rereason

This is the time of year when we start getting those lengthy inserts in the Christmas cards, detailing the highlights of our friends and families past year. Reading them can seem like a test of our forbearance; the writers go on and on, assuming we are thrilled by every detail of little Clotto's pre-K art project and the Branson vacation. Or sometimes they mention all the wonderful, positive things going on in their lives; promotions, marriages, new babies and such.

Never have I written one of these letters, but this year, for the first time, I will mention some of the blessings we have been fortunate to receive:

• We shared our wealth, giving what feels like a substantial part of our income to the church and to others less fortunate than us.
• We shared a trip to a fabulous Mexican Riviera resort with a friend who is suffering from cancer.
• Natasha traveled hundreds of miles on a church mission trip to help people she had never met.
• Samantha helped every day with Vacation Bible School.
  
• We bought three gallons of milk every month and donated them to a food kitchen.
• We set out and took up flags marking the graves of vets during the week of Memorial Day.
• We taught Sunday School.
• My lovely wife and I attended religious instruction at a friend's home.
• We organized activities at church.
• My lovely wife served as Girl Scout leader.
• She also continued as President of a VFW Ladies auxiliary.
• We helped a neighbor who had an unfortunate incident with her dog.
• We helped a friend who's baby was born with no mental functions.
• We went to funerals.
• I posted stories, opinions and ideas to the Internet, hoping to increase awareness and to provoke thought.
• We regularly went to church.
  
• We donated food to the school food pantry drive.
• We donated to the charity drive at work.
• We recycled plastic, metal, cardboard and newsprint every week.
• I continue to try not to speed on the highway.

Gentle readers, you may think these activities blessed others, and you would be right. But these things blessed us more. Forgive me if I regard these as the really noteworthy accomplishments for the family in the past year.