Christmas

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
- Luke 2:11-14

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ the Savior, is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

"But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
- Luke 1:30-33

Memories

About this time each year, around Christmas, I begin missing my Mom more than at any other time of the year. My Mom made Christmas very special. It was a time of her and I decorating the tree. A time of us making Christmas cookies together. She always made many different kinds of cookies and fudge, and especially two of my favorites - chocolate covered raisins and chocolate covered cherries. I can still remember setting the dining room table for Christmas Eve dinners, using the expensive china and the polished silverware, and the dark red water goblets. We would open presents as a family after dinner, with me usually getting to play Santa by passing out the gifts to everyone. I would sit in front of our Christmas tree for hours, listening to my Mom's Christmas albums, late into the night. Christmas morning was spent eating a large meal, which included homemade caramel rolls.

Christmas is a time for being thankful for the birth of our Savior, and of being thankful for what we do have, but for me it is also a time of missing my Mom and of reflecting on the past. It has often been a sad time, spent missing her, and of wanting a family of my own to make the holidays bright and cheerful again.

Tonight, I decided to watch one of my favorite movies, The Family Stone. It is about a disfunctional, yet very functional family, and a glimpse into the lives of each of its members. I was reminded once again of my Mom, and of how much I miss her smile, her laugh, her touch, and her hugs. Please be sure to wish your Mom a Merry Christmas for me, and tell her that you love her and are thankful for her.

Desire

This is a quote from Garrison Keillor's website (A Prairie Home Companion), and a rather fitting one for the Holidays! Happy Friday!

"Craving only causes frustration, intense desire makes the object recede. If the game is really important, you're going to lose. If you're wildly in love, you're going to lose and you know it. The trick is to keep it from being that important. Be cool. Don't want it that much. Want it less. When you get to where you don't want it at all, then you're more likely to get it. And if you don't get it, you don't care so much."
- Garrison Keillor

Relaxation, Part II

Last night was another glorious evening of relaxation! After shoveling for what felt like the 20th time, I settled into my favorite chair, with a roaring log in the fireplace, the Christmas tree lights on, lit a Montecristo Series C cigar (great smoke), and enjoyed a steaming hot cup of coffee with peppermint mocha creamer. Ahhhhhh!

"To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level."
- Bertrand Russell

"This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men."
- Captain J.A. Hadfield

"Acquire inner peace and a multitude will find their salvation near you."
- Catherine de Hueck Doherty