"Merry Christmas!"

Yes, it's that time of the year, seven days from today, to be exact - but, we won't be together to do the final countdown. That'll be up to you and your family.

When you get back on 1/5/09, please share your stories of joy and peace with us, working from this "post".

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"How Will You Decorate Your Christmas Tree?"

Just when I thought we'd won the "War on Christmas," we're back in the foxholes again, waging the battle against public displays of Christmas trees, trees decorated with recycled ornaments - green plastic newspaper bags, plastic bottles, bottle caps, and plastic plates, all coordinated to resemble real ornaments, from , I think, a distance of two miles!

Question - What happened to last year's decorations? Why can't we recycle those decorations! Does one really believe that by decorating, with non-biodegable stuff, the Christmas tree, we're diverting a ton of trash to the landfills in Ohio and Pennsylvania?

Are we carrying this "Green" movement a litttle too far, or, not far enough? For what other Federal holiday will we recycle?

Easter Eggs made from plastic golf balls?

"Poll Results and Much More..."

The majority of those polled favored giving gifts to family members, followed by, not surprisingly, giving to those whom we do not know. Thank you, if you participated in this poll.
Did you read about the Christmas furor out in Washington state? http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/

Check this out...

In other news...

"It's Time to Simplify..."

...during this mad-cap Christmas season? Perhaps it is the BEST time, to stop, reflect, and simplify! Research shows that during the Christmas season, stress reaches an all-time high - meeting expectations of gift-giving, economic challenges, family obligations - you name it.
"...'Tis the season to be jolly?"
It should be!
And, who makes it stressful?
Just look into the mirror...
We've been given a golden opportunity to appreciate and love what is most important in our lives - take the opportunity to give the gift most cherished - simplicity. Look at the simplicity of the birth of Christ! Yet, look at the power of His gift to us!

So, how will YOU simplify during this Christmas season?

For What We Give Thanks...

Just wanted to do a follow-up to the previous post on Thanksgiving...a friend of mine shared his "Thanks..." he witnessed this past weekend.

In a restaurant, he and his wife got up from the table. She went to buy some bread, he, to empty their trays. When he returned to the table, a gentleman from the nearby table held out a fistful of dollar bills.
"You dropped these," he said, and returned my money which had fallen out of his wife's pocket.

In a children's clothing store, a stranger walked up to him and his wife and handed them a 15% discount coupon.
"I don't need this. I just used up mine."

In DrugFair, the cashier gave him and his wife instant savings on their purchaes, even though they hadn't filled out the application yet - it sits on his desk, at home, now. He says he will return to the store, return the completed form and shop MORE there than he had before.

What can I say?

Please tell us your stories!