lot of items to the resale shop. And I have more to do.

Over the past few weeks, my Pastor has been preaching about Jesus'  "Last Will and Testament" from John chapter 14.  There has been a challenge to think about not just the "stuff" - the monetary amount- that we leave our families when we die, but also the WORDS we leave.  What do we want to give, as an inheritance to our children and grandchildren.  What do we want to leave to our future generations.  I don't think I have ever thought about this.  So, in the next weeks and months, I am going to be putting on paper a Spiritual "Last Will and Testament" for my family.  

Ending this "Anniversary memory" blog, asking you to consider clearing out your living space of stuff so ultimatly someone else doesn't have to do it.  And asking you to join me on the path of considering exactly what kinds of words of encouragement we leave for our loved ones.  Both of these things will help us have peace and calm in the future.  A fitting gift for a 45th anniversary.

Jesus, thank you for providing exactly what we need.  Your plans and purposes for us are far beyond what we could ever think or imagine.  Holy Spirit, keep our hearts thankful, even when we don't fully understand.  Give us eyes to recognize all the ways we have been held close to you, even when the path hasn't seemed clear.  Give us courage to let go of objects that are weighing us down.  Jesus  help us have hearts to share and give away from the bounty that you have given to us.  Thank you for loving us and drawing us closer to you.  Amen

 

Winter celebrations - January and February birthdays- leaving a Spiritual Legacy!

 Yesterday our family celebrated Grace's sixth birthday with a party at the Ball Factory!  This place was made for fun for those under 12 years old.  Us older folks had fun watching the sliding, ball shooting, climbing and driving fun of all the little ones.  Even Jimmy (and Doug) had fun exploring all of the activities.  

It was so much fun and I am sure that the parents took home some very tired kids.  These winter birthday's make it hard to have large groups in your home, so finding an indoor activity with a party room is surely the way to go!

Anna's birthday is actually January 30th.  It's hard to believe that she is nine years old! Her party was going to be an ice skating party on their lake, but sadly (or gladly depending on your perspective) it has been so warm that the lake was not frozen.  However, there was a week of snow and cold and blowing before her party, which was changed to an indoor roller skating party.  Sadly, I had to miss that party because of the snow/ice conditions that made driving impossible for me.  However - I did get to spend the actual day of her birthday with her!

I also got to be with Grace on her actual birthday - February 1st.  It was a school day for her so I saw her for a few minutes before her bus came. 

 And then I got to stay for dinner and celebrate with Doug, Susie and Jimmy.  So thankful for that time with Grace.

I am so thankful to be able to be with the kids on their special days.  So many of my friends are far away from their children and grandchildren.  Every time I drive away from a time with my family, I am filled with gratitude for the chance I have to be with them.  I really don't take this for granted.

Today I happened to be glancing at my emails and found a notification from Ancestry.com that I had a new "hint" in my family tree.  I only occasionally look at the DNA site, so it had been some time since I checked it out.  The new hint was about my great-great-grandmother with a confirmation about her death date/burial information.  I was so surprised when I looked at it and it was in the County that Doug and Susie actually live in!  In fact, the Lutheran Church and Cemetery is about 45 minutes from my house.  As soon as I can, I will be making a trip to that cemetery to see if I can actually find her grave.  And to add to my fascination with this information, this two times great grandmother of mine is not directly connected to the three times great grandfather of mine, who was buried very close to my current church (about 50 minutes from my house).  My mother never had any idea that so many of her relatives lived and died in the Chicago area.  And I am finding this information all because of a DNA test that I did several years ago.  I wish my mom could have known this information.  She would have been pleased to know that we did have roots in Illinois.  

My current writing project is about the Spiritual Heritage that we have through the prayers and life experiences of our past ancestors.  Both of these long ago ancestors of mine, Martha Larson and Lars Rokne were buried at Lutheran Church graveyards.  Both were members of the Lutheran Church.  Lars Rokne was actually the Music director and teacher at his church.  Sadly, the church and graveyard of his final resting place was torn down/moved in the early 1900's.  He died in 1856.  So I was never able to get any further information or see his grave.  But now I will be able to pay my respects at the grave of my great great grandmother Martha who died in 1904.  It brings reality to the concept of a Spiritual Heritage.  These two people made a choice to keep Jesus as an important part of their life.  And while this may seem like an unusual idea, make it a point to pray for your future generations.  Ask Jesus to continue to bring blessings on your family.  Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as to how to pray.  Leave a Spiritual legacy that will bless your family in the future.  

At church we are doing a series on the Gospel of John.  Each week Pastor Dave has been unpacking things from each chapter.  Beginning at around chapter 13,  he is calling this the "Last Will and Testament" of Jesus.  The final things that Jesus wanted to leave with his disciples.  Last fall when Pastor Dave announced that he would be preaching on the book of John all through the school year, I was not particularly excited.  If there is any one book of the Bible that I have studied and studied, read and re-read over the years, it is John.   I have done at least three very in-depth Bible studies on that book.  What an eye-opening year this has been for me.  I have learned things every week and have really gone so much deeper into John than I could have imagined.  After today's service I was thinking about learning new things no matter HOW old you are.  I am certainly getting older - but I am also continuing to learn new things.   So thankful for the chance to learn and grow! And so thankful for this Spiritual legacy that Jesus left for us.  

Jesus, thank you for knowing how much we would need your words of direction in our lives.  Thank you for the inspiration that John was given to pen these words so that we have them over two thousand years later.  Holy Spirit, guide our prayers for our friends, our families and our generations.  Give us the words to say to those younger than us, to pass on all that you have done for us.  Help us have courage and boldness to share our testimony and to stand firm under tough circumstances.  Thank you for placing us in families, in churches and in communities that need your light.  Help us shine in the darkness!  Amen

2023 is off to a fast start and a busy few weeks

 I can't believe that it is already the 27th of January!  I really don't know where the last few weeks have gone.  It has been a busy time for me, with activities filling the weeks and thankfully, mostly good weather.  That is, until this week.  So, in typical Chicago fashion, the last week of January and the month of February are often the snowiest for us.  And this year is no different.  So I might be housebound for the next few weeks.  I am so thankful for all of these activities that filled up my January calendar.  To start off the year, my car (which is a 2016) turned over 100,000 miles! While this used to be a big milestone, it seems that cars are now lasting well over that mark and even making it to 200,000!  

So thankful for a car that runs well, is dependable and comfortable to drive.  Especially grateful for the garage and parking inside during these winter months.  

I started off the year, helping arrange a sleepover time for Anna and Grace.  These two cousins have such a neat relationship and it does this grandma's heart good to see them having so much fun together.  After meeting Gwen 1/2 way to pick up Anna, we stopped for a special lunch out.  

I really cherish these one on one times with the grandkids.  They are growing up so fast, and before I know it, these days will just be a distant memory.   I dropped Anna off at Grace's house for a sleepover and then returned the next day, for my regular time to watch Grace and James.  I got the entire day to watch the girls go from one fun activity to the next. Jimmy was mostly just happy to follow after the girls and watch from a distance.

There was painting, coloring, dancing, game playing, clay and so much more and the day passed by quickly.  Anna spent the night at my house and then Gwen met us the next morning to bring Anna home.  

The little bit of driving to help these fun times happen is so worth it.  I just love getting to spend time with the kids.  Having the girls together was just an extra bonus.  

The following week, I got to attend a preview of Lia and Ellie's Spotlight Company's winter performance.  As usual, it was amazing.  The girls work so hard and practice so many hours to make these shows happen.  This year once again, the show will be performed at various local nursing homes.  So grateful that COVID is over and the residents can enjoy seeing these wonderful dancers.  I loved the theme and the costumes! And of course, the girls!  They danced so well!

The following week, I got to invite a good friend, Diane, to come to Fellowship of Faith.  She got to tour the building (that she has heard so much about) and then got to see a few of the Rock kids sing.  It was fun to show off my grandkids and my church!  

Rounding out this busy month, Susie had invited me to attend Disney on Ice with Grace and Susie's parents.  This was a Christmas present for Grace and she was extremely excited about the show.  Sadly, Susie's parent were not able to attend since they were sick.  Susie offered the tickets to Gwen and Anna.   Since Gwen had a work commitment, Lia was able to bring Anna!  So I got to spend a wonderful morning with Susie, Grace, Lia and Anna!  I think I might just have enjoyed the show more than the kids!  

It was a Frozen and Encanto show.  These are two Disney movies that I know pretty well.  The skaters were really good and the stadium was packed!  I don't think there was an empty seat.  I especially liked all of the Disney Princesses and the Disney Regulars (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy) that showed up at the end!

Again, just so thankful for time spent with family.  There is really nothing that means more to me than that.  

It seems totally impossible that Ken has been gone for almost two and half years.  At times it seems like just a few months.  But I have certainly settled into a routine and fill my days with family and friends.  For that, I am very grateful.  I look around my warm, comfortable home, while sipping on my coffee and feel a deep peace and joy.  In a few weeks, I will have lived in this house for 45 years!  That just doesn't seem possible.  Yet, I am so thankful for God's provision.  So many seniors are not so blessed.  

If the rest of 2023 is anywhere near as wonderful as this month has been, it is going to be a stellar year.  So much fun, so much family and so many good friends.  So much to look forward to.  I can't wait to share it all with you!

Jesus, thank you for these wonderful times.  Holy Spirit, help me to remain in this attitude of gratitude.  Remind me of the blessings of family and friends and house and home.  Thank you Jesus for your provision of everything that I need.  Thank you for children and the joy that bring to us.  Amen

Christmas wrap up for 2022

I so love having these family photos from our gatherings.  I love seeing just how much the kids grow and change.  Christmas was so much fun.  We managed to avoid the bitter cold and snowy days by our previously planned date to celebrate of the 26th!  It was a great day weather-wise and everyone was healthy (which we do NOT take for granted)!  

 

We always make sure that one of the first things we do, is set up for the "photo shoot".  It is almost impossible to wrangle everyone once the present opening begins.   This year Micah, Lia's boyfriend, joined us for the Christmas celebration.  Our number keeps growing as the kids get older!

It is a good thing that Gwen and Tim have the "world's biggest sectional" since it fits most of us!  

It was so much fun just watching all the opening of presents. I receive the "Grandma and Jimmy" frame to complete the set of frames on my wall!  Susie began making these for me in 2008, when she created the first "Grandma and Lia" frame.  She has gifted me one for every grandchild since!  These precious keepsake frames mean the world to me.  I now have seven frames to look at each day!

It was a great day for some outdoor fun, so Grace, Anna and Zeke spent over an hour outside sledding.  Gwen and Tim have some perfect hills so no driving is necessary to get to a good place to sled.  

Warming up afterwards required some hot cocoa.  Just made the day even more fun.  Jimmy seemed to enjoy the dogs as much as the presents.  Sunny (who has as much energy as a toddler) and Jimmy, raced around the room chasing after each other.  Both Sunny and Jimmy were ready for a bit of "containment" so Sunny went to her crate and Jimmy....

And everyone had a turn at entertaining Jimmy!  It was so much fun seeing the excitement of the kids.  They love being together and everyone had a great time.  We played a few rounds of a new game "Would you Rather" and that brought many laughs.  We didn't take our usual dinner time photo- we simply forgot.  With all twelve of us gathered around their table set with their Avent wreath burning, the story of my "almost burning down our house on Christmas" was once again shared.  And we laughed (all of us adults) that the kids did not even know what an "entertainment center" was!  Our family Advent wreath story involves a plastic wreath, some (very) short candles, the top of an entertainment center, and a busy mom (AKA me) making a Christmas breakfast in the kitchen while the entertainment center burned! Just a little!  Thankfully, Ken noticed the flames before much damage was done.  We had a large burn mark on the top of that piece of furniture for all the years we owned it!  And also a great story to tell every Christmas for the last 37 years.  

The years go by so fast.  In a blink of an eye, the kids are all growing up.  It won't be long before my little family will grow so large it might be difficult to fit easily into a photo.  I can not express fully just how thankful I am for the love and care and concern I am so blessed  to receive from my family.  Over the last few weeks, I have read, heard and seen so many stories of families that are torn apart by conflicts and hurts. My prayer goes out to those who do not have family nearby or at all.  There is something about Christmas that makes family seem so important.  For me, it is all about sharing the love that makes the holiday so special.  It is the small little kindness' that happen that bring smiles and tears to so many.  It is the "secret santa" gifts, the ornament exchanges, the cookies shared and the candy eaten that express the truth of Christmas. It is the lights on trees and houses and yards that dispel the darkness of the winter night.  It is the smiles of strangers, the door held open for you, the extra hug that warm my heart.  It is the glowing candles in a darkened church and the singing of familiar carols and the ringing of the bell near the Salvation Army kettle.  Yes, this is the love of Jesus pouring forth  into our dark world.  Jesus said "I am the light of the world" and then said "You are the light of the world".  As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we shine forth our light into the world.  That is what Christmas is really all about.  May we all continue to shine forth brightly into the new year.  

Jesus, thank you for reminding us that you are the light of the world.  Holy Spirit, help us to see the light that overcomes the darkness that seems to be all around us.  Remind us to shine brightly and to not "hide our light under a bushel".  Keep us aware of others who might need that extra measure of kindness.  Give us courage and boldness to smile, to hug and to help.  Amen