If You Don’t Like to Have Your Photo Taken…

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Because you think you aren’t pretty enough…

Or you don’t like the wrinkles you’re seeing on your face…

Or you don’t like your teeth…

Or you don’t like your hair…

Just remember….

Your face is a combination of hundreds of people who were in love throughout time. 

How much more beautiful can you be than that?

My mother always hated having her picture taken. I have pictures of her but very few with her smiling. The ones I do have with that beautiful smile are so precious to me.

I don’t really like my pictures when they’re taken either. I don’t like the way I look because I don’t like the way my smile looks. It seems like I’m posing and I don’t look natural. I even use a photo that’s almost ten years old on my Outlook profile because it’s one I actually like.

But after reading the quote on Facebook that began this post, it gave me a whole new look on picture taking, as well as how I perceive the way I look.

I never thought about the way I look being a part of how others before me looked. Yes, I know people have said how I resemble my mom, and how she looked a lot like her mother. But I’ve never thought about how far back the resemblances go. 

My face is a combination of my mom and dad, which is a combination of their parents. Which is also a combination of their sets of parents. And so on. We can keep on going until we get into hundreds of people that we’re related to, and who’ve contributed to our lineage. And our looks.

Those relatives may not look anywhere near the same as we look today, because of different styles of clothing and hair and other facial expressions.  But if we look closely enough, the resemblance is there.

Early pictures of my mother show a beautiful young woman, her exciting life ahead of her.  A life she was excited about. I have no pictures of my mother’s mother at an early age, but I can imagine those pictures would show the same resemblances.

And looking at my own baby pictures, compared to my daughter’s baby pictures? And her firstborn daughter’s pictures, you see a stronger resemblance than ever.

So why do we not like our own pictures, the more we see them? Because we’re looking at them with our own eyes, rather than through eyes of generations before us.

We may change somewhat as the years go by, but that strong family resemblance in the eyes and other facial features don’t go away. And then we see ourselves in our children and their children.

And so it will continue through future generations.

All because two people fell in love and created a beautiful combination of themselves.

It’s certainly something to think about.

 Like I just did.

Matters of the Heart, Part 35

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In our household, when one of us gets an early morning text, it’s either about an interesting news article, a funny story, a cute thing one of the grandkids did, or something we probably don’t want to know about.

In our case, it usually starts with “guess what!” And goes downhill from there. With usually something that we aren’t expecting and really don’t want to know.

And when you answer such a question with “what?”, you usually don’t really want to hear the answer, and it seems to take forever to get it anyway. Which was the case Monday morning just two days ago.

l didn’t expect to hear Ben reply with  “My pacemaker alarm went off!”

Which as far as we knew then, meant we had 30 days to get it replaced. So he texted his cardiologist, and then called the doctors’ offices and the pacemaker department. 

You can imagine how we both felt at that point. After all, the pacemaker is basically keeping him alive.

Fortunately we’ve since found out we have 90 days to get it replaced, which would be sometime in March. But does it make me feel better? I guess. But there’s still that bit of worry in the back of your mind…what if…?

Now of course, we were making a few jokes about it, because if you can’t find something to laugh about, you’ll end up crying or driving yourself crazy. 

One of my friends said all the hassle and stress of trying to get his blood sugar under control probably sped up the process. Hmmm, could be right on that one.

I said it was probably the stress of watching the Kansas City Chiefs game the night before! Which was quite stressful for us Chiefs fans! And will probably be equally as stressful when they play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

But regardless of why the battery life turned out to be a little less than the estimated 5 years, we now know it will shortly be replaced with a brand new pacemaker rather than just a battery. I guess it’s like a trade in?

And what happens to the old one? Do we keep it as a souvenir? A paperweight? Does it get recycled?

But thinking about all of this…I have to say it really makes you stop and think about the true ramifications of all this. 

Ben needs the pacemaker to keep his heart in a normal rhythm. It also serves as a defibrillator. It helps keep his heart beating process which keeps him alive. 

As long as it’s working. Now we trust his doctor completely, and I know he’ll make sure it’s replaced in a timely manner.  But I can’t help but think about the what if’s. It’s natural, of course, especially with everything Ben has been through over the years, and particularly the last two months.

But he’s a survivor, and he’s proved that a number of times. And he’ll continue to do so.

But it was still a bit unnerving when the pacemaker alarm went off again on Tuesday. 

And again this morning as I was posting this blog.

It’s a countdown we don’t need to be reminded of.

So Many Books, So Little Time

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I always totally enjoyed collecting books that I knew I’d read eventually. Then I started running out of space for them all. And eventually had no choice but to donate the ones I’d already read to others who’d appreciate them as much as I did.

That was hard, because to a book lover like myself, those books became cherished friends, and it was like giving away a part of myself. For that same reason I don’t like loaning a book to someone because I’m afraid I’ll never get back, and when I do, it certainly won’t be in same condition as when I loaned it.

But in order to accommodate my reading obsession, I had no choice if I wanted to continue my favorite hobby of reading a good book. As often as I could.

Why reading, you may ask? Why books? Why spend so much spare time reading books when there are other things to do? 

It’s actually quite simple.

Books can take you to places you’ve always dreamed of going without ever having to leave your chair. Or in my case, quite often my pool float.

Books introduce you to all kinds of new people who end up becoming old friends. When you come to the end of that book you continue to wonder what else those people are up to now. (That’s the great thing about reading a series. The stories continue on in several more books with the same characters continuing to live their lives and pursue new adventures. And you always keep hoping the author will decide to write just one more about your now old friends.)

Books teach you to be happy by yourself, because they make you feel

like you’re never alone. You’re with interesting people who take you to interesting places and introduce you to new ideas.

Reading a really good book makes you want to climb inside and live with the characters wherever they’re living. Help them do what they’re doing, and even sit down and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with them as you both share your life stories.

To an avid reader, the movie made from a book is almost never as good as the book itself, because so many parts are left out of the movie for the sake of time, and the characters are not as developed in the movie as they are in the book. Many of the nuances in books just can’t translate onto the screen.

And why do avid readers find it difficult to pick out their favorite book? Because we find little pieces of ourselves scattered throughout so many of the stories we read. Combine the stories and you figure out the person. One person isn’t just one story. It’s all of them.

Thousands of people read the same book but in each person’s mind the chapters look different and the setting changes. We may all be reading the same book but it’s unique to each one of us. I picture the characters most likely in an entirely different way than another reader. But we both enjoy the same book.

My husband is the exact opposite. He likes to read, but only newspapers and magazines and online news sites. He finds reading a book boring, and just wants to see the movie. We’ve been together over 40 years and I still don’t get it. But I’m still trying to get him to understand.

And while I still love the feel of a real book in my hands, in order to be able to accommodate my reading habit and not having a gigantic library in which to house all my books (although I’m still hoping to win the lottery so I can actually have such an amazing space), the next best thing to me is my Kindle. I debated long and hard before taking the plunge, but within an hour, I was hooked!

I now have over 1,000 books in my Kindle library, many already read, but a lot of samples, so I can read a bit of the book before I buy it. And those samples are there because I don’t want to forget about them because they all really look interesting! How many samples out of all the ones I have have I actually discarded? Maybe four or five. And yes, when I make that decision, I do feel a bit guilty!

Do I have a reading obsession? Absolutely. Is it a bad thing? Not at all! It’s not like I’m spending money on designer shoes and purses, or expensive jewelry. I’m expanding my mind and actually saving money! Kindle books are less expensive.

Right?

And now, I have about 30 more minutes to read in the book I’m reading now, so it’s time to get back to it. I have more adventures waiting.

When Opportunity Knocks

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You don’t leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake.

I read that in a book recently by Carolyn Brown, and it really made me smile. Such a great southern way to make a statement. But it sure makes sense.

Think about it. I picture a well dressed man, most likely in his early 40’s, holding a briefcase and knocking on a front door while standing on the porch, with blue hydrangeas in full bloom in the background.

He carefully taps on the brass door knocker as he’s smiling, waiting for the door to open, ready to present an unexpected opportunity to one of the unsuspecting people inside.

He’s invited in, and presents the opportunity while sitting at the table in a sunny kitchen, with a cup of coffee and a slice of fresh baked chocolate cake.

Personally, I would have offered wine and a fruit and cheese board, but that’s just me.

Now of course we’re not really talking about a literal chocolate cake, or cheese board, but it makes a great visual.

The point is, when an opportunity comes your way, don’t immediately dismiss it. Don’t form an instant negative opinion because it’s not exactly what you had in mind.

Don’t think of all the reasons you shouldn’t take a chance, or sometimes even think seriously about that opportunity.

So it isn’t exactly what you thought you’d like to do, or where you’d like to live.

It may even seem like it’s a step backward, although there’s a real potential to advance a lot farther than you are now. And probably quicker than it took you in your current situation.

So what do you do? Ignore it totally? Agree to think about it? Talk it over with a few others? Or jump in and decide to take a chance?

And maybe have another piece of chocolate cake?

Or maybe that cheese board with a glass of wine!

Don’t be afraid to take a chance. And don’t take too long to decide. It may not come again.

Or opportunity may go somewhere else where he/she’s wanted and open to taking a chance. And they’ll be the ones enjoying that chocolate cake, and maybe even the wine and cheese board!

If You Can’t Push Through Your Wall of Problems

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Climb over them. Tunnel under them. Or go around them.  There’s more than one way to get to your goal.

If you don’t try to push through that wall of problems, you’re never going to be able to solve them. 

And if you don’t solve them, you’re going to be stuck behind a wall that does nothing but get bigger and thicker and taller. 

What’s stopping you?

Fear? Lack of self confidence? No motivation? Not wanting to step out of your comfort zone?

Those aren’t good reasons. They’re excuses. And excuses get you nowhere.

If that’s where you want to be, then you’ll be stuck behind that wall of problems for the rest of your life.

And you’ll always wonder what you’re doing wrong.

How Do You See the Glass in 2024?

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Half empty?

Half full?

Or maybe it’s leaking and there’s no plug to stop it.

That’s a decision you need to make. Now. The new year is only a few days old, but already you’re complaining that it’s just a repeat of last year.

The same problems, the same situations that you were stuck in last year. It’s a new year and you’re still miserable. What’s the point?

So the glass is half empty? Or is it leaking like a sieve and you can’t find anything to plug the hole?

Are you going to waste this entire new year ahead of you concentrating on everything that’s still wrong in your life? Complaining, feeling depressed, and concentrating on everything that you think is wrong in your life instead of looking at what’s good in your life, and finalizing and working those plans to change what’s still wrong?

If you continue to see the glass as half empty, it’s only going to start draining down further, and eventually it’ll be empty all the way.

Then what do you do?

Sitting around and looking at things negatively isn’t going to make that glass fill up; it’s not going to plug the hole that allows what’s still inside to pour out and become wasted.

“But you don’t understand how I feel. You have a good job/a nice home/a boyfriend or girlfriend/husband or wife/you’re not in pain all the time and facing surgery/your kids aren’t in big trouble/you’re not down to your last few dollars and can’t pay your bills/you’re not stressed about your job/you’re not so busy you have no time for what you want to do….”

Sound familiar? Guess what? You have no idea what that other person is going through. Because you’re concentrating on how miserable your life is and comparing it to everyone else’s life when you have no idea what they’re going through.

They may be fine on the outside, but inside they may be going through just as many struggles, or more, than you. They just don’t share them and complain about them.

They look at things differently. They see the glass half full rather than almost empty. Sure, they want it fuller than it is, but they know things will improve. They’re working toward that goal by thinking positive, and doing things to reach that goal.

They know the glass is only half full right now, but they also know it’s eventually going to get more in it.

They’re out there working to make things happen. Sure, it’s not always easy, and there will certainly be setbacks, maybe even failures along the way. The glass will get a little fuller, but then it’ll drain out a bit. Again.

It’s never going to be completely full, because life isn’t always perfect. And if that’s what you’re looking for, your glass won’t even be half full; it’ll be almost empty.

There’s no quick, magic solution to fix your problems, and to make that glass fuller. When you turn on the faucet to fill your glass, it doesn’t instantly fill. It depends on how fast the water runs, and if you allow some to splash out because it’s running too fast.

Being miserable and telling yourself no matter what you do it’s not going to work becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. You’ll stay miserable and unhappy and your glass will keep draining until there really is nothing left inside.

But doing something to make the situation better, and doing it daily, will eventually result in the glass becoming fuller. You may not notice it at first, but all if a sudden you’ll see it differently and realize, it is fuller…and by more than half.

How do I know? I’ve been there. I compared my life to everyone else’s and thought mine would never be better. And until I started to see the glass as half full instead of half empty, I didn’t think things could ever be better.

My life isn’t perfect; no one’s is. At least no one I know. But my glass is a lot more than half full. And I work on it every day because I don’t ever want to see it half empty, or worse, almost empty, ever again.

Keep that in perspective. Write down the good things in your life. Not just the big things, but the little ones, too. Then do the same with the things you need to change. And then…write down how you’re going to change them for the better. And don’t stop until you have at least one idea on how to change each bad thing to better.

It’s all up to you, you know. It’s your glass you’re seeing. And you’re the only one who can change how you see it.

There’s a whole lot of new year left. Start filling that glass!

Resolutions…or Not? It’s 2024 Now.

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Traditionally almost all of us make at least one or two New Year’s resolutions. We say we’re going to lose weight, exercise more, get our financial lives together, or spend more time with our families instead of our jobs.

We really mean it when we make those resolutions. But by the end of the first couple of weeks, or at least by the end of January, all of those resolutions are forgotten. Discarded. We just can’t seem to make them work. It takes too much effort, or we lose interest.

Personally, I hardly ever make any New Year’s resolutions, because I know I won’t keep them. What’s so special about making a change in our lives simply because it’s a new year? If we don’t change ourselves and our way of thinking, turning over the date on the calendar isn’t going to do it.

And once again I didn’t make any resolutions. Instead of making resolutions I’m going to continue to be thankful for the things I have. The things that really matter to me. Because that’s what it’s all about.

In fact, I can almost bet that a lot of those resolutions many of you made Sunday evening on New Year’s Eve have already gone by the wayside. Or are already close to being gone and forgotten.

So here’s what I am thankful for.

Health – My husband’s as well as mine. He’s had a number of medical issues over the years…heart issues, high blood pressure, two cornea transplants, lung issues, sleep apnea, and most recently a bout with RSV which has led to steroid induced diabetes. But he’s still going strong and maintains the same upbeat attitude about life. I am still extremely healthy. I may be stressed, but who isn’t!? I’m not overweight. My cholesterol and other bloodwork are fine. With a number of friends and family members going through some serious health problems right now, good health is a huge deal!

Friends – Ben and I have several very close, very dear friends who are always there for us when we need them, just as we are there for them. They are not acquaintances. They’re our family, and we love each other dearly. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Our home – I may grumble about having to cook and clean, but we have a comfortable home. It may need fresh paint and more new carpet in a few more places, but it’s our home, where we raised our daughter, entertain our friends, and just enjoy being together.

A loving and helpful husband – Ben helps me around the house without my even asking. He does the grocery shopping and even cooks most nights, helps me clean and sometimes does the laundry. He is a gem, and I would not trade him for anything in the world.

Our children and our grandchildren – Our daughter Ashley and her husband Chris, who we consider our son, have now presented us with THREE beautiful grandchildren who are a constant source of joy to us. What could be any better?

Our pets – Our two dogs, Benji and Chloe, continue to be our constant loyal companions, and of course are spoiled rotten. And our cat Hershey, who is now 20 years old, continues to be in excellent health.

Our country – We live in a country where we are free to worship as we please without fear of being arrested because of our beliefs. We are also free to voice our opinions without fear of being imprisoned. Is it perfect? No; not by a long shot. We still have a lot of political unrest and other serious problems to reconcile. But even with all of the chaos we are experiencing, our country is still so much better than all of the rest.

Employment – Ben is semi retired and working part time in a job he totally enjoys. I am still employed full time in a job I truly enjoy with a great team of coworkers and a wonderful supervisor. Plus, I am able to work remotely here in my home office. I couldn’t ask for anything more in that regard.

Our Lord and Savior – who loves us unconditionally, who answers our prayers, even when we don’t like the answers, and promises us the gift of eternal life, just because we love him.

With blessings such as these, who needs New Year’s Resolutions?

What blessings do you have that you may take for granted every day? Stop and think about them. Even if your life may not be as perfect as you’d like right now, I can almost guarantee if you stop and think about it, you can think of at least five, if not more, blessings that you enjoy that many others wish they were lucky enough to have.

May each of you have a blessed and Happy New Year! Count your blessings rather than your resolutions, and if you wish to share those blessings, we’d love to hear them!

It’s a Brand New Year – 2023 to 2024

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What are you going to do with it?

That’s 365 days. It’s a lot of time to do something you haven’t done before.

To try something new. Something you’ve always wanted to do. Something you’ve thought about but just haven’t had the opportunity – or the confidence – to try. 

You’re not happy with where you are, what you’re doing? What’s keeping you from changing it? Fear of failure? Or fear of succeeding? Lack of motivation? Lack of self-confidence? Or just not knowing what to do or where to go next?

You’ve heard me say many times I don’t make New Years resolutions. Resolutions are broken usually within the first couple of weeks of the new year. Everyone can resolve to do something, but resolving and actually doing are two different things.

To be successful in this new year you’ve been given takes planning, determination, focus, willpower, and something one of my favorite high school teachers called stick-to-it-ive-ness. Keeping at it no matter what.

It’s always easier to give up when it gets difficult rather than to keep pushing through to your goal. It’s easier to say “I can’t” rather than “I can.”

That’s not saying you have to keep doing the same thing over and over if what you’re doing just isn’t working. Take a hard look at what you’re trying to accomplish and try to figure out how to do it differently to produce the desired results. Ask others to give their input and don’t be afraid to listen to what they have to say. Many times a fresh pair of eyes can see things you can’t, and suddenly you figure out a new plan that will change your outcome.

What’s your first and most important thing that you need to re-do?

Are you trying for a new job, but nothing seems to be working? Is it because you’re not presenting your qualifications properly? Or maybe you’re trying for a job that’s just not right for your skills and interests? Or maybe you’re trying for a job instead of a position that excites you; a position that enables you to use your past experiences in a new way, maybe in a new field.

Try writing out a job description of your ideal position, using your qualifications and experience as a base for what you’d enjoy doing. And don’t give that position a name, because it limits your creativity and boxes you in to a particular job. Again. Then make your plan to look for a position that incorporates those skills. Who says you have to stay in the same line of work you’ve always been in?  Your unique set of skills may open you up to an entire new career.

Maybe you want to start your own business. Be your own boss. While that’s not as easy as it sounds, if you want to do it, what’s holding you back? Try it. Put together your business plan. And if it doesn’t work right at first, instead of getting discouraged and giving up, take a hard look at what your business is. Are you selling a product, and if so, is it a product lots of people will want, and can you sell enough of that product to make it a full time endeavor? Maybe, although it’s a product you’re excited about, maybe you’re one of the few who are excited about that product. So what could you change about it to make it more desirable to others? Or what could you add to your product line to generate business?

If you’re offering a service, is it service that lots of people need? Who are you trying to reach? How are you trying to reach them? Look closely at how you’re marketing the service. Are you reaching your target audience?  If not, what can you do differently so those people will know you’re out there, ready to help them?

And if your business plan isn’t working, maybe you need to redo that plan so it’ll work.

Or maybe you’re looking for a new relationship. Maybe you’re stuck in a relationship that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. You don’t want to give up, but you also aren’t happy. So are you going to settle for what you’ve got or decide to go for someone who’s more suited to you, whose interests are the same as yours, and who enjoys spending quality time with you? Rather than being afraid you’ll not have anyone at all, look for someone who’s more suited to you. Which is worse – settling for what you think you have, or deciding there’s more to life than what you currently have, and doing what’s necessary to change it? Being alone with yourself is usually better than being alone in an unhappy relationship.

Maybe you want to improve your health, exercise more, eat healthier. That’s a great goal, but you still need a plan, and you need to stick to it. You’re the only one who can make that plan work. And remember that’s going to be a lifetime commitment. Not just for this coming year. And believe it or not, this will be the hardest of the four ideas I’ve just presented to be accomplished. 

These are just a few things you can look at changing for the new year. Notice I still didn’t say the word “resolution”. Because resolutions don’t work. Plans can work. But change only works when you make a plan and stick to it. 

And remember all plans have to be flexible. Because something is always going to come up and try to derail your plan, no matter how well thought out it is. And that’s called life. Life happens to all of us. And we have to continually be prepared to change our plans to fit in with what life brings us.

Sound like an impossible situation? Not at all. All our plans and goals are important to us. It’s what makes us who we are. And just because our first set of plans don’t work, it doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It means we’re learning. And growing.

Happy New Year to everyone!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas 2023

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We realize many of you are having a very difficult time today. Christmas can be a very rough day if you’re hurting. And there have been a lot of people who have joined the ranks of the hurting this year.

But let us take the time to share the gifts we’d like to present you with today…gifts from our hearts. Gifts that cannot always be purchased with money; because they’re priceless.

For the woman who’s spending yet another Christmas without someone to love, someone to love her, accept the gift of hope, that that someone you’ve been praying for, and hoping for, will enter your life in the new year, and you will finally find the love you’ve been dreaming of for so long.

For those of you who have been waiting for a reconciliation with your children, or other family members, accept the gift of renewal, that things and circumstances will be made whole again, the past forgotten. May you receive a knock on the door of your heart allowing that reconciliation to take place, and your joy be restored.

For the man struggling with addictions, receive the gift of self-control and strength, that once and for all those addictions will be put behind you and your new life will begin even today as that gift is opened.

For those of you struggling with the first Christmas following death of a loved one, receive the gift of cherished memories that will live forever in the scrapbook of your heart, and the knowledge that the love you had for each other will never die, and that they are waiting for you in heaven.

For the family who’s lost, or about to lose, their home, accept the gift of a new place to live that will be the perfect home, cozy and peaceful, with enough room for everyone.

For the couple who desperately want a child of their own, may you receive the gift of the child you’ve wanted so badly, a child that was meant just for you. Because Christmas is about the birth of a long-awaited child.

For the family struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis, may you receive a gift of financial blessing, a new job, or a salary increase, that will ease your worries and allow you to provide comfortably for your family.

For those who are facing a serious illness… may you receive the gift of healing and the knowledge that the word of the Lord is always true and faithful.

For those who are living in lands torn apart by war and strife, by fear of bombs and hostages, by the fear of what disaster may happen next, while we cannot give them the gift of peace they so deserve, may every one of them be remembered in our thoughts and our hearts, and may they soon find the gift of peace and reunions with loved ones.

Christmas is a time of hope. A time of renewal of faith and a renewal of the promises we were given over two thousand years ago in a manger in Bethlehem.

On this Christmas Day, be blessed. And may the light of His love shine forth over you as never before.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

A Message from Santa Claus – 2023

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You know, it’s not easy being me. It truly isn’t. Like a lot of you out there, I’ve always got too much to do, and not enough time to do it.

You see, there are a lot of children out there in this world. And it’s my job to make them happy on Christmas Day. That is, if they believe, and if their parents cooperate. More about that later.

Throughout so many decades past, I’ve delighted the kids who believe in me with gifts under their Christmas tree every Christmas morning. Sometimes they’re beautifully wrapped, and sometimes they’re not. Their parents tell me what they want, you know.

All year long I’m working behind the scenes at the North Pole, putting together lists for each child that believes in me, and collecting all the toys that each kid wants. The elves very seldom make them anymore; they’re just too complicated. Instead they go to the stores, the factories, and the warehouses to fill the orders.

That’s not an easy task either. Plus, we have to have huge warehouses to store them, with each child having his or her own compartment for their gifts. Can’t have them confused, you know; that would really upset the kids!

Even working hard all year to make just that one night special doesn’t mean we don’t get rushed. Right now things have really heated up, and we’ve been working almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll sleep on Christmas Day, after everything is delivered, because it’s CHRISTMAS EVE!

The reindeer have been getting ready, too, exercising to make sure they’re in great shape to pull that sleigh. It’s not easy, you know, because with all those toys, and me, well, it’s quite heavy to start out with. But they’re ready, and eager to begin!

Now I’m asked a lot of times about how in the world all those toys for all the world’s children, can possibly fit in one sleigh. It’s big, but not that big, you know. It’s really quite easy, but unfortunately I can’t tell you. You see, Santa has to have a few secrets that no one knows about, and that’s one of them. Most of the elves know; they have to, because they pack up the sleigh. But every year we have a few new ones, and until I can totally trust them with such a huge secret, they do other jobs rather than packing my sleigh.

I’m also asked a lot about how the reindeer are actually able to fly through the sky, let alone pull a heavy sleigh behind them. That’s one of those secrets I keep to myself as well. I will say this, they are very special reindeer, specially trained, and very trustworthy. And they really enjoy what they do!

I’m also asked a lot how I can be in so many places at the same time. At the malls, department stores, in Christmas parades…in all honesty, I’m really not. Not personally anyway. But each and every one of those Santas carry a little piece of me with them. A piece of my heart, and a piece of my love for each and every one of the children who believe in me. And all of those pieces come back to me and settle into my heart as the children tell Santa their secrets and their Christmas wishes. But please don’t tell the kids. That’s between us.

Some of the children are really concerned that I can’t get in their house to deliver their toys because they don’t have a fireplace for me to come down. Actually that’s one of the easier problems to solve. Because Santa has a very special key, made just for me, that will unlock any door. But only on Christmas Eve; no other time of year. And it only works in Santa’s hand, so if it were to ever get lost, no one else could use it.

Those cookies and milk are certainly appreciated, too. I have a hard job that night, and although it’s a lot of fun, it certainly works up the appetite! And my favorites are butter cookies with sprinkles, chocolate chip, and some of those fluffy meringue cookies with chocolate chips. And a bit of eggnog here and there would be good in the place of milk. You know, just varying the selection a bit. Just don’t leave a slice of fruitcake! The reindeer don’t even like that!

And those letters the children send me? Yes, I read them. Fortunately I’m a speed reader, so it’s not as hard as you might think. And I’m probably the world’s best multitasker, because I not only read them as I’m doing other things, I dictate my responses as well, and the elves handle the rest.

The Naughty or Nice List? Yes, I do have those. Unfortunately. But just so you’ll know, in order to not get at least one gift from ol’ Santa, you have to be really, really naughty. You see, I love kids so much, I never want any of them to go without gifts from me at Christmas time. I always try to find something they’ve done right enough to be able to qualify for a gift!!

And I’m happy to report that this year, every child on my list is getting at least one gift! How about that? Not one child stayed on the naughty list!

And by the way…that Elf on the Shelf? He’s NOT one of mine. Not at all. I don’t know where he came from or why he’s trying to horn in on my territory, but he really needs to stop. Santa doesn’t participate in that one, and he’s certainly never reported back to me! I think he’s around just to cause a bit of disruption and to irritate me!

Which leads me to my comment concerning parents cooperating with me. This is a tough one. And it really hurts my feelings.

You see, there are parents out there who refuse to tell their kids about me. Or they tell them I don’t exist. That I’m just made up, and that every kid who believes in me, is just totally wrong and should be set straight as soon as possible. There are even adults out there who aren’t parents who spread those same words and thoughts around without even thinking about it. Without even stopping to think what they’re doing…what they’re destroying.

And those children don’t get the pleasure of Santa delivering gifts on Christmas Eve because I’m not welcome in their homes. And I don’t go where I’m not welcome.

Just because you don’t see the real me doesn’t mean I don’t exist. I’ve been around for a long time, doing the things I do for a long time, and making millions of children happy every year. The smiles on their faces and their screams of surprise and delight make it worthwhile. And as I said, their parents do help, because I couldn’t possibly do it all on my own. They are an important part of the magic of Santa Claus at Christmas time.

Those who say Santa isn’t real don’t understand the reality of Santa. They don’t understand I live in the hearts and imagination of children, who pass on the mystery and the wonder of Santa to their own children. And that causes me to continue to live on and on.

Others say I keep kids from focusing on the real meaning of Christmas, so they won’t let their children believe about me. Rubbish!! Let me say this. Over half of the homes I deliver toys to have a nativity scene in their homes, or ornaments on their tree depicting that first Christmas. Obviously they know the real story of Christmas. And they still let me in.

As I said in the beginning, it’s not easy being me. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of late nights. But the happiness I bring every Christmas Eve, the smiles I see on so many faces on Christmas morning (yes, I do see them, you know – just don’t asked me to explain how) make it all worthwhile.

You still don’t believe I’m real? All I can say to that is, I’m really sorry. Because you’re missing out on so very much….

And now….back to work! Christmas Eve is here! And I’m putting the finishing touches on the sleigh! It’s almost take-off time!

Santa to the Rescue

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Who would’ve thought Santa would be the one to hopefully solve the mystery of some of Ben’s medical issues he’s been having since getting home from the hospital almost three weeks ago. 

Along with his problems with his blood sugar out of control, he had begun losing weight. Without trying to. And without eating less than normal. Within three weeks he’d lost 23 lbs. His clothes were getting extremely loose on him, and he was losing muscle mass as well. He was tired more than usual and had at least one episode per day of a low blood sugar attack. 

And try as he might, he was unable to get an appointment with his primary physician for another 3 weeks. By then, if things kept on like they were going, he’d be in real trouble. And we didn’t know what to do.

Finally, our daughter suggested maybe Santa could help him. (Our daughter is 35 years old with three children of her own.) She told him she’d already talked to him about her dad, and Santa had told her he thought he could help out, and that he wanted to see him the next morning. 

What did we have to lose? 

She told us where Santa would be, so the next morning we headed over to see him. There were a lot of other people there as well, and we were going to have a wait. Normally Ben wouldn’t agree to wait several hours for something, but after all, it was the Christmas season, and Santa had been very insistent to our daughter that he needed to see her dad.

So we put his name on the waiting list, and sat down to wait. There were other people waiting as well, and we struck up conversations with several of them while we waited.

Hard to imagine at our age, five days before Christmas, we found ourselves waiting to see Santa. And hoping he’d be able to get us what we needed for Christmas. Our daughter even texted us to let us know Santa knew he was there and would see us as soon as he could. After all, Santa is a busy man this time of year, and there are lots of people he needs to take care of.  

So we continued to wait. And after three hours it was our turn. We were led into a private room to wait for him, and this time the man himself came in shortly thereafter, apologizing for the wait, and had my husband tell him exactly what had been going on. Santa listened intently, asking questions where necessary, and after he’d heard the story, told us he thought he knew what he needed to do to get him on the right track.

“Let me run a few tests so I can confirm a couple of things, and I believe we can get things under control.” That sounded good to us. We certainly needed some Christmas magic to help us out. 

Twenty minutes or so later he was back with good news. The test results were as he’d suspected, and it should be simple matter of adjusting some of his medications that seemed to be causing the weight loss. “Try this for a week,” he said, “and then come back next week and let’s see how things are going.” AFTER Christmas? Wow, we were a bit surprised that he’d still be around after Christmas, but we promised to be there.

We left feeling like things were finally starting to get resolved, and none too soon. Christmas is a time of surprises, and a time when the unexpected can certainly happen. And we believe it did.

In this case, Santa is a very good and caring physician whose name is actually Dr. Santa who works at an urgent care facility near our home. Our daughter had met him there several months ago and discovered he and Mrs. Santa lived near them. She’d remembered him and decided it anyone could help her did, it would be him!

And we are believing we’re finally getting some answers to some very worrisome questions, and that Santa gave us an early Christmas gift, probably like he did many times each day he works.

He may not live at the North Pole, or have a white beard, and he wears a white coat instead of a red suit, but he’s one Santa we are very glad to have met! And we believe he gave us just what we wanted – and needed – for Christmas.

Christmas is Different This Year

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We worked so hard to get our trees up and decorated before Thanksgiving, as is our tradition each year. My husband even decorated the foyer ledge early with all the new Santa Clauses so it would be ready for the grandchildren. 

I made a list of all the things we wanted to do during December, and the invitations we were going to extend to friends for dinners and such.

We even did our traditional gingerbread house the day after Thanksgiving so the grandkids could get in the spirit early. Not that they needed any help, because they were already excited.

We even bought tickets for the whole family to go to Christmastown at Busch Gardens, which was going to be our special family trip.

Yes, it was going to certainly be a Christmas to remember.

And how true that was.

But not in the way we planned by far.

Because three days after Thanksgiving we rushed my husband to the hospital by ambulance because he was having severe difficulty breathing. And that was a scary night.

RSV had struck, and he spent five days in the hospital on oxygen, antibiotics, and steroids, trying to get him well and trying to get the fluid out of his lungs and around his heart. (You can read more about this in Matters of the Heart Part 34).

Christmas plans and shopping were put on immediate hold until we were able to get him well enough to come home. Our Christmastown tickets were rescheduled. And all our other plans were quickly put on hold.

That was a long week but we got him home on Friday afternoon. But he was far from feeling good, and spent the next week trying to get his strength back so he could do some of the things we’d planned and go back to work.

I started shopping for the grandkids on line because it was so much easier and I didn’t have to leave him by himself. In fact, most of the gifts have been purchased like that. 

The tickets to Christmastown were used by the kids and a friend of theirs. We enjoyed seeing their pictures.

Cookies were made with help from our daughter and the grandkids, but as circumstances changed, my husband wasn’t able to enjoy them as usual, because the huge amounts of steroids he was given at the hospital have now caused him to develop diabetes, which we’re still trying to get under control.

Parties? Dinners for friends? Christmas concerts? Shopping trips together? Not this year. We were able to attend our grandson’s first birthday party, but he didn’t get to play much with the kids because he’d felt bad that morning and we almost had to cancel.

I’ve wrapped all of the gifts myself so far, something he usually helps with. Hopefully he’ll be able to do some this week.

His planned shopping trip with our daughter and the grands didn’t happen yesterday, because his blood sugar was off again. She did it all for him with the assistance of FaceTime on their phones.

This week is day by day. We’d planned on taking short trips to nearby places since we’re both on vacation this week. We’ll see how that goes. So far it hasn’t. 

But Santa will still come to our house as well as theirs. There will still be Christmas, and it’ll still be on December 25. But our traditions and activities have changed drastically this year. 

We’ve learned though, that what’s important is our health, our families, and the support of those we love. We’ve learned plans are made to be changed, and to accept those changes and make the best of them.

Christmas is still Christmas, and this year we really need to focus on the reason for the season and be thankful for the blessings we’ve had in and through this journey. It’s not over yet, because we still have more doctor visits ahead, but we’ll make it through.

Christmas is different this year, but the reason for the season is the same, and so is the excitement in the eyes of our grandchildren and their friends.

Merry Christmas to all!