This time of the year can be a lot of fun but it can also be very stressful. Extra parties and visiting can take a lot out of you even if it is just the added hours of visiting. Most of us are off our game a little and that is when accidents happen and we do things we later regret. If we approach the season with this in mind maybe we can sneak through unscathed.
The other day I took my dog for his Christmas haircut. Well that meant a different route to work and that cost me an extra $115 because I wasn’t paying attention and drove from the groomers to the office without putting my seatbelt on. Now the truth of the matter is I rarely do use the belt while driving to work and back. As the years went by I convinced myself the police just could not see in the side window because of a minor tint. I was wrong. I used to rarely use it in town but always do on the highway. It was my way of fighting back because I feel we have way too many rules that we have to live under. Well I’ve changed now as I do not want another ticket. It is Christmas and I need every buck I can get my hands on. All it took is one ticket and now I make a mental note as I get in my truck to put the belt on. Someday I hope it becomes automatic.
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I heard the White House referred to Christmas trees as Holiday trees. Have we as Christians in this world completely lost our nerve to stand up for what we believe in? I was travelling around Alberta and BC and was stunned at the amount of Christmas signs that said “Happy Holidays”. I can assure you it is “Merry Christmas” to me. I will not push my beliefs on you, but I will stand proudly for what I believe and I am hoping other Canadians stand with me. It is our Christmas season, lets not let that be taken away from us.
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At the end of October The Foothills Country Hospice Society put on their annual fundraising banquet. It has been the number one charity in the Okotoks area for several years and this year was no different. The Mardi Gras event sold out in record time and approximately $125,000.00 was raised. Congratulations to the volunteer committee who put on such a wonderful event and thanks to the participants who made this record fundraiser happen.
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Looks like we have a long winter ahead of us so maybe this will be the year you sign up for a program or two with The Town of Okotoks. Check out this issue for a program guide supplied by the Town. It is always good to stay active through the cool days ahead and takes some motivation to do it. You know what they say "an active body is a healthy body and an active mind is a far cry better than letting it shut down". The Foothills Continuing Education guide will be distributed between Christmas and New Years.
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I've got some bad news for you. When I do my predictions for 2012 I can assure you now that I will not pick the Calgary Flames to win the cup! What a disappointing start to the year. At some point they need to suck it up and make some changes so they can start to rebuild for the future. Seems the last few years it is the same old thing year after year. They are not even fun to watch most of the time as the old jump in the legs and heart has disappeared. The other day I actually watched an Edmonton Oilers game from start to finish because it was entertaining. Never thought that would happen.
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Enjoy your Christmas shopping and have a great week......
