Joy and Anticipation

  Al and I were launched into an early Christmas this year when we flew out to Michigan to spend a week with our daughter, Shanda, and her family. Even though Shanda had invited us to come out for Thanksgiving during our visit last summer, it seemed like the time went by quickly, especially with a trip to Great Britain in September.

   As we climbed into the shuttle which would take us from the parking lot to the airport terminal in Los Angeles, I heard a familiar tune… Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26th?  Still half asleep, it took awhile to figure out that we were going to Michigan to spend Thanksgiving with our family and that the music was coming from the radio. But still, Christmas carols already?

   The trip to Michigan was like being on a flying “Polar Express,” filled with families and young children—not on their way to the North Pole, but all still very excited to be heading east to their relatives’ houses. Nobody seemed to care that it was the crack of dawn or that most of us were sleep-deprived. There was definitely a holiday mood onboard the plane.

    As we flew over Colorado the clouds parted, revealing a blanket of white covering the earth below. Snow… freshly fallen, stretching from Colorado eastward to Michigan. Maybe it really was Christmas! Joy and anticipation knocked at the door of my heart.

   There was a chill in the air when we arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Snow was still on the ground, although it was melting at a fast rate. Thankfully the roads were clear and we reached Shanda’s house safely without any delays by mid-afternoon. Shanda, Nate (6) and Elliot (4) were waiting at their door to greet us with big hugs. More joy!

   Thanksgiving Day was spent with all of the family at Shanda’s in-laws’ home where a wonderful turkey dinner was served, with toasts to the good health of three special people at the table who had faced major health issues and undergone surgeries in the past year.  We appreciated being with family and friends that day, where love for one another was expressed as well as gratitude to God for His faithfulness.

   From that day on, things started speeding up towards Christmas even though it wasn’t even December yet. The first of the four Sundays in Advent was commemorated at Chris and Shanda’s church by lighting the candle of Hope. This was symbolic of Israel’s looking for the coming the Messiah in the past, the hope which we have of salvation through Jesus Christ and also the expectation of His return.

   During the last two days of November, all of the fall decorations were stored away as the transition to Christmas continued. We went with the family to a nearby lot where a fir tree was selected, carried back to the house on the roof of the car and set up in the corner of the living room. Then, lights were strung on the Christmas tree and on the shrubs outside the house. The scent of fresh evergreen filled the air as Nate, Elliot and I hung dozens of ornaments on the tree.

   The week was a short one, very short, but full of the joy of being together and of the anticipation of Christmas. May the joy of the Christmas holidays transcend all of the busy-ness of the season and may your hearts be filled with the sense of His presence. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” (Isaac Watts, 1716)

“Though you have not seen him, you love him and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter1:8-9 NIV

 Kevin & Kendra

Nate, Grandma Judy, Elliot!

Shanda & Ann Sachs

Judy & Ann Lowery

Ann, Al and Shanda

Ann, Chris& Shanda