As you may recall the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 starts out with a decree:
"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth." Luke 2:1 (NIV)
Just over a week ago we said goodbye to Dad (actually, "See you later alligator!"). After a very emotional week at the hospital with Dad on life support none of us felt like doing anything for Christmas and it looked like Christmas was going to pass us by with nothing more than a time to grieve. I love Christmas and I wanted to savor the entire Christmas season this year and make this a wonderful Christmas for Dad. So back in October I actually started decorating for Christmas as well as set up the Christmas tree. I actually wanted to set the tree up on October 1st and celebrate 4 months of Christmas time, but Hurricanes Helene & Milton had something to say about that. Despite my best efforts all the hurricane prep & clean up along with numerous Dr's appointments seemed to be making my quest for "4 months of Christmas" an impossible feat to pull off. But still I was doing my best to make it happen this year... Outdoor Christmas movies, make your own pizza nights, Birddog Cinema, nightly Hallmark movies with Dad & Laurie, indoor decorations, outdoor decorations, gifts, and making memories during my favorite time of the year... but with the hurricanes and all the rescheduled Dr's appointments because of the hurricanes and the momentum of life it was looking like 4 months would turn into 2 months... then 1 month... then with the loss of Dad we contemplated canceling Christmas this year, and Lord willing hopefully do it up big in 2025. The thought of waiting a year to celebrate Christmas was frankly depressing in itself. But over the past week there has been a Christmas miracle of sorts >>> a resiliency has returned!! Each day I (we) get a little better... a little more healing takes place... and all of a sudden I had a thought: "Let's SALVAGE this year's Christmas!" Let's TAKE BACK Christmas from the jaws of defeat!! Let's modify and adapt and adjust, and let's make the most of Christmas! It's within our God given decision making capacity to CHOOSE LIFE in the midst of death... to CHOOSE CELEBRATION in the midst of grief... to CHOOSE TO EMBRACE THE ULTIMATE BIRTH in the midst of planning a funeral. And so I rise to the occasion to make a new decree in the spirit of the original Christmas decree!
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NEW DECREE:
Now on this day a new decree has gone out from the mouth of an ordinary man who serves an extraordinary God. We shall SALVAGE CHRISTMAS! No hurricanes, no obstructions, no interuptions, no crushing deaths, and no "foggy Christmas eve" are going to cancel Christmas this year!! We will celebrate Christmas even while mourning our loss! Furthermore, I decree that because of the difficulties of the past 5 months - especially 3 hurricanes & deaths of loved ones - Christmas shall be extended for 1 week! Everyday from December 25th thru December 31st shall now be called December 25th... Christmas Day will last 168 hours this year (24 hrs x 7 days = 168 hours)... there will be 7 sunrises and 7 sunsets in this 2024 Christmas Day!!
Drop the mic! End of decree! Peace out! Lord willing, see you in 2025!!! We have a lot of Christmas movies to watch & Christmas to celebrate!!!
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Laurie & I are prepping to host the first official Christmas at my house with Traci, Dave, & Carson. Crepes in the morning and crab legs in the afternoon with funtivities throughout! This will be mine & Traci's first Christmas without parents, but we know they would be all for this! The joy of Christmas shall overshadow the sorrows of life! Merry Christmas everyone!!!
PS: Dad really loved the decorations in the livingroom!!
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