Time to sit a spell with family & friends

Though winter doesn't seem to have reached us yet, it is time to step back from our busy lives, and try to reset our perspective for another year.

Assuming the Christmas shopping is done, and we can get together with our loved ones and friend. Perhaps there will be the opportunity to relax a little and take time to listen to each other.

There will still be lots of cooking and cleaning up after meals to do, but at least in our family that's a group project these days.  My posts will be a little sporadic during the holidays, but no one should spend much time on the Internet during this season.

Now is the time to be with real people, to enjoy your families, and to look forward to another year with renewed hope.

As I was coming home from Wilmington tonight, I swung by Clyde Phillips Seafood between the bridges on the White Oak River as you pass from Swansboro to Cedar Point.

Lots of folks were already closed as the time neared six pm, but I took a chance and found that there was still fresh shrimp to be had.  They packed them in ice for me, and I'll get to them tomorrow when I have more time.  I did forget to buy some Kelchner's sauce.  The shrimp just would not be right without it.  I'll have my wife, Glenda, pick some up  tomorrow while I'm finishing my real estate classes. Fresh from the sea shrimp is a great holiday tradition that I enjoy.

The rocking chairs are a great symbol for the shift we need to make in this season.  Rushing around spending money that you may or may not have for presents that people may or may not need is not where our focus should be.  One of these days all those presents will just be presents. You might trade them all for a few more minutes with your loved ones who are no longer with you.

Now is time to renew our faith and recharge our spirits with the love from our family and friends.  Do it while you can before it is too late.

So here is our family's holiday wish to all my readers.

We hope your holiday season will be filled with family and friends creating new memories that will warm your heart for many years to come, and that good health will follow you and your loved ones through the new year.

See you sometime during the holidays when you least expect it.