Christmas Waiting

  No matter how you look at it Christmas involves waiting. Children impatiently ask, “How many more days?’ Weary parents wait in long lines. Desperate people wait for their next pay check in order to buy the little they can to make Christmas for their family. We...

The Christmas Boxes

“Christmas is all about Jesus but all I see under the tree is gifts for us. What can we give to Him this year?” That question was the beginning of our family’s quest to make Christmas about Him. As a result we began the tradition of the two boxes. Maybe it is...

Christmas Transformation

Transformation is all around us. Houses once dark are glistening with lights.  Yards are decorated with reds and greens. Front doors are wreathed with Christmas greetings. But with all that outward change of the past view days I’m wondering about hearts. Is your heart...

You Are Loved

Sitting in the doctor’s office for my routine check up this morning, I watched people of all ages coming in and going out. Christmas music played softly while mothers’ coaxed their restless children to be still. Older folks anxiously waited their turn. One song led to...

Love Keeps Reaching

It was Christmas 2002 and I was all alone in the plush hotel room inAmsterdam. Alone but not alone. Early that morning I had kissed my crying two year old Jenny good bye in Kostroma, Russia. There was no way that she could possibly understand my promises to come back...