Christmas Day

Since we had a pretty busy day planned we decided to open our gifts last night. From jewelry to video games, we both received a nice assortment. After going to church this morning, we were off to Jennifer's aunt and uncle's house for our big Christmas dinner. From there, we rushed back home to have my parents up for a small evening dinner followed by a round of Scene It! -TV Edition. It was a gift from Jennifer to me.

Overall we had a great Christmas sharing time with loved ones and remembering those that are no longer with us. Although these thoughts and memories can be very hard at times, especially on Christmas Day, we can rest assured knowing that it is the gift of Christmas that we will one day reunite us with them forever. May God comfort each and every one of you. Merry Christmas!

Jason

Napoleon Dynamite's 12 Days of Christmas

If you like the Napoleon Dynamite movie, then you will like their rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. If not, don't bother following this link. Enjoy!

Parkway: On the Mountain

As many of you know we have been attending Parkway Wesleyan for a while. They are building a new church on the "Mountain". Here is a picture of the church under construction and a proof from the flyer that will be handed out for the first Sunday on the "Mountain". We are praying for 2,000 the first Sunday. (Photos from HeAthLuVsInG's blog)

jennifer

Merry Christmas!

Before long another Christmas season will only exist in our memories. From working to shopping and all the little tasks in between, it has been an extremely busy season. So busy that many people have forgotten what Christmas is all about or even sadder, many do not know the true meaning of Christmas. Last night as my dad and I roamed the mall with all of the other last minute shoppers, I began to realize how caught up our society is with Christmas and yet, all for the wrong reasons. Alongside others, I franticly searched each and every store for one more “perfect” gift. Soon I gave up, realizing that no matter what I picked up and bought, it would not be the “perfect” gift. There is only one “perfect” gift. Christmas isn’t about giving and receiving store-bought gifts. It’s about receiving Christ as your savior and sharing this “perfect” gift with others. Without Christ there is no Christmas and without Christmas there is no purpose for existence. Next year, instead of spending countless hours searching aisle after aisle in stores that are afraid to say, “Merry Christmas”, for fear of offending someone, search your heart for Christ. There you can find the true meaning of Christmas that doesn’t just exist on December 25th. Unlike the excitement of receiving the new gifts that soon fade as the days pass, receiving Christ is an excitement that will never fade. Even in 1965, Charles Schultz was able to see our society’s growing ignorance, regarding Christmas. Using the humble cartoon character of Linus he asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas was all about?” Then he proceeds with the following quote from the Bible.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. LUKE 2:8-14

God bless everyone this Christmas season!

Jason

Congratulations Jennifer...

...on a job well done! Without a doubt, you passed your third semester of nursing school and are only four months away from being a registered nurse. I am so proud of you for working as hard as you do at something you are so passionate about. It's not everyday that someone devotes as much time and energy to something as you have over the past year and a half. Your hard work is paying off and before long it will all be a blur. Again congratulations and have a restful Christmas break!

Love always and forever, Jay.

Christmas Lights

Each year around Thanksgiving, miles upon miles of electrical lights begin to cover our homes and trees as an outward display of our Christmas celebration. What a hassle for millions of Americans, including myself, to spend countless hours untangling last year’s ball of lights that were franticly stripped from our gutters and eaves only ten months prior. Not to forget the time lost searching for the one bulb that keeps the entire strand from working. We owe all our thanks to Edward Johnson! As vice president of Thomas Edison’s Electric Light Company, Johnson made the first electrical strand of lights for his personal Christmas tree in December of 1882. Although it wasn’t until 1901 before the first consumer strands were offered for sale, President Cleveland was the first president to electrically light the White House Christmas tree in 1895. Yes, it was called a Christmas tree and not a Holiday tree. So here’s to traditions! Let your house and Christmas tree shine while you enjoy the lights this Christmas season! To see our neighborhood in lights, visit our Neighborhood Christmas Lights Gallery.

Historical source: Wikipedia.org

Jason

Winter Coats

I came home the other day and found Molly sporting around a stylish vest on the ball field while Sandi relaxed by the fire with a cup of tea in a more sophisticated corduroy jacket. Apparently their thick, natural fur coats that develop in the winter months were just not cutting it on those cold winter days. The other day, while shopping, Jennifer found these two dog jackets at Target and decided that they needed them. I laughed at first, but the jackets do seem to keep them from shivering when they are on the back porch and I must admit they do look kinda cute too. Click here or on the photo above to see more of the photo shoot.

Jason

Farewell to a good friend

Goodbyes are never easy, especially those that are forever. After nearly ten years, I finally said goodbye to a trusty old friend...My ‘89 Jeep Wrangler. I can remember the day I first laid eyes upon it. I had been looking for a 4-wheel drive for a few months, with no success. One Sunday, in June of '96, my dad suggested that we take a family drive in the country, in hopes we might see something for sale on the side of the road. It wasn’t long after we started on our drive before we came across it. I fell in love at first sight. Perfect! The right price, the right color, the right everything. It was mine for the taking and I can truly say it became my most prized material possession. I was known for my Jeep. I fit the Jeep and the Jeep fit me. However, after selling it I realized that I didn’t really miss it that much. I have something more important than that...memories. Because of the long, topless summer rides with Jennifer and Josh, the midnight treks in the snow to Krispy Kreme with my dad and Jennifer and the cool summer evenings with old friends I will never forget my Jeep.

Jason