SimplyLife

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of talking to the ladies of our church about that first Christmas. Our little group is going through a lot of changes--mostly moves. People we dearly love are moving away and things are changing. All things we don't like at Christmas. I like my family around, lots of comfort food, and time to slow to a crawl. That's a perfect Christmas - savoring the moments and doing everything the way we've always done it. I think most of us want the familiar traditions of home and hearth for the holidays. But the first Christmas was nothing like that. A very pregnant Mary was enduring an uncomfortable three or four day trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. I can't imagine riding a donkey or even walking 70 miles while nine months pregnant. She and Joseph were obeying orders from Caesar Augustus. A decree had gone out for people to return to their hometowns for a census and to pay taxes. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in G

A Christmas short story for my faithful readers. Did you ever peek at the presents before Christmas? Here's one boy's misadventure about that very topic. The packages have been arriving in the mail almost everyday. There was one that came today from Grandpa and Grandma Harding that Mom whisked upstairs to her secret closet.  We're not supposed to go anywhere near the secret closet starting the week of Thanksgiving. But it's not really a secret since my brother and sister and I know where it is. In the hallway between Mom and Dad's bedroom and my brother, Jerry's room is a closet with a special lock at the top of the door. I can't reach it and neither can Jerry or my sister, Darla. My hand can just brush the bottom of the deadbolt if I stand on tiptoes, but I'm not tall enough to pull it back. Not yet, but maybe next year. I wish I could open that door to see what's really in there. Mom says peeking will ruin Christmas. What? How could knowing ahe

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell of the miraculous circumstances and birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I never tire of reading about the angel visiting Mary, Joseph, and Zacharias. Or of the verses about the shepherds being scared out of their wits by an angel invasion, and taking off for Bethlehem to verify the angel's proclamation. And of course the passage about the wisemen heeding the angel's warning in a dream, sneaking out of Judea by an alternate route. Read the first couple of chapters in Luke and Matthew to see for yourself. Austin Miracles do happen during the Christmas season, although technically Jesus was most likely born sometime in September. This year marks six years since our own early Christmas miracle, which was actually a double miracle. Our grandsons turn six this week. And yes, the birth of a baby is always a miraculous thing, but quite frankly these boys are exceptional miracles.  Because of Twin-to-Twin Tranfusion Syndrome they were born eight

I caught up with a childhood friend recently who's been giving back in a whole new way. Rather than writing a check, she's been on flights to Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Africa to offer the gift of her time, resources, and nursing skills.  My friend, Gail and I grew up in a small country church, singing duets for special music on Sunday mornings. When missionaries visited, it was a big event. After the slideshow of the work in that exotic, foreign country, we'd rush back to the table where pottery, toys, and other curiosities would be on display. Going to the mission field seemed to be the height of adventure and one that was totally out of reach. That was then.  Gail in the middle Gail, who's an RN discovered that foreign mission work isn't out of reach at all. In 2009, she made a short-term mission trip to Mozambique with Children's Relief International. Due to government regulations, Gail wasn't able to use her nursing skills on that

Their eyes melt your heart. That puppy breath, squirming warm little bodies just begging for you to take them home. Little Fido makes the perfect gift--right? WRONG!  Christmas is one of the worst times to get a puppy and shelters experience buyer's remorse with an increase in returns during the holidays.  Reputable breeders won't have puppies available for Christmas, but pet stores and puppy mills will. If you're willing to plop down a few hundred or more for this four-footed gift, you'll want a healthy and happy dog, not a sickly one or one that may have major health issues. Here are reasons why you shouldn't surprise the kids or your beloved with a puppy, kitten, or other animal during the holidays.  1.  It's Christmas and it's crazy.  Everyone is hyped up and the routine is askew. A puppy added to all the packages under the tree will find himself buried in paper and dragged around the house amid the chaos of Christmas morning. Not a good introduc

Many of us will dig deep this Christmas season, writing checks, pushing coins into red buckets, and making online payments to charities before January 1. Americans are the most generous people in the world. Giving to charitable organizations in 2011 was recorded at more than $298 billion by Giving USA Foundation. That amount was up by 4% from what was given in 2010. That's a lotta dough. The outlook for 2013 isn't as bright, but the numbers aren't in yet. We love to give, but we're also suckers for a "feel good" experience. The TV commercials that make us cry and tug at our heartstrings may not be the best places to send our money. And definitely not the ones who send us "free" gifts in the mail to make us feel guilty. I encourage you to take a serious look at what your favorite charities are doing with your hard-earned dollars after they get your check. There are great resources to find out what's happening with your donation.  Here are some h