Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays - and Blessings to All!

…and off we go into the Christmas holiday season and all it brings. 

For many of us here in the United States, that means - WINTER! Cold! 

I appreciate the changing of seasons, but the cold stuff….UGH!!! It seems harder to take it, maybe with getting older, or just because…but it's here. So bundle up, relax, and do warm things. Like fires in the wood stove, like hot chocolate and cookies. Like some good soups and stews, and fresh bread. 

It may be harder for me to bear, having lived on Maui in Hawaii for eleven years (1983-1994). I was very fortunate to have had that experience, and an amazing experience it was. It was there where I met my wife, Donna, in 1985. Maui is an incredible place to be, especially since the climate is about the same year around, varying about 5-10 degrees. Going to the beach on Christmas or New Year's Day ALMOST makes one feel guilty, knowing so many were “suffering” the cold, and snow and ice, on the mainland. But we went anyway…

With the holiday season, it seems like each year there is more and more ADVERTISING. Wow, how I hate advertising! And the more input you have, from TV to radio to junk mail to internet to Facebook to…EVERYWHERE you turn you are bombarded with ADVERTISING. It's sickening. 

So…I turn it off. Mute it. Block it. Repel it any way I can. 

And turn my heart towards the reason for the season. Celebrating the birth of Jesus, no matter what exact, specific day He was born. It's the FACT that He was born that is important. And the absolute importance of His life, His teaching, His death, and most importantly, His resurrection - these are the important things of the season. 

So let's think of others, do something kind for someone, and let your heart celebrate!

Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays - and Blessings to All!