A Wonderful Christmas

I hope all was well for you this Christmas. My Christmas season was busy, but very rewarding. My husband and I made Christmas stretch out by watching a Christmas movie every night for about 3 weeks. I listened to Christmas music every day from Thanksgiving to the day after Christmas. I love Christmas! It is a time to reflect on the true meaning of why we celebrate each year and the blessings that God has given us. My husband and I chose not to buy each other gifts this year, instead we chose to give the gift of time. So, we each got a weekend to get to do whatever our heart desires as long as it was time together. That means more to me than anything that money could buy.

We started out our celebrating at my Mom's on the 23rd, my Dad's on Christmas Eve and then my in-law's house on Christmas Day. This was the first year that I didn't have any pictures from Christmas. I forgot to take my camera to both my Mom's and my Dad's and then on Christmas day I got to my in-law's only to discover that my batteries were dead in my camera...bummer!

We did receive some nice gifts this Christmas from family and friends. Some of them are...all new bedding for our bed, parts & labor for brakes on my truck, cd's, clothes, Tim McGraw clock, pictures, albums & frames, etc.

I was most thankful for the time with my husband and family. I thank God for such a loving family and especially for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ which is our reason for celebrating each Christmas.

God Bless You All!

Winter Memories - "Reflections"

Reflections

Everyday I take the time to thank God for the blessings He has given me

Usually for things like my family, my job, my home and for a man who loves me

But it seems more lately I have come to appreciate the things I used to consider small

Things like the sun shining through the trees and the turning of the leaves in the fall

These are things that are taken for granted as a child, but are appreciated as you grow older

I think of these things as reflections of God’s love, even now as it is turning colder

Never again will I dread the cold weather, this year I couldn’t wait for it to start

I see reflections of my man putting his arms around me warming my body and my heart

I used to see snow as a burden affecting the routine of everyone’s day

Now when I see snow, I see reflections of childhood memories outside at play

Memories of snowball fights, snow angels, and building snowmen to name a few

Catching snowflakes on my tongue and when my parents would come out to play too

Now as the Christmas season is drawing near I feel an inner peace I have never felt before

I see reflections of the beauty in every ornament, every light, and every wreath on every door

The Christmas music that I can't get enough of because it warms my heart with every beat

I feel the spirit of Christmas in the air and I see it in the smiles of the people I meet

I think of Christmas and I see reflections of family gatherings and love in the air

Special times with the ones you love especially those back when Granny was still there

People smiling as they open their gifts that were given to them from someone they love

And being taught to appreciate the fact that the true meaning of Christmas comes from above

It has taken me a long time to notice and appreciate the small things in life, but now I do

If you look hard enough even the smallest things will show a reflection of something special to you

I have come to a point where I look for those things and wait for the memories that will appear

And as I enjoy those memories I never forget to thank God for those “reflections” I hold so dear

Sherri K. Back

December 4, 2003

Thanks Be to God

Thanksgiving I was surrounded by people I love. Wednesday night we spent the night at my father-in-law's and had an early afternoon dinner with him, my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and their families followed by a late afternoon dinner with my dad, stepmom, step siblings, nieces and nephews. Friday night we had dinner with my mom and on Saturday we had a "Mullins" Thanksgiving. We decided to take some family pictures at this dinner.

Above is the lovely family who hosted the event this year...My Aunt Suzie, Uncle Bob & Cousin Robyn.

Above is my Uncle John's oldest daugther, Mary with her husband Wes and son Benjamin.

Above is Uncle John's youngest daughter Amy and her husband Blake.

Above is my Uncle John and Aunt Elaine.

Uncle John, Aunt Elaine & the grandbaby Benjamin

Above is my Dad, my Stepmom and my nieces, Lucy & Darvey

My Dad & Stepmom

Above is my Aunt Suzie's son Mark, his wife Emily, their Daughter Lily and their soon to be son Robert.

This is my Aunt Suzie's daughter Laura with her husband Matt and their sons Brennan and Logan

This is my Aunt Suzie and Uncle Bob

Above is our "adopted" family, Anthony & Alicia

And last but not least, the siblings to whom all these kids and grandkids belong too!

There are so many things that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving including, my health, my job, and my friends but most of all for a man who loves me unconditionally, my GOD, my FREEDOM and my FAMILY. Thank you Lord for all of the blessings that you have layed upon me, even when I sometimes fail to see them. In Jesus' name, Amen!