CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

It was different this year not being together with my immediate family, but I had a wonderful time celebrating with my church family and some of my relatives. Sometimes change helps us to better appreciate the gifts and blessings that we do have.

CHRISTMAS EVE - Dec. 24, 2010
I was invited to a Christmas Eve dinner and some of the highlights were:

- a feast fit for a king's table (thank you, Care & Alan McNally!!)
- fellowship with friends and making new acquaintances
- sharing love for music and Christmas carols (I played piano and Tristan accompanied with violin)

- a beautiful Christmas Eve candlelight service
- fellowship and more food with friends (thank you, Dave & Gerri and Geoff & Cynthia Sutton)

CHRISTMAS DAY - Dec. 25, 2010
* After a long night's travel on the Greyhound, I arrived in Winnipeg around 8:45 am and was met by Oma (my maternal grandmother) and my Aunt Myrna. We enjoyed a relaxing brunch at Oma's house, read the Christmas story together and shared our gifts with one another.

* Phone calls with Mom & Dad and my brothers as well as another aunt and cousin in BC were treasured moments and helped me to not feel quite so far away.

* Enjoyed food, games and visiting...and then we watched Sound of Music (a Christmas tradition) - I fell asleep due to the long day.

BOXING DAY - Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010
* After breakfast, we went to church and it was a good time of reflection on the reality of the greatest gift God has ever given us - Jesus Christ.

* Lunch and more games and visiting...after awhile, my mom's Uncle Henry and Aunt Anne and Uncle Abe came over for Christmas dinner and some more fun and games. (Yes, my family loves to play games!) Surprise of surprises - I actually won the Rook game!!

MONDAY, DEC. 27, 2010
* Slept in - the first time in a long time that I was able to do that - mmmm!! Enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then watched "The Price Is Right" together.

* After lunch, Oma, Aunt Myrna and I went bowling with one of Oma's bowling friends - we played 3 games and I had a fairly good average score of 137. Then we went out for coffee and cinnamon buns - yummy!!

* Had a short visit with my mom's aunt Kay in the nursing home where she lives (she has Huntington's disease) - she was really thankful to see us and it was a precious time.

* More games at home, we started a fun puzzle as well - after supper, we played Pictionary, Truth & Triumph and Scrabble and then had devotions together.

TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 2010
- We had an interesting time at the Greyhound bus depot - a few little delays and hitches that reminded us to trust in God to work out all the details.

- My bus trip back to Thunder Bay was uneventful, but very exhausting - arrived home at around 8:45 pm and after a hot bath, I went to bed to ensure I was rested for my return to work the next day.

Thank you, Lord, for family and for the love and fun we share together. May I never forget to thank You for the multitude of blessings You have showered upon me and for Your amazing grace that gives me strength and hope for every day and the future!

COME, LORD JESUS

This morning was a beautiful celebration of Christmas with my church family:

The Sunday School children led us in worship, and I rejoiced in the sincerity and sweetness of their faith and their obvious joy!

From the lips of children and infants, you, LORD, have called forth your praise. ~Psalm 8:2

The choir presented a cantata of praise to God for the eternal gifts He gave us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and His presence was so powerful - it was a delight just to be able to sing to Him in worship!

Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth; worship the LORD with gladness! Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues to all generations. ~Psalm 100

Three young people were baptized, giving testimony to the work of God in their lives, which is the reason that Jesus came to the earth - it was a blessing to see and witness their step of faith!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. ~John 3:16-17

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the advent of God's redemption plan. But we also look forward to when Jesus will come again, and I'd like to share with you a poem that God gave to me as I reflected on that hope...

WHEN JESUS COMES

(Written by Darlene Joy Koop)

The Light of the world shall illumine the sky;

And the glory of God made visible to mortal eyes,

When Jesus comes.

The trumpet shall resound to the earth below;

Every knee shall bow and every heart shall know,

When Jesus comes.

It may be in the morning, or it may be at night;

Yet certainly we shall see God's power and might,

When Jesus comes.

Oh may my soul be ready, and not be taken unawares;

May my heart and mind be free from all earthly cares,

That I may rejoice and welcome the day

When Jesus comes.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

My dad's message this morning was titled "Journey Down Memory Lane" since it was his farewell service at Dorion Bible Fellowship, and as he shared the memories of the past 5 1/2 years in Dorion, I thought back to the Christmas celebrations of the past several years as well.

So here is my picture blog of memories from past Christmases...

CHRISTMAS 2007

Me, my sister-in-law and my mom looking at pictures together.

My brothers Jeff and Tim and my dad watching a movie.



Oma, my dad and my mom playing one of our fave games - Super Scrabble!



This was the Christmas that I received my digital camera!!



Family photograph







CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas Eve celebration with friends in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Lithuanian & English Carol Sing at a friend's apartment in Lithuania.

Christmas Day meal and celebration with church family in Lithuania.

Christmas meal and celebration with family when I returned to Canada.

CHRISTMAS 2009

Sharing gifts with family.

Ladies trio singing for Country Christmas banquet in Dorion (my mom on the right).

Another fave family activity - doing a puzzle together!

Our homey Christmas tree.

This Christmas will be a lot different than previous ones, but it will be special in its own way. I am so thankful for the blessings and gifts that God gives, which we can celebrate at special times of the year!!