Merry Christmas & Happy New Year To All

[Overaged]

Well, its time to get away from some of our stodgy debates, and wish one another well so I decided to start this topic to do just that.

This is my way of sending a Christmas card to everyone at Club Adventist.

You are an amazing bunch to be able to put up with my antics for another whole year! Please feel free to join me in wishing others a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year! And if inclined; it would also be great to hear how you are spending Christmas/New years. Do you have any holiday traditions that you can share with us? It would be interesting to hear from people in different parts of the world about this.

Here in Canada, (Alberta) it is nice and cold with lots of snow! Atlast, we will have a truly white Christmas and I find that one of the most appealing parts of it!

In keeping with our family tradition, we will be watching the original Scrooge movie with Alastar Simms (hope I spelled that right) and I also have a really old video by The Quitet Hour about Mary & the birth of Jesus that I watch every year over the holidays. Add to this spending some time with any family members that are within driving distance; and that makes the PERFECT HOLIDAY for me! I really feel blessed to be able to take some time off to do this this year!

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year with your families, and with Jesus. May God bless you all.

[Jeannieb43]

Thanks, OA. I was hoping somebody would start such a thread.

We're just coming out from under a six-day torrential rainstorm. Hadn't seen the sun until today! Lots of houses filled with mud from the hilly mudslides around them. Fortunately [or providentially perhaps], my house got no mud. Only lots and lots of water.

Now my sister from AZ is with me, and we'll go to church on the 25th, then in the afternoon we'll drive 65 miles to my daughter's home for the Christmas dinner and opening presents. My son and his wife will join us there, as will my daughter's in-laws from 70 miles away. Lots of children, and lots of fun watching them enjoy their new toys and books.

Here's wishing everyone the joys of celebrating Christ's birth, and the anticipation of His second coming, soon.

[Overaged]

Thanks, OA. I was hoping somebody would start such a thread.

We're just coming out from under a six-day torrential rainstorm. Hadn't seen the sun until today! Lots of houses filled with mud from the hilly mudslides around them. Fortunately [or providentially perhaps], my house got no mud. Only lots and lots of water.

Now my sister from AZ is with me, and we'll go to church on the 25th, then in the afternoon we'll drive 65 miles to my daughter's home for the Christmas dinner and opening presents. My son and his wife will join us there, as will my daughter's in-laws from 70 miles away. Lots of children, and lots of fun watching them enjoy their new toys and books.

Here's wishing everyone the joys of celebrating Christ's birth, and the anticipation of His second coming, soon.

LOL, rain at Christmas. That's not right.

But seriously, that sounds kind of dangerous there right now. All the more reason to celebrate His first and Second coming.

Thanks for sharing this. It is really interesting to see other people's traditions and compare notes. "Lots of children, and lots of fun watching them..." that sounds like the best part...

[aldona]

Merry Christmas to all of our friends in the Northern Hemisphere!

Here it is summer, but the weather has been so confused that it has literally varied from stifling hot to snowing (in some areas) from day to day. A few days ago it was so cold that we thought we were going to have a white Christmas, and a little snow actually fell on the mountains.

But now it is pleasantly warm and sunny, and the forecast for Christmas (tomorrow) is fine and sunny with a maximum temperature of 26 C (that's about 80 F).

Christmas in summer means the food is a lot lighter that it is up there where you all are - a lot of fresh fruit and salads (and fish on the barbecue, for those of us who eat fish). And because I work in Monbulk (which my fellow Aussies will know as the home of Monbulk Jam), my contribution to the family festivities is heavy on the fruit - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, three kinds of grapes, cherries, and anything else that looked good at the local market and/or was given to me by patients who are local farmers.

Church in the morning (including a performance from our choir) and then lunch at my in-laws' place and probably a casual "open house" in the evening for whoever wants to drift in, have a sing-along around the piano and nibble on leftovers.

Then 9 people around for dinner on Boxing Day!

And then 2 days to recover before I have to go back to work.

Merry Christmas, may your holiday period be safe and your New Year be blessed, and wish you were all here!

AJ

[Nan]

I will join Aldona from the place where Christmas comes first (including NZ of course!),

in wishing all my friends here a wonderful Christmas with those you love, and a blessed New Year.

I live a bit north of Aldona and our weather will be a few degrees warmer with some showers. I face the dilemma of my family who are not Adventists and who are used

to having Christmas brunch here, and probably will not get to church. Our church

for some years has had a special Christmas service starting at 10, no Sabbath school.

It is the long summer holidays here and many people have gone away, so that takes the

pressure off those who would have to try to find teachers etc.

On Sunday night we will visit Sammy's family for the evening meal.

We have closed our office for 2 weeks, except for a couple of sessions, so I will get

a little more time off than Aldona, though my life is always on call unless I am away.

If I dreamt of a white Christmas I think it would be a nightmare....I am quite happy to celebrate Christmas in the summer, as long as there are no bushfires. We have had so

much rain on this side of Oz that is not a current threat.

[Bravus]

Thanks for a great idea and your Christmas wishes, Overaged: let me return them to you and to everyone else on this site with the greatest good will.

Our family remembers Alberta, and Christmas in Alberta, very well and with great fondness. We miss the snow: none of that here, but a whole lot of rain this Christmas, with a possible cyclone (hurricane) further north in our state.

My wife, Sue, is working this evening (Christmas Eve). We miss her, but the disabled people that she helps get into bed in the evening need that service on the holidays too.

My daughters and I watched Monsters Inc this evening - not very Christmassy but a fun family one they always enjoy. We'll most likely watch the Hogfather miniseries based on Terry Pratchett's book at some point on Christmas Day.

The eldest just turned 20 and the youngest will be 17 in a few days. The younger girl is leaving home to live on her university campus in a couple of weeks. It's only about 90 minutes drive away, but we'll still miss her a lot.

The two of them planned the Christmas Day menu together and shopped and prepared and baked, so there are pumpkin pies and shortbread and gingerbead. We'll be roasting a turkey breast in the slow cooker throughout the day tomorrow, and the smell will fill the house.

The plan is to open presents slowly over the course of a very leisurely breakfast together. It's forecast to be a rainy and wild day, so just staying home and enjoying the family will be great.

Once again, peace and good will to all forum denizens, and please do share your plans.

[bonnie]

3 sons home for christmas with all the grands,Oldest son just had shoulder replacement surgery and was not up to traveliving from Colorado.

Various issuses are not making for a trouble free holiday but much to be thankful for. Neice that came to take care of me following knee replacement hit black ice on her way back home and wiped out a guardrail and extensive damage to her car.Granddaughter hit black ice and hit another head on.Totaled car but only brusies.

I have eye surgery in Jan ?? and hip replacement in Feb so expect to be sick of Dr's. Two brothers going for hip surgery about same time.Maybe we can get a group rate.

Our dinner scheduled today and the opening of presents. So many grands but enjoy and are proud of everyone.

Second son received a huge promotion and is now CEO of coporation of nursing homes.My little boy they suggested at one time may not excel as well as other children.

All in all thankful for every year we have them and the new additions that just seem to keep coming. Babies,boy/girl friends and newlyweds. Our first great granddaughter had a very rough early start and has turned into a sweet little dynamo.

It all just adds to the privilege of being together even with the bumps along the way

[Overaged]

Bravus! That breakfast sounds great! I would definitely invite myself over if we lived closer.

Bonnie; thanks for sharing here. It sounds like you have a lot to deal with but I can appreciate what you said too about "the privilege of everyone being together."

We have lots of black ice here too. But a lot of snow makes much of it a bit safer to drive on. Do they allow studded snow tires in the US?

Your post reminds me of the need to pray for others who are going through rough times, both at Christmas, and in the New Year. I am sorry to hear of all your medical challenges. I hope everyone will join me in praying for you during your "tuneup" in the New Year. Whenever the doctor want to do a bunch of stuff to me, that's what I call it. But it is amazing how quality of life can improve after healing from hip replacement. In my nursing days I saw many excellent outcomes for this.

To all of the "hot place" people that have replied. I think it would be really cool (pun intended) to experience a hot place at Christmas sometime, so I am adding that to my Bucket List!

Thanks everyone for sharing!

[phkrause]

Merry Christmas all, have a blessed time with family. Will just be staying home this year. My brother with is wife will be spending time with her. We went down for Thanksgiving. Will be moving down in Jan/Feb. Was hoping to be there for New Years but don't have the money.

[bonnie]

Quote:

Bonnie; thanks for sharing here. It sounds like you have a lot to deal with but I can appreciate what you said too about "the privilege of everyone being together."

Everyone alive and unhurt,that is all that counts

Quote:

We have lots of black ice here too. But a lot of snow makes much of it a bit safer to drive on. Do they allow studded snow tires in the US?

Not in Mn,it is every man for himself

Quote:

Your post reminds me of the need to pray for others who are going through rough times, both at Christmas, and in the New Year. I am sorry to hear of all your medical challenges. I hope everyone will join me in praying for you during your "tuneup" in the New Year. Whenever the doctor want to do a bunch of stuff to me, that's what I call it. But it is amazing how quality of life can improve after healing from hip replacement. In my nursing days I saw many excellent outcomes for this.

Believe me,I am not complaining.Dr was confounded as was the nursing staff.They had not seen anything quite like it.I had absolutely no pain,zero following surgery.Was released from PT within two weeks.Walking without aid three days after surgery. Walking stairs every day.Not questioning why,just grateful for the no pain. No pain meds and very little restriction,only careful walking on ice

Thanks everyone for sharing!

[Kevin H]

Merry Christmas to my Club Adventist family. This year for the first time since I can't remember when, I am not working on either Christmas eve nor Christmas day; and can spend time with my mom, brother, youngest sister and friends. My heart and prayers to all of you, especially who are away from home for work and military and humanitarian service.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Michigan doesn't allow studded snow tires either, as they tear up the roads.

We will be home tomorrow, with just the three of us, myself, husband and son, who still lives with us. The rest of the family, our daughter and her 2 girls, and our other son (twin to the one still with us) live out of state. Neither of them have the money to come here, nor do we have the money to go there. I don't care for the idea of such road travel this time of year anyway, as the weather may make such travel dangerous. I'd rather see them during another time of year than have them make the attempt only to be killed in traffic, which does happen. There are traffic deaths here with every snowstorm.

After we return home from church, our dinner will include some things we always have at Christmas, and rarely or never at any other time, including French fried onion rings and pumpkin pie with vanilla Rice Dream (ice cream type dessert). We'll most certainly talk with each of our faraway adult children and grandchildren on the phone some time during the day, and take pictures and videos to send to them, and they to us.

On Christmas Eve, we always watch at least 2 Christmas videos, usually 3, and drink hot vanilla, a hot drink similar to hot chocolate. Since Christmas Eve falls on the Sabbath, we'll save the movies for Saturday night, and have hot vanilla both nights.

In case anyone is wondering about hot vanilla, here's the recipe:

4 cups milk (we use rice milk)

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

coriander or nutmeg for garnish

Heat the milk until hot but not boiling. Stir in the honey and vanilla. Ladle into mugs and garnish with nutmeg or coriander.

Simple and delicious.

[Gail]

A very merry Christmas to all! And- God bless us, every one!

Time for a group hug??

[LifeHiscost]

A very merry Christmas to all! And- God bless us, every one!

Time for a group hug??

I agree for that.

And just in case I missed someone. :grouphug4:

We're a thousand miles away from the nearest family member so we don't expect any visitors, not even Santa. Our plans to be out and about so we could be led to someone with none or little of all that we have to be thankful for, was squashed when our vehicle developed computer trouble a couple of days ago and wouldn't go any faster than 17-20 miles per hour up the hill into town. Since it's a freeway, the threat of a highway patrol officer and a ticket has made us decide to stay home and listen to Christmas music over the holiday.

We're grateful we have satellite TV that gives us much coverage from different religious stations relating the Bible story of the birth of Jesus, as well as many very touching Christmas stories that lend themselves to the reason Jesus wishes to come back. Amazing Grace!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

God blesses!

[Gail]

Well, we always appreciate your presence here, LifeHisCost!

[Overaged]

I am going to try that "hot vanilla" with a soy beverage that I like to drink. Thanks!

[Overaged]

Our plans to be out and about so we could be led to someone with none or little of all that we have to be thankful for, was squashed when our vehicle developed computer trouble a couple of days ago and wouldn't go any faster than 17-20 miles per hour up the hill into town.

What you need is for Santa to bring you one of these...I owned one once, and you can be sure it keeps on running and will never have computer troubles! Hope you have a blessed time anyways!

[LifeHiscost]

Sometimes I miss those good old days too. But then I remember why I'm so grateful I don't have to go through it again.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Well, we always appreciate your presence here, LifeHisCost!

Thank you, Gail. The feeling is mutual and another reason to be grateful for what God is doing in peoples lives.

"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy."Acts 2:16-18 NKJV

God Blesses!

[Liz]

(((((((Great Big Hugs to EVERYONE ))))))))))

We are about to go driving around looking at all the Christmas lights, then drink some warm apple cider. Watch a couple of Christmas movies.

Then in the morning we will open presents and hang out until lunch time. Then head over to the Grandparents house for dinner and an afternoon of fun.

It is unseasonably warm here mid 40's, and no moisture at all, which for us is a little strange. Was hoping for some snow flurries for tomorrow but even that has now been canceled. Oh well, great traveling for everyone else I guess.

Merry Christmas to you all!!

[SivartM]

Merry Christmas, everybody!

It's snowing here! It hasn't snowed in Nashville on Christmas since 1993. I'm just sitting here at home (Christmas break at Andrews started on the 10th) listening to Christmas music and surfing the internet.

Tomorrow my sister's coming home, and we'll have Christmas dinner (for the second of three times) and open our presents. Monday we'll visit some of our relatives and eat and exchange presents with them. I'm quite excited. :)