Last year marked sad and happy changes in our lives. I cried with Laura over the phone when she discovered her baby – my first grandchild – would be born with a cleft palate. With research and a CP team, they were ready and worked daily, preparing James mouth for surgery. His flawed lip and bright eyes still offered a beautiful smile. After surgery, his new smile brightened his face even more. Medical technology is amazing. The surgeon did a fantastic job.
 
Last year we had to put our nine-year-old bulldog to sleep. It was hard. You get so attached. I just knew he read my mind.
 
God miraculously blessed the building of our new church with labor and material donations. Then the Lord sent a buyer for our old building. He waited until heat and air and bathrooms were installed. We are scheduled to close out in January. We can worship there until it is finished.
 
A dear family at church – my Sunday school teacher – moved back to Joplin where their relatives live. We miss you Blaine and Janice. The Lord sent us the Binkleys. They are a blessing.
 
Penny and Don got to visit us before returning overseas.

Not that I am, but if I were making new year resolutions, they might look like this:
 
Ride the stationary bike thirty minutes daily
Eat healthier
Read all the books Gale bought and read
Make the world a better place to live
Lose twenty pounds
Dust
 
The list could easily be longer, but I’m already procrastinating. Over the years I’ve learned not to set high goals. With God's help, just do what I can the best I can. I’ll try.

A recent study revealed 50% of Americans are not concerned about their destiny. Religious people can believe in heaven and hell but it’s not for me, they say. Or you live the best you can and hope you make it. I’m just as good as the next person. Who can know? It’s not important. It doesn’t matter.
 
Regardless of what anyone or any religion thinks about the hereafter, there is an absolute truth according to the Holy Bible.
 
Because of Adam’s sin, all are sinners and will face hell unless they believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son who came to earth as a baby, then grew up and died on a cross to forgive those who believe on him.
 
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not parish but have everlasting life.
There is a heaven and there is a hell. Disbelief will not change that fact. Believe it or not, everyone makes a choice. . Ask Jesus to come into your heIart. It’s the most important thing you’ll ever do.

Since bowling on a Wii game a couple years ago at a lady’s church party, I’ve wanted one. This was my lucky Christmas. Santa Gale gave it to me.
 
Today he installed it, and our living room came alive. Huffing and puffing, we played the game on our antique mega-size TV screen.
 
In our youthful years, Gale’s best bowling score was 230 something and mine was 130 something. The strike I got that game, sandwiched between gutter balls, was an accident. I remember hooting when I broke 100.
 
But today I shined. We tied the first game, and I won the second. If Gale’s bum knee hadn’t caused him to sit, he would’ve won, I’m sure.
We’ll play again.
 

I made it. Whew. I shouldn’t say that. Christmas isn’t about me. I shouldn’t let tasks of the season fetter my celebration of the Christ-child. By the time I prepared Christmas dinner, I had relaxed somewhat. Playing piano for the Christmas program and some specials was a joy.
 
But going to church on Christmas day soothed my spirit. I needed that. We celebrated the Holy Baby’s new kingdom. That’s why He came, you know. I’m looking forward to his coming kingdom.
 
Next week we’ll start a new year. Days will turn to weeks, and weeks to months. Before you know it, we’ll be Christmas shopping again. For now, we’ll take down the tree.

At some point in life traditions deviate or retire. Children grow up and move away. Parents and grandparents pass on, and siblings begin new traditions with their own growing families.
 
This year two of our children and their families couldn’t be here. Due to his work schedule, Chris and family shared Christmas dinner and gift exchange with us on the 23rd. That was Okay. We had a good time.
 
Therefore, this Christmas morning we broke tradition. Gale and I exchanged gifts alone as we had 44 years ago before the children came along. We didn’t eat quiche and cinnamon rolls as we had the last twenty some years, and we didn’t have our Christmas Eve buffet.
 
Since Christmas was on Sunday this year, we celebrated the birth of Jesus with our beloved church family. Now that was a blessing. God is good.