Archives for December 2015

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2015 by Alan 1 Comment

The stockings are emptied; the gifts are open. What remains is more important: time with loved ones.

Perhaps the greatest gift the Lord gave us in 2015 is a new home in a new town. From the first day we visited Strasburg, Colorado, we have seen the beauty of its land and its people. That beauty is what inspired, and continues to inspire, Strasburg Rocks!

We are slowly unearthing all that Strasburg and the surrounding area has to offer; it is like unwrapping magnificent gifts year-round. One of the more recent discoveries was the annual Christmas celebration downtown. We were remiss then in not photographing the beautiful decorations along Strasburg’s main thoroughfare, but hopefully have made it up with a video of driving through the town late Christmas Eve (or early this Christmas morning, depending on your perspective):

Now, we stated that the greatest gift God blessed us with in 2015 was a home (not just a house) in Strasburg…but, of course, it pales in comparison to the greatest gift ever bestowed; one that was for all who will accept it. The 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” makes it apropos to remember that sacrifice from above with the same words that Linus used when Charles Shultz bucked precedent and included these verses in a Christmas special:Continue Reading

So may I suggest
The secret of Christmas
It’s not the things you do
At Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do
All year through

Ella Fitzgerald – “The Secret of Christmas”

Kudos to Chris Oakley of C&T Auto Repair!

December 24, 2015 by Alan Leave a Comment

You know you’ve done something worthwhile when it’s being emulated over 1,000 miles away…twice:

KUSA – The heartwarming story of an Eastern Plains auto mechanic who footed a $1,500 repair bill for a struggling single father, has inspired people across the country.

Chris Oakley, owner of C&T Auto Repair in Strasburg, Colorado gave the early Christmas gift to Cory Grimes. Grimes works as a part-time dishwasher at High Plains Diner in Bennett and cares for his 7-year-old son who has autism.

It would break “fair use” to quote much more of this article, but please read how Chris’ actions were emulated in Wisconsin and Louisiana:

“Mechanic’s act of kindness creates chain reaction”

The person blessed in Louisiana by the free service said the mechanic was “Santa Claus.” Seems to me Santa Claus actually lives in Strasburg and owns C&T Auto Repair. 🙂

Video:Continue Reading

Strasburg Cub Scouts Help Wreaths Across America

December 12, 2015 by Alan Leave a Comment

Although I mentally went, “Ugh!” when the alarm went off at 6:30 this morning (so Augie and I could get breakfast together before meeting with the Scouts at 8:00 in front of the American Legion)…I am really glad we got up.

Until today I was unaware of Wreaths Across America. From their “Who We Are” “Mission & Vision”:

Our mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December at Arlington, as well as veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

And honor them they did today at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. As part of working on their Fellowship and Duty requirement, Cub Scout Pack 439 attended the ceremony and laid wreaths at servicepersons’ graves. I don’t recall the main speaker’s name, but he was a 93 year-old WWII veteran of the famous 10th Mountain Division. Trained in Colorado, he returned after serving his country.

It was a bit nippy out, but our boys did great during a relatively long ceremony, standing behind (to support) a group of Boy Scouts displaying American flags. (That was ad hoc…when we arrived the Scouts’ leader asked if we wanted to join them.)

Thanks to those who have served our country, especially those who gave the ultimate gift to protect our liberty. Thanks also to all the families who shared in their sacrifice and to those who, with missions like this, make sure we do not forget that freedom isn’t free.

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – In Strasburg!

December 5, 2015 by Alan Leave a Comment

I’m a bit tuckered today (up early to help decorate the church we attend in Centennial), so just a quick post to say how terrific the festivities in downtown Strasburg were today. If you made it, you know exactly what I am talking about: free food (including being able to decorate your own Christmas cookies), free drinks (at least hot cocoa and hot apple cider), hayrides (thanks to a huge tractor), a beautifully Christmas-tized center of town, and more…like reindeer and pictures with Santa!

Although it was helping out with the Cub Scouts that brought me down there (we were distributing the free hot apple cider provided by…and in front of…Hank’s Hardware), I am glad my tired, aching bones didn’t keep me home. After the next shift relieved us, Michelle, Augie, and I checked out what was going on, wrapping up by visiting the great people at The Pizza Shop and…well, you can guess what we had for dinner. 🙂