Christmas Cards

Yes, I am one of the last hold outs who actually sends real paper Christmas cards through the old mail system.  A few years ago our church started a drop box system.  You would write up your cards as usual but instead of mailing them you would put them in a file (A-Z) in the lobby at church.  Then you would check the box to see if any cards had been left for you.  It saved the cost of a stamp and you were asked to donate 25cents for each card you dropped in to go to missions.  Nice idea, but I bucked.  Christmas time is the only time of year anymore where I actually get mail in my mailbox that I really look forward to getting!  Many years ago I had a few friends who would take the time to write hand written letters through out the year, but those days are long gone.  I can't remember the last handwritten letter I received, but thankfully Christmas cards are still coming in.  They are getting more streamlined...  pre-cards with photos printed on them, but at least an effort is being made.

Today, as every year, I sat down with my list of addresses.  I keep a running list year to year of the cards I've sent and those I receive.  Seems every year I drop a few names off of my list.  There are some cards I send year after year, but the other person never sends one back, I can't help but wonder... do they care?  am I annoying them with this yearly card?  Eventually I'll make a call on whether to keep sending them, but I always feel guilty when I drop them...  they probably have no clue!

Next thing I'll do is write the yearly Christmas letter.  I try very hard to make it real.  Honestly... it's just me writing.... not Greg, not the kids.  Letters that I receive that are written in this weird third person voice really throw me.  Why not just say who is writing?  Greg rarely has a clue what has been written in our Christmas letter, and he's fine with that.  I also try not to spend too much time listing every accomplishment of my kids... do you really care?  If you do, you probably already know. Then there is the question, how much bad news? how much good news?  Some letters are all bubbly and life is great...  probably not very honest.  On the other hand this year some bad things happened in my life.  I'll be sending this letter out to some folks who may not want to be reminded of the sad times at Christmas.  There is a balance to be found.  

Then there is the picture.  That's the hard part.  We've tried over the years to make the picture unique and interesting.... but I'm running out of ideas.  AND time to get everyone together.  Hopefully I'll come up with something clever in the next week or so.  And THEN the Christmas Cards will be mailed... through the snail mail... with a stamp, which by the way gets more expensive each year...  And it will be worth it because someone I care about will get a real piece of mail with a real letter and a picture in their mail box.  That makes me happy. 

What also makes me happy is watching Christmas movies.  Fortunately for me Lydia also enjoys watching Christmas movies and she just put one in to watch...   so I'm checking out for now.  Hope you find the time for fun Christmas flicks too!

And we're off!

Over the past weekend I've begun getting ready for the holiday season.  I'm feeling real good about how 'in control' I am right now.  It's not always that way.  Two years ago coming home from Thanksgiving in Kentucky I got a call that Greg was being rushed to the hospital from his plane.  His appendix had ruptured in flight.  I don't remember much about that holiday season.  We were just thankful to survive it... seriously!  Last year Lydia and I were still in recovery mode after the AT hike and we once again made a cross country drive back to Kentucky for Thanksgiving.  We missed several Christmas events last year just because we weren't paying attention.  I'd like to work on that this year.

We didn't return to Kentucky for Thanksgiving.  It may be harder to do that now that we are in a season with both kids in college.  By not traveling this year we were home for the Thanksgiving weekend and able to begin decorating for Christmas.  For the first time in several years we got the Advent decorations up in time for the first Sunday of Advent.  Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the organization!  I thought I'd start posting daily through this Season and see how well I do at keeping my focus on the real meaning of Christmas.  And also to share some of our old traditions and new traditions we are just trying out.

Tonight Lydia and I went to see The Nutcracker.  She claims we saw it once several years ago, but I really don't remember.  If we did it was a local community production, nothing like the Colorado Ballet.  They did an excellent job, though I'm clearly not an expert.  We ran straight from church to downtown in order to get a parking spot and arrived in time to grab a quick lunch at the Performing Arts Center.  I guess it would have been a better outing if the guys had been along and we would have really taken our time and enjoyed ourselves, but we rushed it.  So I'm not seeing it becoming a new tradition.  Though I would like to get back down there and see more shows at the PAC... there's just too much to do in Colorado!

We did however sit down to dinner together this evening, lit the first advent candle and read Isaiah 11.  I decided to read this year from my great grandfather's bible, which of course means the King James Version.  We haven't done that in a long time!  Took awhile to figure out what it was saying.  Then we spent some time talking about our favorite holiday traditions.  Sadly enough it turned in to a list of favorite Christmastime movies.  Not that they were bad... The Muppet's Christmas Carol, White Christmas, A Christmas Story... and of course watching the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy between Christmas and New Years.  However, I seem to be the only sentimental one in my family... at least tonight.  Looks like I'm going to have to work at it to spark up some Christmas spirit this year.  Sounds like a challenge. 

Well Digging Project

Well Digging Project Fundraiser to Benefit Haiti

Location:
Jaz B Studio Art Gallery
719 W 8th Ave.
Denver, CO  80204

When:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Cost:
$30 per person or $55 for a couple

Contact:
Carolyn Eustic
ceustic@gmail.com

Please join us for an inspiring night out, including live music, light Hors devours, wine tastings, a fantastic silent auction, fun door prizes, wonderful art and more.  Mingle with artists and chat with friends while helping us to raise money for our well-digging project in Haiti.  100% of proceeds/donations from the event's ticket price and silent auction will go towards our goal of $18,000 to build a well for a school or hospital in Haiti. 

Since 1991, Living Water International has been an implementer of participatory, community-based water solutions in developing nations.  We have chosen to raise funds for Haiti because an estimated 3.8 million Haitians (46% of Haiti's population) do not have access to an improved water source, and 5.8 million do not have adequate sanitation.  LWI Haiti has successfully completed over 130 water projects in the country, to date.  Through the education of children, a nation's future can be changed from one of warfare to one of peace, stability and security.  For more information about LWI, please visit www.water.cc.

We hope you will join us for this great cause and exhilarating night out in Denver.

Silent Auction will be from 6pm - 8pm (pick up silent auction items at 8:30pm)
Door prizes every hour (must be present to win)

Parking: across from the gallery and off Fox & 8th

--
The Well
Women's Ministry at Red Rocks Church

http://redrockschurch.com/connect/womens-ministry/

We are raising funds to help repair and dig wells for other women in the world through Living Water International.  www.water.cc

Happy Birthday!

Today is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Twenty-seven years ago I experienced my first Marine Corps birthday at Quantico, Virginia. I had no idea! They take this seriously. Marines are very proud of their heritage and I believe, rightly so. That first year the Marine Corps Birthday Ball we attended was in a hanger at the airfield at Quantico.

Over the years I've been to Balls held in fancy expensive hotels and more than one in old airfield hangers. While in Guantanamo Bay back in the 80s the young Marines turned an old hanger into a replica of Tunn Tavern, the birthplace of the Marines. I remember that year General Grey was the key note speaker. That was something special to experience. Hawaii was the first Ball that we invited civilian friends to join us for the Ball. I had gotten to where I took the occasion for granted. Seeing it through the eyes of someone who had never experienced was refreshing.

My favorite thing about a Marine Corps Ball... the chance once a year get to be Cinderella. It was the only excuse in my life to go all out and dress up formally. Of course, that would be Greg's LEAST favorite thing about the Balls. Then there was the ceremony. Everyone stands as the cake is escorted into the room and the Marine Corps Hymn plays. Fallen Marines are remembered. The youngest and oldest Marines are served the first pieces of the cake. One of the few events I've gone to over the years where usually the keynote speaker is actually worth listening to. Then of course the dancing... again, not Greg's favorite part.

Since he retired in 2002 we haven't been back to a Marine Corps Ball and I do miss them. But I'm glad the tradition continues on... because a birthday is worth celebrating.

Happy 234th and Semper Fidelis!