Merry Christmas Eve

Quote of the day:

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder

     A couple of days ago, my son asked me why some people are throwing such a fit over the fact that people are saying "Happy holidays" instead of just "Merry Christmas". I patiently explained to him that Christmas is not just another holiday that we celebrate. We have Christmas only becasue of Christ, not Santa Claus, or raindeer, or snowmen or elves. It is "CHRISTmas", not "SANTAmas". When we take the entire meaning of Christmas, and make it just another holiday, we dishonor Christ, and all he did for us. 

     I'm not against Santa, or decorating with elves, or giving presents, and cookies and milk. All those things help to bring fun traditions and memories that children will forever treasure. What I believe is that when we remember who Christmas is about, then the real spirit of Christmas will suround us and those are the things that children will remember.

 

Merry Christmas to All!

To Live in Such Times

Quote of the Day

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Yesterday, December 14, 2012, a psychotic 24 yr. old man, broke into an elementary school in Connecticut, then shot and killed 20 children, and six adults. The majority of the children were kindergartners.  The shock and horror of what he did is still unbelievable. To realize that 20 beautiful defenseless children were mowed down like scene from a disturbing video game is not only frightening, but terrifying.  The coward gunman apparently committed suicide after perhaps finally realizing what he did. My heart goes out to the parents of those beloved children and I hugged my own just a little bit harder and closer last night,  grateful that they not only did not know about this incident, but also that they have not experienced such a hateful and horrible thing. I do not, and will not ever understand why these things happen. What I do know though, is that we must teach our children to love and respect everyone, to treat them well, no matter who they are. The motive for this senseless crime is not clear at the moment, but what is known, is that the type of person that did this had hate built up in him, a hate and perhaps hopelessness that drove him and took over. We cannot change what has happened, but we can make sure that those that we love the most know it. We can make sure that we live each day to the fullest, and that we don’t give up.  

Am I enjoying or enduring?

Quote of the day:

“Life is to be enjoyed, not endured”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

I like this quote. It reminds us that most things we do are because we choose it. I choose to be a wife and mother. I choose to work part time to help support my family. I choose to go to school full-time. I choose to do my very best at all I do. I choose these things, not some random person. Therefore, I need to enjoy my life , and everything I choose. I choose life!

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

      Quote of the Day

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear.”
― Ambrose Redmoon

   

        Today is December 7, 2012. It’s hard to believe, but 71 years ago today, Pear Harbor was attacked and bombed by the Empire of Japan. The year was 1941, and it was a beautiful warm and sunny day in the islands of Hawaii.  Hundreds of unsuspecting tourist and military personnel were relaxing on the beach, or getting up to eat a leisurely breakfast. No one knew it what was coming, who would? Who would have guessed that secretly under the guise of peace talks with the US, The Japanese Imperial fleet crossed the Pacific with one thing on their mind, the destruction of the US, specifically, the Navel and other bases located on the Hawaiian Islands. Pear Harbor bore the brunt of the attack. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. Six of these ships were later repaired and returned to service. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and one minelayer. The attack came as a shock to the American public, and led the President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare that this would be a day that would live in infamy. War was declared on Japan, and brought the US into WWII, something they had been trying very hard up to that point to stay out of.  The USS Arizona was one of the destroyers that were sunk that day. It lies today still under the warm waters of the Pacific as a silent memorial to the 1177 sailors that died that day within its belly.

        I remember the first time I visited the Arizona memorial in Pear Harbor. They show a short video of old news clips of what happened that day. After that, they take you out on a boat where you can go aboard the memorial that spans the breadth of the sunken destroyed. Unbelievably, you can still see oil bubbling out. Some call these the Arizona’s tears. You can’t help but have a solemn and hallowed feeling when you go there and see it for yourself. Certainly something I will never forget. I am thankful for those men and women that serve our country, and to those that gave their lives, in any war to preserve the freedom of the United States, I say thank-you for your sacrifice. I pray that we as a people can live up to their service.