Category: Christmas

The Grief That Stole Christmas

The Grief that Stole Christmas 

In my mind today of course I am thinking about Christmas. Looking at Christmases past on social media, remembering how much I put into Christmas before ALS. Each year I was so jolly and even enjoyed the elves’ shenanigans! I have always been a NUT for Christmas to the point that I drove my family nuts. Here is an example of my overzealous behavior: 19 elves. I heard that gasp, students. What a NUT, right? 

This year was the year of “The Grief that Stole Christmas” since my sweet husband is celebrating a Celestial Christmas. Some of his best, worn out dad jokes were about canceling Christmas. The closer Christmas came,  the more frequent the cancellation threats.This year is a new season, a new normal. I know that I don’t have the corner market for grief, but it really hurts. Writing is therapy, and I am so thankful for all of you, students. 

First new normal was no big gathering at our house on Christmas Eve. We always hosted every side of the family and would have sometimes over 50 people, relatives and friends. Then the old Griefy Claus caused a collapse in our world. No gathering. I then had an idea, a wonderful idea! An awesome, wonderful idea! Intimate Christmas Eve with our kids and grandchildren. I was not the most chipper and we were missing two Grands. Guess what happened? We had a fabulous time! We could feel the love. We shared wonderful memories of their Dad, brother, and all of our crazy Christmas past. The new normal will be Christmas Eve with Gram at noon, KFC, and shared time. Enjoying watching the kids play. So Bah Humbug Griefy Claus! The kids were gone and that left the three amigos. Ben, Abbey, and I watched SpongeBob Christmas and so many others. We laughed until we cried. Last but not least, a good, hot shower, tucked tight in bed, It’s A Wonderful Life in color on the bedroom tv, and the sweetest daughter beside me made for the best Christmas Eve ever. Ben was busy with the elf work that robbed my Christmas Eve sleep all those years before as a healthy mom staying up til the wee hours of the morning. I slept like Patrick Star under his rock. (SpongeBob reference, parents!)  

Before I knew it, the alarm clock was going off. Ben said, “Mom, we have church.” We had the perfect excuse to stay home. There had been a winter storm with dangerous low temperatures. Don’t forget Griefy Claus! The one thing that Ken never canceled was church on Sunday, especially the high holy days. That was a rule of our Home: God first. It has been our trusted compass. Ben got me up and ready. We gathered the food items for my mother-in-law’s gathering to drop off, then grabbed her for church. Here comes Griefy Claus! She had burst pipes and no electricity. We ended up with a lot of good ham and another gathering collapse. New season. Ben learned to make pecan pie from one of our good friends. We wanted to give something special for people that doesn’t come from a store and means a bit more. I was ever so glad to be in church. I cried but it was tears of joy. My joy meter was 100% before we were to the Gospel. Our daughter leading music and pies for the church family made my heart swell three sizes. Although the other traditional gathering collapsed, a new one was born. We had Ab’s boyfriend pop in and my other son, too. It was like a trip back in time. They were laughing and playing video games. It was the BEST. Just our little brood. I felt Ken and Nick were right there with us. My husband was a father first and foremost. He worked so so hard his entire life for us. The children we shared came through, heavenly and earthly. Grief didn’t stop Christmas. Somehow it came just the same. The love never left us. This morning Ben and I talked about dying young and the old saying only the good die young. This life is so full of grief, the earthly one. It makes a Celestial Christmas sound even better. Not the Monty Python heaven, back row. Stay with me! That is why we believe that there is so much more on the other side. No GRIEF! Let’s not forget that mortality issue. Remember the first time you realized that you were destined to be dust? Eye opener! The whole world does fall in love this time of year. It is the most wonderful time of the year. Why? That’s right front row, light entered the darkness and Jesus Christ entered our earthly drama. He brought the best Christmas gift of all.

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Sarah Anderson Alley 

Sal the Griefy Claus Gal

Quote for the Day:

 “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” -Emily Dickinson 

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.” -Helen Keller 

“Say not in grief that they are gone, but give thanks that they were yours.” -Hebrew proverb 

Things Griefy Claus taught me:

  1. Don’t think that my children will love the same tic-tacky Christmas trappings (decorations) putting them up and down! No decorations next year just a tree, the memory one, and one nativity. Peace is better than the grief!
  2. I get that a new chapter has begun and I have to be a BLT: BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER. There is a purpose for me on this side of heaven. 
  3. I will miss Ken until the day I die. 

Christmas is Almost Here!

In my mind today, I’m thinking that Christmas is practically here!!! The second week of Advent flew by and now we are on the cusp of the final week of Advent. Christmas is just around the corner!

Christmas is a time for little miracles. They happen with gifts of love from our families and friends. Sometimes random strangers do random works of kindness. You may slip a struggling family a Christmas card with a bit of cash. You might help a young adult go to a conference. You may take meals to those shut-in and lonely. So many family and friends get the ultimate vacation to heaven. All of the above, I have witnessed this season. Here is the best thing. My little parish is learning to love like this all year. That is really the goal isn’t it? Embracing and celebrating God by loving your fellow men and women. I’m so proud Holy Angels Catholic Church is being Christ in our little community all year. If you need a church family, come let us love you.

I love Christmas! I can’t shout it enough! It’s a time when the secular world joins the religious and shout, “Joy to the World!” There’s something different here. The world really does fall in love. You know what I love the most? Time slows down. We get breaks from routines. Visiting with family and friends, attending choir concerts, and sharing meals and traditions, these are the joys of the season. Creating those memories that will last a lifetime and re-living the times that we’ve shared. Such happiness abounds.

In my little life, in my little corner of the world, in my little burg, and in my little parish, I am so blessed to know and feel the true meaning of this season. So much so that I want to make everyday Christmas. I think this was God’s goal all along. Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Sal the Christmas Loving Gal
Sarah Anderson Alley

Quote of the Day:
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”
Alexander Smith

First week of Advent


Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. Psalm 23:4

In my mind today I am thinking about evil. Evil exists. Psalm 23 reminds us never to fear even in death. This is the darkest time of year here in my little burg. We get less sunshine than any other season. It just so happens that it is our first week of Advent. Happy New Liturgical Year!

In the darkest hours, we search for light. We have been promised a second coming. If Jesus Christ appeared in our little burg today, what we would he find? Parents stressing over the latest toys? Left behind elderly people at home and in facilities? Parents refunding charitable gifts so they can get another hit? People locked away in jails and prisons without a single Christmas greeting? Like John Lennon, I imagine all of the lonely people in my burg.

This little town is my playing field or basketball ball court now. Instead of touchdowns and jump shots, where can I bring the light of Advent? Where can the most light be spread to aleveate some despair and loneliness? If you attend church, look around. If you are working, look around. At the grocery store, look around. I’m sure you can find someone to give a gift card to or take a meal. What about volunteering to help out a single, working mom with providing food and coats for her kids? I know people who give all year long. Why? They get it. They have been enlightened by the Christ that lives within them. We should live our Advent all year long. I hope you find ways to bless others this season.
Happy Advent!
Sal the Christmas Loving Gal
Sarah Anderson Alley

Quotes of the Day:

“Be the Grinch that stole Christmas!”
Sal the Grinch Loving Gal

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!”
Ebenezer Scrooge

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
St. Francis of Assisi

Advent Journey

Advent Journey

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God… Isaiah 35: 3-4

In my mind today, I’m going through lists: bills, cards, church events, and gifts list. As I perused my Amazon app trying to find items for family and friends, I always halt before pushing that proceed to checkout button. I go to my bank app and to try to decide on how to give meaningful, useful gifts and stay within our budget. I watch the Amazon app timer tick away warning me of losing my hard thought of gifts. Oh the inhumanity! I hear ya Grinch.

My husband is literally the best. He always asks, “What do you want for Christmas?” He worries about me and he always has. I replied, “I have everything.” And I do. My name is not Sal Rockefeller, but I have everything that matters. My entire existence is immersed in Love from my home to my errands. They are all drenched in Love. My heart is so full. My mind is so peaceful. I’m tingling as I pen this blog because the gift I have has taken over everything in my life. It guides my thoughts and words and what I do. I’m free. I sit in my wheelchair and just feel an energy guiding me. Only one person can give this unending gift and I accepted it long ago. In that acceptance, all hills were made low and every valley filled. My knees may not be strong and my hands are very feeble, but God makes everything okay. He really does.

My Advent Journey 2018 is and will continue to be one of joy regardless of the Amazon timer and only one thumb working to peck out my thankfulness. I will continue to sojourn through my earthly life with praise and Thanksgiving doing all that I am called to do. This blog was one of them. Please accept this gift from my heart and not a store. Remember these are the best gifts. Back row if you need extra credit here are some ideas: ring a bell for the Salvation Army, serve at a soup kitchen, sponsor a child or family or donate toys to Matthew 25:40’s outreach, reconcile with a family member or friend, and to everyone you meet say “Merry Christmas” because He’s here. If you haven’t unopened that 2000 year old gift, no time is like the present! Did you catch that pun back row?
Merry CHRISTmas
Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Advent Gal

Join me at Wal-mart ringing the bell:

Bellringers
December 22nd 11-5pm
11-12
Will @ 12-1
George & crew 2-3
Aiden @ 3-4 pm
Ms. Alley @ 4-5
1 slots available

December 21st 9-5 pm
9-10
10-11
George & crew 11-12
12-1
Tanya @ 1-2
Ms. Alley @ 2-3
Aiden @ 3-4
4-5
4 slots available

Or

Working the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen January 5th 10-2 PM

Donate time, clothes, food, or money to Matthew 25:40.
432 W. Court Street
Dyersburg, TN 38024

Quote of the Day:
“Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.’ ”
Bing Crosby