I had the amazing privilege of coming to Christ as a pre-schooler. My parents were separated at the time and my Dad began taking my brother and I to church.

I was born into a family who didn’t know Christ. My mom was sweet and tried to be a good person and my Dad was a hard worker and a partier. He drove a motorcycle, drank, did drugs, listened to Heavy Metal and that was our life.

After being legally separated for 13 months and being a single Mom to a three-year old and a two-year old, Barry and I decided to “give it one more try” before the divorce came through.

As I grew up there was an expression that I heard that I have never forgotten. I am assuming it has something to do with farming/keeping the animals safe, but I think you’ll get the point. “Don’t take down a fence unless you know why it was put up.”

I think the most difficult time of the Christmas season is just the flat out business we all experience. Shopping, visiting, decorating, baking, and all the other things that come along with Christmas. At times it is easy to forget what Christmas is really about.

Of all the kings that have been born or will be born there is only one true King. On that night in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to the King of kings.

I love that word JOY! Just reading it puts a smile on my face. Jesus Christ came as a baby 2000 years ago for the world to experience lasting JOY.

Isaac Watts wrote Joy to the World in 1719. As a teenager Isaac complained about how boring the singing was at church so his father challenged him to come up with something better.

I LOVE tradition. This week is jammed packed for me with tradition. I get to host a dinner for all of the staff which I absolutely love. I get to play my favourite CD which of course if Lifecentre’s Christmas Gala.

Every year, at Christmas there is one moment, in one movie that I wait for. The film is Christmas Vacation, and the moment is where Clark Griswold has his entire family singing Joy to the World while he is plugging in the copious amounts of Christmas lights on their home.