It doesn’t make sense, but it was my favorite Christmas. It especially doesn’t make sense that it was our kids’ favorite Christmas…but it was.

It was a difficult year financially. Our expenses were high and income was low. We had a capital campaign at church and we committed a gift over and above our regular giving that was a stretch for us. And then we had some medical bills not covered by insurance.

When the type on his printer began to grow faint, Bob called a local repair shop where a friendly clerk informed him the printer probably only needed to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for cleanings, the clerk told Bob he could read the printer's manual and try to do it himself.

Bob asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?”

A young woman was complaining to her father about how difficult her life had become. He said nothing, but took her to the kitchen and set three pans of water to boiling. To the first pan, he added carrots; to the second, eggs; and to the third, ground coffee. After all three had cooked, he put their contents into separate bowls and asked his daughter to cut into the eggs and carrots and smell the coffee. “What does this all mean?” she asked impatiently.

Christmas is coming! Parents, how will you approach the Santa thing the year?

If taught right, Santa can be a springboard for reinforcing young minds with the true meaning of Christmas. After all, there was a real Santa Claus.

You should skip Thanksgiving this year if you are a grumbler, complainer, or a generally negative person. After all, you’ll just be a hypocrite. Why would you celebrate a day that you don't believe in? If your modus operandi is to look for what you think is wrong and voice it, just forget the day. Everyone will be looking at you like, “What’s she doing here?”

At dinner time when our kids were little, we would take turns praying before eating. It was 5-year-old Brock’s turn to pray. When Brock prayed, he never prayed only for the food. I tend to get right to the point, thank God for the food, say “Amen,” and we start eating. Brock, however, liked to talk to God.