Holiday Spirit

      After hearing now for a few weeks, Christmas songs on the radio and having all our decorations on the Tree and around the house I still really didn't feel in the holiday spirit. I know, it's December and it's time! I just had the hardest time getting there until this past weekend and Monday. First, I rang the Salvation Army bell with three youth, one college kid and my wife for five hours on Saturday! This time was an enjoyable time because we saw so many people who were smiling, who were excited about it snowing, who were happily buying gifts for their family and friends. It was a moment in time that I will not forget because I saw for five hours people truly being Jesus. I didn't ask if the money they were giving was ALL they could give....it was the simple fact that they were giving!!! Jesus gave to help others and to see so many people at this point in the economy do just that brought me in to an excited spirit. Second, Monday I was in the back of a truck bed looking at lights that had been put up for a festival of lights. You may be asking why I was in the back of a truck, well......it was a friend thing. See, my wife and I went with a number of friends an hour away to see these lights. We could not all fit into one truck so we made our way to the festival and parked all the vehicles and jumped into the truck. All bundled up where you could only see our eyes, we rode through the festival in the back of the truck, hugging each other, singing carols and just joking around. It was a blast!! I am very thankful for the opportunity because you see, two of those friends will be moving back to California at the end of this week and I'm not sure when we will get to see them again face to face. Yes, riding in the back of a truck in 25 degree weather sounds crazy (and honestly, it is), but it's the fact that we spent time with some of the most amazing friends. I love all those that went Monday. That night, I found the holiday spirit. That's what Christmas is all about, spending time with those you love and care about. I love and care about those youth, college kids, my friends and ESPECIALLY my wife. I loved spending time with them all. I caught the holiday spirit this past weekend! I hope and pray that if you haven't already caught it that you do because Jesus Christ has something special in store for you. Hope, Peace, Love, Joy.....all the things that culminate into Jesus, the reason we celebrate this time of year. Thanks be to God for ALL the blessings he has GIVEN me!!

Aaron