A Different, but Merry Christmas

This year Christmas is a different holiday for us here at the Hearn household...As I write this, it is Christmas day and it is very quiet!! Emily, Anthony and Tillie are celebrating their first Christmas as a family at their apartment in Bothell, so it's our first Christmas without Ems. David came over last night and is still here watching TV. So, that is some normalcy. He and I might go see the new National Treasure movie. This is also my first Christmas without seeing my folks. We visited last Friday and did some caroling at the nursing home. My Dad is having lunch with my Mom today at Manor Care.



This past Saturday was our annual Hearn gathering. It was held at our home and it was so much fun! I look forward to it every year, especially this year. Thank you all dear family for being so wonderful!



Back in a November post is the quilt making adventure Debbie and I had. We made a quilt for Mom and gave it to her this past Friday after we sang. There are pictures there of Debbie and I with our mom, giving her the finished project!



I have so many pictures, I created a link to make it easier..Click here to see all the pictures. They are in random order..There are a couple of pictures of Ems with her friends, Hannah and JoyMarie. They have been friends for a long time. It's fun to see them get together and giggle.



I find myself near tears today. I'm sad because my parents are not well. I'm not sad that Emily is not here, just trying to get used to it. It's important for Ems and Anthony to establish their own traditions now. When Reg and I first got married, I was adamant that Christmas morning would be just our family. Then we could do whatever in the afternoon. It's so easy to lose the meaning of Christmas. Not just the shopping, but also the busyness of the holiday. As I was thinking of my Dad, who has kind of ignored Christmas, I thought that in spite of all that is going on in our lives, and I think of my Mom who is not well, today we celebrate the birth of a Savior. His birth has made it possible for us to see God face to face! To give us eternal life when our earthly bodies give out! That alone is GREAT cause for celebration! It is a gift offered to all! It just needs unwrapping.



So, as this day starts to wind down, I will choose to remember the incredible gift offered to me which I opened back in 1974, and I thank God everyday for His Son who offers me salvation and hope. Romans 5:5 says "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."



Merry Christmas everyone!