This Christmas I was determined to get most of the pepper tree in our front yard covered with lights. Last year, to my chagrin, there were a number of burned out bulbs right in the middle of the trunk. Meanwhile, my neighbor down the street brings the North Pole Experience every year to his front yard – 75 inflated holiday figures dancing around on his lawn with Christmas Trees and elaborate rooftop displays; not to mention an impressive sign announcing a visitation from Santa on two consecutive Saturdays. What I can’t help noticing is that there is not a single burned out light! How does he do it? Last weekend I finally restrung the pepper tree with a new set of LED lights along with m

Let’s face it. Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year,” but it can also be a terrible time if we are feeling lonely. Loneliness hits all of us, married or single; extroverts or introverts, well-adjusted or neurotic! Loneliness is being single & aching to share your life with someone; being married, but feeling misunderstood or unfulfilled; having a good day at work and only four walls to share it with; feeling no one would like you if you told them your secrets; taking inventory of your life and feeling you made the wrong choices; experiencing the loss of a loved one and feeling that no one cares. We all know what loneliness feels like, but what can we do about it? What can we