Home for Christmas

>If one can successfully stay focused in the midst of the noise and hurried pace of the Christmas season, it is a great time to spend time with friends and loved ones who are otherwise “out of the loop” during the course of the year. It’s been a great week of such “visits,” with more in store between now and New Year’s. Today’s travels included time with a coffee shop acquaintance, talking about a variety of subjects including the evolution of technology and how it has impacted our respective careers. Grocery store stops yielded greetings from friends including Bill, and acquaintances including Julia the Salvation Army Red Kettle volunteer. I ran into Angela, the “neighborhood girl” who is now an adult with family responsibilities of her own. There was Win, and Jay; there were Christmas greetings from our garbage man; email from Don and a visit from Wallie. I squeezed in a stop to see Mom, who is holding up well as the clock clicks toward the inevitable swarm of family for the traditional Christmas Eve gathering. That visit included a quick exchange of greetings with sister Sally, and promise of a weekend visit with nephew Mike and his wife Jessica. With evening approaching, I even found some time to wrap a gift to my bride. Like many I know, we have agreed to a modest gift exchange this year. Regardless of the economy, however, we are always “rich” in His love. And though we might not have a white Christmas, we have a snow-capped Mt. Baker on the horizon. Merry Christmas Eve to all!