I find pleasure and joy in this season of Christmas. It is the time of the year that I so look forward to the mail arriving each day. What surprise note or card might be lurking in between the pile of junk mail? A couple days ago one such card arrived. I recognized the name on the return address, and I was delighted that she had written again this year!
You see, one day a year ago, I read about a lady in one of our farm papers that loved fruitcake. Her name is Evonne, she is 85 years old, and lives in the southeastern part of our state. On my cupboard was a little fruitcake that someone had given us, still wrapped up and sealed with freshness. I hate the stuff, and I decided to write this dear lady a note and send it off to her. I did it on a whim, and never really expected to hear back from her. But I did…and I knew right away that I would like her. Some day I hope to meet her in person when we are near Spring Grove where she lives!
As I opened her card this last week, her wishes were signed, “ your fruitcake pen pal”. Too funny! A newspaper clipping fell out on my lap, and at the top she had written , “ As you can see, I am interested in more than fruitcakes!” The title of the newspaper article says, “ Spring Grove Woman Takes to the Skies!” Underneath that the subtitle reports, “ Eighty-five year old ticks item off Bucket List”. I couldn’t wait to see what she was up to now. She will be 86 in February, but that isn’t slowing her down.
It seems that she has been wanting to go up in a hot air balloon for over twenty years, but the places that offered this adventure were just too far away. But on the sunny, October 22nd afternoon behind Caledonia High School Evonne got her chance. The balloon rally has been in this area for many years, but it is usually closer to Christmas time and too cold for her then. This time she decided her time had come! The ride was a thrill of a lifetime, according to my long distance friend, and lasted for about one hour. She penned in my card that “It was awesome!”
The pictures accompanying the article show her decked out in her wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, holding her camera ready in hand. Several balloons are shown floating through the air, but her special one is called ‘Fire and Frost’. I am so glad she shared this part of her life with me in her Christmas wishes. Her final thoughts shared were, “ If I live to be 90, I want to go sky-diving”. You go, girl!!
I pray that your celebration of Christmas will include making the best of who you are. Hopefully we will not complain if we do not have all the right tools for living, but simply use to the best of our ability whatever we’ve been given. What you are and wherever you find yourself is God’s plan for you. It is God’s doing. Sometimes it is hard to look at our disadvantages, but I hope for all of us to have the courage to live wisely right where we are in the moment.
Christmas is about Jesus Christ. The message given to us in the book of Luke, chapter two, verses 10-11, says this: “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born today in Bethlehem, the City of David!” Allow God to invade your life – giving you new gifts each day to not only use for yourself, but to share with those around you. In the light of His love, may we keep our focus on the good gifts he has given us. May He help us to make the most of them. Where there is light, darkness cannot be. And that is a blessing.
Merry Christmas to you! Guard your heart and joy..don’t let the busyness and rush of the world around you steal it from you. God Bless!
P.S. Several have asked about the marinade on the Ruby Red Chicken…YES..leave it in the pan when baking!
