My Christmas card to you

Season's Greetings!

Hmm, not quite the sentiment I'm after.

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree...

Hmm, that sounds like a song.

Lots of presents. Big presents.

Nope, that's not it either.

At last! What Christmas is really all about. The best presence.

May the babe in the manger bring you peace as you celebrate his birth.

Merry Christmas!

They're playin' our song

Pastor Paul and I used to listen to our favorite Christmas songs together in the office sometimes. We liked so many different songs but one song was a particular favorite of both of ours.

I know he's going to be so excited to hear this version I found by a great new artist!

Ahh, back in the sunshine again.

I finally got to go on a motorcycle. Glen and Gidget let me hitch a ride out of Michigan with them. They're feeling a little overdressed now that we've gotten out of the snow and cold.

I was a little afraid to ride without a helmet but it has been great! I have ended up enjoying some gourmet bugs without having to do any rooting around. This is the life, let me tell you. Just kick back in a comfy chair, watch the world go by, and dinner comes flying right into your mouth.

And don't you think Glen's bike is nice? Red is one of my favorite colors.

I'm kinda sad to say goodbye to them but we're headed in different directions now. I hope they can make it back for the Blessing of the Bikes next spring. They told me they'd try.

Remembering...

Nothing warms your heart on a cold night like remembering good times, in warm places, with good friends.

This is a beautiful sunset I enjoyed with Angela and Lizzie when we were on our Mexican missions trip this past summer. Ahh, those were good times! If you ever get a chance to go to serve in Mexico on a missions trip, I highly recommend getting assigned to work in the nut house. Personally, I really enjoyed garbage duty, too, but I know that's not for everyone.

These memories make me long for warmer temps and to get out of the snow. I 'm gonna head out of town again for a while. I'm not sure if I'll be back in time for Christmas, Pastor Paul, but if I'm not, you know I'll be with you in spirit.

The search continues

I was hoping Petunia would be here, worshipping baby Jesus with the rest of the animals.

I'm beginning to fear that her disappearance has something to do with the fact that this is a store. People buy things they see here. Perhaps someone bought her while I was gone and she has been taken home with them, probably to sit on a shelf like I always did in Pastor Paul's office. I'm going to keep looking to make sure she isn't somewhere in this store before I give up hope.

Though searching for Petunia, I have been able to fulfill another lifelong ambition. I've always wanted to sit on Santa's lap and chat with him. I kept waiting to hear a jolly "Ho, ho, ho" but it didn't happen. I don't think he is the real Santa. Maybe I can't check this off my life list after all.

As I continued through the store, I stopped to ask these guys about Petunia. I thought the one on the right must be a friend of Pastor Sarah's since he is from New York. They were all smiles at first but couldn't help me find Petunia.

Then things turned a little ugly.

Rather than being a friend of Pastor Sarah's, I think he was a friend of Fritz Kern's. Or maybe all guys just immediately think "football" when they think of pigs. I suppose it's better than thinking "bacon".

I landed near this kind-hearted woman. She picked me up from the floor, dusted me off, and put me outside.

Farewell, my dear Petunia, farewell. I hope we will meet again someday.