This year's Christmas we had our second school concert at the Strawberry Hill Library. Parents enjoyed watching their kids sangs. Kid were excited to see Santa. Funny thing was Logan and Lucas didn't recognize their grandpa being Santa and little Ashton screamed his head crying when Santa held him on his lap. Would be a funny picture to look at when he grows up. I asked the children what they enjoyed most about the concert, a lot of them said the singing, mom and dad being there and the food. A few mentioned Santa and the gift. I was pleasantly surprised.

This year, I didn't feel like getting a real tree. It seems to be such a waste of time, energy and money which I prefer to give to other causes. And to kill a tree, which is the worst of all. But I still like to decorate for Christmas. I was stuck with ideas and money I wanted to spend. Then God donated this lovely little fake tree to me through a parent. It is so light weight and easy to put away. I love it.

It was so nice to have Jo with us this Christmas. Poor girl was all stressed out with her cooking.
I have to say that was a lot of work - mashed potato with becon, onion and herb; multigrain bread that are specially moistened by 7 different ways; beautifully decorated cookies. Everything taste so delicious. Julian's turkey was cream on the top. Seeing the talents of their cooking, how am I suppose to entertain them with mine in the future? Have to take some crash courses.

Kids also larvished on us with presents. Two ballet tickets, computer monitor. They took a lot of thoughts. Hope we don't get too spoiled.

So nice to have Jared and Eric with us for Christmas Eve. Though we still miss Jo and Julian.
Ross's talk was about the name 'Emanuel' meaning 'God is with us' through thick and thin. With his wife just out of surgery for ovarian cancer and into treatment, most people want to stay away from public eyes inorder to cope. But not Ross, through pain and fear and doubt, him and his wife sense the presence of God so acutely. Ross has the confident to share Christ and his love with five thousands hungry seekers who want to hear the comforting words of God in this disturbing time. Ross just talked about how God has been ministering to him and his family through the ordeal, it was up front and personal. Indeed we sense the presence of God so prevanlent in the whole auditorium, filling every nook and crany. We walked out feeling so blessed knowing that Christ would do the same to each one of us under any circumstances.

Now it is time for me to apply this message to my life. Stephen phoned a few days ago that our father has acquired a $90,000Can. debt under Stephen's name a few years ago through unwise investment. Now the debtor want to collect the money or Stephen has to declare bankcrupcy which inturn will cut off his livelihood of running the snack bar. God has warned me sometime ago that some big crisis will come through our father, so it is not that big a surprise for me.
I also know he is allowing it for a good cause. I probably will have to help clean up the mess but the interesting thing is I don't feel anxious about it. I am anticipating how God is going to use it to work in his good will.

Life seems to be running twice at its speed at this stage. Everything zoomed by so quickly. A while ago, it was before Christmas with all the huzzles and buzzles. Now it is after. Something unique I learn in the last couple of months. While I was so crunching for time because of the different committments in the evening, God actually made time for me by wind storms and black outs. Couldn't believe it was so timely. Not that I like the storm, many others suffer because of it. Yet I have to believe he has a message for each person too. My neighbor Barbara has a huge tree blown off in the middle of her yard. Could have smacked her house right in the middle if it fell the other way. Barbara love spending time gardening. She seems to have no lack of troubles coming from gardening too. Two years of fighting with the municipality to stop the side walk. So much time and energy had been devoted to it and watched the work of her hands being bulldozed at the end. Now her tree!