I have spent the past 24 hours calling family members out of state, wishing all a Merry Christmas.  With pretty much every call, I was left more anxious than before the call.  Let's see, I called an uncle recently widowed, grieving & depressed; a cousin my age, who also lost his wife 18 months ago & depressed due to his loss & his son,  a marine, who is in Iraq & "not handling the war well"; another cousin, spending Christmas Eve in the hospital because of high blood pressure, a heart operating at 25% capacity & bronchitis.  I learned that one of my sisters is having a knee replacement early next year & her husband is having back surgery middle of next month! 

These calls have reinforced the fact that everyday is a gift.  No matter where I am, I know that there are always worse places to be.  So, I've lit a candle & am heading out to church services.  I'll put my family in prayer because that's what I can do.  And I'll stay in touch, often, with everyone.  In the end, family love & memories is what it's all about. 

Merry Christmas, everyone.