More Christmas Lights!

We didn't get around to looking at Christmas lights until Christmas night. One of the best places to go around here is the Toyon Way/Red Bud Lane area of of El Margarita. We saw some great houses - like the one below with Kim and David standing under the blue arch.

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This last house is a Gingerbread House made by one talented lady on our ward. She designed it to look like the "Crooked House" in England. It's hard to tell from this angle, but it really is pretty crooked.

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

For those who grew up in our household, you will recognize the settings for the scenes portrayed below. For others - well, you'll just have to imagine the fun we have. We had a great day. Many thanks to our children and grandchildren who were making happy traditions of their own. You've blessed our lives in countless ways.

Mom, Kim, and David open stockings on Mom & Dad's bed

Mom displaying a couple of gifts given by loving family members

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Kimberly opening one of her gifts, and Dad wearing what is now his favorite hat

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The leftovers.

Yes, we had the traditional Hall Christmas Eve dinner with cheese and sausage, crackers and nuts, soup and vegetables - with copious amounts of cookies, candy, and other assorted treats.

(you know, the four food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup)

David left today (needs to be at work Monday), Kimberly leaves tomorrow, but both went to Church with us today. It is SO MUCH FUN having them here. I don't know what we'll do when they get families of their own.

December 17, 62 A.D. - Lazarus Dies for the Second Time

I've shared this before I think, but I always think about it this time of year, and it makes me ponder.

In the Old Farmers Almanac several years ago, on this date, the little note said: "Lazarus dies for the second time - A.D. 62."

Now that's interesting. So I get to thinking and the first thing that occurs to me is that 62 is probably the about average age for a man living at that time. The second thing that comes to mind is that if that's true, then he was born in or about A.D. 0, and that would make him about the same age as Christ. It also occurs to me that they may well have been childhood friends.

In John 11 is we read that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and also Lazarus. A few verses later, after Jesus sees the family and other mourners weeping over Lazarus' death, we see the famous verse: "Jesus wept." He then proceeds to the tomb, asks for the stone to be rolled aways, and calls out: "Lazarus, come forth!"

Remembering that Lazarus had been in the grave four days already, and that Christ could have come sooner, but chose not to, it is not readily apparent to his family or others (maybe not even to us) what the purpose of all this could be.

However, overarching the entire scene is Christ's teaching that not only is Lazarus' illness "not unto death," but hints that future events surrounding this will occur "for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

Reflecting on the sometimes unfathomable occurrences in my own life, and knowing of Christ's infinite love for me personally, that particular teaching often makes me ponder just how many of my challenges are "not unto death" like I think they are, but in fact are solely so that the Son of God may be glorified. That is, if I will be more faithful, more humble, and more willing to let Him work his miracles in my life as He did in Lazarus'.

Merry Christmas

Soon the bells will start...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. I got the first strands of lights up on the house last weekend (the eaves, the garage and the windows and door), then they failed, then I fixed them. Later in the week I got the tree up in the yard, and today I added a couple of new items: rope lights on the sidewalk that I bought at an after Christmas sale for 2 bucks last year, and some old white drape lights I picked up somewhere. Basically,it's my standard plan with a little embellishment.

Mom bought a really nice tree a couple of weeks ago and we put put it up and decorated it last Monday (with popcorn and cranberries of course). Now all we need is to get out of school and have fun with David and Kimberly.