I am grateful and blessed beyond belief, by your
support,
your encouragement and your prayers this year.
After I lost Ray in January, I wondered how I'd get through the
rest of the year. Thankfully, the challenges ahead were unforseen or I'd have
been overwhelmed by what lie ahead. The biggest challenage was becoming a
caregiver for Ray's parents this past summer. Ray's father was in the beginning
stages of Alzheimers, which we were dealing with. Then his mother had a stroke,
which brought on dementia. I was finally able to convince them to move into
assisted living on November 1st. I spent the rest of the month clearing out and
cleaning up their house to get it ready for sale. Now, here we are in December.
Ray's parents are having a difficult time adjusting to life away from their
home but they are now safe and being cared for 24 hours a day, which is a huge
relief and a big burden off my shoulders. I talk to them on the phone daily and
visit them every second day. I pray and I am trying as best I can to help them
learn to enjoy their new life.
I am having a tough time getting ready
for Christmas this year, my first Christmas without Ray. I have walked away
from my shopping cart and left stores on more than one occasion after the
Christmas carols playing reduced me to tears. I am however, grateful beyond
words for the reason we celebrate Christmas. My faith in Jesus Christ assures
me I will one day be reunited with Ray. This knowledge is my greatest gift this
Christmas.
I pray your greatest Christmas gift this year is one than
cannot be measured by any earthly means.
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May
you open the gift of the Christ Child every day
of your life and be grateful
for the treasure He holds.
May you visit the Bethlehem of your heart
each day and
visit the One who offers you peace and grace and
hope.
May you receive His love openly
and give it to others
generously.
May you experience God's holy gift anew as you celebrate
the
sacred day He entered the world for you in the form of a
baby.
May every person you meet have
a blessed encounter with
Christ.
May the hurts of the past year melt away and make
room
for the joy and happiness that lie ahead.
May God's blessing find
you every day of the new year
and offer you opportunites to be a blessing to
others.
Merry Christmas.
May Jesus be with you always.
© 2006 Terri McPherson
Buckley
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was
like a light.
(O weary, weary was the world,
But here is all
aright.)
The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a
crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him
And all the stars looked
down.
G. K. Chesterton
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You can purchase Royalty Free Photos from
iStock Photo
for as little as
$1.00 to compose your own online creations.
© 2006 Terri McPherson Buckley
Windsor, Ontario,
Canada
terri@wisehearts.com
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When a mysterious angel
suddenly appears in a lowly candlemaker's shop, the holy and the human collide
in a way that only God could imagine.