This Christmas is an extremely hard one. It is the first Christmas in my life without my sister, Tamra. She always loved Christmas! She loved everything about it – the lights, the ornaments, the presents, and the food. But mostly she loved the true meaning of Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth with her family.

Tam loved surprises but it was very difficult to surprise her. I remember when we were little, she would have me help her examine the presents under the tree. Back in the day, the bows had a little plastic tip on the back that actually poked a hole in the package to secure it to the present. She would pull the bow off and shine the flashlight in that tiny hole to see if she could tell what was in the box! I can still hear her say, “Can you see anything, Teres?” And I remember once buying her a photo album several weeks before Christmas and having it wrapped at the store. I brought it home and put it in the top of my closet. She found it and unwrapped and re-wrapped it several times before Christmas. You could tell this by looking at where the tape had been pulled off and stuck back multiple times. I asked her why she opened it so many times. She said, “I forgot what it looked like!”

Man, I miss you so much sis!! I miss hanging out with you. I miss doing our projects together. And I really miss our laughter! I miss you showing up at my house very early so we could hit the road for one of our day trips. And me, the non-shopper, I actually miss our shopping trips too.

What makes me happy and brings me joy this Christmas is the thought that you are with the Lord! And I bet if there are presents, that He will be able to surprise you!!!

We thank you dear God, for all the blessings and gifts in our lives. We thank you for Tamra and the joy she brought us. We thank you most of all for the gift of your Son, Christ Jesus, and for the salvation He offers us. Our Lord and Savior is our greatest joy!!!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you find joy unspeakable in this Christmas season and in the coming New Year!!

1 Peter 1:8-9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.