A Time for Reflection

[chasb]

As we approach the holidays (Christmas for me and mine) it's always a good thing to relfect on what you have, what you have had , and what you should be thankful for.

Christmas is my birthday, and each year (58 of them now) I make a point of doing this.

I had wonderful parents who gave me all they could and loved me.

I had a great childhood where I made lifelong friends.

I went co college (first in my family) thanks partly to the hard work of my parents.

I subsequently finished Grad school and most of a Ph.D, none of which would have been possiible in part without my family's encouragement.

I have friends from both my personal and professional lives whom I cherish.

I met the love of my life, Donna and we have been married nearly 34 years.

I have three great kids Michael 31, Timothy 29 and Danielle 26 and I love and am very priood of all of them.

And I have my other family of friends, some of whom I have not ( and may never) meet in all of you.

So here's a Merry Chiristmas or Happy Holiday to all of you. I think it would be a great idea if all of us responded by giving thanks for what they have had and still have.

Chas

[GoofyTimL]

November is my birthday (now 53).

My father was a small town/small church pastor for 40+ years, and mom an RN. They, too, made all the sacrifices so that their kids would have things better than they, and understand the value of what they had regardless. Dad passed away after a short battle with acute adolescent (at age 67!) leukemia in 1996. Mom passed suddenly on a frozen road in MN in 2001. They are greatly missed, but their legacy in my life lives on.

I have a physically handicapped sister (for whom I now am the guardian and provider) and a "nearly normal" sister (my term, given lovingly). Her deficiency as a child was that she was terribly accident prone! Oh, the stories I can tell. She now is married and raises two boys... a husband... and an Arabian Horse/Dersage (sp?) training business outside Denver.

I went to college thanks to the hard work and encouragement of my parents. While their I met and married my wife of 30+ years.

I subsequently finished Grad school with a Ph.D (Analytical Chemistry), none of which would have been possiible in part without my family's and my wife's support and encouragement. Near the end of graduate school, our son (one and only) was born.

We moved to the other side of the country from both families due to the job opportunity, but more due to housing opportunity. We now have friends from both our personal and professional lives whom I cherish. In fact, based on our established base, we decided that when the time comes we'll retire and stay here. Traveling is easy. Re-establishing all that we already have would be hard. Keeping the things which we really value... love, friendships, ministry... those are priceless.

On Thanksgiving, 2004, we celebrated with our son, Jon, age 25, at his marriage to Lindsey in Chicagoland. They now are starting where we leave off and the legacy lives on.

In March of this year, my wife's maternal grandmother passed at age 96. Her grandfather is still alive and well at age 98. My maternal grandfather is still contributing to the family at age 96.

And as chasb has said... I have many other friends, some of whom I have not ( and may never) meet in all of you.

May God bless each of you, and draw you closer to Jesus, who is the reason for this Christmas season.

[Rev.Hammer]

I have:
My health,
My sanity,
A good and loving wife,
A coin in my pocket,
A good job,
Many wonderful and kind friends.

I want for nothing and I am blessed!
May GOD bless you all and keep you in his sight!
May HE grant you peace and satisfaction down into the end of your days.
With all of my heart I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a most blessed new year!