Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone. Amazing how time flies. Each year it seems the 365 days on the calendar speed past more quickly than the year before. 2011 has been a year of many challenges. Both personally and professionally, I have faced ice and snow storms, flooding, personal loss, and more. I have learned more about myself and the direction I would like to see my life go. Its funny how those hurdles really refine a person and show what is truly inside. One of my favorite scripture verses is 1 Corinthians 10:13; "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
There have surely been some moments in 2011 where I felt He was putting this to the test.

With a new year, however comes the feeling a fresh beginning. What better time to start something new, than the beginning of a new year? As I see friends and family post resolutions for the coming year, it got me thinking about how to face a new chapter in life.

I pride myself on being someone who wants to make a difference in the world. With that, the little things we say, how we interact with others really does in my opinion matter. A positive attitude and a smile, or remembering to treat others the way we would like to be treated truly can change the world.

But beyond the little things we should each try to practice daily, what else can one to do in making this big old world we live in a better place? Suddenly it hit me while having the TV playing in the background as I finished a few things. As I flipped through channels I came upon the 2009 movie "Julie and Julia" . The movie is based on a writer who decides to take a year long challenge and cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" Now the subject matter wasn't what really caught my attention but more importantly the challenge. The writer in the story finds herself becoming a better person through the challenge as she works through something as simple as the 500+ recipes in one years time. As I finished watching a movie I never thought I would have gotten drawn into, I found myself thinking about what kind of 365 Day challenge of my own could I potentially take on in making 2012 standout from other years past.

I started doing a little research and was amazed to find the amount of 365 Day Challenges out there. I remember seeing several friends start last year a challenge by taking 1 photo each day. I also found a website, where someone has done most of the work for you. By signing up, they will email you a new challenge each day for you to work on, and if you wish photograph and blog about how they effected you. Sounds too easy. Well we will see. You may see more frequent blogs from me in the coming year as I have decided to document 2012 and take on this 365 Day Challenge.

I'm hoping this little project will allow me too look back on 2012 one year from today with a clear understanding of where the world took me, and that I am a better person because of those challenges and experiences life handed me.

I cannot wait to start this undertaking. I only hope I am as enthusiastic about it 300+ days down the road as I am today. I hope some of you will decide to join me on this pathway this year! Here is to 2012 and let the ride and challenge begin!!

A Christmas Perspective...

Just as fast as the wrapping paper flew, Christmas has come and gone for another year. Each year we rush around to make preparations for the holiday just right. Shopping for the perfect gift, and prepping everything to make it just right. Each year I beg my family to stop spending and spending on gifts. The time shared together is far more priceless and memorable than anything that you could get me. Each year though gifts are purchased, and within minutes the floor is covered. This year our family did something a little different. Instead of us all making the rounds to several locations and opening various gifts, than home to our respective houses, we all decided to spend the night at my sister's Christmas Eve and wake up and spend Christmas Day together also. Talk about bringing back childhood memories!

I have to admit, as I get older, I do appreciate watching others as they open much more than opening those gifts in front of me. Watching my nieces as they tore through their piles, brought smiles to all of our faces, but I could tell their happiness was soon to be subdued as their piles dwindled. The smiles and excitement quickly changed as they realized they had tore through everything, and now had to sit back and watch us "adults" slowly work through our much smaller piles. With each gift we opened, they inched closer, and before long, they were "helping" trying to get us to tear in faster. Why such a rush? Does some super power come with increased velocity of shredded wrapping paper? I'm sure as a child, I was the same way.

As someone who considers himself a "people watcher" I enjoyed watching reactions, emotions, and even an occasional tear with some of the thought that went into many of the gifts. I was amazed at a picture my sister had made for me.. Knowing its a one of a kind is something that will help me treasure it even more. I'm still thinking of where will be the perfect place to hang it and show it off. Even more touching was memorial marker for Cody of his dog "Sam" who passed away this summer. I happened to catch a picture of him with it along with their new puppy "Molly" on his lap. Talk about tugging on the heart strings. I do not think there is anything more touching the girls could have done, well that was until my sister opened her gift from her oldest daughter. Tawni will be leaving for college this coming year. As she gets closer to that date when she will no longer live at home, its amazing to see and watch her mature. I can still remember her as a baby and rocking her to sleep in my arms. As my sister opened the engraved charm bracelet, I noticed more than one teary eye.

So why do I share all of this? As Christmas 2011, becomes just a memory, it may go down as one of the best ones in recent history. Spending quality time with family is something that I always enjoy, no matter how much I may joke about it. They have always been there for me through anything I may be facing. In recent years, I have always kind of dreaded Christmas Eve night. Yes I love attending services, and seeing family, but by the end of the evening I always came home to an empty house. Sitting up with my family and telling stories, prepping everything just right for Santa's visit, before falling asleep, only to wake with the little ones anxious to open what Santa brought them.

Christmas Day was just as rewarding. Early to rise after the little ones got everyone up, we watched to see what they all got. After a Christmas breakfast, I was put to work setting up the new electronic toys the girls got while Mom and my sister worked on Christmas Dinner. I could hear my brother-in-law playing on his new ATV outside, and Christmas music playing inside. Before long, the grandparents arrived and we continued to share all afternoon. I have never been one to have my picture taken. I prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it. But I have to admit I loved some of the pictures I ended up being in with my nieces and family. Treasured memories as well all grow older.

Christmas 2011 was truly one of the best Christmas' in recent history, if not the best in my adult life. Not for the gifts received, but for the time spent together. Thank you family for a truly wonderful Christmas!

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Christmas at our House...

A week from today, we will be celebrating the wonderful and joyous day of Christmas.  In a season that seems to have lost the real reason we celebrate this time of year in exchange for overcrowded shopping malls and mothers fighting over sales to purchase the best Christmas gift.  The Season is started well before the candy is handed out on Halloween to extend the retail shopping season just as long as possible.  By the time Christmas actually gets here, I here many anxiously waiting for it to be over.  For so many its become a lonely depressing time of year, only emphasizing even more the hardships or lack of relationship many are facing.

Growing up I was the Biggest Fan of Barbara Mandrell.   Her Holiday song "Christmas at our House" felt like she was singing about my family.  The simple lyrics of this song, deep in tradition and based with faith of the true reason for this season still bring me back to my childhood.   Looking back as a child, Christmas truly was the happiest time of year!  Not only for the gifts we received, but more importantly the traditions we did with family, that was all based around the meaning we celebrated as a family this wonderful time of year.

As a family,  we always had a live tree for Christmas, and it wasn't just any tree purchased at any tree lot.  It was tradition to head to the ranch and as a family find the "perfect" tree.  Mom always wanted a cedar, while Dad was more at will just in getting a long needle pine.   It brings a smile to my face just thinking of how "Charlie Brown" they actually were.  They always looked so wonderful and full as we looked for them.  Yet by the time it was home, and cut down to size , to fit in the house, there was always a huge hole, and something missing.  Even though we had the tree, it was never the first decoration put up.  As the boxes were unpacked, to decorate, the Nativity was always the first item put up.  As a grown adult, this is something I still continue to do. Its a simple reminder once again of why we celebrate this time of year.

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, my sister and I had probably drove my parents crazy about the gifts under the tree.  We had a simple tradition of opening one gift before we attended Christmas Eve Services.  I love hearing the Christmas Story each and every year, and singing carols by candlelight.  After services, we always ended up at my Maternal Grandparents home.  All my Aunts and Uncles, and cousins would be there as we would have a wonderful evening of snacks, gifts and just spending time with family.  Finally back home by 10-11ish, the parents finally would give in and my sister and I would dig into everything under the tree.  It wouldn't take long before the living room was covered in wrapping paper, bows, and boxes.  With Christmas music playing in the background, and that one special gift it seems mom always knew I wanted in hand it was time to fall asleep so "Santa" could make his stop.

Christmas Morning always found my sister and I coming down the stairs to find Santa had made his stop. Luckily my sister and I were always good enough that he never missed that stop.  There was always something special under the tree and stockings by the woodstove overflowing.   Could it get any better?  Yes it could, because by now it was time to pack up and head to the ranch, my Paternal Grandparents home for Christmas Dinner.  Again a house full of Aunts and Uncles, and cousins.  Yes a few more gifts were exchanged but the highlights of the day were more the time we spent together.

I so loved the Ranch.... I remember the sleigh rides.  Grandpa always had a team of horses and I remember the years we would all pile on and go for a sleigh ride.  All of us cousins would tie our sleds on back and off we would go.  One year I will never forget was the time my sled hit something frozen and I fell off.  The runner of one of my cousins sled happened to slice my ear open.  I was bleeding pretty well.  Of course as a kid I was fine, till I saw all the blood.  That year I spent Christmas night at the hospital getting stitches.   There were other years where we had wonderful sledding hills.  One year the wind had blown snow in a coulee close by to form a great "S" curved track. I cannot tell you how many hours we spent outside that day.
Other years when it was so cold, we would play board games for hours.  With Grandma's special dip and chips, its a highlight I still think about every year.

Over all these years, I can hardly remember many of the gifts shared.  The couple that I remember most were handmade by my grandparents.  A wooden corral system made by Grandfather and afghan made by my Grandmother, that I still use today, hold the most treasured sentiment yet to me.  But looking back, over all the Christmas' in my lifetime, I come back to that song by Barbara... "Christmas at our House."  As an adult, I realize just like those "Charlie Brown" trees we had growing up, there is something missing without the traditions and family at the holidays.