Sitting in the lounge within arm's reach of each other, sometimes holding hands or offering a loving glance, sometimes a light caress or quiet word, has become a much more common practice for us over recent months. 

Last night as we did so we watched the 2009 animated telling of Dickens' story A Christmas Carol. The graphics were amazing and the voicing impressive (Jim Carey, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins). While the story of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge was both familiar and salutary, the level of scary 'supernatural themes and images' took it well outside of the realm of a children's story - despite being listed as such in the TV guide and aired early evening. For the kid's, The Muppet Christmas Carol is much more suitable and uses humor rather than fear to convey the moral of the story!!

We have something in common with old Ebenezer Scrooge. We too have been forced to think about past, present and future as we approach Christmas 2014. Scrooge was forced to take account of his life and the decisions he had made along the way. He was also required to view the impact of his life on others, his death and his legacy. He was shattered, and ultimately redeemed, by what he saw.

Sue and I have been doing a bit of the same really. There is no doubt that we too can identify things in the past and the present that can inform our future decisions and actions. Just as the spirits that visited old Ebenezer were (literally and figuratively) a 'wake up call' that opened his eyes and changed his perspective on his life, so Sue's cancer been for us - and we are grateful to God for the opportunity.

As we move into Christmas 2014 and anticipate the joy of having all our children and their partners together in our home, we reflect on this time last year. At that time we contemplated the very real possibility that we may not be together for Christmas 2014. Ironically, we find ourselves in the position were we are contemplating the same possibility for 2015 - but do so with a sense of peace and deep gratitude to God.

The NT News is renown for its (often croc-infested, sometimes amusing and occasionally crass) headlines. However, just occassionally, they get it exactly and profoundly right. They did so today (admittedly on about page 12): 

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PS: Sue continues to cope pretty well with the chemotherapy. Other than extreme tiredness/lack of energy she is doing really well. We are looking forward to the 'week off' between chemo rounds that starts tomorrow. We worked that timing out well didn't we!

Bless yuz all.