It's nearly Christmas!  Excitement is in the air.  Christmas carols ring, Christmas programs entertain, twinkling lights shine, and egg nog fills our cups!  All of these Christmas festivities let us know that Christmas is coming full-speed ahead.

Larry and I aren't usually home this early from the road so it has been nice that we have been able to attend several Christmas events.  After a Christmas dinner last night, I told Larry, "I'm so glad we can come HOME where it is warm and not have to still be out there fighting ice, snow and bad weather on the road."

 We have had an awesome year of evangelism with hundreds making decisions for Christ.  Now, we are excited to slow the pace down and spend Christmas with all of our family in Nashville, TN.  With all of their busy work schedules, they have determined and requested for us to come and spend Christmas with them.  So again, we will enjoy a Tennessee Christmas!  We miss all of them so much and we are greatly anticipating seeing them soon!

Last week, we spent four days having check-ups in Rochester, MN.  In the doctor's office, one of the first things they did was hand me an 8 ½ x 11 sheet and requested that I place a checkmark by the symptoms I was experiencing.  There were well over 100 different boxes to check covering a full gamut of  conditions including heart disease, cancer, other maladies, surgeries, aches and pains, and much more.  Guess what….I checked only four boxes!  I turned to my doctor and exclaimed, "Wow!  I feel really good after reading all of that-I am blessed!"  Of course, one can't be my age without a few ouches-but after walking through the halls of the hospital and meeting so many people struggling with numerous various diseases---Larry and I both feel blessed.  We haven't gotten our test results yet but we are trusting God for good reports (as good as they can be) and that we will be good to run another 100,000 miles!

In this joyous season, we realize that many are sad, broken-hearted, and have felt great grief over the past year as they have lost loved ones.  There will be many empty chairs at the Christmas dinner table.  I would like to share this following poem with you as it is so timely.

I've had my first Christmas in heaven, a glorious and wonderful day.

I stood with the saints of the ages, who found Christ, the truth and the way.

I sang with the heavenly choir.  Just think!  I, who loved to sing.

And oh, what celestial music we brought to our Savior and King.  We sang the glad songs of redemption, how Jesus to Bethlehem came.   And how they had called His name Jesus, that all might be saved through His name.

We sang with the angels the song they sang that blest morn, when shepherds first heard the glad story that Jesus the Savior was born. 

Oh family, I wish you had been there.  No Christmas on earth could compare with the beauty and glory I've witnessed in these few days that I've been here.

You know how I always loved Christmas, it was such a very special day, with all of my family around me.  Yes, now I can see why I loved it, and oh, what joy it will be when all of you are with me to share in the glories I see. 

So dear ones on earth, here's my greeting.

Look up 'til Jesus appears.  And oh, what a Christmas awaits us beyond all our partings and tears.

Please remember to take moments to share about Jesus, the Christ Child, with those that are lost, hurting, and broken.  In the midst of all the busyness of Christmas, may you still focus on the Christ, who is the Giver of Peace and Life!

Gloria