What is the true meaning of Christmas?

To ponder the true meaning of Christmas, you need first need to define the context of your definition.
Today, Christmas has a completely different meaning than it did 100 years ago.
Sure, you can spout off the rhetoric of "Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ."
Granted, you either believe in Jesus Christ or you don't. (Or you believe he existed and was an influential figure in his time but not a diety.)
Regardless of your theological beliefs, almost no one celebrates Christmas as a religious holiday anymore.
Most people put up a "Christmas" tree. This has nothing to do with Christianity. It is a paganistic ritual that predates Christ by several hundred years. (See Jeremiah 10:2-4 for all you bible readers)
Santa Claus, known by different names around the world, is worshiped by children and used by parents. If you believe in God and the old testament, then there is a commandment in there somewhere about worshipping other gods and another about idols. If we are instructed to teach our children and raise them right, why do we allow them to spend the winter worshipping a being that died in 350 AD? (Say what you want. Children worship Santa Claus. Watch them.)

Personally, I love Christmas. Its not a religious thing. It doesn't fit in to my personal theology in any way. I love Christmas because it makes my family happy and it is one time during the year that most people try a little harder to be nice.

So this year when you celebrate your "Neo-Pagan Tree Worship/Good Samaritan that gives great crap/Commercial celebration of money/Maybe possibly religiously significant" day, drink some more eggnog (don't get me started on Eggnog) and BE NICE TO YOUR FELLOW HUMANS!
If you can avoid being a complete A**hole for a few weeks during Christmas time, then next year try a little longer and eventually we can all be nice people.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Wild World of Snicker...

Why do people love their pets so much?
It's so weird to me that animals become such intricate parts of our families.
Snicker had to go to the vet last week for "blockage." Apparently neutered cats run a risk of having their urethra blocked. Potentially, this can kill them.
The veterinarians at Midvalley Animal Clinic worked their magic and he was able to come home a few days later.
He is still recovering, being force fed prescription pills twice a day, and will be on specialized food for the rest of his life.

Ahh, the things we do for our pets.
With all the love and happiness he brings to our house, it is definitely worth it.

Good Times for the season...

Another Christmas party come and gone.
Great times with cool people. Does it get any better than that?

The holidays are always better when you can surround yourself with friends and family.

For those of you that couldn't make it, we missed you.

For those that came, we had a great time.

For everyone on the planet, we love you.

The pics are, from top to bottom, (1) Jeff and Me, (2) Some crazy cousins hanging out, (3) the circle of chatty adults. (There were probably 4-5 different conversations going on simultaneously.)

Have a happy holiday season!