It's Just a Day....

Santa has come, the presents are open, tummies are filled, and now it is time to pay all the bills.

Wait that isn't really what Christmas is all about. I learned that better this year than any year ever before. Yes we have done the Christmas Eve candlelight service, and the Advent candles, we have given to the bell ringers of Salvation Army, and all these things are important don't get me wrong. Any time you are reminded of the birth of Christ and the long trek to the stable by Mary and Joseph is important.

What I am talking about is getting down to basics, new life (the birth of Christ), the gathering of loved ones (Mary, Joseph all the wise men etc) and the sharing of peace, comfort and joy.

You see this year our daughter was not able to come home for Christmas. This was the first time in her short 25 years of life. She was saddened, I was saddened, to say the least it was difficult for all. But then as I was trying to console our daughter I began listening to my own words more carefully. You see I kept telling her, "it is just a day". Now those that are very religious may argue with my evaluation but think about it. All the things we are supposed to be celebrating we should actually be doing everyday of our lives. Christmas isn't really about the tree, and the Christmas presents, it is about the love of family, the love of our neighbors, peace and goodwill around the world. We and the retailers are the ones that have commercialized this holiday.

So it really is just a day, one of 365 to love our neighbors, honor our mother and father, Love our Lord God. Perhaps if we really wanted to honor the birth of our Lord we should give a gift everyday of the year, not just December 25th, and as my daughter said in her card that accompanied her gifts to the family, "they were each picked with sincere love". Isn't that in fact what it really is all about and perhaps what God may have intended by having the "Virgin Mary" carry his child?

Personally I am going to take my own words more to heart, it is "just a day" and my New Years resolution is to start making every day, all 365 days of the year Christmas by sharing some measure of peace, joy and love to all I meet and love.

Wide Eyes of Surprise

It was a success. All the hard plans, all the coordination, all the secrets, what a joy to see the wide eyes of the birthday girl on approach to baggage claim not knowing entirely what the baggage being picked up.
Arriving well before the sun rises, checking the bags, removing the shoes, security, ah finally the approach to the gate. Flying, flying, flying, landing at last. Anticipation, finally the car approaches, the ear to ear smile, the tears of joy and surprise. Yes, it was a success!!
The week was full of lots of hugs, laughing, of course coffee and more coffee. Yes the mother/daughter week was one to remember.
My wish came true, that of all mother's round the globe, to bring joy and happiness to our children. I am blessed to have made a safe journey and spend time with one of my kidlets.

Economist vs Media

I heard this week that the economist have finally confirmed what every working American already knew, the United States is in a major recession. Wow I am really glad they cleared that up for all of us. And not only that but we have been in this recession since last December. Wow you know go to any major city street corner and ask the homeless if we are in a recession and how long we have been in a recession, I bet they don't need a 4 year degree to figure that out.
My degree is not in economics or business for that matter, I am just a Registered Nurse. Let me tell you perhaps I should be heading the economy team.

The major auto manufactures in America should have long ago stopped production on their vehicles that were not living up to economic expectations. Have you noticed the more money that goes to bank bailouts the more money the auto industry requests. And the CEO's act like it is just an inconvenience to fly commercial first class. Poor babies. Now everyone is shocked that a CEO is going to only receive $1 salary for the next year, poor baby once again. I wonder if they have any idea how many assembly line workers could be hired for what 1 CEO earns in a year.

Stretch mortgages out so people can pay their own bills, stop sending all our jobs overseas, pull in all those multi million dollar salaries CEO's are collecting, if the auto industry needs money fine then give them a loan at the same interest rate college students pay on student loans. Why should the auto industry get "free" money when the youth of our future have to pay such high rates to get an education to clean up the messes these overpaid, self centered upper management officers created through their own greed.

And tell the media to stop pumping fear into the public by constantly telling us how bad everything is, we know how bad it is we are living it. All the media is doing is fueling the fire, and causing more fear.