​This photo in my house reminds me to be thankful every dayThey say a man travels a million miles and more, traveling not door to door, but rooftop to rooftop with presents galore. In upstate PA, works another such man, but a million miles traveled is not his plan. He works through the night, grinding meat in his shop, making snack sticks and sausages, the cream of the crop. And just like the big man with many hats to be worn, he moves on to preparing for his own Christmas morn.
There is a temptation to write this whole thing in rhyme, but who are we kidding, I haven’t the time. 
Yes a lot still needs doing as I pen my last words of the year. Technically I’ve finished my shopping but I’m a little bit addicted to it also so maybe just one more trip to the dollar store for stocking stuffers… Our house is mostly clean as we prepare for our family, the driveway is plowed but with some cleanup still left around the edges. Theres innumerable combinations of food waiting in its elemental stages throughout the fridge and pantry and I’m officially afraid to snack on anything with the inventoried list my wife has going for our Christmas Eve party and so on. There is so much to do and yet if we sat down and stopped doing anything we’d probably be just fine. It’s a strange twilight zone of effort between coming off of work and trying to take time as a family. Christmas, New years, and the impending rush of year-end responsibilities that come like a side-effect headache with the frivolity of the season. Can you believe it’s almost time to start thinking about Maple syrup? How does one stop or even slow down?
My kids don’t seem to have a problem relaxing. I look to them for the peace I struggle to find on my own. Their bliss, their joy, although mixed with overindulgence, is something that completes the Christmas season. Kids make Christmas, especially at the age mine are at now. Everything is still very new to them, and they are just old enough to start really getting into the festivities. Sometimes I wonder if they have a clue how many older eyes are on them while mixing with family. 
The snow has fallen generously to provide us with adequate holiday ambiance. Now that our snowblower is finally working I’m happy to see natures winter coat. It’s good for the ground and the bugs and the way the earth resets itself for next year’s growing. Despite the extra work that comes with it I also enjoy skiing when given the chance. Although with the price of lift tickets these days, I may have to get a little redneck ingenuity to be able to teach my kids how. But without worrying about the hassles we put up for ourselves there’s something very simple to remember at the close of the year. Everything good thing comes as a blessing from God.
The way out here we enjoy our children given to us by God, we enjoy the seasons and nature given to us by God, and we take this time out of all the year to put special emphasis on all of these innumerable blessings. Take time for your family, take time for God, and from my family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy New year, and God bless us all in 2026.