January - Trying to Get Through It

January of 2012 seemed so promising on its second day.  I had high hopes for the day, for the month, for the year.  And, then, in just an instant, everything changed.  I fell down the basement stairs.  I didn't fall far, but I fell hard.  Since that time, I have been mostly absent from life as I knew it.

I have not driven.

I have not read.

I have not written.

I have stayed away from the computer because I cannot tolerate the light from it, 

nor can I tolerate the text I see written on it.  

I do not watch television.

I cannot watch movies.

I cannot tolerate crowds of people.

I cannot tolerate noise.

I prefer darkness over light.

I have focused on getting through each day.

I have focused on believing that I would see light coming through the dark clouds that seemed to always be overhead.

I have tried to hang on to hope:

hope that I would get better,

hope that the pain and dizziness would go away,

hope that I would be myself again.

Source: weathersavvy.com via Sally on Pinterest

Today, I had the best day that I have had in 17 days.  I am finally feeling better.  I am finally believing that I will be better.  We have an action plan as far as how to deal with this injury, and I am sure that in time, I will be better.

My husband has been my constant encourager.  He has allowed me to sit quietly in the dark for hours on end so I could give my brain time to heal.  He has downloaded stories for me to listen to on my iPhone.  He has driven me to get my hair cut so I would feel better about the way I looked.  He has driven me to doctors.  He has been patient.  He has, as always been my champion.  I don't know what I would do without him.

Yesterday, my dear friend from college days told me that her mother always said, "If you can make it through January, you can make it through anything."  True.  January can be so bleak at times.  It can be a harsh month to get through.  I am working on that right now.  I am working on getting through January.

I have missed my blogging friends, but I am not quite ready to read blogs again.  I will check in as I am able.

Writing this post is an accomplishment.  I hope to be back going full steam soon.  I hope you all are well.  I miss you.

Looking Back - A Repost from 2008

I am taking a blogging break.  While I heal from a fall, I won't be writing.  I am sharing a repost that first posted in 2008.  It is interesting to me to look back to see what I was doing a few years back.

2008

This year has been a very interesting year. I have done some things I have never done before, and I have had to adjust to a new stage in my life. I began 2008 by taking on a new job in Colorado Springs. This meant that I had to "go to work everyday" which my friend Don Weinhouse reminded me would happen if I took the job!

It was an adjustment to get up at 5:15 a.m. just so I could be on the road by 6:45. I had to be at Bricker Elementary at 7:30 a.m. This was a change. I no longer could roll into my office at the University around 9ish two or three days a week. (Speaking of my office at the University: My new classroom in the elementary school where I would teach ESL was smaller than my office had been at CSU-P.) This picture was taken on the last day of school in my classroom.

Despite the early morning drive, teaching elementary ESL was a great experience. I felt like I had truly gone full circle in my career by taking on this new venture. I began teaching over 40 years ago as an intern for Head Start the summer before my junior year in college. My real teaching career did not begin until 1995. From that time until 2008, I taught secondary students, 9 - 12, English or ESL.

In 2004, I left the classroom to go to CSU-Pueblo to develop the endorsement program in linguistically diverse education.  I loved writing curriculum, developing a new program, and working at the higher ed level.


It was a huge change for me to go from teaching teachers and future teachers to teaching second through fifth graders. I felt like I was out of my comfort zone, but I loved the entire experience. I had never really taught at the elementary level.

I loved the kids, the other teachers, and the principal and assistant principal. There were plenty of challenges, but it was good to be in the real world of teaching again. I loved the elementary setting also, but I also learned that I am a secondary teacher at heart.  I knew, as much as I loved those elementary age kids, I was most comfortable with high school kids.  I don't do the turtle in the classroom thing very well if you get my drift.  Teaching freshmen and seniors is where I feel most comfortable.

At the end of 2008,  I had to make the decision not to go back again when the school year ended. I would have had to give up my retirement, and I knew that I was not physically up to making the drive another year. I was sick nearly all winter from all of those new germs that float around an elementary school. It was like my first year of teaching all over again.

My SCWP Group

As soon as the school year was over, I was able to participate in the Southern Colorado Writing Project at CSU-Pueblo. For over eight years, I have wanted to take part in this project, but family needs and professional duties at CSU-P did not allow me to do so. Finally, as a retired teacher, I became a member of this wonderful project. I found that the National Writing Project, of which SCWP is a part, to be the most wonderful professional organization that I have ever experienced.

The month of June when I was taking part in the project was brutal. I was working from very early in the morning until 11:00 at night on my reading and writing assignments, but I loved it! The professional learning community of which I became a member is one that I will alway treasure. We had time and opportunities to come together as teachers and talk about our profession while learning how to become better at what we do.

Dinner with My Teaching Friends from Russia

Two of my favorite people, Lynette Lievers, a teaching friend from my days at Centennial, and Dr. Katherine Frank were our mentors. I made new friends, developed new professional contacts, and even developed an international relationship with two professors from Russia.

Wow! Now that I think about it, I wonder what I did with my life before SCWP. One night, my Russian friends, Irina and Tamara and I took some time off and went to dinner with Jim. I became quite close to both of these amazing women and really miss them!

I am continuing to stay involved with SCWP and will presenting at a conference at the end of January that Dr. Frank (Katherine) has put together. I am wondering what I got into because the featured speaker is Tom Romano. Educators know he is a very BIG name. I am really quite nervous about the whole thing. 

In July I went to the Boston area to spend two weeks with son Jonathan and grandson Atticus. We had such a great time together. It isn't often that a mom gets to spend such quality time with an adult son. We did many of the tourist things that one does in the Boston area, but we also just got to hang out together and talk. This was a highlight of my year. Jon is such an awesome dad. He and Atticus have such a special relationship. I know the summer was hard on Jon as Samantha was in Bangladesh on a grant with the State Department again for the second summer in a row. I hope my time with him helped the time apart from Sam go a bit faster.

Another highlight of the year was a trip to Alaska with my husband Jim. I had always wanted to go to Alaska and was glad I finally made it. Since we went on a cruise, that also was an entirely new experience. I think in a way, we were both surprised we actually made the trip. We had a great time and I will forever treasure the memories that we made.

It seemed that this year was the year for some wonderful vacations. In October, I made a trip to San Diego. Daughter Keicha and granddaughter Gillian flew in from Utah just about an hour after I did. We spent the next three and a half days doing San Diego! As a double treat, I was also able to spend much of that time with my sister Suzanne and even spent one day with my niece Sarah. I truly don't know when I have enjoyed a trip more than this one - except of course for the two trips just before it! The weather was unbelievably warm. We felt like we were in paradise. What a blessing to be able to spend this type of time with my children and grandchildren.

Throughout the year, I have done some professional development for schools in the area and hope to do more this coming year. This keeps me busy and involved. I also taught the Secondary English Methods class in teacher education at CSU-P this past semester. I had a great group of students and enjoyed the class.

Finally, to finished out the year in a perfect way, Jim and I drove to Utah for Christmas. The roads across Wyoming were horrendous. I did most of the driving since Jim really doesn't feel comfortable driving in the snow. The wind blew snow across the roads between Laramie and Rock Springs and as the day progressed, the conditions became worse and worse. Thankfully, I had suggested that we make a reservation at Little American right after we left Laramie. (Thank goodness for cell phones!) We slid into Little American about 8:00 p.m. and were ever so grateful for that oasis in the middle of nowhere!

The time spent in Utah was picture perfect. Of course, snow that keeps piling up on Christmas Day always set the mood. I love being with my children for Christmas! I wish they all could have been there, but at least we were with the oldest two and four of my grandchildren.

Off To A Bumpy Start

Yes, 2012 got off to a bit of a bumpy start.  Let's just say, I'd like a "do over."  Have you ever wanted to do something over?  I have.  I wanted a "do over" when I fell and broke my elbow.  I especially wanted a "do over" yesterday when I fell down the basement stairs.  Yes, that is how I started 2012.  I fell down the stairs and hit my head on the cement basement floor below.

My goal for yesterday was to get the tree down.  That involves bringing up boxes from the basement and then taking them down again.  In the process of getting laundry started and getting the ornament boxes, I started up the stairs, remembered something I had forgotten, and turned to go back down.  My foot, clad only in socks,  slid off the stair as I turned and headed back down.  From there, it was a rocky ride to the bottom.  It the floor back of the head first on cement floor which was thankfully covered with a piece of old carpet.

My brother-in-law said I needed to wearing some Capezios  if I were going to be doing pirouettes on the stairs.  I think I'll just not do any more pirouettes on the stairs.  My daughter-in-law suggested I wear a helmet around the house.  Perhaps, I will just start by wearing shoes.  I then hope to put up railings on both sides of the stairwell.

Needless to say, the Christmas tree is still up and may be for quite some time to come.  I spent the day in the emergency room.

Thankfully, I only suffered a mild to moderate concussion.  It could have been so much worse.  I also gave myself quite a whip lash.  Of course, I also have hurt my lower back and hip area.  Over all, I certainly could have done much more damage to myself.

I am to limit my reading and listening to music for the next few days.  I am to limit my computer time.  I need to not be giving my brain a lot of stimuli for a couple of days.  According to the doctor, I could be recovering for at least a month.

This is not how I had planned on starting a new year.  Ringing in the new year by bouncing my head on the floor was not in the plan.  One blogging friend suggested I invest in a big bubble for my husband and me.  She may be on to something.

I am taking this forced rest seriously.  I am trying to learn to be kind to myself, to be gentle.  I must take the time to heal.  I am taking a blogging break for a few weeks.  I won't be reading blogs or writing on mine during that time.  I will read and post comments as I am able.  I will miss you all, but I think that I really must take this time to fully recover.

Thoughts on Moving Into A New Year

A word to carry with me as I move forward into 2012

hitherto |ˈhiðərˌtoō; ˌhiðərˈtoō|adverbuntil now or until the point in time under discussion
I love that this word is an adverb.  It tells how I will move from 2011 into 2012.  Hitherto implies looking back as one moves forward.  It serves as a reminder of the past as one goes into the future.  I'm not sure we can move forward if we are not able to carry with us lessons from the past.
In someways, it seems that my husband I have ended the past year at a somewhat tenuous point.He has not fully recovered from his recent heart procedure.We are having to implement new lifestyle changes.Each day presents its own new challenges.
Hitherto,we have met other challenges.We have faced these challenges together.
The journey is not done.Many miles have been covered in the past year.Mile markers have been reached,but the journey is not done.Thankfully, there are more miles of track to follow.

I am reminded of all the people who have been there to encourage me on my journey throughout my life.
I am reminded of all the great blessings that I have received throughout my life.
Today, I am especially reminded of that great passage of scripture in I Samuel 7:12when Samuel erected a stone and called it Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help,and said, Hitherto the Lord has helped us.
And so, it has always been that way for me.Hitherto,thus far,the Lord has helped.
I have no doubt that He will continue to do soas I move forwardwith renewed hopeinto 2012.
Inspiration for this post came from the December 31 devotion from the classic devotional Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.  

Reflections On A Life Well Lived

Our next door neighbor died just a few days before Christmas.  Last night, when Jim and I returned home, I said, "I just can't believe Joe is gone."  Jim agreed.

We have lived in this house for about sixteen years now, but it has only been in the last few years since we retired that we really got to know Joe.  Before that, we were gone much of the time and never had time to get to know our neighbors.

Joe and I neighbored a bit back and forth from the first summer on.  He would be out puttering around the outside in the evenings as I dug in the dirt in the front yard.  When we first moved in, there were no flower gardens in the front of our house.  There was only rock and ground cover.  Slowly, shovel, by shovel, I began digging and planting.  As I dug and planted, Joe puttered next door.  I became accustomed to knowing that my house and yard was always safe under Joe's watchful eye.

Nothing in the neighborhood ever escaped his notice.  Once, he came over and told us the garage had been left open during the night.  Another time, he warned that thieves had broken into his garage and other garages and were stashing the goods in his back yard.  He found the loot and called the police.  We installed chains and locks for our back gates.

Another time, we had to have some foundation work done to the house.  I was out of town when the work began.  Before leaving, I had discussed with the workmen how they could dig up my flower beds. Joe had no idea that we were having the work done.  When workmen began digging up my flower beds and pulling out plants, Joe came over and asked what they were doing.  He said, "Sally is going to be mad as hell when she gets home and sees what you have done to her beautiful flowers."  I still smile over that.

Once we retired, we got to know Joe better.  My husband and Joe would visit quite a bit as Joe tinkered on his old car or worked about the yard and house.  They would even share a few books.  We had time to finally get to know our neighbor.  Whenever we went on trips, it was nice to know that at least one neighbor was looking out for our house.  Joe and his wife would graciously pick up our mail and newspapers whenever we were out of town.

Joe, born just two days after I was born, was a wiry, short man who at one time managed the local Furr's Cafeteria.  He then prepared meals for the Meals on Wheels program.  A quiet man, unassuming, humble man, he married young and worked hard all his life.  He treasured his wife and family.  He adored his two grandchildren.  He honored his Catholic faith and his Hispanic heritage.  He was a hunter and fisherman.  He seemed to be able to fix anything.  He was truly one who could be described as "the salt of the earth" or one of great worth and reliability.

Over a year ago, we noticed we hadn't seen Joe recently.  We remarked that we worried that he was ill.  Then, we saw him one day and were shocked to see how much weight he had lost.  He had colon cancer.  He seemed to rally.  This summer, when we got up every morning and went out on the back deck to drink our coffee and read the paper, Joe was already out working.  He was fixing things around the house.  He was up on the roof.  He was painting.  He was always busy.  Even though he was fighting cancer, he went about his lifelong habit of being industrious.

One day this summer, as I was out working in the garden, Joe hoisted himself up on the fence between our yards.  He asked what kind of flower I had growing next to the fence.  I told him they were hollyhocks and related the story about collecting the seeds at a farm in Grand Junction.  I told him I was shocked to see how much they had grown since it took two years for them to come up and bloom.  He said they were just beautiful and said he'd never seen prettier.

I planted zucchini and tomatoes this summer.  I took some of the zucchini and tomatoes to Joe and his family.  His wife said that Joe enjoyed eating them.  She said he loved zucchini bread.  She even baked some for us.  I like to think that Joe really did get some pleasure out of eating those fresh vegetables from my garden during the last summer of his life.

Sadly, in the end, cancer claimed Joe.  He only weighed 84 pounds when he died after suffering so much during most of the fall.  His devoted wife took care of him everyday until the day he died.  He was surrounded by his grandchildren and his sons on a nearly daily basis.  One is blessed to have such love and care in one's life.

On the day of his funeral, I smiled when I saw his beautiful new red truck, driven by his son,  pull into place in the procession headed toward the cemetery.  Joe was so proud of that truck.  Then, I had to wipe  tears from my eyes as I thought how he would not be able to enjoy driving that truck up into the hills to go fishing or hunting.  He never got a chance to retire and do all the things he loved to do.  He didn't get to watch those beautiful grandchildren grow up.  He was too young to leave us so soon.

Joe's life was a sterling example of love and faith and hard work.  He lived his life well.   He left of legacy of how to be a good husband, father, and neighbor.  He exemplified la familia in the most positive of all traditions associated with his heritage.  We will miss him greatly.

Christmas Cheer

Pre-Christmas Blessings

No need to dream of a white Christmas this year.

We had SNOW, lots of it!

We live in Colorado, but in the southern part of the state, we don't get a lot of snow.

This year we were blessed with the beautiful fluffy, white stuff a few days before Christmas.

This was a very good thing because we need the moisture.

Boston loves the snow.

Now if we can just train him to shovel the walks!

This is Boston's first Christmas.

The value of a private education is truly priceless.

After spending a few weeks at boarding school, Boston posed perfectly in front of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve

We had a houseful for Christmas Eve.

My husband's children, their spouses, their children, and his former wife and her husband all joined us for dinner at our house.  

An hour before dinner was to be served, I had a cooking disaster.
I foolishly began cooking Spanish rice on top of the stove in a glass casserole dish.
What was I thinking????
Just as the rice came to a boil, the dish exploded.
There was rice and glass everywhere.
Suffice it to say that it was not a pretty sight to see rice, glass, tomatoes, and red peppers covering the stove top and the floor.
Thankfully, neither Jim nor I were cut or injured.
Thankfully, the girls arrived just in time and came to my rescue by cleaning up the mess and making the chicken enchilada recipe while I made more Spanish rice.

Dinner was only 20 minutes late.
Jim's girls ate cookies while they waited for dinner to cook.

Trinette, Thia, and Trista
Eat dessert first is a good motto!

The family gathered in the family room and got acquainted with Boston.

Finally, dinner was ready to be served.

It wouldn't be Christmas at our house with out the Christmas tamales.

My Christmas present from my husband was delivered earlier in the day.

It was this beautiful new table.

Jim's grandchildren always love being together.

Aren't they all beautiful?

The desserts included cookies, potica, another Pueblo tradition, pizzelles, and pumpkin pie.

I did no baking this year.  

In fact, after this year's cooking disaster, I may rethink choosing to cook for a large family gathering.

Catering always works well.  

After dinner, we gathered to open presents.

Jim's beautiful daughters pose for a photo.

We are blessed to be surrounded by family.

The girls love their SmartWool socks from their daddy.

Jim's former wife, and the mother of his girls, joined us with her husband.

My man all tied up in a pretty red bow.

No more excuses.  We now have a great new recipe book to help us with our new lifestyle of cooking healthy food.  (Christmas dinner was excluded from the healthy food choice list!)

Boston got an edible card from K & L's dogs.

He loved it!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day, Amy drove down from the Boulder area with her two children to celebrate.

The kids were super patient.  They had to wait until afternoon to open their presents.

My beautiful daughter, Amy...

Judging from the reaction, I think Hannah and Mason were thrilled with the new iPad they received.

Believe it our not, Amy bought me a new rice cooker before my cooking disaster.

I sure could have used it the night before!

After presents were opened and dinner was eaten, Hannah got on her warm winter coat and headed for the trampoline.  This girl loves to jump.

This was a whole new experience.  She loved it.

Christmas in A Modern Age

Christmas night Grandpa Jim taught the kids how to organize their icons on the iPad and set them up with for facetime.  It was pretty funny to watch the kids talk to Grandpa, who was sitting across the room from them, via facetime using the iPad.  Amy had to join in using her iPhone.  

Just as we did when I was a kid, the kids did play a new board game they received.

Then, Mason played on his iPad.

Hannah played on her Kindle Fire.

Grandpa Jim listened to his Audible books via his iPhone.

Amy texted on her iPhone.

Grandma Sally enjoyed looking at photos posted on facebook of the Christmas celebration held in Boston by son Jon and his family.

That evening, my 95 year old mother posted a Christmas greeting thanking everyone for the Christmas photos that had been posted on facebook.

All in all, Christmas of 2011 was wonderful.

We were surrounded by loved ones. 

With a little help from technology,

we also were able to feel connected to those loved ones who live far away.

Family, I'll take that as the best Christmas gift of all.

Moving On, Or Trying To Anyway

The holidays always bring a lot of stress and activity.  This year, it seems our household has really been hit with a lot of unscheduled events that have added to the holiday stress levels.

First, there was my husband's health scare.  Thankfully, my husband is progressing well from the procedure that saved his life.  He is still very tired.  He tries to walk each day, and he is doing well in changing his eating habits.  Nevertheless, we have been set back emotionally as we deal with this new health reality.

Then,  last week, my daughter closed on her house in Northern Colorado.   I was away from home for three days last week helping her move.  We got it done, but believe me, it was a huge task.  She had a girl friend and Jason help her one weekend, then it was up to just Amy, her two children, and me to get the rest done.  Since Amy had to work two of the three days, I did much of it alone with a little help from the guy we hired to haul off things we didn't have time to donate or take to the dump.

  I am so grateful that she is in a new town home not far from where she lived before.  Her new place is very homey.  She says it "just feels like home."  That it does.  She has a spectacular view of Long's Peak from her living room window.  The kids have a sledding hill right outside their back door.  They are within walking distance of the recreation center where they spend a lot of time.  Schools are also close by.   While it was sad to leave her home where she had lived for more than ten years, there were many unhappy memories there.  It is good to move on.  I think she will be very happy in her new place and the kids love their new home.  

The move was hard on me because I kept bumping into so many of Julie's things.  Julie and Amy shared clothes, and shoes so much that at times, I wasn't always sure who owned which article of clothing one or the other might be wearing.  That being said, Julie had many beautiful clothes, and her shoes were always just plain cool. 

During the move,  I did fine when I saw the dress Julie wore to her class reunion.  I didn't lose it when I saw the jacket that she had on one time when she came home from work and looked so stylish and hip.  I even handled running into the pair of heels that she wore to the night she, Amy, Hannah, Mason and I went to Denver to see the Nutcracker a few years ago.  I remembered watching her walk her confident, fast walk in those high, high heels that had straps that wrapped around her ankles.  The night was freezing cold.  But that didn't seem to faze Julie.  I remembered watching her feet as she drove us down and out of the parking the garage after the ballet was over.  I remember how I admired her style and confidence.  Yes, when I ran into those heels, I just put them in car and moved them over to Amy's.  I didn't breakdown.

Then, late one evening, I ran into a shirt she had worn to a get-together with her high school friends a few years ago.  She looked so cute in it.  It was neatly folded among some of Amy's shirts.  I pulled it out and held it to my nose hoping I could still smell Julie on it.  Hoping that smell that came from her hair product that everyone could always smell whenever they got close to her would still be clinging to the shirt.  I don't think Julie's distinct fragrance was clinging to that article of clothing, but I wanted to believe it was just faintly present.

Julie & Leana at high school girl friend gathering

Amy walked in about then and saw me crying.  "No tears tonight, Mama.  No tears.  We can't have any tears."  By then we were both crying.  We held each other for a while, and then we got back to work.  

In my heart, when the move was done, I told Julie that I had done what she asked me to do.  She asked me to make sure that Amy was safe and away from a situation that was harmful for her.  It has been a long, hard two years, but now Amy has a new beginning.  My heart is broken that Julie isn't there to share it with her.  

Tonight I cried for Julie again.  My husband just let me cry, and then he held me.  I thanked him for letting me cry and not thinking he had to fix it.  "No one can," he said.  He is right.  No one can. 

I am now moving more fully into the holiday spirit.  I recognize how difficult the holidays can be for those who grieve.  I give myself permission to hurt, to cry, to feel anger, to feel regret, to feel longing.  Grief is messy.  Grief brings up much anger at times.  It also brings up a hurt that seems will never heal.  

Julie didn't like Christmas.  She never did.  She hated the pressure.  She hated how lonely she felt during the holidays.  So, I guess it is somewhat ironic that I have put up a tree for her.  I purchased a small evergreen tree at the grocery store.  I wanted a live tree because it represents life everlasting.  The tree was called an 'elf' tree.  I thought that was somewhat appropriate since we used to call Julie our little pixie.  

None of us remember Julie ever putting up a tree, but she had a round Christmas hat box that I had given her for Christmas a few years back filled with a few ornaments she had collected over the years.  Some were from her childhood.  She really had very few ornaments, but she had carefully packed away the ones she had.  I hung what she had on the tree.  There is a mix of childhood angels and Santa ornaments combined with a few beautiful crystal ornaments that she had either purchased or received as gifts.  I lit the tree on December 11 at 7:00 p.m.  I also lit a candle for her at the same time.  Compassionate Friends, a grief support group for those who have lost children, always has a candle lighting ceremony worldwide on the second Sunday of December at 7:00 p.m. in memory of those children who have been lost to death.

Some may say that by now, I should be much more down the road of grief than I am.  Some may think that I need to just get on with life and stop all this business with grief.  Once a friend compassionately said she could not imagine what I was going through.   Rather coldly, I replied, "I hope you never have to find out."  The look of horror that she gave me said it all.  I should never have been so honest with my reply.  

I was recently greatly comforted with this quote from GriefShare: 

Society often concerns itself with keeping up appearances, maintaining the status quo, and covering up problems, as if pretense will somehow make things right! 

"We want everything to be glossed over," Rev. John Coulombe observes. "We want everything to be gilded with gold. We think it should be tidy and nice."

But life is not "tidy and nice" and pretending it is will hinder your healing process and make it even longer. 

Right now, everything is not real "tidy and nice" in my life, but I know that I am continuing to heal and to grow.  I am also grateful that we are able to move beyond the tragedies of life.  My journey in life, and in grief has not been rocky, and at times very rough.  I am able to move on because of my faith, my family, and my friends.

I recently reflected on Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart."

As we enter into these final days before Christmas, as my husband continues to heal from his heart procedure, as I continue to deal with my own heart issues of arrhythmia and tachycardia, and as a family, as we deal with the loss of our beloved Julie, a loss that broke our hearts, I am comforted to know that on Christmas we will celebrate the birth of the One who came to bind up our broken hearts, the One who came to bring us peace, and the One who brings both comfort and joy.   

May all of you have a very Merry Christmas.