A Very Merry Christmas (2009)

Wow, three months since my last blog post. Must do better about that. :)

It's Christmas Day 2009 and I sit here on the couch this evening overwhelmed by God's blessings. This year has brought a five-year cancer-free checkup, continued stability in my job considering the current economic situation, and the birth of our son. Temperatures are in the 20's tonight with windchill in the teens yet we have heat to keep us warm, a roof over our heads, lights shining brightly on the tree, and my son is sound asleep in his crib. My beautiful wife, who works tirelessly to see to care for Ethan, care for this house, and tolerate her husband, is getting ready for bed.

There are times throughout the year when work brings on various levels of stress, when you can't make everyone (or anyone) happy, when the bills pile up, and when nothing can go right.

Yet, here I am a week from year's end and I look at her, and I look at him, and I realize that the stress was handled, you can't make everyone happy (and trying guarantees failure), that those bills got paid, and everything is just right.

Merry Christmas!

Fall, Christmas, stars in the sky, and "that smell"

We've arrived at my favorite team of the year. I despise being hot -- and I get hot very easily. In fact, as a child I recall sitting on the floor of our family room coloring with crayons and sweating like I had been running a marathon. When Fall arrives and the temperatures drop I absolutely love it. Crisp breezes, colorful foliage, that smell of a wood-burning fireplace, and the thoughts of the holidays ahead -- I love it all. This evening I took a walk through our neighborhood and for the first time in quite a while the air was so clear and fresh I could see the stars. In front of our house I saw the brightest dozens, but as I neared the lake and the street lights didn't interfere my eyes adjusted and I saw thousands. What an amazing sight! I could stare at them for hours.

It's at this time that I begin the anticipation of the holidays ahead, Christmas in particular. It's no longer the "gifts, gifts" anticipation of a child, but the joy of watching children open their gifts, decorating the house, giving and giving, donating, and remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Though I try to be thankful to God throughout the year, it's this time that I slow down and take the time I should always take to thank Him for everything. What a wonderful time of the year! So what if stores are stocking the shelves in October! Fantastic! I can't wait to put out the few outdoor decorations and lights that I put up each year -- it's one of my favorite things to do.

Finally, I want to take an opportunity to remember my grandmother, "Babi." It's this time of year that I miss her the most -- probably because it was this time of year that I got to spend the most time with her. Earlier this week I was walking through our house, and once at work in my office, and there was "the smell". This smell instantly sends my mind to Babi's house. It was the unmistakable smell of her house -- not a bad smell at all, but one that snaps my mind back to that place of comfort, love, and wonderful food! I still have no idea what caused me to smell it as I could never locate the source and as quickly as it came, it left. But, it will return, and then, so will the memories.