We try to make it home at least once a year, usually at Christmas. For the times that we do go home at Christmas, we have created a tradition we like to call Fakemas. It’s a day set aside to celebrate our own personal Christmas before we travel. We open presents, eat a special breakfast, find something fun to do and eat dinner out. This year, we had a lot of fun with the boys. We wrapped all their presents without name tags. Each kiddo had a different colored paper and we did

We had been at the park awhile when I did my customary head count, 1, 2…1, 2…”Where was Canon?” It sounds awful, but I had lost him again. I could usually find him in one of two places; leading the pack in spirited game of tag or singling out someone in need of a new best friend. Ah, there he was, sitting on a bench chatting with a pretty little girl. They soon got up and purposely walked to where her father was sitting. Canon shook the man’s hand & started in on his spiel. H

When I was in middle school, I had the privilege of being one of the angels in our church Christmas program. This wasn't your usual simple & sweet performance on Christmas eve. It was a 5 night production that included dessert and all the feels. Our congregation, which met in a gym, built a stage all the way around the four walls about 8 ft up in the air. The angels were dressed in flowing white, choreographed and back lit with a black light. It was grand. I remember it feeli

When Noah was a small child, he loved to climb to the highest point that he could find and jump to Matt. I’m not talking about a top step…more like the roof of the playground slide or out of the top of a tree. He was fearless. He knew without a doubt that daddy would be there to catch him every time. This memory came to mind as I studied the different characters that played in God’s nativity story this last week. I particularly thought of Joseph. I think that Joseph is often

Hide & Seek was always a favorite game for my sisters and I. We loved when Dad would play because we were never sure what new hiding place he would find. When we couldn't find him, he would jump out yelling & trap us. You’ve never heard screaming such as that of three little girls cornered by their roaring father. But it wasn’t a game for the Magi, they were seeking a new King. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Behold, wise men from