Punch with Judy - Christmas 2008 Newsletter

Email: judy@punchwithjudy.com.au

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
We are taking the opportunity of the Public Holidays to perform essential maintenance on the site and we will have it up and running again as soon as possible.    I'm sure you will understand that at times we have no alternative than to upgrade with the website not available at that time.  We strive for the latest in technology and the most secure website available to us.

Isn't Christmas time magic?  Don't you wish you were young again to really appreciate the wonder and excitement?  If only we could "turn back time" as Cher's song suggests.  Just the same, we do try to forget all our personal challenges at this time and think more of the big picture in our strive for world peace.  Will it ever happen?

Where has the year gone you ask?  Me too. Seems the days go by faster the older you get for sure.  We will be enjoying a family Christmas and I know many of you will be too.  However, for some it is a sad time.  If you are alone this Christmas, a special WISH for you that situations may improve before too long.  FRIENDS are the best present anyone may wish for.  A few of our "members/friends" have lost their partner during this year, some are quite ill, two whom I know have fought off Breast Cancer, two unfortunately have become victims to that dreaded disease.  To all of you and your families, a very special Christmas Wish for you for continued strength.  When I correspond with some of you, I feel humbled and forget the small nigglies I may have.  You are all wonderful.

To all and sundry a big thank you for your support during 2008 and for all those lovely thoughtful emails I receive during the year but especially at Christmas time.  I reply to each and everyone with sincerity and appreciation.

For our Christmas Card to you, please go to:

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1667637164187&source=jl999

For a little bit of fun, particularly for the young, click on here, though I know this won't work until I send a "normal Newsletter with pictures".  Or, simply cut and paste this link:

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552

Merry Christmas

 Click here: Santa's Jigsaw

Remember, there'll be no mail despatched now until Monday 5th January, 2009.

Because I may not have the opportunity of sending another Newsletter on New Year's Eve, remember that our January 2009 8th Birthday Specials on our website will commence on January 1st.  Be ready!  Each and every day throughout January there will be a new Birthday Celebration so you will need to log on every single day.  I will change the daily special at 9.00am (Eastern Standard Daylight Time).  Please share with me another grand Website Birthday Celebration.

It wouldn't be my Christmas Message unless I gave you a little story to make you ponder whilst grabbing some tissues. It should make us reflect upon our Christmas shopping and why we wish to please our loved ones with a gift, though unfortunately, we all know, it has all become too commercial.  Read on and I hope it makes you stop and pause for a moment or two.  Enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones because who knows?

It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our local discount store. Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles.
Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything. Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift buying anything but fun.
Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20-minute wait.
In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along, off-key but happily.
When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure.
The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.00," she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.10. "I guess we will have to put them back," he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow."
With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes," she cried.
"Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said.
Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. Plus, after all, it was Christmas.
Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you lady."
"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked. The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus."
The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"
My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear-streaked face. "Yes" I answered, "I am sure she will."

Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving."

Author unknown

MAY

THE BEAUTY OF

CHRISTMAS SURROUND US....

MAY THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS

ASTOUND US....

MAY THE GLADNESS OF CHRISTMAS DELIGHT US....

MAY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS UNITE US.

WE

WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

JUDY, JOHN, BRENDA, GLORIA & KIM (STAFF)

Till next time,
Judy