Happy Holidays

So the holiday season (Christmas) begins. Last year at this time, I lost my maternal grandfather. While December 1 is the actual anniversary, it was the Monday after Thanksgiving that he passed away last year. And on December 26, my paternal grandmother also passed away. While the holidays don't contain great memories for me anymore, I am still hopeful and not feeling too down. This is what my faith is for - the peace of mind, reassurance, and hope that one day I will be reunited with them in a far better place. That the spirit is immortal, and while death of the body is traumatic for the living, it is the beginning of a wonderful eternity for the one who passed on, if they believe that Jesus is our savior, removing our sin so that we can be reunited with God. Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, the Christmas season. Secular America likes Christmas and emphasizes peace and goodwill toward men. But really, what is Christmas about? Christmas is ultimately about family - God's family - and the means to ensure that we are a part of it. It leads to lessons about self-sacrifice, the ultimate gift that anyone can give, for the redemption of people who don't deserve it. This gift is the ultimate expression of love, and so many people do not understand it. Even for those who do "get it," we can never fully understand the depth of that love until we meet it face to face. Anyway... my Thanksgiving wasn't bad. I had a nice time just relaxing with my family. We aren't perfect, but we have some strong bonds between us. Yeah, I ate way too much. I need to get on my bike and start spinning. I hope my new saddle and riser block arrive this week so I can take full advantage of my trainer! Peace to you.