Merry Christmas from my house to yours

Merry Christmas, friend! I’m not naive enough to expect any of you fine people to read this today, but hey, it will be here when you do find time to catch up and breathe. So, whenever that is, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and let’s chat…

This is the place where I could make all kinds of promises about staying in better touch going forward, you know, like I did once upon a time?! That reference won’t mean a thing to some of you, but those who have been with me for decades will remember when I actually sent out a WEEKLY newsletter with seven different features. Wowza! I feel like I’m telling a whopper, but it’s true. At some point over the years, the book contracts happened, and then the grands, and the radio show, and the speaking and traveling ministry was born and has continued to grow until, well, here we are. We’re down to about twice a year. LOL! I don’t like it, and I really do hope to change it,  but I know better than to write it in stone! Especially since the plate has become even more crowded with the advancing years of my precious parents and my increasing responsibilities there.

We had quite a scare with Papa last week. I’m going to steal my own social media words to share with you alongside the video I posted of them. It floors me that it has been seen almost a million times on Facebook, but Papa and I just LOVE that, and not because of the numbers. We delight in knowing that many people have read the words about getting right with Jesus before they face judgement. You’ll see what I mean below.  And by the way, if you are on social and aren’t following me, please do. (And by that I mean, “also.” LOL! Don’t unsubscribe here! I still want to keep this community together! I just do a much better job of staying in daily touch there.) This is what I put on Instagram and Facebook:

First a recap for anyone who loves our parents and for whatever reason has been out of the loop on this one. Then I’ll update for those waiting on news.

The recap: Papa had a cardiac event Monday. His heart stopped at four p.m. Had his defibrillator not shocked him, Papa would be meeting Jesus face-to-face this Christmas. That would be perfectly fine with Papa but the rest of us are glad he’ll still be here. For what it’s worth my working theory is that Papa was holding up the line at the gates of heaven, passing out his Gideon Bibles to anyone who would take them, hoping to win them to Christ and change their eternal destiny before they stood before the throne. I think a divine decision was made to send this laborer back into the fields for a little while longer.

The update: As of this writing, papa has had a slew of tests. He passed his stress test, which means no cath for now. We are awaiting news on his EKG and an x-ray on his right knee, which has become increasingly painful since he blacked out and hit the concrete in the parking lot of the Affinity building. He may have twisted it or there could be a break. We will see. Doctor Sampignaro has made changes to his meds that might require him to stay another night for observation to make sure the new meds don’t interfere with his cardiac rhythms. After that, we will be able to break this cowboy out of jail, and trust me this guy is more than willing to get out of Dodge City and back to his puppy dog, Honey. In fact, he tried to escape several times during the night! True. Story.

As for the accompanying reel, turning that single bed into a double in the ER has not been our sole infraction during this stay. Thankfully, the Saint Francis staff has been incredible. Everyone is so kind, so loving, attentive and professional! On behalf of all of my family, we are so grateful to them and for those of you who have been praying. In the hard and the hope, God reigns. Merry Christmas! #lifelongromance #thekingandqueen #christmas2024

****Update since I wrote that and I don’t have the energy to edit it but Doc has looked at everything and given the word that he can “get outta here”. So, we’re packing!!!

And here’s the video. Make sure you have your sound up and tissue handy. (From what I’m hearing, that’s not just the effect it has on me!)

I told you it was emotional. I think it resonates with people because so many people have lived similar situations with their loved ones, or maybe they are aware that they will soon face this themselves. I like to believe their time-tested love is also inspiring in a day when such commitment seems rare.

It’s Christmas Eve as I write to you. My bestie and her husband are headed over for us to have our “Couple’s Christmas.” We try to squeeze it in a game night for us four every year but as our immediate families have grown it gets more challenging and we have to be flexible and grab opportunities as they’re presented like the one we see tonight. We’ve entertained our kids and grands and we’ll celebrate with them again tomorrow, but for now, we see a window for the four of us and we’re happy about it. Life-long friendships are so important. I encourage everyone to tend them. I’ll slip a pic in here later.

I mentioned our kids and grands, so I’ll slide in a few pics here of our time together this past weekend. Three of the six grands had successful hunts. Emerson (16 yrs.) got her first bow kill, Grant (15 1/2 yrs.) got an 8 pt. and Connor (13 yrs.) got a doe. I didn’t get a Christmas card out but if I did, the front and back would probably be camo. LOL!

                             

 

 

 

I can’t close without thoughts on ministry and writing. It’s so challenging to update you there without writing a novel, but I’m going to try.

As you may know, early in the season I released my Christmas book, Behold the Light. It has been such a joy to share it with my family, friends, and readers. If you missed the backstory, you can read about it here. My friends at First Baptist Church’s here in our hometown invited me to read it to the kids at the community Jesus party.

               

So much fun! And then this past Sunday came and with it a surprise from my own church! 

Apparently everyone was in the loop Sunday morning except for yours truly. Following the children’s annual Christmas play the director asked everyone to stay for one more surprise. I watched as my older two grand girls came out with mics and took their place at the side of the stage. Interesting, I love surprises so I lifted my phone to prepare to video. My daughter, seated beside me, smiled and said, “You’re not going to be able to video.” I had one second to process that and wonder why Phil was grinning so big, when she added, “You don’t realize what’s happening, do you?” Jessica gestured back towards the girls just as they began to read from Behold the Light.  She was right.  I couldn’t have video if my life depended on it, for the tears began flowing immediately.

Kennedy was an angel and Weston was a shepherd They acted out the story with other precious kids from our church as Emerson and Carlisle took turns reading the pages. And all of this was happening with their Houston cousins, Grant and Connor, sitting in the audience with the rest of the family. Time felt like it stopped for me. I was definitely ugly crying as I watched, listened, and remembered how I first wrote the words of this little book when our own kids were small, to help them grasp the true meaning of Christmas. Talk about a full circle moment! For me, it is best described as as grace upon grace.   

 

You should see me. I’m crying all over again. I had planned to tell you about the new book contract and the WIP called Don’t Try to Pray Like Her, but we’ll save it for another day. I’ll close by speaking a blessing over you instead. May the love of God, the grace of Christ Jesus, and the company of Holy Spirit be yours to the full this Christmas. He is with us. Behold the Light!  

Hugs,
Shellie