Christmas Celebrations - Part 9: Myrtle Beach

After returning from my parents' house for the second time this Christmas, we finally had a day at home to unpack and take down all the Christmas decorations.  We also learned some tragic news about a dear friend's mother whom we both knew and loved.  An undetected UTI was ravaging this sweet woman's body.  Just when the doctors had her heart and kidneys stabilized, a blood thinner caused a blood clot so she was facing amputation and possible death if the clot entered her lungs.  The very next day the doctors called my friend and her dad in for a meeting.  It was time to pull life support.  Jesus took her home before they had to make that decision.

Another friend in our community group who is a tad younger than we are had just been rushed to the ER for gallbladder issues after already dealing with serious heart problems earlier this fall. Another couple we love so much had each been diagnosed with a serious health condition in the same week.  He had prostrate cancer and would be having major surgery very soon.  We also heard that day about several fatal car wrecks involving teens in my home town and students of some teacher friends of ours.

We were still reeling from the CT shootings killing so many precious kids the same age as our son.  Many people we knew were also dealing with hurtful relationships.  We were also facing the fiscal cliff with the rest of the working citizens of our country knowing that our current administration, which had already spent so much money that each of our kids already owes approximately $53,000, would continue to increase reckless spending.  While traveling for the holidays, I had enjoyed a brief respite from all the terrible news, but now that we were back home and my head was out of the sand, my heart and soul ached.

We had one more Christmas trip to make for the season, and I am so glad our destination was the beach.  Many of my most profound encounters and life-changing experiences with the Lord have taken place along the ocean shore.  Even though it was about 25-30 degrees colder this year on the beach than when we went last year at this time, I just had to walk along the sand and gaze across the ocean until my heart was soothed and filled with God's peace.

New Year's Eve at the Beach: 

After getting my fill of sand and surf, we celebrated a belated Christmas with Ju-Ju and Troy over a traditional New Year's meal.  We ate collards, rice, black-eyed peas, and ham, so we're hoping for health, wealth, and prosperity next year.  Myths aside, we know that in this world, we will have troubles but Christ has overcome the world and in Him alone we find our peace, hope, and secure salvation.

We all exchanged gifts, and I found myself buried under all the kids' presents and gift wrap. When the kids got ready for bed, they put on their matching pajamas.  Since the pajamas look just alike, they got mixed up in the suitcases, so the kids ended up wearing the other's size.  They were so cute in their too long and too short pajamas.

He loved the 4 foot sock monkey which conveniently matched their sock monkey Christmas pajamas.