Gift Giving This Year

I know that you have already experienced an avalanche of catalogs stuffed in your mailbox. Some of you survived "black Friday," others waited for "cyber Monday." I don't want to sound like Scrouge... but I am concerned about the spending (did you hear about the Wal-Mart employee who was killed by greedy shoppers last week?) and the buying and where it is leading us? Every year, the pressure is on... to get more and spend more - and what is the end result?
Well, here's a tip and I hope you'll take it to heart (even for those who are shopping for dad/grandpa this year). The best gift of all is to give yourself. I promise it is just what your loved one - has always needed and always wanted. It is the gift that keeps on giving through out the year (can you remember one thing you got under the tree last year... two years ago?).
Our family will remember one of the best Christmases ever, was the year we gave ourselves to each other. Coupons filled the tree with promises to "I'll make your bed for a week" or a "batch of your favorite cookies," a "trip to get ice cream" or "read a story" to you. All coupons had to be redeemed by a set date and the fun continued long after the tree was down and decorations were put away.
I've included a couple of gifts that I will cherish forever. Recently Dad made me a shadow box with all my old barber tools. I will never forget how the tears flowed the day, Sue gave me a picture of my Grandma & Grandpa Deeter on a old fashion screen door frame. Mom recently gave me a family heirloom, their old clock, passed down through three generations. Another treasure is an old fishing creel and net from the a dear friend's widow. With each gift, hand made and/or personal keepsake, they gave me a piece of themselves. There is no way that I would ever take back or trade in... one of these priceless gifts.
The greatest Gift of all came wrapped in swaddling clothes and was found lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem, long ago. That Gift has changed the world. Do you know why? Answer - because He gave Himself, approximately 33 years later, when He died for our sins on an old Roman cross. And the Gift keeps on giving... Merry CHRISTmas!

So Thankful

We are so blessed and have so much for which we are thankful. God has been so good to us. This past week, we traveled to Ohio to be with our family. We anticipated our time together for months. It was everything we hoped it to be and so much more.

Tony, Jillynn, Jaykob, Addi and Ella came all the way from North Carolina... Angel, Jeff and Kerri came from down the road... Ann and Ryan (Greg's mom and son) came over from Heath... Sue and I came down from Flint (even our dog, Missi made the trip)... to Greg and Amee's house (along with our grand-puppy, Brutus). The food was exception, the weather was great, the fun was beyond words. Everything wonderful that one could imagine, took place during our three days together (Tony even brought Cheerwine from NC- that's pop!).

Our only regret was that Mom and Dad were not with us (they are in Florida for the winter, so we can have them a lot longer in the years to come). But really they were there - all they have done for us... the legacy that have passed on that lives in each of us (they've even spoiled the dogs)... every gift (except Mom's exception cooking) but then again Angel made Mom's recipe for homemade noodles (and they were close if not right on!).

We ate and ate and ate some more... stayed up late and got up early... went to COSI (Center of Science and Industry)... took pictures and more pictures... went to Scott and Danielle's (neice) new home on Friday and got to see Bev and Randy's families (Roger's sister and brother) and all the cousins... ate "finger food" (even though Roger asked for a fork)... watched football... played games on the big screen tv... made more memories... hung outdoor Christmas lights... said good-bye and choked back a few tears.

To copy the words of a contemporary songwriter, "How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee." Thank you God... thank you family... we are blessed and we are thankful.