What do you think of Christmas?

Here's a short film on what people from London, England think of Christmas and how the New Testament provides the answers.

15th Anniversary

15 years - wow! I know - it's not a milestone like 25, or 40......it's not one of the "big" ones, but it sure feels big to us! The day we got married is still so pristinely clear in my memory that it's hard to believe that day is 15 years past. And yet, our relationship feels old. I mean that in the best way possible. Not old, as in weary or past its prime or fading. No, old as in matured, aged to perfection, comfortable, stable, relaxed, knowing. The way I like it. Perhaps not as full of fireworks, like when we were 18 and just getting to know each other. But still exciting - the kind of excitement that comes from knowing you have a good thing going. The best thing. A marriage that is solid b/c it's built on the only solid and sure thing this side of heaven. Built on Christ. Made to last.

Thursday morning we headed first to mom and dad S.'s to drop off a van load of kids and all that goes with them. They went very happily - even Yvetta was smiling broadly when we walked in the door and still smiling when we slipped out shortly after. I think she was putting a brave face on it - she was really crying inside. Probably.

Then we drove to St. Jacob's. What a neat place! The market was so interesting! It was full of many sights and smells - some of them nice, some of them not so. It took me ages to get used to the acrid smell in the auction pits - okay, I never really got used to it - but the auctioning was really fun to watch. Except when the guy prodded the cows uneccesrily hard. And when I saw how crowded the pens were. And when a small cow got swarmed by a bunch of huge ones. I went all animal activist on Rich. He thought I was funny.

I think we picked the perfect time of year to go. It was beautiful - not too cold and everything was decorated for Christmas. Lots of lights and greenery and bows and bells - I love the Christmas season!

We didn't sleep too well the first night due to drinking diet coke before bed - I think it had extra caffine added to it! I can't think of any other reason why a sleepy-head like me was still wide-eyed at 3 a.m.!!! The bed was cozy, the room was warm (a bit too warm - we ended up ing open a window), and we had had a full and tiring day. Just one of those things is usually enough to send me off to sleep. Hence the sleepy looking picture of us at breakfast :)

Maryhill Inn was originally St. Boniface Hotel, one of 3 hotels in a German settlement founded in the early 1800's. The inn has passed hands a few times since then, but has retained it's charm and welcome.

It's full of quaint little touches and made us feel pampered and "at home" at the same time.

Our trip is over, but our journey goes on. The Lord has been so gracious to us. We remarked recently how much we love being together - almost everywhere I go I ask Rich if he wants to come with me. Usually he can't - but I'm always hopeful :) I love having him home and would so miss him if he started to work from an office instead. I have a terrific husband and pray that the next 15 years will be as wonderful as the 15 we'd already had.