Christmas Letter

Yesterday, I sent out some Christmas cards which stated our Christmas letter was posted here.

 I better get to writing a Christmas letter.

Christmas Past: It's all in the archives, {still in the process of moving everything} but I've linked last year's video ... and had these morbid thoughts.

2015 video 

... what if eBlogger goes down?  I still have my iWeb app where all the archives are stored but not available except by me. But pretty sure eBlogger is only accessible by internet.

Maybe it's better that way.

Maybe I shoulda kept a written journal.

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda


Christmas Present:

The kids are doing great, and we still really like them, but dang it, if being a grandparent is not one of the best jobs ever, I don't know what is.

I'm retiring from the wedding photography business.
Mark retired from UPS 8 years ago.

Retiring is one thing, slowing down is completely another.

And that brings us to Christmas Future.

Here, I could vow again to keep this blog updated, read thru the bible in a year, or hint at some big changes coming down the pike.

I could invite y'all to come visit Remington, Bradenton, and/or Muskegon {sleeps 33}

I could promise another year end video by 1.1.17.

I could mend fences and paint the barn.

I could show you my tub full of books I'm fixin' to read on my snowbird porch.

I could do all of the above, and I may, but Christmas Future will be Christmas Past, next year, and the fact remains; coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Have yourself some merry and bright holidays and remember, Jesus is the reason for every season.

God bless you.

Christmas letter circa 2009:

I’m not sure where or how I’ll spend the majority of my time next year.  Michigan or Indiana?  Selling or renting? A retro camper at the edge of Monument Valley, or dorm parents in Kenya?  Sitting on my Art Van sectional tapping out stories, or backpacking through Europe?  Sharing the VW and viewfinders while telling wedding day stories? Fundraising for a struggling mission in the slums of Nairobi or starting a small town ministry for fragile families? A farmer’s market or photo editing? Always documenting in word and pictures, to be sure, but no worries because truly, home is where my heart is. I’m excited for what is around the corner, whether it be all of the above or something entirely different. 

I like to name stuff.  I name houses, years, weddings, vacations, and so I’ve officially named the 2010 journal, “The Novel” not only because I hope to finish one, but mainly because I hope to write more, read more, give more, worship more, see more, live more, pray more, be more.  There, I’ve said it.

I’ve been LAX here. (the journal, not the airport) Whether it’s through a chat by the fire or on a facebook pop-up window, I hope to stay more connected to you.  I need you. You need me.  And so we continue.  Continue to live one day at a time.  Sometimes, by the hour.  Trying to find happiness in the moment.

Where is the joy in your life?  And by ‘your’, I mean ‘my’.  Are you happy? Am I happy? Can there be peace in your heart in a troubled world?  

In 2009 I’ve learned two biggies and hope, in 2010, to practice the third.
  
Happiness cannot be 24/7 because then you wouldn’t feel the joy when it does arrive.
True peace and joy will almost always come on the far side of sacrifices, sorrows, trials, disappointments, and lost opportunities.
Generosity is giving up my “It’s all about me attitude.”  It’s being lavishly wasteful on others with my time, my talent, and my money.  Real generosity is not giving ‘till it hurts,  it’s giving until it’s gone.

At the end of today and everyday, this is my hope; “Remarkably, slowly, and surely my selfish heart will become amazingly transformed by my ridiculous giving.”