Tag Archives: Life

2024 Christmas Post

My Life, Thought, , , , , , , , ,

There was a time when we would send out a long long list of Christmas cards. Lucenda and I worked together each year to get them out. We gradually shortened the list over time. Then, we only gave out a few.
Since she passed, it has not been high priority for me to send out Christmas cards. And, now that Russ and I have “joined forces” .. and Brian is (um) an “adult” …. (cough) … I see things a bit differently.

This year, first time I remember in my life, I have a REAL Tree in the house. I am NOT having ANY allergic reactions to it!!! Many of my “I have to have them out” Christmas decorations are packed away somewhere as we are still trying to get things set up in our new house (over a year new).
I have lights and decorations in the front yard.

I have LOTS of lights and decorations in the living room.
We have been blessed in many ways.

It has been a slow process … a few moves have been involved … all that to say … I am not the same person I was 10 years ago … or even 5 years go … I am still me, but different … just like a tree growing in the backyard, it changes, it looks different each year … but, it is still the same tree … but yet … it is a different tree.

The ONE constant has been my Lord.

Along the way, there have been a few amazingly wonderful and faithful friends and others have come into my life as well.

My family has grown in many ways.

We celebrate the Birth of Jesus this time of year.
We should be living His example ALL year, every year.

For those who feel distant, GOD is always with you. HE will NEVER leave you nor forget you.

For each and every person on my list .. and beyond .. know that you are loved, you are valued, you are special, you are important.

Merry Christmas to you all.

You Are

Life Notes, Music Related, My Life, Struggles, The Story, , , ,

I once worked at a place that worked with people with “life alterations” … some had no voice, some had no sight, some had other challenges they lived with. Colton Dixon released “You Are” in 2013. Part of the lyrics are as follows…

If I had no voice
If I had no tongue
I would dance for you like the rising sun
And when that day comes and I see your face
I will shout your endless glorious praise

This song stuck out to me because of the people I encountered at that place I once worked.

Then, October 2014, I watched me wife rapidly fade away in just over 24 hours in a hospital bed. She had no voice. She was fading fast. This song came to my mind. I closed my eyes and saw her dancing and singing … in the presence of Our Lord. You see, she loved music (she played piano). She loved to dance (barefoot).

This song is one of the songs God made sure I heard. HE knew it was what I needed.

.. end transmission ..

A NEW Christmas

Charecteristics, My Life, Struggles, The Story, Thought, , , , , ,

For much of my life (decades), August through December had been a full, busy time for me.

From childhood into adulthood, I have been involved in some sort of “Christmas Event”. Be it, a Christmas play, a musical, or something of the sort, I was involved. I have been “main characters”. I have been “singing” (however, not much). Most of my teen and adult years, I have been part of the “technically” aspects of programs.

Having a child, added to the list. We when to Christmas events, parades, programs, etc .. geared toward children.

Then, there was the “FULL ON Busy Time”. August was getting ready for State Fair that was September. This went right into preparing for Christmas Cottage (craft selling event that took place just before Thanksgiving). There was still Church Christmas programs of some sort that added to the business. Decoration for Fall .. Halloween .. Thanksgiving … Christmas (this part was NO small thing for me).

October of 2014, in the middle of the “FULL ON Busy Time”, Lucenda passed away. I stumbled through the rest of the “Time” that year.

I tried to keep things “sort of” going the following year (2015). But, I realized that it was not going to continue. I had to let go of many of the “FULL ON Busy Time” things.

I moved 3 times in 5 years. Once, across country. MUCH has changed in the past 9 years.

This Christmas is … This Christmas is a New Christmas for me.

I taught the “Grief Process” to numerous “prospective resource parents” over the years. I “knew” the “logistics” of it. Now, I “know” much more about it. The “stages” are NOT clearly defined .. they are NOT clearly separated .. they are NOT done and gone once you go through them. Grief is ongoing. It is foolish to believe there is a “time limit”.

All this stated … All this laid out on the table …

Thanks to TRUE loving and caring people in my life, I have been able to move forward.

A New House to decorate very differently than I have for … decades. New environment. Different job situations for us all. My son is 20 (still mentally processing THAT!).

This year is A NEW Christmas.

.. end transmission ..

thought for the day

Charecteristics, Life Notes, My Life, Thought, , , ,

me … trying to say something briefly …

in my 53+ years, i have encountered an extreme rollercoaster of events. my emotions have been pushed beyond their limits multiple times. my trust has been crushed multiple times. my contribution to the facial tissue industry has been enormous.

what am i trying to say? i am not really sure actually.

i see others going through rough times and my heart aches for them. my annoying constant desire to fix all the world’s problems keeps me up at night …. often.

my thoughts are like someone ripped the pages of a script out of the book and threw them up in the air then read them as they landed. so are my prayers some days.

unlike some, when i commit to someone as friend, it is no small thing. to be a friend is a huge investment that i take on without thought.

for all of you … whether you like me or not … whether you like what i say or not … i am still me …. period

i pray that each of you knows that GOD will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you. HE is ALWAYS with us.

close your eyes and think of the sky just as the storm clouds are leaving on a sunny day.