Fresh New Year of Adventure

So many people write resolutions on New Year's Day. Lofty plans to loose 50 pounds or read a book a week - and by the middle of February they have just about all gone by the way-side. At least that's what my experience is trying to have resolutions. One year I decided to "set goals". Trust me, that's just a New Year's Resolution with a different name!

Then, back in 2012, my friend Terri announced what her "word" for the year was going to be. I asked her what that meant? She chooses a word each year and that is her focus in the days to come. She reflects on that word and how it plays into her life.  Hmmm....

My Precious Family - Merry Christmas

Amy Grant sings a wonderful song titled Heirlooms.  The lyrics of the first verse go like this:    

                 

                                               Up in the Attic

Down on my knees

Life time of boxes

Timeless to me

Letters and photographs

Yellowed with years

Some bringing laughter

Some bringing tears

Time never changes the memories, the faces

Of loved ones that bring to me,

All that I come from

And all that I live for

And all that I'm going to be.

My precious Family

is more than an heirloom

To me.

I used to sing this song in church every Christmas, and every Christmas it touched me deeper. My family has always been a huge part of my life, and, as I get older, I find I treasure them even more.  

Oh, we're not a perfect family, but we are just right.

Roots Day

December 23^rd is “Roots Day”, a day to celebrate heritage. 

My parents are sort of a mixed bag of ancestry. Grandpa on my dad’s side was born in the US to Czechoslovakian immigrants.  

Grandma was born in Yogoslavia and came to the US when she was three years old.  

Dad was the oldest of four kids - 

Mom, on the other hand, has family in the US going back before the Civil War. Trying to trace her history has been an adventure! We know that somewhere in the distant past, there is Irish and English - even a splash of Native American. I never knew my grandparents on that side. I wish I had - but mom was a great lady.

Mom's cousin traces the family history and used to share with us stories and the things he learned.  

So half of me is third generation immigrant and the other half is 100% United States American.  

I wish I knew more about the people in my family tree and maybe someday I will. I am grateful for the family I was born to - I am grateful for the love that we've shared. I treasure my roots and all the branches that stem from them.

Happy Roots Day.

Do They Know it's Christmas Time at All?

I was driving home from work last night, listening to Christmas music and envisioning the upcoming day with my treasured family.   Then the song, "Do They Know it's Christmas?" came on.  I've heard it before, many times, but I've never really heard it, until now - and it made me feel small.

Back in 1984, a group of musicians got together and formed a "super group" to raise money for the famine that was happening in Ethiopia.  The song that came out of this effort was "Do They Know it's Christmas?" -

As I said, I've heard this song many times.  My thoughts have been, how wonderful of these bands to help people.  But it's never really driven my heart before.  But as I listened I thought about our society and the hustle and bustle and needless over spending to celebrate this season we call Christmas Time.  I thought about my own attitude and my own heart position.  It was an eye opener!