Christmas Spirit

 

May there be

at least one moment

this holiday season

when you’re reminded

what it’s really

all about.

~ unknown

 

It was to the point that Mike Gavin disliked the Christmas Season.  He enjoyed the true meaning of Christmas, but not the commercialization.  The hurried shopping, gifts bought just to have something to give, the overspending, and the stress were taking away from the joy and purpose of Christmas.  Mike also knew that he only needed so many ties, sweaters, or shirts to wear.

 

That year, Kevin, their 12-year-old son, was on the school wrestling team.  A few weeks before Christmas, their team had a non-league practice match against a team that was sponsored by an inner-city church.  The team players wrestled in worn out tennis shoes and regular clothes.  There was a stark difference between the two teams, with Kevin’s team wearing their gold and blue uniforms and new wrestling shoes.  The opponents even competed without headgear, because they could not afford it.  Not surprisingly, Kevin’s school team won every match.  Mike commented, “I wish just one of them could have won.  They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”

 

That’s when Mile’s wife, Nancy, came up with a plan, in hopes of boosting his Christmas spirit.  The next day, she went to the sporting goods store, bought headgear and wrestling shoes, and had them sent to the inner-city church.

 

Nancy then wrote a note to Mike telling him about buying the sports items and donating them anonymously to the church.  She placed the letter in a white envelope, wrote Mike’s name on it, and stuck it in the branches of the Christmas tree.

 

When it was time to exchange gifts, Mike’s envelope was the last to be opened.  He was most pleased with the gift from Nancy.  The white envelope tradition began.  In other years, tickets were bought to send handicap students to a hockey game, a check was given to two elderly brothers whose house had burned to the ground during Christmas week, and other gifts through the years.

 

The letter became one of the highlights of Christmas.  Whereas it was the last gift opened the first year, the children now wanted the envelope to be opened first.  They eagerly awaited, as Mike read the contents of the letter.

 

The year Mike died all three children came home for Christmas.  Before they arrived, Nancy put up and decorated the tree.  The last thing she did Christmas Eve was to put the white envelope on the tree.  The next morning, three additional white envelopes were on the branches of the tree.  For the first time, each of the three children placed an envelope on the tree explaining a gift given in memory of their dad.  And the tradition continues to this day.

 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

 

Gifts of the Heart

 

Rachel Uretsky-Pratt teaches at a school in Kennewick, Washington, that is 100% free/reduced lunch.  On the last day of school, before the Christmas break, Rachel was looking forward to giving books and treats to her students.  During the day she had received handmade cards and notes, chocolates, and some jewelry.  But one gift stood out from the rest.  One little girl wanted to give Ms. Pratt a gift, but had nothing.  That morning, she saved the plastic wrapper that the fork, spoon, straw, and napkin came in.  Then she carefully took the time to take out every prized marshmallow in her cereal, put it in the plastic wrapper, tie it off, and give it to her teacher.  Rachel reminded, “Be grateful for what you have, and what others give you.  It all truly comes from the deepest parts of their hearts.”

Heather Babin Benoit’s last Christmas as a classroom teacher she received a gift that reminded her that it is the thought that counts.  One of her students saw that the other children brought their teacher gifts, but he had nothing to give.  He saved the box that his gift had been wrapped in, put his purple crayon in the box, and rewrapped the box.  When giving the gift to his teacher, he said, “I hope you love it, it is your favorite color.”  Heather responded, “Purple is my favorite color.  He knew that.  He paid attention to what I said.  He didn’t have much to give in his eyes but he gave me so much more than a purple crayon.  He gave me love.  He gave me his heart.  He gave me a kind gesture.”

 

For the past 30 years, Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center Head Gardener, has chosen the Christmas tree for the holiday festivities in New York City.  Sometimes people nominate trees to be chosen and other times the trees that are picked are discovered while driving through the Northeast.  That is the story for the 2024 tree.  In 2020, Erik had stopped to get gas on his tree hunting search.  When he looked up, he saw a beautiful Spruce.  He stopped at the house, knocked on the door and met Earl Albert.  He asked if he would someday be willing to donate his tree to the Rockefeller Center.  Earl told Erik that in 1967, he and his newlywed wife, Leslie, had planted the Norway Spruce in West Stockridge, Massachusetts.  Through the years they watched the tiny evergreen grow to a towering tree.   Leslie had passed away a few months before Erik stopped by.  Earl decided that donating their tree would be a wonderful way to honor his beloved Leslie.  The decorated tree could then be enjoyed by those visiting New York City in December.  After the Christmas Season, the tree will be given to Habitat for Humanity to be used in building houses for those in need.

 

Especially during these days, may the gifts we give truly come from the heart.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

 

Thanksgiving Beach Week - 2024

 

Due to Hurricane Beryl, in July, our beach house reservations were cancelled.  We were offered another week and chose to spend the week of Thanksgiving at the beach.  The first three days were warm enough to play in the water!  Nights were rather chilly and even cold later in the week.  We were grateful for our Thanksgiving Beach Week with family.

Puzzle

 

 

 

 David, Ryen, Larry, Sawyer, Debbie, Mary, Della, Daniel

 

Scott, Abby, Daniel (9), Mary (12)

 

Chad, Lori, David (14), Ryen (11), Sawyer (9), Della (7)

 

Kirk, Amelia, Melissa, Andrew, Lena, Robin

 

Jordan, Josiah (11), Eli (13), Adam

 

Amelia (7), Melissa, Lena (9), Andrew

Eileen, Jane (15)

 

Sarah, Charles (9), Amy, James (7), Kevin

 

Robin took her sewing machine, so each cousin could make their own pillowcase.  She chose fabric, based on their interests, and had the material cut and ready to sew.

 

 

Robin taught them how to pin the fabric seams together.

Jane made a pillowcase for her younger cousin, too.

BEACH TIME!

The first two nights, the kids bundled up and watched Christmas movies on the side deck, complete with popcorn and movie snacks.

Plenty to do outside

Amelia and Della celebrated their 8th birthdays which will be a few days after Thanksgiving.

Sarah made silhouettes for the cousins from profile pictures.  She cut them out and then had tape around the outside edges.  They painted and decorated their silhouette.

 

Sawyer painted this wooden nativity set.

Painting tiles

Each cousin made a Christmas diamond art coaster

 

Under the stairs

 Ryen brought hair tinsel to share

Sarah set up a Cousin Crokinole Tournament.

Taught to shake hands before and

after matches.

From the rising of the sun

to the place where it sets,

 the name of the LORD is to be praised.  Psalm 113:3