Dear Orrin,

My first real Christmas was in 2004. The first year I celebrated as a Christian. It was somewhat surreal. The gifts were fun, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I was, and still am overwhelmed by the understanding of what the birth of Christ meant. Prior to becoming a Christian, I always had an excuse to say something negative about the holiday. But now, I am near speechless when I think of the humble birth of the lamb of God. A child born for the sacrifice. So I guess you could say that my favorite Christmas, was when it stopped becoming commercial, and was not about the secular celebration and decorations, rather about the inseparable events of Christs birth, death and resurrection. My fingers quake just to put it here on your blog.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Scott, I am proud of you for starting new traditions! What Christmas is and what the media has made it, is completely at odds. I am thankful for so many people who live lives that are honoring to God despite all the noise around them. Thanks, Orrin

Orrin
I have been reading your blog for some time now and I do love your stories and lessons. Some have hit home and made me cry and others have made me chuckle. I do enjoy reading them and please keep them coming.

You asked for our favorite Christmas memory. I actually have 3.

1. We (Hubby, me, our son (4yrs) and our daughter (18mo) lived in a small 2 bedroom ranch style duplex. Our bedroom was nearest to the living room where the Christmas tree was sitting and our bedroom door was open as to hear the kids get up. Our daughter was the first one up. She was not to quiet when waking her brother and it woke us up. Trevor and Veronica came to our door looking to see if we were awake – of course we pretended to be asleep. Then it happened – the kids turned to see the tree and all you could hear is our daughter in her cute little girl voice was – MINE!! She went to the tree and by the time we could get out of bed she was sitting in the middle of all the gifts. She is now 20 years old and carrying our first grandchild. Of course we do remind her of this and her daughter will know all about it.

2. As a child I was blessed to know 3 of my Great Grandmas and 1 Great Grandpa. We have always been closest to my side of our family and spend the weekend after Christmas with them. Our children have only known 1 Great Grandma. She passed about 5 years ago. The first Christmas after she passed was real hard for my Mom as it was her Mom that passed. My Dad waited until all 5 of us kids with our children were at there place for dinner (my parents had 4 but we invite one of our cousins to share with us each year). We were sitting down for dinner and my Mom said grace (she was crying while doing so as Gramma always said grace). After grace was said and we started to eat a knock came at the door. Dad went to answer it and called Mom to the door. There was a brand new dark blue Dorango with a big red bow sitting in the drive way. Mom could not believe it. Later that day, Mom sat the 5 of us down and gave us each a gift to unwrap together. It was a shadow box with a lot of Grandmas trinkets and craft stuff in it. Mine is still hanging in the place of honor in our home – right above the fire place.

3. The Christmas of 03 was one for the record books. My brother has always made awesome things from wood. He calls them boxes but they are the most beautiful boxes I have ever seen. Well, he had been working on this gift for Mom for months. Not a soul knew what he was doing. When we were exchanging our gifts he had me help bring in Mom’s. She opened this large gift and found the most beautiful jewelry box ever. It is about 3 ½ feet tall, has numerous places to put her things. It even has a secret place to put her most valuable things. The best part of the box is the doors. My brother etched our faces in the glass. Of course she cried and it is now her most prized possession.

Thank you for letting me share. Christmas is always a special time for me. Now with our first grand child due in January this time of year will be made more special.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS.

Love you guys
Carm

Carm, You returned the favor by sharing your thoughts. The second one about Great Grandma got my eyes leaking. Thank you for sharing! Orrin

Orrin,
First of all Merry Christmas and I hope your family has a happy and prosperous New Year. My favorite Christmas memories all deal with going to my Grandma's house. It was always great to hang out with my family. We would always go to midnight mass with them. Following mass we would go back to my grandma's house and enjoy each others company but the best part was before we went home we all got together picked an ornament out of a box which represented 1 of the days of Christmas. We would sit around the living room and sing (to a record) the 12 Days of Christmas-what a blast that was. It's been a 3-4 years since we've done that (my grandma is not capable of handling all of the people 30-35) and I have missed it every year but things finally occured to me. I have a beautiful Michele and 3 beautiful children Alex-12, Samantha-7 and Bridget-2 and Ineed to bring new family traditions in. I am starting to learn more about our Lord and Savior (as I never paid attention in catechism) and truely owe it to you and my mentors Greg Rau, James Halter. You've made it interesting and it can bring my family together to know Christ and be better people all year round. My family and I helped out at church this past week as we have a MCREST progarm (helping out the homeless) we helpedwith laundry for them, baked cupcakes and my son and I yesterday went to our activity center (where the homeless were staying) and took time out of our morning to help cook breakfast for them. I'm not tooting my own horn but this is our new family tradition every year we will help out as much as possible and even more as I will do whatever to spare the time. Christmas will always be a special time as we celebrate the birth of Jesus but also the birth of our new tradition. Merry Christmas and may the Lord watch over your family this holiday season.
Tom

Tom, That is a great example of a tradition that needs to be carried on and a new tradition started! I did not focus on traditions for our holidays earlier so I have some work to do to create the traditions that create memories! Thanks for sharing. Orrin

Orrin,

just wanted to share a christmas story from when I was a young boy.
It was one of those christmas's that I got a bike but this was my first bike with shocks in the front, it was so cool and there were some other gifts but that's not what makes me remember this christmas my dads best friend took me to lunch that afternoon but we didn't just go to lunch. Let me tell you something before I tell this part my dad an I had a dispute about me getting earings mind you I was 14 at the time so me and dads friend went and got magnetic earings and I wore them in to the house well needless to say dad was not pluged into the system at the time and told me he was taking all my presents back and just about made his friend cry and this guy was like almost 7' tall big teddybear so we told him they were fake and he was even more frustrated so that shows you the craziness that can happen at chrisymas. well he cooled down and now he tells the story and can laugh about it thanks for everyone that has shared and luv the blog thanks orrin

Orrin,

I have more than just one, but the one that I want to share goes back to when I was in the military.

There were about eight of us that were sent to Alaska, literally days before Christmas. We knew we were scheduled to go – but not until after Christmas. However, only a week prior, an executive decision was made to send us up there to replace another crew so they could be home with their families for the holiday.

Frustrations on our crew were high as everyone had to change plans. One of the guys was really struggling because he would miss his son’s first Christmas. When we got to Alaska, the mood only darkened. We learned that many of the crews that were up there the same time as we were had gone through the last minute schedule change like we did – and they were generally in the same mindset.

Around noon on Christmas Eve, a couple of the guys up there became so discouraged it was really dragging everyone else down. Then I remember seeing one guy come down the hallway looking totally disgusted, bolt out the back door to the barracks, and head straight into the woods. This was enough to make the rest of us concerned; but it was near 80 below zero outside, he wasn’t wearing a heavy coat, and he was carrying a large knife with him. He hit the woods and he was gone!

We spent about an hour looking for him and decided that we probably needed to call someone else in to look for him. As we were turning back, we could hear a noise in the trees, and there he was; ice hanging off his hair, dragging a pine tree he had just cut down with the knife.

Back at the barracks, the tree was set up in the CQ room and somebody put on the tree the string of lights they happened to bring with them. Then everyone started adding their personal touch to the tree. I don’t think I have ever seen a tree like this one… it was decorated with packs of cigarettes, pop cans, beer cans, candy bars, and snack sized bags of chips. But it was enough to lift everyone’s mood – for the rest of the tour!

A couple of the women in the barracks offered to cook a Christmas dinner on the condition that the men clean up afterwards (in hindsight, that wasn’t the brightest moment of the year). We agreed…and we ate like kings that Christmas.

I think I look back to this particular Christmas every year. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what circumstances we find ourselves in; what matters is what we bring to those circumstances. Maybe we cannot bring “peace on Earth,” but we can certainly show “good will toward man.” And in doing so, maybe we can make someone else’s Christmas one of their most memorable experiences.

JP

I have two experiences that come to mind . When I was 7 years old I would sneak into the room with the presents the night before Christmas and try to tear little holes in the gift wrapping to find out what my parents got me . Of course I always had a few friends with me to post them as watch guards in case my parents heard us . The most recent change was to stop decorating a tree and put up a Nativity set intead, playing great hymns and read the scripture of Luke describing the birth of Christ . I know this might sound a little extreme to some but the way times are changing toward legally outlawing all the symbols of the birth of our God Jesus Christ I felt some measures were needed . And personally I feel much better celebrating the real reason for the day.

Thank you for your example of what a Christian leader should be , always edifying and seeking to serve . I hope to grow because of your example . God Bless you and your family , George

Merry Christmas to you Orrin& Laurie-- as we know the reason for the season is Jesus Christ's birth.-Memories ae many traditions that lasted are 1- my parents, as the 5 kids were growing up on Christmas eve,thae family sang carols and read 'The night before Christmas' and finished with Luke's gospel of our Saviour's birth- we had a bare tree as we went to bed, upon waking the tree was decorated and presents all delivered St. Nick. As we became older we were part of the tradition for the young ones,we came to understand the meaning of seerving others in a special way. 2-For the past 18 years we have through our local council of churches 'adopted' a family for Thanksgivng and Christmas.Our 2 boys have been a part of this traditon, as we serve others who face challenges during this season. It is truely more blessed to give than receive--My wife and I appreciate you and the TEAM for all you stand for--be blessed and be free coach

Christmas Eve, you can feel the excitement in the air, and if you have kids you can hear it, ha ha!! I wanted to add a post to which some of you may relate to, as some of you have lost loved ones in your lives as we have. This time of year can bring memories flooding into our hearts some good some bad, the good memories are the ones I would like to focus on. I can remember when I was young maybe 12 or 13 (1982 I believe) my mom and dad scraped up some money and bought me a used dirt bike (motorcyle) it was awesome coming home from my grandmothers house and finding that dirt bike in the front yard, it didn't run yet, and it was a very warm Christmas that year in the 60's with no snow good dirt bike weather . I can remember to this day with tears in my eyes as I type this, my father and I working together to get that bike running before the day was over,(the goal was set and met by the way!!) That was mostly how we shared our love was working side by side, that was a great memory. Now much older and (maybe) wiser fast forwarding to December 24th 2007 and just being so thankful for those past memories and the blessings we have in our lives now , the biggest two blessing being Noah (6) and Zoe (4) . This year has been so much fun in teaching them the true meaning of Christmas the (true) story of Jesus Christ, and what He has done and is doing for (and with) us. In closing I hope all those who have lost loved ones you will focus on the memories that hold meaning and a place in your heart and give thanks to God for the blessings (which are many no matter what the situation is) you currently have, God Bless You.

Scott Russell

Dear Orrin,
My most memorable Christmas was two years ago and actually goes along with Chris Brady's blog for today about struggle. Two years ago my wonderful wife Tracie was diagnosed with cancer, and what a struggle it was. But, at the same time, it reminded me of the friends I have. My coworkers and managers at my job gave Tracie a card and a plant (which is still alive, thank you micos), people at church prayed and loved us, and Laurie Matheson gave us some food (no better way to say love than with food). That was the same Christmas that the sad Christmas song about the boy who wanted to buy his mom some new shoes before she died so she could look beautiful for Jesus came out (that song still makes me cry like a baby, it hit a little too close to home). Tracie made a full recovery and has been cancer free since the surgery and radiation, but we were still somewhat disheartened because, although we already had four wonderful children, we wanted to have more and the doctors said that after the amount of radiation she had that would be all but impossible. We figured that God blessed us with so much already (Jesus, family, friends, wonderful church) that we couldn't be sad, but be glad for what we already had. We found out about four months ago that God is smarter than doctors, because she is now pregnant with our fifth child. What an incredible gift. What a wonderful time of year. Merry Christmas to you my friend.

Merry Christmas Orrin and Laurie and Family! We love you! Eric and Lori S.

Orrin,

Your blog has caused me to go back and look at pictures of Christmas 2005. It is difficult to explain how rare that event was for us.

First of all, we live on the gulf coast of Texas. It is not surprising to have a 70 or 80 degree day on Christmas.

For those of you folks from up north that take snow for granted, or see snow as a pain to have to deal with, scraping ice off windows, or shoveling the driveway, or challenged drivers, etc, we often run around in shorts or whatever and that is how it is for the Texas coast. I barely remember snow on the ground one time when I was five years old. (I just turned 39 on December 18th.)

My beautiful wife does not like cold weather. She will not go snow skiing with me. She would rather go to Hawaii.
During Christmas 2005 , the planets lined up perfectly, and after the sun went down we heard some commotion out in the street. When we opened the front door, our entire neighborhood was out in the street having a snow ball fight!

I could not believe my eyes. My wife got so excited. We bundled up (as well as can be expected on the Texas Coast) and ventured outside. We had our own winter wonderland! We ended up staying outside until about 3 AM having fun with neighbors we rarely even spoke to. By the next morning there was 18 inches of snow on the ground. It was one of the most amazing things I have seen in my life. Everything was so beautiful, and my wife and I got to share that night and the next day with our daughter. The snow didn't last long of course, but for that brief period of time we got to experience what so many people strive for but never quite reach. It was perfect. Perfect Perfection.

Thinking about it now is so awesome. Our Creator is that powerful, capable, and loving.
Thank You God for Your Son.
Thank you Orrin for causing me to slow down long enough to savor this memory.

Ian