Thinking About The Advent Conspiracy

I've always loved Christmas.  And I totally love the Gift Giving Part.  Looking back, I realize some of my greatest years were when the children were tiny, which makes me know that my focus was a bit off.  I was enjoying the thrill of excited little faces perhaps more  than the birth of the Christ Child.   So when the children grew up, the glamor faded.   It became exciting again when the grand babies came along.   Now, it is time to re-evaluate and consider the best way to celebrate the birth of Christ.   (Photo:   Bonnie, Jean and Buddy about 1950.)

Christ's birth is a coming of promise, hope and a revolutionary love.    However, Christmas has become a time of  commercialization, extravagance, going into debt, major stress,  and even for some a time for regret or a season to be depressed.

Oh the memories of trying to provide gifts on Christmas Lists. It's so much fun to give -- not because there is a need, for me it is the fun of surprises.  Yet as children grew older, I watched some return those gifts which were on their list for something different of just return it for the money.   I thought I loved the shopping, wrapping and watching the opening of gifts only to discover gifts can be inferior -- causing the receiver to make efforts of thanks while inside, disappointed.    So I graduated to a new plan.  Give money, you pick out your own gift. Not a bad plan, I don't mind giving money and you do the work.  What about those times when I requested the gift be wrapped and put  under the tree and opened on Christmas.  Non of these comments or memories are grievous or complaints.  I'm just remembering how off track one can become in the celebration of the birth of Jesus our Lord.    Is all of this a celebration of Christ or a celebration of giving gifts?  (Photo: 1961, my Dad, Mom, Kevin, Marie,  Jim Eller, Jean, Ken & Bonnie.) 

Going back seventy years as a child in a family with six children.  My memory is that we each received one gift of clothing and one toy.  And Christmas was huge.   There were lots of family games, Christmas plays, Christmas Caroling and times to remember Christ and love for others.   Along the way something went awry.  (Photo:  1977 Joel)


When our children were little, I think we began to give our children the things we never had ... only to see them bored and toys broken before dinner time.  It left a bit of an empty feeling and a disgust that children can be so ungrateful, or have such little imagination.    IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE CHRISTMAS A LIFE CHANGING EVENT AGAIN? 

Christmas starts with Jesus.   I know that December 25 is not the literal day that Christ was born but it is the day chosen for us to celebrate HIS BIRTH and HIS GIFT to us.    It was designed to be a season where love wins, peace reigns, and our Savior and King is celebrated.   It was designed to be a time of worship as the wise men did worship.  (Photo:  1986 Joel, Sommer, Jenny Lynn.)

God's gift to us was a relationship built on love .... a time to love family and friends.   Part of my thoughts in this posting are taken from   adventconspiracy.org and a booklet passed out at Asbury Methodist Church.  The thought is to give the gift of TIME.  Spend time with those you love.  Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom.  Or time to play with the children or bake a special cookie recipe together and sing old Christmas songs.   Give a gift to someone who has nothing and has a need.  Give less gifts this year.  (Photo 1994: Sommer, Jennifer, Joel, Jenny Lynn, Jean & Kevin.)

I don't think I am spiritually mature enough to cut out the Christmas Gift Giving and the spending of money.   But I might be able to cut back on it.  With the economy tight, it is the perfect year to begin a new practice.   Give the gift of time, the gift of building relationships, the gift of loving one another.  And the greatest gift of all would be surrendering more of self to Christ ... MORE OF HIM AND LESS OF ME.
(Photo 1988 Joel, Jenny Lynn, Jean Sommer, Kevin)

Kevin Scrivner: Published Rocket Rangers Pulp Science Fantasy Adventures

Our eldest son, Kevin Scott, has always had an interest in science fiction ... although he seldom has had friends to play games with, he loves the gaming world and he loves to write about it to the point that he spends countless hours pouring over research to write the best and most authentic piece of fantasy gaming ever possible. 
http://www.antipaladingames.com/RocketRangers.pdf  

And then there is that masterpiece where Kevin is reported to be a "Veteran Minataurian" in his writings of Mazes and Minotaurs.  Kevin writes about the Land of the Sun ... ancient civilizations in the far Eastern desert.   He speaks of  a "mostly human" Akamen Empire and the struggles with the Mineans, Umbrians and Tritonians.  For those who enjoy this world of thought, this is an amazing read.  For the true 'gamer' it would have to be a conquest to enjoy.       http://mazesandminotaurs.free.fr/MQ8.pdf

I Remember Kevin's Early Years

Kevin's life has never been easy.   Born our first child, seven weeks early and weighing in at 2 lbs 2 oz, he spent the first two months of his life in the hospital.   And he returned on numerous occasions throughout the years.  He is resilient, a fighter with a melancholy temperment.    . 

Kevin's  melancholy temperment holds true with his multi-gifted nature and  analyzing mind.  The simplest innocent comment can get an automatic question of "what do you mean by that?"  Melancholy temperments are generally good spellers and precise grammarian and yet sensitive and a bit of an introvert.  Kevin is strong willed in what he believes.  Just try to change his mind on something, I promise you that you will more often not win.  (Photo 1961:  Daddy Ken and Kevin enjoying an intimate moment of joy.)

(Photo 1964: April and Kevin playing cowboy and indians.)

(Photo 1978:  Kevin at Pipe Stem, W Va while visiting Grandma Montgomery.)     Kevin is extremely loyal to his cautiously chosen friends.   And because he is such a hard worker in his areas of interest, he has successfully produced  those published pieces of science and fantasy which he pens.

From the time he was a young teen, his Christmas list included a request for a wife.  We never could provide that for him but he found one for himself in Bonita.  I think perhaps one of the happiest days of his life might have been they day he married his bride.    And when cancer tried to take him, his fighting spirit and faith in God brought him victory while speaking words of faith that he would live and not die.  Many times I heard his confession that he would live to see his children and attend their wedding.   So Kevin and Bonita  now have two beautiful children, Devin and Hailey. (Photo 1965: Kevin with April, Joel and Sommer.)

Thank you Kevin for being our son, for fighting the fight of faith and for your staying power to ever trust in God.  Your Dad and I love you very much.

November

Driving to church, as we pulled into the COTM parking lot, we had to stop and take this photos of the November sky overlooking the stadium.  This is Western Skys over Oklahoma.

November Sky and Setting Sun. 

I think fall has finally arrived.  I was driving to work on the Creek Nation Turnpike. 

Clicking while I drive? 

I pulled over for this one - still on the Creek. 

Keeping Driving girl - you can't be late for work. 

The tree in the Sorenson parking lot. 

Ken had pulled the Hibuscus into the garage because frost was a possibility.  The hisbuscus had to give off another blossom in the darkened garage proclaiming..."I am happy...I'm not dead yet."