Merry Christmas

The sun is shining the grass is green (sort of)…Wait this isn’t L.A. and I’m not singing the intro to White Christmas (if you haven’t heard it before it gives context to the song). Irving Berlin wrote it and then dropped it from the original recording to give the song more universal appeal. This isn’t about a song though, it’s about what is Christmas anyway? Where I live we are not always guaranteed a white Christmas. In fact it can be January before we even get a good snow. This year I thought that we might have a chance; we’ve had more moisture than usual. We actually had some snow for a few days, but the last three days rain and about 38-42 degree temperatures have melted most of the snow, save the piles made from the snow plows. But as for a white Christmas, we won’t be having one here. In fact it is supposed to be in the 40’s.

One of my favorite Christmas carols is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was written during the Civil War and it always gives me hope that through whatever the world throws at us that there can always be Peace on Earth.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play,And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,The world revolved from night to day, a voice, a chime; a chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;"There is no peace on earth," I said;"For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Back to Christmas…For me Christmas is a time to reflect on the past year, what has transpired and what I have been blessed with. I have been blessed with so much…I have a loving wife, three great kids and a home. What more can I ask for? But I also have a job that allows me to have a house and doesn’t take me away from my family too much. I have a great extended family my in-laws are wonderful and my dad could be the biggest Boise State fan since…Me! My family is so important to me…and knowing that we can always be together makes me feel so fortunate. This season where we celebrate the birth of the Savior helps to bring out the best in everyone. Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.

Power of the Internet

The power of the internet is immense… I have a friend I have known for more than ten years. She lives in the D.C. area. So we keep in contact by email and instant messages. The other day we were talking about other friends that we have lost contact with. So I started searching the internet and college alumni sites and I did not find who I was looking for. But I did find someone I thought was the sister of one of my friends. So I took a chance and email this stranger that I was looking for my friend who I thought was her sister. Within a few hours I received an email from the person I emailed and I was right. She told me that she vaguely remembered me (from meeting me about ten years ago when I went to her house with her sister) and she forwarded the email I sent on to her sister. That made my morning. A few hours later I received another email…from my friend. So the power of the internet reconnected me with someone that I had not heard from in almost ten years. So there are those who are (still) weary of using the internet but this is a perfect example of the powerful resource that the internet can be…
More to come…

December...Traditions

One week into December and the Christmas parties have begun. Thursday night was the party for the Ada County Association of Realtors. It was fun. Those of us that work at ACAR and IMLS were able to see the people that we deal with in a professional setting in a less formal atmosphere. The old leadership of the association was thanked and the new leadership was installed. This has been an interesting year for ACAR and as such the outgoing President received a standing ovation. Tonight there is a church Christmas that we are all going together as a family. It should be a good way to start the weekend. Then next Thursday we are having our office party. Last year it was fun and I have no doubt that this year will be also. There are many parties this time of year and I haven’t even thought about the personal parties.

It has been pretty cold here; the other morning on the way to work it was 7 degrees. I don’t mind the cold as long as I don’t have to spend too much time in it. On that topic, tomorrow we are going to my Grandma’s house to put up her Christmas lights. The Saturday after Thanksgiving I put up the lights at our house (with some help from my brother to climb on my roof). It has always been a Tradition to put up Christmas lights on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year we helped my Dad set up his lights and as we were doing it, the rain started. We were able to get the lights on the roof with my brother only falling off once (he was fine, by the way). Then in the rain we set up a few of his lawn ornaments…he set up the rest on his own. Tammy thought we were crazy for doing it in the rain…but the tradition is worth continuing no matter what the weather is like. This time of year is full of traditions and as my family continues to grow we are creating our own. This year has been great and the two older kids are into everything about Christmas. We let them decorate their own tree this year. Christmas time can be truly magic for the kids…