Sunday, December 21, 2008

This Christmas.............

Only 4 days away, I notice how busy the streets are this morning we live right off the main highway and wow for Sunday Morning sure is busy. Yesterday it was shoulder to shoulder in the grocery store. sign of the times everyone is getting everything right up to the moment. A good thing to see yesterday while amongst the grocery store was the food bin outside the store was almost full! That I was surprised but happy to see. The few people I followed out the door donated there pocket change into the Red Can outside for the bell ringer for the Salvation Army. I opted to give my $1.73 in change from the grocery store to a man standing next to his daughter right on the other side the building column, and a few people followed me. Wonderful to hear the Daughter say oh Thank you. I had been dropping my change to The Bell Ringer each week, and first time I had seen someone standing outside. Which is odd as I Thought there would be more Last year there was usually someone outside the store every time we visited.

This year I figure with gas down and such many are going to start their travelings a little early. So I thought I would throw this post up today.

On Christmas morning or Christmas Eve whichever you are with family and friends celebrating, and while opening the presents and sharing with each other. Take the time, to truly thank people not for a gift not for the that something you truly wanted, But for the Gift of a Mother, a Brother, a Sister, Aunt, Father in Law, a step Brother,Sons and Daughter whichever your family may be. There is no other gift given unto you as family. Then take in to count which is as close or maybe even closer to you than your family the Gift of friendship, a friendship you have had from childhood, or a friendship developed just recently. Your friends that mean so much to you over the internet. The gift of Friendship of family, is a gift of a lifetime. Something more precious than the big ol game system, that perfect piece of jewelry , the toy you just had to have. Its what makes life complete and heals you when you need healing, laughs with you when you laugh, which gives you the shoulder when you need a shoulder, which celebrates with you when you celebrate, which helps you through the loss, which may disagree with your choices but in the end is always there for you, the opinion that you count on, the hand you give to help, or the hand that helps you, the never ending love that sees you to your last days on earth.

It is the most simplest gift given to us all Friends and family and Take the time this year to really take in all that has been given to you in your lifetime, and the most Richest Gift you can receive.

Take the time this year to share the moments of life with those near to you. Take the time to listen to the story your grandpa has told a thousand times, Help mom clean those holiday dishes, take the time to thank a friend for just being who they are. You never know what is going to happen the year to come. So my wish for everyone to do this year is to make the time you have with your family and friends the best gift you have always had and enjoy this beautiful gift the day of Christmas with the blessing of your Friends and Family.


Peace, Hope, and Blessings for a beautiful week of Family and Friends.

I know I am I am most grateful for the Gift God has given me of our beautiful amazing Kids, the man I will spend the rest of my life with, My beautiful Mother, my Grandpa that amazes me each year, My wonderful Father in law that has become my Dad The ones I have lost but are in heaven so I rejoice. My Friends who are one of my dearest gifts. And just the beauty of waking up each day knowing I have so many wonderful people in my life, that to me is the most precious gift bestowed unto me. Thank you my earthly angels.


And now........ as you know I like history and I was gonna put up the story of history but looking the the site I decided upon another story that is such the meaning of Christmas. Which is below if you would like to learn some more History Visit the History channel they always do such a wonderful learning on the holidays.

This below is taken from the History Channel:

During World War I, on and around Christmas Day 1914, the sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front in favor of holiday celebrations in the trenches and gestures of goodwill between enemies.

Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines, and at certain points the Allied soldiers even heard brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing.

At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man's-land, calling out "Merry Christmas" in their enemies' native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.

Some soldiers used this short-lived ceasefire for a more somber task: the retrieval of the bodies of fellow combatants who had fallen within the no-man's land between the lines.

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers' threats of disciplinary action—but it served as heartening proof, however brief, that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers' essential humanity endured.

6 comments:

HowlingMoonDesigns said...

Hi Annette..Just wanted to Wish You, Rod and the kids a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Hugs..
Candy

Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...

Wonderful post ;) Thank you for the reminder of what we truly should be thankful for!

Ginny Diezel said...

So well written, Annette. May God bless you and your family. I feel that I am wealthy beyond words for the blessings in my life - I have my health, my family, and my friends. I do not want for anything.

xoxo G.

Artisan Memories said...

Annette...you are truly blessed with the love around you...and I am truly blessed just to know you. I feel deeply and earnestly moved by your blog that tears of joy, realization and love are in my heart. I wish you and yours a lovely holiday season. Not just this beautiful day of Christmas...but throughout the whole year...and know I am here, your forever friend.
Laura Ann

Marie Patterson Studio said...

Annette - God bless you and your family this holiday season!

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Unknown said...

What a wonderful post. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!! Smiles, Jackie